2008 Toyota Matrix Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON IN ORDER TO DRIVE PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SAME FAILURE OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES, ESPECIALLY AT RED LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BENNETT TOYOTA (1951 LEHIGH ST, ALLENTOWN, PA 18103), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 97,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF THE CONTACT MADE AN UNEXPECTED STOP CAUSING THE CONTACT TO REAR END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THERE WAS FRONT-END DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THEIR NOSE AND NEEDED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION CENTER HOWEVER, WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEIR VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 235,000.

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V127000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

TAKATA RECALL TOYOTA SEND ME A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE (INTERIM NOTICE) RE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INITIATOR MODULE. THEY HAD THE AUDACITY TO SAY THAT "UNTIL THE REMEDY BECOMES AVAILABLE IN YOUR LOCATION, WE RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO NOT OPERATE THE VEHICLE WITH AN OCCUPANT IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT"!!! THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE, ESPECIALLY SINCE WE LIVE IN AN AREA THAT RECEIVES LOTS OF HUMIDITY (TOYOTA SAYS THEY ARE PRIORITIZING PART REPLACEMENTS IN GEOGRAPHIC LOCATIONS THAT ARE SUBJECT TO CONSISTENTLY HIGH ABSOLUTE HUMIDITY, BUT THEY DO NOT LIST WHICH AREAS THEY THINK THIS APPLIES TO. WHERE WE LIVE CERTAINLY MEETS THE HIGH MOISTURE CRITERIA). OUR COMPLAINT IS THAT TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THE PARTS NOW!!), PLEASE INSIST THEY RECTIFY THEIR DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS NOW FOR OUR CAR IN THIS HIGH-HUMIDITY LOCALE. ON ANOTHER NOTE, THIS TOYOTA VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE: WATER PUMP REPLACED NOT LONG AFTER PURCHASE (WHEN CAR WAS BASICALLY STILL BRAND NEW), HUB CAPS THAT FALL OFF CONSTANTLY, AND MOST FRUSTRATING OF ALL, A VIBRATION/NOISE FROM THE FRONT END THAT THE DEALER REFUSED TO FIX. THE DEALER MISDIAGNOSED THE NOISE/VIBRATION BY REPLACING THE WRONG FRONT WHEEL BEARING. WHEN WE TOLD THEM THE NOISE PERSISTED, THE TOYOTA DEALER SAID THE WARRANTY WAS OVER & WOULD NOT FIX THEIR PREVIOUS ERROR!! NOW TOYOTA UNSCRUPULOUSLY SENDS AN INTERIM NOTICE OF A DEFECT THAT COULD KILL A PASSENGER IN OUR CAR. AS BEFORE, PLEASE MAKE TOYOTA FIX THE AIRBAG NOW SO WE CAN USE THE CAR SAFELY NOW!

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V127000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

DANGEROUS, POOR TRACTION ON WET PAVEMENT SUMITOMO TOUR PLUS LS-H WHEN ON A STEEP ROAD IN SAN FRANCISCO, MY TIRES SKIDDED RATHER THAN GRAB THE ROAD ON A RAINY DAY IN THE WINTER OF 2016. THIS ALSO HAPPENED DURING THE WINTER OF 2017. IT IS DANGEROUS. I NEED TO CHANGE THE TIRES BEFORE SELLING MY CAR TO ANOTHER PERSON.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM PARK, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH AND SHIFT THE GEAR SHIFTER IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR. WHEN I STARTED IT IN MY DRIVEWAY AND PUT IN REVERSE THE CAR IMMEDIATELY WHEN SPEEDING BACKWARD OUT OF CONTROL. I ENGAGED THE CLUTCH WHILE THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPEED IN REVERSE THEN MOVED TO 1 GEAR AND THE CAR STARTED SPEEDING FORWARD OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN IT OFF TO STOP THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHEN THE CONTACT TURNED THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE STARTED BUT SOME OF THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT NO FAILURES WERE FOUND. AS TIME WENT ON, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECU NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHO REQUESTED THAT THE DEALER PERFORM ANOTHER DIAGNOSTIC BEFORE ANY REPAIR DECISION COULD BE MADE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AFTER THE ENGINE AND POWER STEERING FLUID WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND BACK ON, THE WARNING INDICATORS WERE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V384000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF 45-50 MPH, MY CAR ENGINE SHUT OFF, ALMOST CAUSING ME TO CRASH. I I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP ON A BUSY HIGHWAY WHEN I CLEARLY SAW MY ENGINE LIGHT ON. I COULD NOT RESTART MY CAR. I WAITED 5 MINUTES AND I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR BUT ONLY DRIVE ANOTHER MILE AT SPEED OF 45-50 MPH BEFORE MY CAR ENGINE AGAIN SHUT OFF. I THEN HAD TO HAVE MY CAR TOWED TO A LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO LOOK AT MY CAR UNTIL THE MORNING. IN THE MORNING I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY MECHANIC THAT IT IS THE ECM AND TOYOTA HAD A RECALL ON MY MAKE/MODEL AND YEAR. TOYOTA AND MY MECHANIC CONVERSED ABOUT THE ISSUE AND AGAIN I HAD TO PAY FOR MY CAR TO BE TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I THEN HAD APPOINTMENT WITH TOYOTA AT 1PM. FROM 2PM-430PM, I CALLED TOYOTA TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE ABOUT MY CAR, THEY KEPT TELLING ME THEY WOULD CALL ME BACK. FINALLY THE SAME PERSON THAT SPOKE TO MY MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY MAKE/MODEL AND YEAR AND THEY HAVE NOT LOOKED AT MY CAR YET...4 HOURS AFTER MY APPOINTMENT. IT IS ON TOYOTA WEBSITE, HTTP://PRESSROOM.TOYOTA.COM/ARTICLE_DISPLAY.CFM?ARTICLE_ID=2056 "TOYOTA MOTOR SALES (TMS), U.S.A., INC., TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL INVOLVING APPROXIMATELY 1.13 MILLION 2005-2008 MODEL YEAR TOYOTA COROLLA AND COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES SOLD IN THE UNITED STATES TO ADDRESS SOME ENGINE CONTROL MODULES (ECM) THAT MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. NO OTHER TOYOTA OR LEXUS VEHICLES ARE INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL." "ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 1ZZ-FE ENGINE AND TWO-WHEEL DRIVE". MY CAR IS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH A 1ZZ-FE ENGINE, AND AFTER CALLING TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA NATIONAL, THEY ARE REFUSING TO HONOR MY RECALL. EVEN WHEN THE WEBSITE STATES "AS PART OF THE RECALL, THE ECM ON INVOLVED VEHICLES WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER." *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A LEFT TURN INTO A PARKING SPACE WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY AND JUMPED A CURB BEFORE CRASHING INTO A TRASH BIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES BUT THE POLICE WERE CONTACTED AND REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,651 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 42,680. UPDATED 04/13/12 *BF..UPDATED 04/18/12*BF THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 5 MPH. AS HE TURNED INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED UNEXPECTEDLY AND JUMPED THE CURB BEFORE CRASHING INTO A HEAVY CONCRETE TRASH BIN. THE CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, BUT THE WHEELS CONTINUED TO REV. BY THIS TIME, SMOKE WAS CREATED BY THE TIRES BURNING. THE WHEELS DID NOT CEASE REVVING UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF A FEW SECONDS LATER. THE IMPACT MOVED THE CONCRETE BIN ABOUT 1 1/2 FEET FORWARD INTO THE ADJACENT BUILDING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. UPDATED 06/05/12 THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER RECOMMENDED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED IN NINE DAYS. COLLISION CENTER DID NOT FIND ANY BROKEN CABLES OR WIRES THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THE INCIDENT. UPDATED 06/15/2012 *JS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT PROGRESSED INTERMITTENTLY FOR THREE YEARS. IN ADDITION, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FLICKERED, VARIOUS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL LIGHTS RANDOMLY ILLUMINATED, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE EXTREMELY TIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRST DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE FIRST DEALER WHO THEN FLUSHED THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, REPLACED THE DRIVE BELT, AND INSPECTED THE ECU FOR AN INTERNAL FAILURE. THE FIRST DEALER REPLACED THE ECU AND RESTRUCTURED THE MAIN CONTROL PLUG ON THE BODY CONTROL MODULE, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RANDOMLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SECOND DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE JUNCTION CONTROL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,318.

I NOTICED A CHIRPING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE. MY HUSBAND TOOK THE MATRIX TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHO ADVISED US, UPON INSPECTION THAT THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE LIFTER ARM HADSHEARED OFF INSIDE THE ENGINE. WE ARE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT THIS DID NOT RESULT IN AN INJURY ACCIDENT WHILST TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS! THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID HE HAD ONLY SEEN THIS HAPPEN BEFORE WHEN A BELT WAS REPLACED. THE ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED SINCE THE DEALER AND TOYOTA SEEM TO FEEL THAT IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM. THE DEALER QUOTED $2200+ AND ADVISED THAT IF THEY CANNOT DRILL THE BOLT OUT, THAT THE SHORT BLOCK WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACTED RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF CONCERNING NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V384000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIRS FEBRUARY 2011. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR REPAIRS WAS NOT READILY AVAILABLE AND THAT HE WOULD BE CONTACTED WHEN THE PART BECAME AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAIT HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,300. UPDATED 3/28/11 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THE RECALL WAS PERFORMED ON MARCH 17, 2011. UPDATED 03/30/11

2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO TOYOTA COMPUTER SAFETY RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER HAD NOT REPLACED THE ECM, BUT CLAIMED IT WAS REPLACED. *JS

SAFETY RECALL LETTER RECEIVED NOVEMBER 2010, PART AVAILABLE MARCH 2011 MADE APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER MARCH 5TH 2011 DEALER SAID I NEED THE REPLACEMENT PART FOR THE ECM BUT NO PART AVAILABLE WILL CALL WHEN PART IS AVAILABLE. NO CONTACT SINCE. RECEIVED YET ANOTHER RECALL LETTER AUGUST 15, 2011 STARTING THE PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN. I HAVE COMPLIED BUT WASTED MY TIME ALREADY WITH NO RESULTS. IT IS NOW AUGUST 2011. *KB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 10V384000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT THE PARTS NECESSARY TO REMEDY THE RECALL WERE UNAVAILABLE. APPROXIMATELY SIX MONTHS LATER, THE CONTACT WAS STILL BEING TOLD THAT THE PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN 2008 MATRIX AUTOMATIC: FIRST KNOWN FAILURE. CAR BROUGHT NEW IN SEPTEMBER 2007; ODOMETER: 6000 MILES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON EVEN STRAIGHT SMOOTH ROADWAY, THERE WAS A SUDDEN ACCELERATION TO GREATER THAN 70 MPH. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THEY DEPRESSED TO FLOOR WITHOUT ANY EFFECT. CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY. SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT SUCCESS. CAR SLOWED AFTER BEING PLACED IN REVERSE. COASTED TO A STOP. PLACED GEAR IN 2 AND DROVE SLOWLY HOME - APPROXIMATELY 1/2 MILE. FLOOR MATS WERE NOT NEAR EITHER PEDAL AND WERE KEPT STATIONARY BY HOOKS DESIGNED TO KEEP MATS FROM SHIFTING. CALLED TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT: TOLD THAT FLOOR MATS WERE THE PROBLEM; TALKED TO SERVICE MANAGERS WHO STATED THAT THE SEQUENCE OF EVENTS DESCRIBED WERE IMPOSSIBLE, NO PROBLEMS WERE KNOWN TO EXIST FOR MATRIX AND GREATER THAN 99% OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS WERE DUE TO DRIVER ERROR. AFTER A DISCUSSION, THE CAR WAS EVALUATED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE FOLLOWING WAS REPORTED: FLOOR MATS HELD IN PROPER PLACE NO OBJECTS ON FLOOR NORMAL BRAKE PEDAL OPERATION NORMAL ACCELERATOR PEDAL OPERATION HEALTH CHECK - POWERTRAIN, CHASSIS, ELECTRICAL, NETWORK SYSTEMS - OK COMPUTER CODES - NO ABNORMALITIES FOUND NORMAL THROTTLE BODY INSPECTION TIRES WITH NORMAL WEAR & FUNCTION PROBLEM WAS NOT DUPLICATED ON TEST DRIVE. WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR IS FUNCTIONING NORMALLY IN ALL AREAS AND HAS NO PROBLEMS. IMPLIED THAT MY EXPERIENCE WAS A MISPERCEPTION OR MISREPRESENTATION. ASSESSMENT: THERE WAS A SIGNIFICANT MALFUNCTION IN THE MATRIX WHICH COULD HAVE LED TO CRITICAL INJURIES OR LOSS OF LIFE. ONLY DUE TO THE TRAFFIC FLOW AT PRECISELY THAT MOMENT, NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENTS DENIED THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTS. RECOMMENDATION: SUDDEN UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED UNTIL AN ANSWER /SOLUTION IS FOUND. THE FINDINGS SHOULD BE SHARED WITH THE PUBLIC. THE COST FOR REPAIRS SHOULD BE PAID BY TOYOTA. *TR

ON MAY 28TH, WHILE PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY AS I'VE DONE WITH MY 2008 MATRIX HUNDREDS OF TIMES, THE BRAKES FAILED AND MY CAR RAN INTO MY HOUSE. I COULD FEEL THE ABS FIRING, BUT THE CAR FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. I HAVE A SHORT DRIVEWAY, ABOUT A CAR AND A HALF IN LENGTH, AND IT IS DOWNHILL. THE APPROACH TO THE DRIVEWAY HAS ME TURNING AND BRAKING WHILE GOING OVER THE BUMP OF THE CURB. TO ADD TO THAT, IT WAS RAINING THE DAY THIS HAPPENED. FORTUNATELY, MY APPROACH WAS RATHER SLOW AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. MY CAR SUSTAINED SOME MINOR DAMAGE, AND MY GARAGE SUSTAINED MORE DAMAGE FROM THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT. UNDER THE ADVISEMENT OF MY AUTO INSURANCE AGENCY, I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY RAN A COMPLETE DIAGNOSTIC, AND ALL OF THE SYSTEMS WERE RUNNING FINE. THEY REPORTED TO ME THAT THE BRAKE PADS WERE IN GOOD CONDITION, AND THERE WERE NO HOT SPOTS. FROM THEIR PERSPECTIVE, THE CAR SEEMED FINE. I ADVISED THEM THAT WHILE THE DIAGNOSTICS REPORTED THE CAR AS BEING FINE, THE INABILITY FOR THE CAR TO BRAKE COMING INTO MY DRIVEWAY, AND THE DAMAGE SUSTAINED, LEAVES ME NEEDING A BETTER ANSWER THAN THAT. THEY TOLD ME THAT WHEN IT NEXT RAINED THAT I COULD COME IN AND DRIVE THE CAR WITH ONE OF THEIR TECHNICIANS TO TRY AND RE-CREATE THE ISSUE. IT HAS BEEN SEVERAL WEEKS, AND WE HAVE NOT HAD THE PROPER WEATHER CONDITIONS WHEN THEY HAVE BEEN OPEN AND I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OFF WORK AND GET OVER THERE WITH OUR ONE REMAINING CAR. WHEN I SPOKE TO THE DEALER REP ON MONDAY, HE RE-ITERATED HOW THEIR SOFTWARE DIAGNOSTIC SHOWED THE CAR WAS OPERATING FINE. I ASKED HIM HOW THEN THE 2010 PRIUS HAD A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO CORRECT A BRAKING ISSUE. HE SAID THAT THE PRIUS SITUATION WAS COMPLICATED, BROUGHT ON BY THE COMBINATION OF TURNING, GOING OVER A BUMP AND BRAKING AT THE SAME TIME. I TOLD HIM THAT WAS WHAT HAPPENED DURING MY ACCIDENT. THERE WAS SILENCE, AND A REPEAT STATEMENT THAT I COULD COME IN AND TEST THE VEHICLE WITH THEIR TECH. *TR

AFTER PURCHASING GAS AT 6:30 A.M., I STARTED MY 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX AND WAS ROLLING SLOWLY OUT A SLIGHT INCLINE TO THE STREET. THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD AND I JAMMED FIRST ONE FOOT THEN BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE WHILE PULLING UP THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. IT FELT LIKE HOLDING BACK A HORSE AT THE STARTING GATE. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND THE ENGINE BEGAN RACING LIKE IT DOES DURING AN AUTO EMISSIONS TEST. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND IT STOPPED. I FINALLY GOT THE NERVE TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND IT PERFORMED NORMALLY AS IT HAS SINCE. I TOOK THE CAR TO PERFORMANCE TOYOTA IN FAIRFIELD OHIO ON APRIL 3RD AS INSTRUCTED BY THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SO THEY COULD TRY TO RECREATE THE SITUATION AND HAVE IT ON RECORD THAT I EXPERIENCED THIS INCIDENT. *TR

TOYOTA MATRIX XR 2008:BOUGHT NEW. ONE DRIVER CAR. TWENTY-TWO MONTHS OF DRIVING WITH 11,000 MILES ON IT. TOOK TO DEALER ON MARCH 12, 2010 BECAUSE LEAKING TRANSMISSION FLUID. DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY HARMONIC EQUALIZER ON FRONT AXLE WHICH CAUSED SCARING ON AXLE AND INSIDE TRANSMISSION INSTALLED NEW AXLE AND TRANSMISSION. TEN MINUTES AFTER PICKING UP CAR AFTER FIRST PROBLEM CORRECTED: CAR LOST POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING. NEARLY KILLED BY SEMI-TRUCK BUT AVOIDED ACCIDENT. DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY COMPUTER. DEALER INSTALLING NEW COMPUTER NOW. UPDATED 03/29/10 *BF UPDATED 05/05/10.*JB

ON FEBRUARY 28TH I WAS STOPPED AT THE CORNER OF VINE AND GALBRAITH AT A LIGHT. THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND WHEN I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE IT KIND OF LOCKED AND DID NOT STOP THE CAR- I PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE UP AND THE CAR STOPPED. THERE WAS A PEDESTRAIN THAT WAS CROSSING THE STREET THAT I NEARLY HIT. *TR

I'M READING ABOUT THE RECENT RECALL OF THE TOYOTA PRIUS INVOLVING BRAKE PROBLEMS - A MOMENTARY LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY WHILE TRAVELING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD SURFACE, POTHOLE OR BUMP. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING IN MY 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. I'D LIKE TO GO ON RECORD THAT THIS PROBLEM EXTENDS TO MATRIX MODELS. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE TO BE ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. I THOUGHT THIS WAS A SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED WITH IBS BRAKES. *TR

THE BRAKES ON MY 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX FAILED AGAIN JANUARY 30, 2010. THE BRAKE PEDAL WILL NOT DEPRESS FOR A MOMENT AND THEN ONCE THE PRESSURE IS TAKEN OFF AND REAPPLIED IT WILL ENGAGE. IT HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT STARTED SEPT. 2009. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE ORIGINAL DEALER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS AND THE TECHNICIANS COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CASE WENT TO ARBITRATION AND WAS FOUND IN FAVOR OF TOYOTA. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO TOYOTA SEVERAL TIMES AFTER ARBITRATION. THEY KEPT IT FOR SEVERAL DAYS AND PUT 4 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THEY SCHEDULED A "LEAD" TECHNICIAN TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND CANCELED THE APPOINTMENT THE DAY BEFORE. UNFORTUNATELY I FELT THAT NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO TOYOTA IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE TREATED AS A SERIOUS MATTER. *TR

ON THE EVENING OF JANUARY 26, 2010, I WAS DRIVING MY 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX AND REAR ENDED ANOTHER DRIVER. PRIOR TO THE CRASH, I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT ROUGHLY 35 MPH. THERE WERE NO OTHER PEOPLE IN MY CAR AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. THE IMPACT WAS GREAT ENOUGH FOR THE DRIVER AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. THE REAR SEATS ARE A 60/40 SPLIT; THE 60 SIDE HELD A CHILD'S BOOSTER SEAT AND THE 40 SIDE HELD A CHILD'S CARSEAT. BOTH SIDES WERE LOCKED INTO PLACE PRIOR TO THE CRASH. AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH, THE 60 SIDE FLEW FORWARD, SMASHING THE BOOSTER SEAT IN BETWEEN THE FRONT SEAT AND THE, NOW FLAT, REAR SEAT. THE 40 SIDE REMAINED IN PLACE, DUE TO THE CARSEAT BEING LOCKED INTO PLACE, HOWEVER WHEN THE CARSEAT WAS REMOVED, I DETERMINED THAT THE 40 SIDE OF THE REAR SEAT WAS NOT LOCKED INTO PLACE, JUST LIKE THE 60 SIDE. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE, DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE CAR IS MOST LIKELY CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. *TR

I HAVE HAD MY TOYOTA MATRIX FOR ALMOST A YEAR WHEN IT STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS. THE ISSUE FOR ME WAS COMING TO A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP EVEN THOUGH I WAS BRAKING HARD. IT KEPT ROLLING FORWARD. YOU COULD HEAR THE ACCELERATION. PUTTING IT IN NEUTRAL WAS NOT AN OPTION WHEN YOU ARE SITTING IN TRAFFIC AT A LIGHT. I COULD EITHER REAR END THE CAR AHEAD OF ME OR GET REAR ENDED BY THE CAR BEHIND ME. I HAD TO STOP THE CAR BY PUTTING IT IN PARK. THE CAR "BUCKED." IT STOPPED THE CAR AND FOR THAT I WAS GRATEFUL BECAUSE IT JUST KEPT MOVING. I WAS ON A CELL PHONE CALL WHEN IT HAPPENED ANOTHER TIME GOING INTO A GARAGE. THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP AGAIN. MY FRIEND COULD HEAR THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR THROUGH THE CELL PHONE. I COULDN'T STOP THE CAR WITH MY BRAKE. AGAIN I HAD TO PUT IT INTO PARK AND IT BUCKED AGAIN. I REPORTED IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON 12/9/09. I CALLED THE SERVICE MANAGER AFTER THAT DATE AND HE TOLD ME TO BRING THE CAR BACK AND I DID ON 2/19/10. THE PEDAL WAS REPLACED ON 3/4/10 AND ON WEEK OF 3/8/10 I EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUE OF THE CAR NOT STOPPING AND THE ACCELERATOR STICKING 3 TIMES IN ONE WEEK. THAT'S AFTER THE PEDAL WAS REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED MY CAR OUT ON EACH OCCASION. I HAVE DOCUMENTATION FOR ALL THESE VISITS AND OPENED IT LOOKS LIKE 2 ACCOUNTS WITH TOYOTA OF AMERICA #[XXX] AND #[XXX]. THEY HAVE REPEATEDLY TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG EVEN AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 4 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND DRIVING 4 MILES IS LUDICROUS IN ORDER TO SEE IF THEY CAN EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THEY HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE DIAGNOSTIC WORKUPS ON THE CAR. THEY WILL NOT CHECK THE COMPUTER OR ELECTRONICS AS THEY SAY IT IS NOT THE PROBLEM. HELP. I AM IN TRAFFIC EVERYDAY. I DON'T KNOW WHEN THE FAILURE WILL POP UP ON ME. I NOW HAVE TO GET RID OF THIS CAR AND I CAN'T SELL IT TO SOMEONE PRIVATELY AS I WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING HAPPENING TO THAT PERSON. PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. *TR

MY 2008 MATRIX ENGINE RACES UP, AND REACHES SPEEDS OF 90 WITH OUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS. IT HAPPENED FOR THE FIRST TIME ALMOST A YEAR AGO. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS NOTHING, COULD IT HAVE BEEN THE MATS.... I DIDN'T HAVE MATS IN MY CAR. I HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO USE MY CRUISE CONTROL, THE ENGINE RPM GOES REALLY HIGH, LIKE IT IS GOING TO RACE. MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING THE CAR OVER THE WEEKEND AND IT RACED, HE WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. WENT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. EVERY TIME I HAVE BROUGHT MY CAR IN THEY SAY THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IT USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR FOR 30 OR MINUTES. I'M TRYING NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT, BUT I'M SURE THAT THERE ARE OTHER PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CARS, TAKE THEM TO THE SHOP AND ARE BEING TOLD THAT THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE A PROBLEM. ANY ONE WHO KNOWS ANYTHING KNOWS ANYTHING KNOWS THAT 9/10 THE MECHANIC CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *TR

SEVERAL MONTHS AGO I DROVE THROUGH A PUDDLE OF WATER IN OUR PARKING LOT AT WORK. IT WAS STORMING WITH THE WIND BLOWING AS WELL. WHEN I DROVE THROUGH THE PUDDLE, MY BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON AND I LOST STEERING. THEN ENGINE NEVER STOPPED. ONCE I TRAVELED A FEW YARDS, THE STEERING STARTED WORKING AND THE BATTERY LIGHT WENT OFF. IT HAPPENED ANOTHER 3 MORE TIMES BEFORE I EVER LEFT MY WORK FACILITY. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO CHECK IT OUT. THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I TOLD THEM SOMETHING MAKES ME LOSE STEERING ASSOCIATED WITH WATER. THE GENTLEMAN AT TOYOTA TOLD ME NOT TO DRIVE THROUGH PUDDLES. I DID NOT THINK IT WAS FUNNY. IT HAS HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES WITH MY HUSBAND DRIVING. WE LIVE IN LOUISIANA AND IT RAINS. I CAN NOT AVOID GOING THROUGH WATER WHEN IT RAINS. I NEED HELP. *TR

2008 TOYOTA MATRIX DEVELOPED A GRUNTING/RATTLING SOUND WHEN THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS ACTIVATED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. DEACTIVATING THE CRUISE CONTROL DIDN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT FIRST DISAPPEARED AFTER PULLING OFF THE HIGH WAY, SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE AND HENCE RESETTING THE SYSTEMS. WHICH PROBLEM HAS BEEN FIXED BY TOYOTA NEWBURGH NY SWIFTLY, WITH THE REMARK THAT THIS WAS SOMETHING THEY HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED BEFORE. IN THE LIGHT OF THE ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS THAT CONTINUE TO PLAGUE US ALL THIS MIGHT BE AN ITEM OF INTEREST ON YOUR BEHALF? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATE SPEEDS OF 35 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, A VEHICLE AHEAD OF HIM APPLIED THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE AND ALSO A THIRD VEHICLE. ONE OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS WAS INJURED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT GIVEN A COPY OF THE POLICE REPORT. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR AN ASSESSMENT OF THE DAMAGES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

VERY SIMILAR TO ODI ID NO. 10219567 EXCEPT I WAS ALREADY ON THE INTERSTATE. LEFT REAR PASSENGER WINDOW SHATTERED SPONTANEOUSLY. SUNNY DAY, TEMPERATURE NEAR 70, TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 69 MPH, NO TRUCKS NEARBY. WINDOW HAS NOW BEEN REPLACED; DEALERSHIP SAID IT SEARCHED FOR BUT COULD FIND NO EVIDENCE OF ROCK OR PEBBLE. *TR

WITHOUT WARNING MY 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. I'M TOLD I NEED A NEW ONE, AND MY CAR HAS ONLY 60,560 MILES. *TR

2008 TOYOTA MATRIX XR....CAR DRIFTS SEVERELY TO THE LEFT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS...ESPECIALLY WHEN IN THE LEFT LANE. I REALIZE THERE IS A CROWN TO EVERY ROAD, BUT OUR OTHER VEHICLES DO NOT DO THIS ON THE SAME STRETCH OF HIGHWAY IN ANY LANES. TO GIVE AN INDICATION OF THE SEVERITY, AT 65+MPH, THE CAR WOULD BE IN THE MEDIAN WITHIN 2-3 SECONDS WITHOUT THE CONSTANT RIGHTWARD PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I DID NOT NOTICE THE DRIFT ON THE TEST DRIVE AT THE DEALER. FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, THE NEW ROADWAY NEAR THE DEALER IS NEARLY PERFECTLY FLAT. ALSO, THE CAR DOES NOT SEEM TO DRIFT AS MUCH WITH TWO ADULTS IN THE CAR AS WAS THE CASE DURING THE TEST DRIVE. I NOTICED IT IMMEDIATELY UPON DRIVING THE CAR A LONGER DISTANCE ON OTHER MAJOR HIGHWAYS WITH ONLY MYSELF IN THE CAR. I NOTIFIED THE SALESMAN RIGHT AWAY. I HAVE NOT YET HAD AN ACCIDENT, BUT MUST MAINTAIN CONSTANT RIGHTWARD PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL...ESPECIALLY ANY TIME I VENTURE INTO THE LEFT LANE. IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH OF A DISTRACTION TO IMAGINE A SCENARIO WHERE THE CAR DRIFTS INTO THE ONCOMING LANE, OR WORSE, AN ONCOMING CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALER THREE TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. NOW I AM GETTING THE RUN-AROUND (DEALER FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE CAR IS TRYING TO PUSH ME OFF ON ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER WHO DID THE FIRST "WARRANTY" ALIGNMENT WHICH DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE. *TR

2008 TOYOTA MATRIX HAS PREMATURE TIRE WEAR IN TIRES AFTER ONLY 15,000 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THIS IS NORMAL AND THAT I HAVE TO PAY TO REPLACE THE TIRES. THE TIRES ARE NOT DEFECTIVE, IT IS THE ALIGNMENT IN THE CAR. *TR

ON MAY 16TH I WAS REAR-ENDED WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT. MY 2008 MATRIX XR WAS PUSHED INTO THE BACK OF A SCHOOL BUS. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT CRUMPLED THE FRONT END OF MY CAR, YET THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. SHOULD IT HAVE? I CAN SEND YOU PHOTOS OF THE ACCIDENT AND THE DAMAGE TO MY CAR. *TR

DRIVING NEW TOYOTA MATRIX (<400 MILES) ENTERING FREEWAY, HEAR A POP BEHIND DRIVER. CAR CONTINUES TO DRIVE FINE. WHEN STOPPED, NOTICED THAT ENTIRE REAR QUARTER WINDOW GLASS IS SHATTERED. NO EVIDENCE OF HAVING BEEN HIT BY ANYTHING (HIGHLY IMPROBABLE GIVEN CIRCUMSTANCES OF WHEN POP WAS HEARD). NO HOLE IN WINDOW. BY THWE NEXT DAY SHATTERED WINDOW GLASS IS FALLING OUT OF FRAME. DEALER NOTIFIED , TAKING NO ACTION AS YET. REAR PASSENGER, IF PRESENT, WOULD HAVE BEEN ENDANGERED BY THE SHATTERED GLASS. *TR

2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH DESIGN OR MANUFACTURER FLAW. CONSUMER SEEKS REPAIR COST*TGW WHILE DRIVING, THERE WAS A SUCCESSION OF LOUD NOISES FOLLOWED BY A HUGE BANG. AT THE SAME TIME, THE VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT AND ROLLED OFF THE ROAD INTO SOME BUSHES BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. WHEN THE CONSUMERS WIFE EXITED THE VEHICLE, SHE DISCOVERED A LONG PIECE OF BLACK PLASTIC A FOOT WIDE LYING BEHIND THE VEHICLE. NOT KNOWING WHAT IT WAS, SHE PLACED IT IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE AND DROVE HOME. THE CONSUMER IDENTIFIED THE LARGE PIECE OF PLASTIC AS THE LINING FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL WHICH HAD BEEN TORN COMPLETELY AWAY AND WAS THEN RUN OVER BY THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER ARGUED THAT THE FLIMSY CLIP HOLDING THE LEAD EDGE OF THE LINER TO THE BODY HAD FAILED, WHICH ALLOWED AIR TO GET UNDER THE LINER WHICH PEELED ALL THE WAY OFF AFTER BECOMING ENTANGLED WITH THE TIRE. *JB