2011 Toyota Matrix Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Sep 17, 2021 · 10 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other Matrix years
Far fewer complaints than other years 9th of 12 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the 2011 Toyota Matrix. That ranks 9th out of 12 Matrix model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (10 complaints, 100%), typically at around 70,000 miles. Complaints mention 1 crash, 1 injury. There are 2 safety recalls covering this model year. NHTSA has opened 1 defect investigation involving it.

Toyota Matrix
CEM_0093_218. Representative photo; appearance varies by model year. Photo: Chris, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2011 Toyota Matrix problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Air Bags10 · ~70,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Air Bags10100%70,000——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

Complaints by year received

Peak: 2017, with 5 complaints
2016: 4201642017: 5201752018: 120181

n = 10 complaints · Source: NHTSA

2011 Toyota Matrix recalls (2)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Air bags: air bag/restraint control moduleJan 17, 2020 · NHTSA campaign 20V024000 · 2,891,976 vehicles

Problem: 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 moduleMay 23, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V340000 · 1,754,517 vehicles

Problem: 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 Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2007-2008 Toyota Yaris, 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350 and 2007-2008 Lexus ES350 vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles of these model years and models that were not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

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 final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), GLG (Lexus Zone A), and GLH (Lexus Zone B).

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

NHTSA defect investigations

  • Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture (EA21002) — opened Sep 17, 2021, still open.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

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…

Air Bags · received Feb 1, 2018 · NHTSA complaint 11066468

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…

Air Bags · received Sep 19, 2017 · NHTSA complaint 11024229

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…

Air Bags · received Sep 19, 2017 · NHTSA complaint 11024249

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…

Air Bags · received Sep 14, 2017 · NHTSA complaint 11023433

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…

Air Bags · received Sep 11, 2017 · NHTSA complaint 11022639

Other Toyota Matrix years

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See all Toyota Matrix problems by year, every Toyota model, or the Toyota VIN decoder.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2011 Toyota Matrix?

Owners most often report air bags problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 10 complaints.

Was there a recall on the 2011 Toyota Matrix?

Yes, 2 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2011 Toyota Matrix a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Matrix model years, the 2011 has far fewer complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.