2010 Toyota Matrix Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2010 Toyota Matrix has a Complaint Index of 50 and ranks 5th of 9 model years, earning a Caution verdict. Airbags account for 60% of its 45 complaints, with 4 recalls including an unintended-acceleration campaign.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #5 of 9 Matrix years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 45
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 5
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21 city / 29 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2010 Toyota Matrix problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags27 (60%)
- Engine7 (16%)
- Brakes6 (13%)
- Other3 (7%)
- Steering3 (7%)
- Structure & Body2 (4%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (4%)
- Electrical System1 (2%)
- Seat Belts1 (2%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy in rear-end and frontal crashes, sometimes leaving the driver injured.
- Owners report sudden brake failure or loss of braking force, including one crash after exiting a freeway.
- Some drivers describe unintended acceleration where the accelerator pedal stuck or the vehicle surged forward unexpectedly, leading to crashes.
- Steering was described as wandering or requiring constant correction at highway speed.
- The engine sputtered and stalled while climbing a hill under load, and in another case revved abnormally at a stop.
2010 Toyota Matrix recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 16V340000May 23, 2016Airbags1,754,517 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
Remedy: 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).
- NHTSA 10V035000Feb 3, 2010Other271,417 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Risk: This does not meet the standard requirements.
Remedy: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact gulf states toyota at 713-580-3300.
- NHTSA 10V036000Feb 3, 2010Other153,418 vehicles
Equipment:other:labels
Southeast toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2011 passenger vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels.
Risk: A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact southeast toyota at 1-800-301-6859.
2010 Toyota Matrix fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 29 MPG
- Combined
- 24 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,700
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2010 compared with other Matrix years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Toyota Matrix reliable?
- NHTSA data show 45 complaints and a Complaint Index of 50 for the 2010 Matrix, ranking 5th out of 9 model years. It carries a Caution verdict, with airbags as the top problem area at 60% of complaints.
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Toyota Matrix?
- Airbags lead with 27 complaints (60% of the total), followed by engine issues (7 complaints) and brakes (6 complaints). Airbag-related median failure mileage was 69,186 miles.
- Does the 2010 Toyota Matrix have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2010 Matrix, covering airbags, tire/rim labeling, and an accelerator pedal that could stick in the wide-open position.
- Is the 2010 Matrix a better or worse year than others?
- It ranks 5th of 9 years by Complaint Index. Years like 2012 (index 13, Best) and 2011 (index 25, Good) rank lower in complaints, while 2009 (index 100, Avoid) and 2005/2006 rank worse.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Toyota Matrix?
- EPA rates the 2010 Matrix at 24 mpg combined (21 city / 29 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,700.