2011 Toyota Matrix Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Good The 2011 Toyota Matrix has a Good verdict, ranking 7th worst out of 9 model years with a complaint index of 25. NHTSA lists 10 complaints, all involving airbags, and 2 recall campaigns tied to Takata airbag inflators and airbag control unit issues.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 25/100
- #7 of 9 Matrix years
- Verdict
- Good
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 10
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 2
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21 city / 28 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2011 Toyota Matrix problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags10 (100%)
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 during a front-end collision, resulting in a rotator cuff injury to the driver.
- Multiple owners were notified of the Takata airbag recall (campaign 16v340000) but reported the replacement part was unavailable.
- Owners said the wait for airbag recall parts exceeded a reasonable amount of time.
- None of the owners who reported recall delays had experienced an actual airbag failure at the time of complaint.
2011 Toyota Matrix recalls
2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V024000Jan 17, 2020Airbags2,891,976 vehicles
Air bags: air bag/restraint control module
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.
Remedy: 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.
- 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).
2011 Toyota Matrix fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 21 MPG
- Highway
- 28 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.
2011 compared with other Matrix years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Toyota Matrix a good year?
- Yes, relative to other Matrix years. It carries a Good verdict with a complaint index of 25, ranking 7th worst out of 9 model years, and all 10 NHTSA complaints involve airbags.
- What problems does the 2011 Toyota Matrix have?
- NHTSA complaints for this year are concentrated entirely in the airbag system, including one crash where airbags did not deploy and reports of long waits for Takata recall parts.
- Does the 2011 Toyota Matrix have a recall?
- Yes, two recalls affect this year: campaign 20V024000 for an airbag control unit noise issue, and campaign 16V340000 for Takata airbag inflators. Neither is a do-not-drive recall.
- How does the 2011 Matrix compare to other years?
- The 2011 model year ranks 7th worst of 9 years tracked, with a complaint index of 25, far below higher-complaint years like 2009 (index 100) and 2006 (index 88).