2011 Toyota Matrix problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (10)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Matrix model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (2)
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module 2020-01-17 · campaign 20V024000 · 2,891,976 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Corolla, 2011-2013 Matrix, 2012-2018 Avalon, and 2013-2018 Avalon Hybrid vehicles. During certain crashes, the air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may malfunction, possibly disabling the deployment of the air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners.
Risk: In the event of a crash, air bags and/or seat belt pretensioners that do not deploy as intended may increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the ECU and install a noise filter between the air bag control module and its wire harness, as necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk beginning March 2, 2020. A second letter notifying owners of the remedy repair will be mailed between March 16, 2020 and June 27, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 20TB03, 20TA03 and 20TA05.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2016-05-23 · campaign 16V340000 · 1,754,517 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C, Lexus IS350C and Lexus GX460, 2011 Sienna, 2007-2011 Lexus ES350, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto R
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for interim notification for this campaign are G1P (Toyota Zone A), G1R (Toyota Zone B), G2G (Lexus Zone A), and G2H (Lexus Zone B). Toyota's numbers for f
Service bulletins (211)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-07 · T-SB-0055-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2005 – 2026 toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. the purpose of this service bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-12-05 · T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
toyota vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film wi
Structure:body 2024-12-03 · T-SB-0062-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. this type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surfa
Showing the 6 most recent of 211 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2018-02-01 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 toyota matrix. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v340000 (air bags); however, the part needed for the repair was not available. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact called west kendall toyota at (786) 61…”
2017-09-19 · Air Bags · 58,000 mi · 💥 crash“tl* the contact owns a 2011 toyota matrix. while the vehicle was stationary, it was involved in a front end collision. the air bags did not deploy. a police report was filed. the vehicle was able to be driven from the scene. the dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. there was one injury that required medical attention. the contact suffered fr…”
2017-09-19 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 toyota matrix. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 17v006000 (air bags). the part to do the repair was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the contact called ira toyota (468 main st tewksbury, ma) and was …”
2017-09-14 · Air Bags“ tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 toyota matrix. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v340000 (air bags) and stated that the part was not available within a reasonable time frame to schedule the recall repair. the dealer (sloane toyota of malvern, phone number: 484-329-7300) did not give a specific date for when …”
2017-09-11 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 toyota matrix. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v340000 (air bags). the parts to do the repair were unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the vehicle was taken to san francisco toyota (3800 geary blvd, …”
2017-07-20 · Air Bags · 70,000 mi“takata recall: in july 2016 i received notice from toyota of passenger air bag recall & told no one can ride in the passenger seat. i have a disabled daughter who cannot sit in the back. i called toyota corp and they arranged with the local dealer to provide me with a rental car. my car has been sitting outside in the desert heat, blowing sand …”
2016-12-12 · Air Bags · 75,000 mi“takata recall- this car has had a recall for the faulty passenger airbag and i use this car for transporting my child. i would like to have this problem fixed as soon as possible as i'm putting my child's safety at risk in its current condition. if toyota can't resolve this in a timely manner i need a rental car until they are able to resolve it.…”
2016-09-29 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 toyota matrix. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v340000 (air bags) and had not received the second notice to determine when the parts may become available to receive the recall repair. the manufacturer was notified of the issue. vin tool confirms parts not available. …”
2016-07-26 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 toyota matrix. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v340000 (air bags). the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was not notified of the issue. the co…”
2016-07-11 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 toyota matrix. the contact was made aware of nhtsa campaign number: 16v340000 (air bags). however, the part needed to repair the vehicle was unavailable. the contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. the manufacturer was not notified of the issue. the …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.