2003 Toyota Matrix Complaint Log

LTR ON BEHALF OF MRS. LOLA BETANCOURT (VA)RE A ELECTRICAL FIRE IN HER 2003 TOYOTA MATRIC( VIN: 2R1K32E13CO48258) ORIGINATING AT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR NEAR THE POWER WINDOW AND LOCKS AREA, REPLY TO THE ALEXANDRIA DISTRICT OFC, DOT/I#2004-5249. *NM

CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES, STRIKING A TREE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER CONTACTED TOYOTA ,AND IT WAS INSPECTED BY A REPRESENTATIVE AND NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND. VEHICLE WAS SOLD FOR PARTS.*AK *TS

INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING IS VERY POOR, OBSTRUCTING THE CONSUMER'S ABILITY TO SEE SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, AND OIL PRESSURE. *AK *LA

PREMATURE CLUTCH FAILURE, THE CLUTCH START SLIPPING AROUND 15000 MILES, THE DEALER SAID WILL NOT REPLACE CLUTCH DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. HAVE ANOTHER 92 COROLLA FOR 6 YEARS WITH CLUTCH NEVER HAD A PROBLEM. OTHERS ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT THAT MATRIX XRS CLUTCH TOO, NOT JUST ONLY ME. FEELS LIKE TOYOTA BETRAYED THEIR CUSTOMERS.*AK

AT 34,000 MILES THE CLUTCH BEGAN SLIPPING. TOYOTA STATED THAT IT WAS FROM MISUSE, THAT MY WIFE WAS DRIVING IT IMPROPERLY. MY WIFE, AGE 57, HAS BEEN DRIVING CLUTCH CARS ALL HER LIFE AND AVERAGES 100,000 MILES PER CLUTCH. THE TIRES ARE STILL GOOD AND WORN EVENLY, WHICH SHOWS LACK OF ABUSE. TOYOTA HAS NOT STOOD BY THEIR VEHICLE ON THIS ONE, WE'RE APPARENTLY ON OUR OWN FOR THE REPAIR. SO MUCH FOR THE 60,000 MILE WARRANTY.*AK

WHILE SHIFTING GEARS A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN SHIFT ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE NEXT DAY, VEHICLE WOULD START UP BUT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS.*AK

THE GAUGE CLUSTER IN THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX IS IN RED. IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT, IT CAN BE IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE GAUGES. I HAVE TRIED VARIOUS MAKES OF SUNGLASSES AND SOME SEEM TO HELP SOMEWHAT. BUT IT IS STILL A HAZARD.

MY CLUTCH WENT OUT AT 29K MILES. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE. I HAVE BEEN DRVING A STND FOR YEARS NOW AND NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM. THE CLUTCH ON THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS IS A DESIGN ERROR AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM FOR IT TO BE DRVING HABITS. TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE CARE OF IT'S CUSTOMERS AND RECTIFY THIS SITUATION!*AK

TOYOTA MATRIX 2003 (ALSO APPLIES TO PONTIAC VIBE 2003) AS INSTRUMENTS ARE THE SAME. USE OF ALL "RED" COLORED INSTRUMENTS, (SPEEDOMETER, TACHOMETER, FUEL GAUGE, ETC.) MAKES THEM DIFFICULT TO READ, READING TRIP METER REQUIRES REMOVING SUNGLASSES TO READ. CAN BECOME IMPOSSIBLE TO READ IN BRIGHT SUN. BECAUSE SPEEDOMETER IS DIFFICULT TO READ, DRIVER CAN EASILY BE PUT IN POSITION OF DRIVING WITH EXCESSIVE SPEED BECAUSE SPEEDOMETER IS HARD TO READ OT MAY REQUIRE SUNGLASSES TO BE REMOVED TO READ SPEEDOMETER. PERSONAL EXPERIENCE TELLS ME THAT BY TAKING A FEW SECONDS TO READ INSTRUMENTS CAN PUT A DRIVER IN A POTIENTALLLY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN IN SOME TRAFFIC SITUATIONS. COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS OR DEATH. "COMPLAINTS" ABOUT THIS PROBLEM ARE NOTED IN THE REVIEWS ENTERED BY INDIVIDUALS ON THE WEB SITE WWW.EDMUNDS.COM, SPECIFICALLY: HTTP://WWW.EDMUNDS.COM/USED/2003/TOYOTA/MATRIX/100074126/RATINGS_CONSUMERSDETAIL.HTML?DCR_SID=100074126&DCR_USEIN=U&TID=EDMUNDS.U.RATINGS_CONSUMER.CONTENT..4.TOYOTA*. PLEASE ALSO SEE ALSO CAR & DRIVER 6/2002 PAGE 62 IN AN ARTICLE TITLED "COMPARISON TEST: BOXES SIZE SMALL", WHICH STATES IN PART: "...THE RED INSTRUMENTS ARE HARD TO READ THROUGH SUNGLASSES, AND THE DIALS SEEM PECULIARLY LOCATED DOWN IN DARK TUNNELS...". PLEASE NOTE THAT BOTH TOYOTA AND PONTIAC CORRECTED THIS IN THEIR 2004 MODELS OF THE TOYOTA MATRIX AND PONTIAC. ACTION REQUESTED: REQUIRE BOTH TOYOTA AND PONTIAC TO OFFER OWNERS OF THE 2003 MODELS THE CHOICE OF UPDATING THEIR INSTRUMENT PANELS TO THE 2004 MODEL INSTRUMENTS. *AK

WHENEVER VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGNAL AND WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES WHEN SURGING OCCURRED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE OWNERSHIP OF THE VEHICLE. *AK *MR

I HAD A FLAT TIRE AND CHANGED IT BUT WHEN I TOOK OFF THE TIRE THE BRAKE DRUM CAME OFF WITH THE RIM. I PUT ON THE SPARE AND THE NEXT DAY DRIVING TO DISCOUNT TIRES IN LYNNWOOD ON THE FREEWAY I HAD NO BRAKES, THE BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO MAGIC TOYOTA IN EDMONDS AND THEY SAID IT WAS MY FAULT BECAUSE I SHOULD HAVE KNOWN AND THAT IT " SOMETIMES HAPPENS." I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF IT HAPPENING AND NOT BEING A MECHANIC I HAD NO IDEA, OTHER MECHANICS I HAVE TALKED TO SAY IT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. TOYOTA REFUSED TO COVER BRAKE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. *LA

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS AND THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY SHUTS OFF WHEN I PUSH IN THE CLUTCH. THIS HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS WHEN I AM GOING SLOW. TODAY IT HAPPENED TWICE WHEN I WAS SLOWING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. IT HAS HAPPENED MANY MANY TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR LAST NOVEMBER. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO GET IT TO HAPPEN WITH ANYONE FROM THE SELLING TOYOTA DEALER OR FROM THE TOYOTA REGION IN MY CAR. I DO HAVE AT LEAST 4 WITNESSES WHO HAVE BEEN IN MY CAR WHEN IT HAPPENED. I KNOW OF ANOTHER MATRIX OWNER IN SOUTHERN CALIF WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. ANOTHER MATRIX OWNER IN KANSAS HAD THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM IN 2002 AND HE GOT TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE THROTTLE BODY AND THE PROBLEM HAS NOT RESURFACED. I AM AT MY WITS END AS TO HOW TO GET MY CAR FIXED. IT IS DANGEROUS AND I AM GOING TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT ONE OF THESE DAYS. ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANKS. *LA

CLUTCH ON THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS SMOKES AND SLIPS AND HAS SINCE 3500 MILES. *AK

DRIVING UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS YOU CAN SMELL THE BURNING COMING FROM THE CLUTCH WHICH IS NORMAL AFTER A COUPLE DAYS OF DRIVING WHE IT STARTED TO TURN OUT TO MONTHS IT BECAME SKEPTICAL....THE CLUTCH BEGAN TO SLIP A LOT TAKES LONG TO CATCH ON..NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT PROBLEM FOR NOW UNTIL CLUTCH GOES OUT.....THE BURNING SMELL STILL CONTINUES

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING IS INADEQUATE. MOST OF THE TIME I SIMPLY CANNOT READY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER. WHILE I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ACCIDENTS OR TICKETS, I BELIEVE THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WORKS AS DESIGNED. *LA

CLUTCH SWITCH WHICH COMPLETES CIRCUIT FOR IGNITION SWITCH IS HARD TO ENGAGE, ESPECIALLY FOR MY WIFE WHEN WEARING SHOES WITH HEELS. IF CAR IS INADVERTANTLY KILLED WHILE STARTING FROM A STOP ON A HILL, IT MAKES FOR A HAZARDOUS SITUATION SINCE IT REQUIRES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO PRESS ON THE CLUTCH SO AS TO ENGAGE STARTER MOTOR. TOYOTA CLAIMS NO DEFECT EXISTS. *JB

THE ENGINE DOESN'T HAVE ENOUGH COMPRESSION TO HOLD THE CAR WHEN PARKED IN GEAR EVEN ON LOW INCLINES. IT WILL SLOWLY ROLL AWAY ON LOW INCLINES AND ROLLS FASTER THE STEEPER IT IS. TOYOTA SAY THIS IS NORMAL AND THE MANUEL SAYS TO USE THE E-BRAKE. I DO OF COURSE USE THE E-BRAKE IF IT IS STEEPLY PARKED. BUT SINCE E-BRAKES FREEZE IN COLD CONDITIONS, I HAVE A REAL SAFETY CONCERN HERE. I HAVE PARKED MANY OTHER STANDARD CARS IN THE SAME LOCATIONS THE MATRIX ROLLS AWAY IN AND THEY DON'T MOVE. AT MY DEALER THE MAINTENANCE MANAGER AGREED IT WAS A PROBLEM ON THE TEST DRIVE, AS DID HIS TECHNICIAN UNTIL IT WAS FOUND ALL TOYOTA MATRIX DID THE SAME THING. NOW TOYOTA CANADA IS INVOLVED AND ALL SAY THERE ISN'T A PROBLEM NOW. TOYOTA NEED TO WARN PEOPLE PRIOR TO A TEST DRIVE WHEN SOMETHING AS BASIC AS PARKING IS DIFFERENT FROM OTHER STANDARDS.

I TOOK THE MATRIX IN TWICE SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY LUNGE FORWARD WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. I ALSO COMPLAINED THAT THE BRAKES FELT "LOOSE" AND DID NOT "CATCH" AS THEY SHOULD. I WAS ADVISED BOTH TIMES BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THAT NOTHING ABNORMAL WAS FOUND WITH CAR. WHILE I WAS BEGINNING TO LOOK INTO "LEMON LAWS", IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY ENGAGED. DUE TO MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES WITH THE CAR LUNGING FORWARD, I WOULD KEEP SEVERAL FEET BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THIS TIME THE CAR NOT ONLY LUNGED FORWARD, BUT IT WAS LIKE THE ACCELERATOR STUCK-I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BUT COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AFTER IT LUNGED FORWARD AND I HIT A CAR THAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME AT THE LIGHT. MY CAR DID NOT STOP UNTIL I WAS ALMOST PARALLEL WITH THE OTHER CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE! I HAVE HAD THE CASE LOOKED AT BY TOYOTA, AND THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS ADVISED THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR-THEIR ONLY EXPLANATION IS THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATES TO "NORMAL" SPECIFICATIONS. THEY HAVE ADVISED THAT THE CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER IS AS WHEN THE AC COMPRESSOR CYCLES, IT INCREASES THE ENGINE RPM AND THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE FORWARD. MY AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT ON AT THE TIME OF THIS ACCIDENT, HOWEVER. *LA

THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX I WAS DRIVING HIT THE BACK OF A PICK-UP TRUCK WHEN THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID. THE MATRIX WENT PARTIALLY UNDER THE TRUCK, CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE MATRIX. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX DEPLOYED. THANKS TO THE FACT THAT I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT, I RECEIVED ONLY MINOR INJURIES.*AK

FRONT BRAKES JERK BACK AND FORTH WHEN APPLIED. *AK

TOYOTA MATRIX 2003 XRS ON 2ND TRANSMISION AND STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. CLUTCH IS ALSO NASTY. MANY OTHERS WITH SAME CAR HAVING SIMMILAR PROBLEMS. WWW.MATRIXOWNERS.COM HAS A FORUM WITH AT LEAST 30 PEOPLE WITH PROBELMS ALONE.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS SEEING THE FUNCTIONS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DUE TO THE LIGHTS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE INSTRUMENT AND RADIO LIGHT FADED OUT WHEN DRIVING IN SUN LIGHT. IN SHADE OR AT NIGHT, THIS HAPPENED A LOT. *PH

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE HOOD JUST POPPED UP AND SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK *SCC *JB

WENT TO DEALER TWICE;COMPLAINED ABOUT BRAKES PULLING RIGHT; TOLD THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE PROBLEM AND THE BRAKES WERE JUST "ADJUSTING"; TODAY, FAILURE IN STEERING AND BRAKE PULL ALMOST CAUSED WRECK.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. *AK THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO READ THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WHEN THE SUN WAS EXTREMELY BRIGHT. *TS *JB

ANNOYING SQUEAK WHEN CLUTCH IS DISENGAGED. THIS AS OCCURRED SINCE PURCHASE DATE. CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER HAS BEEN REPLACED, LUBED APPROXIMATELY 7 TIMES, CLUTCH SET REPLACED. STILL SQUEAKING! *LA

AFTER WASHING AND WAXING THE VEHICAL I NOTICED PAINT THE TO BE BLISTERING IN CERTAIN SPOTS OF THE CAR. THE BLISTERING WAS CAUSED BY BIRD DROPPINGS. THIS IS KIND OF STRANGE THAT THIS POOR QUALITY PAINT WOULD BE DAMAGED ON 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. I WOULD EXPECT TOYOTA TO HAVE PROTECTED IT'S VEHICLES WITH PAINT THAT IS NOT EFFECTED BY BIRD DROPPINGS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN THIS HAPPEN TO OTHER VEHICLES. THIS SUGGEST THAT TOYOTA PAINT IS OF POOR QUALITY. WHEN I APPROACHED THE DEALER THAT SOLD ME CAR, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I DON'T EVEN HAVE THIS CAR A YEAR. GIVE ME A BREAK!!!!I WILL NEVER BY A TOYOTA VEHICLE AGAIN. *AK

PREMATURE CLUTCH WEAR CAUSED BY HEAVIER VEHICLE.ORIGINAL CLUTCH WAS INTENDED FOR THE TOYOTA CELICA GTS 2 DOOR. THE SAME CLUTCH IS NOW BEING USED FOR THE MATRIX XRS 4 DOOR WAGON WICH IS APPROX. 200+ POUNDS HEAVIER THAN THE CELICA. WWW.MATRIXOWNERS.COM HAS SEVERAL POSTS FROM OWNERS ALL OVER THE US AND CANADA REPORTING THE SAME ISSUE. THE CLUTCH IS STARTING TO SHOW FAILURE AT 15,000 MILES AND DEALERS ARE REFUSING TO COVER THIS UNDER WARRANTY.*AK

WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING YOU CAN NOT READ THE SPEEDOMETER OR THE GUAGES. HE DRIVER IS DRIVING BLIND WITHOUT ANY INSTRUMENTS OR GUAGES. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IN ALL TYPES OF TRAFFIC CONDITIONS.*AK

THE THROWOUT BARING IN MY 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX XR 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AT APPROXIMATELY 23,000 MILES AND CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. TOYOTA REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AT THE LOVE LEXUS TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN ST. ALBANS, WV, WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED BRAND NEW WITH ZERO MILES. THIS SECOND TRANSMISSION, AT APPROXIMATELY 64,000 MILES, FAILED AS WELL WITH THE SAME PRESCRIBED ISSUE (THROWOUT BARING IN THE TRANSMISSION). AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE (HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0D9B0E/497#MSG497) THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED IN A PLETHORA OF TOYOTA MATRIX' 5 - SPEED TRANSMISSIONS THAT TOYOTA HAD PLACED IN THE 2003 - 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX'. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE HELP RECALL THESE TRANSMISSIONS AND HOLD TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE FOR PLACING FAULTY TRANSMISSIONS IN THESE VEHICLES BEFORE ANOTHER ONE GOES OUT AND I HAVE TO FORK OVER ANOTHER $3200 + FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION. I HAVE RECEIPTS TO PROVE ALL OF THESE CLAIMS AND WILL BE GLAD TO SHARE ANY INFORMATION I NEED TO IN ORDER TO HELP A RECALL COME TO LIGHT. *TR

MANUAL CLUTCH FAILED AT 6500 MILES. DEALERSHIP STATES THIS IS DUE TO MY DRIVING HABITS, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE BEEN DRIVING STICK-SHIFTS FOR 10 YEARS, AND EVEN THOUGH I HAVE NEVER WORN DOWN A CLUTCH IN 150K MILES OF DRIVING THEM. COST ME $1277, WHICH WAS A *DISCOUNTED* PRICE!! *NLM

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT WAS DIM, WHICH CAUSED IMPAIRED VISION. *JB

I HAD A VIBRATION IN MY DASHBOARD FOR A MONTH AND THOUGHT IT WAS THE PLASTIC IN THE DASH ... UNFORTUNATELY, IT IS A STRUCTURE DEFECT IN THE FRAME THAT NEEDS TO BE WELDED. I HAVE NOT HAD MY CAR FOR 8 DAYS AND IT IS STILL TOTALLY APART AT A BODY SHOP. I AM DISCUSSED. *NLM

A STRONG CHEMICAL FUME ENTERED THROUGH THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

THERE WAS NO DRAG WHEN DRIVING WITH THE PARKING BRAKE FULLY APPLIED. THE CONSUMER WAS AFRAID THE PARKING WILL NOT WORK IN AN EMERGENCY. MR SCC *JB

CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX SOMETIMES DISENGAGES WHILE TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY. DECELERATION IS BETTER THAN ACCELERATION, BUT IT IS STILL UNNERVING WHEN FOLLOWED BY OTHER CARS. FREQUENCY IS ABOUT ONCE A MONTH, OCCURS ON ONE TRIP AND HAPPENS THREE OR FOUR TIMES. THE CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES EVEN WHEN THE LIGHT IS ON. MY WIFE AND FRIENDS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS IN MY CAR, SO IT IS NOT JUST ME. WHEN I TURN MY VEHICLE OVER TO THE TOYOTA PEOPLE FOR ANALYSIS, THEY CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG. I CANNOT TELL IF THIS IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WIRING WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN OR IN THE ELECTRONICS. *TR

REAR SPOILER CRACKED. DEALER STATED THAT IT WASN'T COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY.*AK

PURCHASED A 2003 MATRIX RS WITH OPTION PK THAT INCLUDED 17" WHEELS, ABS, ALL WEATHER GUARD PACKAGE, AND SPORTS TRIM. FIRST SNOW I FOUND OUT THE PACKAGE WITH A INCLUDES SUMMER ONLY TIRES. MY MISTAKE FOR NOT CHECKING THE TIRES, BUT THE ABS BRAKES AND ALL WEATHER GUARD PACKAGE LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THE CAR WAS READY FOR WINTER. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH CURRENT TIRES.

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE TURNS AND STEERING WAS VERY HARD. CONSUMER VISUALLY NOTICED A FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED. TS THE NEXT DAY, CONSUMER NOTICED MORE FLUID LEAKING. DEALER REPLACED CRANKSHAFT AND KEYWAY. DOME LIT INOPERATIVE. BULB REPLACED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. DEALER FOUND EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *TT

THE AUTO HEADLIGHT SYSTEM THAT TURNS THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. IT TURNS THE HEADLIGHTS ON AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY, MORE OFTEN ON BRIGHT SUNNY DAYS WHEN DRIVING THROUGH SHADOWS. THIS MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO READ GUAGES, SPEEDOMETER ETC.

THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT TIRES HAD NO TRACTION AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE IN THE SNOW. CONSUMER REQUESTED THE DEALERSHIP REIMBURSE FOR PURCHASE OF SNOW TIRES. *TT *JB

THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS TURN ON MYSTERIOUSLY AT NIGHT WHILE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. SYMPTOMS INCLUDED A DEAD BATTERY AFTER NOT DRIVING THE CAR FOR THREE DAYS, AND THE DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS TURNING OFF WHENEVER THE TURN SIGNAL IS USED. DEALERSHIP DENIED THERE WAS A PROBLEM.

CONSUMER VISUALLY NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT KEY HAD FAILED AND REPLACED. TS

AFTER PURCHASE, COMPLAINED OF "STEERING WANDER." NOT ONLY DID THE DEALER CARMAX TOYOTA NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT RETURNED THE CAR WITH THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONING. AFTER SEVERAL MORE TRIPS TO THE DEALER, THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE STEERING RACK ADMITTING PROBLEMS WITH SOME UNITS. UPON BEING INFORMED THAT THIS MADE NO DIFFERENCE, AND WITHOUT FURTHER RETESTING, CARMAX AND TOYOTA REFUSE TO PERFORM ANY MORE ATTEMPTS AT FIXING EITHER PROBLEM. SO NOW I'M FILING UNDER MARYLAND'S LEMON LAW BECAUSE I'M STUCK WITH A WANDERING CAR WITHOUT FULL POWER STEERING. IN ADDITION, I HAD CARMAX CHANGE THE OIL AT 300 MILES. SUBSEQUENTLY, I CHANGED THE OIL AT 400 MILES AND WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT IT WAS BLACK AS COAL INDICATING PISTON BLOWBY. I JUST CHANGED THE OIL AT 3000 MILES AND THE OIL IS A BLACK AS COAL, AS IF THE ENGINE HAD CLOSER TO 90,OOO MILES ON IT.

RETURNED THE NEW 2003 VEHICLE TO CARMAX TOYOTA COMPLAINING OF STEERING WANDER. NOT ONLY DID THEY NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO ME WITH THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONING AND NOW REQUIRING TWICE THE EFFORT. POWER ASSIST IS MINIMAL FROM STOP TO ABOUT 50 MPH. STEERING ASSIST IS INCREASES AS SPEED INCREASES, EXACTLY OPPOSITE OF HOW IT IS SUPPOSED TO WORK. THREE MORE VISITS TO CARMAX AND THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM. THEIR ACTIONS ARE CONSISTENT WITH THOSE WHERE THE MAKER AND DEALER KNOW THEY HAVE A RECALL PROBLEM LOOMING AND ARE TRYING TO HIDE IT. DT

AFTER PURCHASE, COMPLAINED OF HAVING STEERING WANDER. AND NOT ONLY DID THE DEALER NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT RETURNED THE CAR WITH THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONING. AFTER SEVERAL MORE TRIPS TO THE DEALER, THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE STEERING RACK ADMITTING PROBLEMS WITH SOME UNITS. UPON BEING INFORMED THAT THIS MADE NO DIFFERENCE, AND WITHOUT FURTHER RETESTING, CARMAX AND TOYOTA REFUSE TO PERFORM ANY MORE ATTEMPTS AT FIXING EITHER PROBLEM. TS

CONSUMER STATES THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS "RED LIGHTS" AND CAN NOT BE SEEN IN THE SUNLIGHT. THE CONSUMER CANNOT VIEW THE ODOMETER AND OTHER SETTINGS. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT THE PANEL IS RECESSED, MAKING IT EVEN MORE DIFFICULT TO VIEW WHILE DRIVING. MR THE CONSUMER STATED THAT AFTER THEY HAD TAKEN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN THE BRIGHT SUNLIGHT, FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT, THE NUMBERS, DIALS, AND THE INDICATORS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COULD NOT BE SEEN. (AND WERE BLANK AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK) THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING PROPERLY, AND THAT THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE TO BE RE-ENGINEERED. SAFETY HAZARDS EXISTS ON ALL 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. *SCC

THIS MODEL IS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC HEADLIGHTS THAT DIM THE DASH LIGHTS WHEN THEY COME ON. UNFORTUNATELY, THE DESIGN OF THE LIGHT SENSOR IS DEFECTIVE, IN THAT IT IS LOCATED SO CLOSE TO THE A PILLAR THAT THE LIGHTS FLICK ON AND OFF ALL DAY LONG. THIS CAR HAS GAUGES, MEANING THAT THEY MUST BE BACK LIT IN ORDER TO BE VISIBLE, AND WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS COME ON IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY (AS THEY DO QUITE OFTEN) THE GAUGES ARE OBSCURED, AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO TELL WHAT SPEED YOU ARE GOING, FOR INSTANCE. DESPITE TWO VISITS TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO ADDRESS THIS, I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE LIGHTS ARE FUNCTIONING AS THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO. THE LIGHTS FLICK ON AND OFF ALL DAY LONG, EVEN AT NOON, DEPENDING ON WHETHER I AM DRIVING TOWARDS THE SUN OR AWAY FROM IT, OR WHETHER IT IS TO MY LEFT OR RIGHT. DT

ON A SUNNY TRIP FROM SAN DIEGO TO SAN FRANCISCO AND ANOTHER SUNNY TRIP FROM SAN DIEGO TO PHOENIX THE DASH BOARD DIALS WERE UNREADABLE. I FOUND THAT WHEN I COULD READ THEM I WAS GOING 90 MILES AN HOUR WHICH IS NOT MY USUAL HIGHWAY SPEED. AT NIGHT THE LIGHTS TO LIGHT UP THE GEAR SHIFT DO NOT LIGHT UP UNTIL YOU HAVE DRIVEN 10 TO 20 FEET, HOPEFULLY IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. DT

CONSUMER STATED THE SUN LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD CAUSES SEVERE VISIBILITY TO SEE THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES. PROBLEMS AFFECTS CONSUMERS VISION. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*TS *JB