2004 Toyota Matrix Body & Structure Problems

I WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE 88 AT ABOUT 70 MPH AND AT MILE MARKER 117 THE HOOD OF MY CAR FLEW OPEN AND SHATTERED MY WINDSHIELD. I WAS STUCK IN THE FAST LANE OF TRAFFIC BECAUSE I WAS IN A CONSTRUCTION ZONE AND THE SHOULDERS WERE BLOCKED OFF. I HAD NOWHERE TO GO, AND IT WAS A VERY SCARY SITUATION. THE HOOD LATCH HAS NEVER FAILED BEFORE, AND THE LAST TIME I HAD MY HOOD OPEN WAS WHEN I HAD MY OIL CHANGED ABOUT TWO MONTHS BEFORE. I HAD DRIVEN ON THE INTERSTATE MANY TIMES SINCE THEN, AND THE HOOD WAS SECURELY LATCHED. I REPORTED MY DAMAGES TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY, AND THE HOOD, WINDSHIELD, ROOF AND GRILL OF MY CAR WERE REPLACED, TOTALING $4,800 IN DAMAGES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX (NA). THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A BIKE RACK COULD BE PLACED ON HIS VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BIKE RACK PULLED APART THE BACK DOOR METAL AND LOOSENED THE BOLTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT TOYOTA CORPORATION WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO REPAIR THE DOOR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,239 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,009.

THE FRONT SPOILER ON THE MATRIX IS CONSTANTLY GETTING SCRAPED UP ON DRIVEWAYS. IT IS TOO LOW. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO PUT A WHOLE NEW BUMPER ON THE CAR, AT MY COST. THE SPOILERS ARE LISTED AS A OPTION, BUT WHERE I AM FROM IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A XR WITHOUT THEM INSTALLED. THE CAR IS LESS THEN A YEAR OLD, AND ALREADY LOOKS BAD. WHO WOULD THINK THEY WOULD DESIGN A CAR THAT WOULD CONSTANTLY GET ALL SCRAPED UP. IT WOULD BE NICE IF THIS "OPTION" WAS TRULY A OPTION.*AK

I PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX ON NOVEMBER 10, 2003. THE FIRST DAY I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHICH HAS A SLIGHT SLOPE, THE BUMPER DRAGGED ON THE DRIVEWAY. EVEN GOING VERY SLOWLY, I REALIZED THAT THE FRONT END OF THIS VEHICLE WAS ENTIRELY TOO LOW. ON NOVEMBER 17, PULLING OUT FROM A STORE, I NOTICED IT WAS STILL DRAGGING AND THE DRIVE WAS NOT AS MUCH OF A SLOPE AS MY DRIVE. I NOTIFIED CLASSIC TOYOTA WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON NOVEMBER 17 ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WENT IN TO SPEAK WITH THEM ON NOVEMBER 22 SINCE I LIVED AN HOUR AWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT ONCE I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE FRONT BUMPER, THEY NOTICED THAT IT WAS COMING A PART. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I TOOK IT TO THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT. THE GENTLEMAN THERE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE BUMPER AND HE HAD REPLACED SEVERAL. HE SAID THEY EVEN HAD TO REPLACE THE ONES ON THEIR OWN LEASE CARS AND BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT COMPLAINTS. THIS FRONT BUMPER IS BARELY 2 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. TOYOTA TOLD ME TO JUST PARK ON THE ROAD WHENEVER TO AVOID ANY SLOOPS. I AM 20 YEARS OLD AND WAS VERY PROUD OF PAYING FOR MY FIRST VEHICLE. TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING. I HAVE TAKEN ALL NECESSARY CARE TO USE MY VEHICLE IN THE MANNER IT WAS INTENDED, JUST DRIVE IT AND MY ABILITY TO DO THIS IS IMPAIRED BY THEIR DESIGN DEFECT. THE PARTS DEPARTMENT WILL CHANGE THE BUMPER OUT TO THEIR OTHER MAKE FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT THEY ARE CHARGING ME FOR IT. *LA

DASHBOARD REFLECTS OFF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IMPAIRS VISIBILITY. *AK IMAGES REFLECTED ALL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY/NIGHT. *PH *JB