Skip to content
EnginePart report

2006 Toyota Matrix Engine Problems

Complaints
4about this part
Share
2%of 170 total for the year
Median mileage
117,500miles
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

NHTSA recorded 4 complaints about the engine of the 2006 Toyota Matrix, 2% of the 170 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 117,500 miles.

Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was on a steep hill at a stop sign. I had let go of the brake to step on the gas because it was my turn to go and my car rolled backwards dramatically to the point where my tires where screeching for a few seconds till I was able to get off the steep hill. This is not the first time it has happened, I usually avoid streets that have a steep hill because this happens every time I'm on a steep hill. I've noticed this has happened for several years now.”

NHTSA complaint #10543155, filed 2013-09, 137,000 miles

“I purchased a used 2006 Toyota Matrix as is no warranty from a dealer in boise, idaho. The dealer told me, my daughter and her friend that although the car had 175,262 miles on it, he had replaced the engine with a 55,000 mile engine he bought from florida. Apparently the old engine had seized up with the previous owner. The dealer assured me that the car would last me a long time. However, after only six weeks of driving the car the engine quit and stranded me in traffic. I had the car towed to my trustworthy mechanics, who ran the diagnostic tests on the car. …”

NHTSA complaint #10743562, filed 2015-07, 175,262 miles

“Backed out of a parking space at a shopping center. Went about 50 yards and the engine revved like it was going 100 MPH and then jumped forward. Slammed on the brakes and put the car in neutral and it went back to normal idling.”

NHTSA complaint #10745547, filed 2015-08, 52,600 miles

“The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Matrix. While depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was able to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was not included NHTSA campaign number: 10v384000 (engine and engine cooling). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10716280, filed 2015-05, 98,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Engine: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2012120%
201024%
2009116%
200825%
200722%
200642%
200573%
200443%
200383%

Other parts of the 2006 Toyota Matrix

Air bags
50 complaintsTires
27 complaintsElectrical system
22 complaintsEngine cooling
22 complaintsSuspension
20 complaintsVehicle speed control
20 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
18 complaintsBrakes
7 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsEquipment
3 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
3 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2006 Toyota Matrix

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology