Verdict
2012 Toyota Matrix: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2012 Toyota Matrix — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
Fewer reported complaints than most wagon.
Owners filed 5 NHTSA complaints — fewer complaints than 75% of 2012 wagons. Air Bags leads the reports (80%). 1 safety recall campaign on record — check the VIN and remedy terms with a dealer.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2012 wagons, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
5
Reports to NHTSA, 2012
Safety recalls
1
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Not rated
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
24
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
Fewer complaints than 75% of 2012 wagons
The bar is this car's percentile among 2012 wagons by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Air Bags issues lead owner complaints (80% of 5 reports), followed by engine (20%).
Share of all 5 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11022419, ODI 11004249, ODI 10991786, ODI 10990577.
Recalls(1)
Open a recall to read what NHTSA says is wrong, what can happen, and how it gets fixed. Check the VIN and remedy eligibility with a dealer; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though a manufacturer may offer more coverage.
Air Bags · 20V024000Details +Close −
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.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
2012 Toyota Matrix SW FWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Not rated
- Frontal
- Not rated
- Side
- Not rated
- Rollover
2012 Toyota Matrix SW AWD NHTSA source
- Overall
- Not rated
- Frontal
- Not rated
- Side
- Not rated
- Rollover
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matrix | 1.8L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 5-spd | 26 | 32 | 29 |
| Matrix | 1.8L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic 4-spd | 25 | 31 | 27 |
| Matrix | 2.4L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Manual 5-spd | 21 | 28 | 24 |
| Matrix | 2.4L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (S5) | 21 | 28 | 24 |
| Matrix | 2.4L 4-cyl | All-Wheel Drive | Automatic 4-spd | 20 | 26 | 22 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
These are affiliate links. TireKick may earn a fee if you use one.
Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2012 Toyota Matrix: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2012 Toyota Matrix?
Owners filed 5 NHTSA complaints about the 2012 Toyota Matrix — fewer complaints than 75% of comparable 2012 wagons, so it sits toward the stronger end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2012 Toyota Matrix?
The most-reported problem areas are Air Bags (80% of complaints) and engine (20%).
How many recalls does the 2012 Toyota Matrix have?
1 recall has been issued that affect the 2012 Toyota Matrix, covering components such as air bags. Check the VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer to confirm remedy eligibility; federal no-charge requirements have an age limit, though manufacturers may offer more coverage.
What gas mileage does the 2012 Toyota Matrix get?
The EPA rates the 2012 Toyota Matrix between 22 and 29 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.