2011 Toyota Matrix Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
67/100
#2 most-complained of 4 Matrix years
The 2011 Toyota Matrix has 10 NHTSA complaints, all airbag-related, a complaint index of 67, and 2 recalls. It ranks 2nd worst out of 4 model years, earning a Caution verdict relative to other Matrix years.
- Complaints
- 10
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 0
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 24
- 21 city / 28 hwy
Top 2011 Toyota Matrix problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags10 (100%)
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy during a front-end collision, resulting in an injury.
- Owners report receiving Takata airbag recall notices but being told replacement parts were not yet available.
- Some owners said dealers could not give a specific timeframe for when recall parts would arrive.
- One owner's vehicle sustained a rotator cuff injury after non-deployment of the air bags in a stationary front-end crash.
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
- What problems does the 2011 Toyota Matrix have?
- All 10 NHTSA complaints for the 2011 Matrix involve the airbag system, including one crash with an injury where the air bags did not deploy.
- Are there recalls on the 2011 Toyota Matrix?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 2 recalls, both tied to airbags: a Takata inflator recall (16V340000) and an airbag control unit recall (20V024000).
- Is the 2011 Toyota Matrix a good year to buy?
- Relative to other Matrix years, 2011 carries a Caution verdict with a complaint index of 67 and ranks 2nd worst of 4 years, behind 2010 which has an index of 100 and an Avoid verdict.
- How does the 2011 Matrix compare to other years?
- The 2010 Matrix has 45 complaints and an index of 100 (Avoid), while 2012 has 5 complaints and an index of 33 (Good), making 2011 worse than 2012 but better than 2010.