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Research · Small Station Wagons

2010 Toyota MatrixRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 4 safety recalls and 45 owner complaints for the 2010 Toyota Matrix. Most complaints involve air bags (27) and vehicle speed control (4). The EPA rates it 22–28 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
22–28mpg
EPA · 5 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
4campaigns
Latest May 2016
Owner complaints
45
Top: air bags
Fuel cost / yr
$2,300est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

4 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Air bags: inflator module

Remedy pending

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.

Air bagsReported May 23, 2016NHTSA 16V340000

Equipment: labels

Free remedy

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.

EquipmentReported Feb 3, 2010NHTSA 10V036000

Equipment: labels

Free remedy

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.

EquipmentReported Feb 3, 2010NHTSA 10V035000
See all 4 recalls with remedies
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

45 complaints filed with NHTSA · Feb 2010 – Jun 2019
  1. Air bags27
  2. Vehicle speed control4
  3. Steering3
  4. Engine2
  5. Service brakes2
  6. Service brakes, hydraulic2
  7. Service brakes, electric2
  8. Electrical system1
  9. Visibility/wiper1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Matrix model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2003268
2004138
2005213
2006170
200796
200838
2009192
201045
201110
20125
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
1
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Air bags

27 reports3 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO AN APARTMENT BUILDING. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED DURING THE FAILURE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED FOR BOTH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND AN UNKNOWN AIR BAG RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 24, 2018Air bags, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11142316

Vehicle speed control

4 reports3 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PLACING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN THE DEPRESSED POSITION. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A WALL IN THE PARKING GARAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE SIDE AND FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME TO BE RETRIEVED BY STATE FARM INSURANCE. THE INSURANCE CLAIM NUMBER WAS 372327J90. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. *TT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 12, 2017Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 11054235

Steering

3 reports1 crash
“"ELECTRIC POWER STEERING" WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING DOES NOT CENTER CAUSING YOU TO HAVE TO RECORRECT CONSTANTLY. IT SEEMS LIKE A SAFTEY ISSUE BUT TOYOTA SWINDLED THEIR WAY OUT OF A RECALL.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 11, 2019SteeringODI 11219187
All 2010 Matrix problemsSend a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

5 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Station Wagons
Engines
1.8L 4-cyl · 2.4L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd · Manual 5-spd · Automatic (S5)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive · All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Matrix
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive
253128$2,300317
Matrix
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L · Front-Wheel Drive
263228$2,300317
Matrix
Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212924$2,700370
Matrix
Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
212824$2,700370
Matrix
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · All-Wheel Drive
202622$2,900404
  • Matrix
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L
    25 city · 31 hwy · $2,300/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
  • Matrix
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 1.8 L
    26 city · 32 hwy · $2,300/yr
    28
    mpg comb.
  • Matrix
    Auto (S5), 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    21 city · 29 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Matrix
    Man 5-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    21 city · 28 hwy · $2,700/yr
    24
    mpg comb.
  • Matrix
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    20 city · 26 hwy · $2,900/yr
    22
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 28, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2010 Toyota Matrix as of Oct 28, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 28, 2026Vehicle 5464
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2010 Matrix questions

How many recalls does the 2010 Toyota Matrix have?

4 safety recalls as of Oct 28, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2010 Toyota Matrix problems?

Owners filed 45 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are air bags (27), vehicle speed control (4), steering (3). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2010 Toyota Matrix get?

The EPA rates the 2010 Toyota Matrix at 22–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (5 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 28, 2026