2004 Toyota Matrix Complaint Log

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.

2004 MATRIX STEERING,THE STEERING LOCKED UP. WHEN I TRY TO TURN IT, THERE IS A HARSH JERK IT UNLOCKED,CAUSING THE CAR TO GO FROM LEFT TO RIGHT THEN IT DID A 360 SPIN AND WENT INTO THE BUSHES,THIS ALL HAPPENED ON 07/07/07 ON THE NORTHERN STATE PARKWAY LONG ISLAND NEW YORK, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE WEEK BEFORE SHE TOLD ME ABOUT THE STEERING NOT WORKING WELL,SO I TOLD HER THAT I WOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BUT DID NOT MADE IT,SHE DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT ANY LONGER, SHE IS VERY SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT 60,000 MILES, THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND REAR AXLE FAILED. THIS INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 123,000. UPDATED 3/16/09 *CN UPDATED 03/18/09.*JB

AFTER LAST OIL CHANGE, OIL WAS GEL-LIKE, ENGINE MADE TAPPING NOISE...TOOK TO DEALER WITH A LIST OF OTHER PROBLEMS, AC NOT COLD, HEATER NOT BLOWING HOT, WINDOW JUMPING WHEN ROLLING DOWN, AND TIRES MAKING FUNNY NOISE. WAS TOLD ENGINE NOISE WAS NORMAL, FIXED AC AGAIN, 3RD TIME, HEATER HAD LOOSE PART TIGHTEN, WINDOW PART ORDERED, TIRE HAD FLAT SPOT, LAST TIME WAS WATER IN WHEEL. CRASH DID NOT DAMAGE ENGINE, OR WINDOWS, OR TIRES. *JB

PASSENGER POWER FRONT WINDOW MAKES A POPPING/CLICKING NOISE DURING OPERATION. *TR

2004 TOYOTA MATRIX - WINDOWS, DOOR HANDLES AND SURGING ELECTRIC WINDOWS RATTLE, GRIND AND POP. DEALER COULD NOT ADDRESS PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY THE WINDOW FELL OUT. ENGINE SURGES WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT OR IN TRAFFIC. DEALER COULD NOT ADDRESS PROBLEM. THE DOOR HANDLES HAVE A "METALLIC" FINISH THAT PEELS AWAY. OCCUPANTS HAVE CUT THEIR FINGERS ON THE EDGE OF METAL/PLASTIC THAT WAS COMING AWAY. EVENTUALLY GOT WORSE TO WHERE YOU COULD SEE THE WHITE PLASTIC HANDLE UNDERNEATH SO I PEELED AWAY THE REMAINING SHARP EDGES AND CAUTION OCCUPANTS. DEALER OFFERED TO REPAIR AT MY EXPENSE. CONTACTED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE CENTER AND WAS REFERRED BACK TO A DEALER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BOTH THE STEERING AND BRAKE PEDAL WOULD VIBRATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY RESURFACED THE ROTORS AND REPLACED THE PADS AT 18,430 MILES AND 33,573 MILES. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 34,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,400. UPDATED 10-07-08 *BF UPDATED 10/15/08. *JB

TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALIGNMENT ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL. CONSTANT INNER TIRE WEAR ISSUES. ALIGNED TO SPEC. EVERY YEAR. SHIM ADDED TO REAR TO CORRECT FACTORY MISALIGNMENT. TIRES BADLY CHOPPED AFTER JUST 15K MILES. *TR

I OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX THAT WAS TOTALLED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN 2006. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND WAS THE ONLY OWNER. AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT MY SISTER WAS DRIVING, AND I WAS THE PASSENGER. BASICALLY, WE WERE DRIVING ON CRUISE CONTROL IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE HIGHWAY, A SEMI CUT US OFF, AND WHEN MY SISTER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE AND THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. I WITNESSED HER PRESSING THE BRAKE, AND NOTHING WAS HAPPENING. MY SISTER SWERVED INTO THE RIGHT LANE TO AVOID REAR-ENDING THE SEMI, LOST CONTROL OF THE CAR, SPUN INTO THE SIDE OF THE SEMI, AND THEN BOUNCED OFF THE SEMI AND RAN OFF THE HIGHWAY. THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE ENGINE, THE SPEED, AND ACCELERATION OF THE CAR DID NOT CHANGE THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE COURSE OF THE ACCIDENT. WHEN THE POLICE CAME OUT, BOTH MY SISTER AND I DESCRIBED THESE EVENTS TO THE POLICE OFFICERS. I ALSO EXPLAINED THIS TO MY INSURANCE COMPANY. AT THE TIME, I BELIEVED SO STRONGLY THAT THE CAR MALFUNCTIONED IN SOME WAY THAT I TRIED TO INVESTIGATE FURTHER, BUT THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOT INTERESTED. AT THE TIME I DID SOME RESEARCH TO SEE IF OTHER DRIVERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS, BUT I COULD FIND NOTHING. SINCE THE CAR WAS TOTALLED, I COULD NOT KEEP THE CAR TO HAVE IT EXAMINED AND I HAD LITTLE CHOICE BUT TO LET THE MATTER GO. NOW IT IS FOUR YEARS LATER AND THERE IS A MASSIVE TOYOTA RECALL, BUT THE 2004 MATRIX IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I FEEL OBLIGATED TO FILE A COMPLAINT, NOT FOR GAIN ON MY PART, BUT BECAUSE I STRONGLY FEEL THAT THE MECHANICAL MALFUNCTIONS IN TOYOTA CARS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FAR LONGER THAN TOYOTA WILL ADMIT, AND THE MALFUNCTIONS ARE MUCH MORE WIDESPREAD THAN THE YEARS AND MODELS CURRENTLY LISTED. I ALSO OWN A 2006 MATRIX THAT IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. I AM BEGGING THAT THERE BE A WIDESPREAD INVESTIGATION TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL THE AFFECTED YEARS AND MODELS ARE ADDED TO THE RECALLS. THIS MUST BE DONE TO SAVE LIVES. *TR

AT TWO YEARS AND ONE MONTH OLD, THE ORIGINAL BATTERY DIED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO HOLD A CHARGE. THIS OCCURRED ON 2/3/06 AT 31,229 MILES. A NEW BATTERY WAS PURCHASED FOR $ 68.06 AND WAS INSTALLED ON 2/6/06. TWO DAYS LATER THE REPLACEMENT BATTERY DIED. IT WAS RECHARGED AND RAN OK FOR A FEW DAYS. IT DIED AGAIN ON 2/12/06. JUST BEFORE THE ORIGINAL BATTERY DIED THE CD PLAYER STOPS WORKING AS DID THE CLOCK. NEITHER OF THESE HAS WORKED EVER SINCE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS UNEVEN, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRES THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000. UPDATED 04/12/11*LJ UPDATED 04/13/11

FIANCE AND I WERE ON THE 210 FREEWAY HEADING EAST. HE SAID WE SHOULD TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHEN I ASKED WHY HE SAID THE STEERING IS ACTING FUNNY. THE SECOND HE FINISHED HIS SENTENCE, THE CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. CAR DID 360 DEGREE TURNS ACROSS FREEWAY (FROM LEFT LANE TO RIGHT LANE) AND OVER THE EDGE, DOWN A HILL, OVER A FENCE, AND INTO A DITCH. MINOR INJURIES. WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN KILLED. CAR WAS TOTALED. ACCIDENT IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A MECHANICAL DEFECT.*JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE VEERED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND THIS CONDITION BECAME WORSE WHILE STOPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THE TIRES WERE THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING PROBLEMS. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TIRES THAT WERE PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE WERE THE WRONG TYPE OF TIRES, WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT END TO BECOME OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED WITH TIRE ROTATION EVERY 3,000 MILES. THERE HAS BEEN NO REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES. THE TIRE LINE IS CONTINENTAL P20555R16. UPDATED 3/20/2006 - THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO AVOID HITTING A DEER BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY TIRE. THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. ON 2/11/2006 THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WHICH RESOLVED THE PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT END . *NM

2004 TOYOTA MATRIX RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A GUARDRAIL. THE ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS SCRAPED AND DENTED INCLUDING THE FENDER, BOTH DOORS, REAR QUARTER AND BOTH BUMPER. *NM

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHEN IN DRIVE, FOOT ON THE BRAKES, THE CAR ON OCCASIONS WILL LURCH FORWARD. THIS HAPPENS EVERY DAY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TOYOTA NUMEROUS TIMES AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE THIS DOCUMENTED BACK TO 2005. *TR

MY 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX HAS EXPEREINCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED IT; I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD BY FURTHER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. BUT ON SATURDAY MARCH 26 WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAPPENED AGAIN AND I WAS UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY STOP MY CAR FROM LURCHING FORWARD. IT MOVED SEVERAL INCES INTO ONCOMING (PERPENDICULAR) TRAFFIC BEFORE I FINALLY THREW IT INTO PARK AND PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP IT. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED BUT IT CAME CLOSE, AND I HAD MY TODDLER IN THE BACK SEAT, SO I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS MATTER. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALERSHIP (OURISMAN TOYOTA IN CHANTILLY, VA) THAT MONDAY, AND THEY KEPT IT FOR TWO DAYS. THEY RAN ALL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS POSSIBLE AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. NOTHING WAS FIXED BECAUSE NO TEST SHOWED A PROBLEM BUT I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR -- THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAPPENS ONLY RANDOMLY AND CANNOT BE PREDICTED. I DRIVE WITH ONLY ONE FOOT SO THIS IS NOT A CASE OF TWO-FOOTED DRIVING AND ACCIDENTAALLY STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR. IN EACH CASE MY FOOT WAS OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND ON THE BRAKE. *AK

I'M VERY HAPPY WITH MY MATRIX EXCEPT FOR ONE THING. THE HUB CAPS ARE SO LOSE. I'M CONSTANTLY PUSHING THEM BACK ON TIGHTER. I HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR MORE THAN A FEW MONTHS AND 3 HUBCAPS HAVE ALREADY FALLEN OFF, WITHINS DAYS OF ME MAKING SURE THEY WERE TIGHT ENOUGH. WHEN THEY FLY OFF MY CAR, ALL THE PIECES THAT HOLD THEM ONTO THE RIM ARE BROKEN OFF AND THEY ARE USELESS. I HAVE LOST 3 HUBCAPS IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS!*AK

ONE YEAR AND ONE MONTH AFTER BUYING THE CAR NEW, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DANGEROUSLY BALD. HAD TO STOP AT THE NEAREST TIRE STORE WHERE I WAS TOLD IF I HAD RUN OVER A DIME I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD A BLOW OUT.THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE CAR. I DON'T HAVE A RECORD OF THE TIRES AND WAS GIVEN NO WARRANTY FROM THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE PURCHASE. THIS EXPERIENCE COST ME $ 434. MILEAGE ON THAT DAY WAS 15,297 MILES. *JB

TOYOTA IS IGNORING THE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM CAUSING UNEVEN TIRE WEAR ON EVERY MODEL AND YEAR OF THE MATRIX. *JB

CLUTCH FAILED AFTER 20K MILES. NON-WARRANTY ITEM. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

LOW SPEED BRAKING VEHICLE MOVES EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. SEVERAL SERVICE VISITS TO DEALER FOR BRAKE REPAIRS, REPLACED ABS SENSOR, BRAKE PADS, TURNED ROTORS, ALIGNMENTS AND TIRE ROTATIONS.*AK

DT: 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX XR, THE VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING YOKE, CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING DID NOT FEEL RIGHT, THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE THE SPLASH GUARD WAS DRAGGING, THE DEALER PUT TWO PINS IN THE SPLASH GUARD, BECAUSE THE PINS WERE MISSING, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN TO BE REPAIRED, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE STEERING YOKE, PREVIOUSLY THE TRANSMISSION HAD WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO HAVE A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM IT. THE CONSUMER TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE CASE AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR A YOKE REPLACEMENT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT IT IS ON BACK ORDER, ALL THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE STEERING WAS NOT STILL UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST TIME THE CONSUMER TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY NOW, THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MAY 2003. *NM THE CLICKING NOISE IS STILL PRESENT WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. *SC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. HE STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STOP SIGN WITH HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKES, IT SURGED FORWARD . HE WOULD HAD TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE . THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND NOT TO WORRY ABOUT IT. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEGUN TO SURGE EVERY SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100000. UPDATED 05/10/10*JB

I BOUGHT A SET OF 4 "TIRE MINDER" BRAND 28-32 PSI TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING VALVE CAPS AT BROOKSTONE ON JUL 27, 2004. I INSTALLED THEM ON THE TIRES OF A NEW 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX ACCORDING TO THE PACKAGE INSTRUCTIONS. (NO VALVE EXTENSTIONS AND MAKING SURE "O" RING WAS IN PLACE, PRESSURE MEASURED BY 2 GUAGES AT 30 PSI.) ALL THE CAPS HELD PRESSURE AND WORKED CORRECTLY FOR APPROX 24HRS. THEN THE FIRST CAP FAILED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY RELEASING THE AIR WITHIN SECONDS. APPROX 12 HRS LATER THE 2ND CAP FAILED IN SIMILAR FASHION. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS NOT BENG DRIVEN AT THE TIME OR ELSE AN ACCIDENT MAY HAVE RECURRED. I REMOVED THE REMAINING 2 CAPS. I CONTACTED BROOKSTONE AND REPORTED THE ISSUE. THEY OFFERED TO REFUND MONEY BUT NO OTHER ACTION. I STILL HAVE THE CAPS. I WOULD BE WILLING TO SEND THEM TO A TESTING LAB FOR ANALYSIS. *AK

2004 TOYOTA MATRIX DRIFTED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER LOSING CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPING OVER.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED ONCE MORE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT, HIT A DITCH, WENT AIRBORNE AND FLIPPED. TOYOTA DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS STEERING PROBLEMS. *SC *JB

DT: WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL DRY CONDITIONS ON STRAIGHT ROAD VEHICLE DRIFTED TO LEFT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY ,ATTEMPTED TO GAIN CONTROL, WENT TO RIGHT OF HIGHWAY, FELT LIKE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. CORRECTED TO THE RIGHT, AND IT OVER CORRECTED. COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO GO STRAIGHT. INSURANCE INSPECTED IT, AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO INSPECT THE STEERING. TOYOTA SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A MECHANICAL DEFECT. *AK CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND WENT INTO THE DITCH. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BECAME AIRBORNE, LANDED ON IT'S SIDE IN A CORNFIELD, AND WAS DETERMINED A TOTAL LOSS. CONSUMER WAS THEN TAKEN AND ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES SUCH AS A BROKEN STERNUM, FOOT, FINGER, MULTIPLE CUTS AND CONTUSIONS.*SB

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED,CAME DOWN LONG WINDING HILL AT 55 MPH, HIT BRAKES AN STEERING WHEEL SHOOK LEFT TO RIGHT QUITE ALOT.*AK

WE HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS THE CLUTCH WENT OUT AT 13,000 MILES. DEALER SAID IT WAS DRIVER ERROR. WE HAVE ANOTHER CAR WITH A CLUTCH THAT HAS 165,000 MILES WITHOUT ANY CLUTCH PROBLEMS. THE CLUTCH SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURING AGAIN AND THE DEALER SAID IT IS FROM THE OLD CLUTCH EVEN THOUGH THEY REPLACED IT.*AK

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX XR. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE AT 3 MPH, IT ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. THE DRIVER SAID THAT SHE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. SHE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,873. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 15,000. UPDATED 05/07/10

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

FRONT WHEELS VIBRATE AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IF SNOW SLUSH FREEZES IN LOW PROFILE STEEL WHEEL RIMS. THIS HAPPENED TWICE THIS WINTER TO ME, I FIRST THOUGHT A WHEEL WEIGHT CAME OFF THE SHAKE WAS SO BAD, THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED IT OUT AN SAID IT WAS ICE INSIDE THE BACK OF THE WHEEL RIM, HE MELTED IT OUT AN IT WAS FIND. IT HAPPENED AGAIN LATTER ON IN THE WINTER YOU ONLY FEEL THE SHAKING IF YOU BRING THE CAR UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED,I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH WHEEL RIMS BEFORE AN I LIVE IN UPSTATE N.Y. WHERE WE GET ENOUGH SNOW. WHEN THE ICE MELTS OR BREAKS OUT OF THE BACK OF THESE DEEP DISH RIMS THE WHEELS STOP SHAKING, I CONSIDER THIS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BE FORE SOME ONE GETS INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 TOYOTA 4WD MATRIX. *JB

CLUTCH FAILURE AT 5100 MILES; --- COMPLETE-- REPLACED BY DEALER AT 8600 MILES---- CLUTCH FAILURE. DEALER REFUSES TO DEAL WITH WARRANTY. TELLS ME THAT IT IS MY FAULT, " I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION". INDICATES THAT MY WIFE AND I ARE "RIDING" THE CLUTCH AND PERHAPS "RACING" MENTIONED VEHICLE. AFTER A COMBINED DRIVING EXPERIENCE OF NEARLY 3/4 OF CENTURY ON DRIVING MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS WITH ZERO PROBLEMS, I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THAT THE CAUSE OF MY CLUTCH FAILURES ARE MY DRIVING ABILITIES OR HABITS. DEALER SERVICE MENTIONS THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF HISTORY OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. INSTEAD WISHES TO PASS THE "BLAME" AND CAUSE ONTO THE CUSTOMER. *JB

TAKATA RECALL. I'VE BEEN RECEIVING RECALL NOTICES FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR YEARS. I HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO HAVE THREE ISSUES RESOLVED, ONLY ONE OF WHICH IS THE TAKATA AIRBAG PROBLEM. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE REPAIRS AT THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER TO ME (ABOUT A 2.5 HOUR-RT DRIVE FROM MY HOME) FOR THE PAST YEAR+, BUT I AM REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT THEY ARE AWAITING THE PART(S) FOR THE TAKATA AIRBAG REPAIR. TO MAKE THINGS WORSE, I CONSTANTLY RECEIVE FLYERS FROM TOYOTA URGING ME TO HAVE THE REPAIRS DONE ASAP. I WOULD LIKE TO. BUT APPARENTLY, TOYOTA IS HAVING PROBLEMS GETTING THE PARTS TO THEIR DEALERSHIPS. IN THE MEANWHILE, I'M DRIVING A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CAR.

2004 TOYOTA MATRIX PURCHASED 12/8/03 IS SUPPOSED TO GET AT LEAST 26 MPG IN CITY TRAFFIC. MINE CONSISTENTLY GETS NO MORE THAN 21 MPG. DEALER CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG BUT SOMETHING IS, EITHER FALSE ADVERTISING FOR THE ENTIRE MATRIX LINE OR SOMETHING WITH THIS CAR. I WOULD NOT HAVE TRADED A PAID UP 99 COROLLA THAT GOT 26 MPG FOR THIS CAR, HAD I KNOWN IT WOULD COST ME FAR MORE TO RUN (AS WELL AS TO FINANCE). *LA

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