"The undersoil heating system has failed to work in the central areas of the pitch," said a Bolton spokesman.
"This area is frozen solid and with temperatures plummeting during the rest of the day, it is unsafe to play the game."
Bolton boss Sam Allardyce accepted the decision to call off the game on safety grounds, but expressed his disappointed that the match could not go ahead as planned.
"We had a full squad available and we wanted to take advantage of Middlesbrough's injuries and lack of confidence," he told the club's official website.
He added: "It throws our strategic planning out of the window. We were prepared for the game both from a physical and mental [point of view]."
Meanwhile, Khalilou Fadiga was not picked in the Senegal squad for the African Nations Cup in January.
This means he will be available for Sam Allardyce next month.