2006 Toyota Matrix Complaint Log

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

PERIODICALLY THIS WINTER THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD REMAIN ILLUMINATED AFTER STARTING. OFTEN IT WOULD GO AWAY IF YOU SIMPLY RESTARTED THE CAR. I ATTRIBUTED IT TO COLD WEATHER, BUT IN LIGHT OF TOYOTA'S MOST RECENT RECALL (TORRANCE, CALIF., APRIL 9, 2014 ? TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, U.S.A., INC. TODAY ANNOUNCED THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A VOLUNTARY SAFETY RECALL INVOLVING APPROXIMATELY 1.3 MILLION VEHICLES, INCLUDING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, 2009-2010 MATRIX, 2008-2010 HIGHLANDER, 2009-2010 TACOMA, 2006-2008 RAV4 AND 2006-2010 YARIS VEHICLES. THE DRIVER?S AIRBAG MODULE IN THE INVOLVED VEHICLES IS ATTACHED TO A SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY WITH ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS THAT COULD BECOME DAMAGED WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. IF THIS OCCURS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LAMP WILL ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE DRIVER?S AIR BAG COULD BECOME DEACTIVATED, CAUSING IT TO NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.) I AM LEFT TO WONDER IF THE SPIRAL CABLE ASSEMBLY MAY BE THE ISSUE WITH MY 2006 MATRIX. *TR

I WAS ON A STEEP HILL AT A STOP SIGN. I HAD LET GO OF THE BRAKE TO STEP ON THE GAS BECAUSE IT WAS MY TURN TO GO AND MY CAR ROLLED BACKWARDS DRAMATICALLY TO THE POINT WHERE MY TIRES WHERE SCREECHING FOR A FEW SECONDS TILL I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE STEEP HILL. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAS HAPPENED, I USUALLY AVOID STREETS THAT HAVE A STEEP HILL BECAUSE THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I'M ON A STEEP HILL. I'VE NOTICED THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR SEVERAL YEARS NOW. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE THROTTLE HESITATED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE AND RECOMMENDED THE VEHICLE TO BE DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

BEARINGS IN THE DIFFERENTIAL/TRANSMISSION ARE MAKING NOISE. IT IS A 5-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THIS IS WAY TOO EARLY FOR TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIRS IS $2,500. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WOULD BLOW WARM AIR AS OPPOSED TO COOLER AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CONDENSER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SERVICED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 186,000.

HEAT SHIELD BOLT CAME OUT OF PLASTIC PIECE CONNECTED TO THE FUEL TANK STRAP. *JS

THE CAR WOULD NOT SHIFT BEYOND SECOND GEAR (AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) AND NOT GO INTO REVERSE. GOT IT TOWED TO MY GARAGE AND THEY ARE IN THE PROCESS OF REPLACING THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION. *KB

2006 TOYOTA MATRIX XR. TIRES WHERE PREMATURALLY. 66,000 MILES ON CAR AND THIRD SET OF TIRES ARE CUPPING AND STARTING TO CAUSE HANDLING PROBLEM. EACH SET OF TIRES (2 DIFFERENT BRANDS) HAS LASTED ABOUT 16,000-20,000 MILES. HAD REGULAR ALIGNMENTS AND TIRE ROTATION. WENT AS FAR AS REPLACING SHOCKS AND STRUTS ALL THE WAY AROUND (VERY EXPENSIVE). NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP. *TT

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT THEN DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE PEDAL FELL TO THE FLOORBOARD ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT THEN STRUCK THE CURB AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER AS THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AND CRASHED INTO A SECOND BARRIER CAUSING THE WHEELS TO FRACTURE FROM THE VEHICLE BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE HEADACHES AS A RESULT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER THE CRASH SHE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V384000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED BUT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL WERE TOO CLOSE AND THE CONTACT ACCIDENTALLY DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS ADJUSTED TO BE EVEN WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE ADJUSTED AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO REMEDY FOR THE PROBLEM. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 37,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON AS WELL AS WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS THE IGNITION MADE A BANGING SOUND WITHIN THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE WATER PUMP, TIMING BELT AND THE BATTERY WERE ALSO REPLACED AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH 74K. MY A/C WENT IN AND OUT FIRST, THOUGHT IT WAS THE COMPRESSOR, THEN IT SEEMED LIKE I WAS NOT QUITE GETTING THE HORSEPOWER I HAD PREVIOUSLY. THEN ON THE LABOR DAY WEEKEND THE CAR DIES SUDDENLY ON THE HIGHWAY (TWICE), SCARED THE YOU KNOW WHAT OUT OF ME. BEEN DEALING WITH TOYOTA IN CALIFORNIA (NOT GREAT) BUT THEY OK'D IT TO A LOCAL DEALER IN UNION CITY GA,(VERY NICE). THEY TOLD ME TOYOTA HAD OK'D PUTTING IN A NEW ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE DUE TO RECALL THAT I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT. THEY PUT IN THE MODULE 09/08/2010 BUT TELL ME THAT THIS MAY NOT BE THE CORRECT FIX AS TOYOTA HAVE NOT INFORMED THE DEALERS OF WHICH IS THE CURRENT RECALL FIXING MODULE. THEN THEY TELL ME THEY ARE UNSURE IF THEY WILL HAVE TO CHANGE IT AGAIN BECAUSE TOYOTA MAY BE GETTING A NEW PART AND I WILL GET A LETTER. THIS DOES NOT INSTILL CONFIDENCE AFTER 4 SUDDEN STALLS WHILE MOVING (TWO DYING SUDDENLY ON THE HIGHWAY). I NOW HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL TOYOTA DEEMS IT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO LET ME KNOW THERE IS A PROBLEM. WHAT GALLS ME IS THEY SENT OUT A PRESS INFO THING AUGUST 26TH ACKNOWLEDGING 3 ACCIDENTS, 12 DAYS LATER MY 2006 MATRIX DIES TWICE ON THE HIGHWAY. I COULD'VE BEEN KILLED. THEY STILL HAVE NOT INFORMED ME THE CAR OWNER DESPITE HAVING MY PHONE NUMBER, E-MAIL AND HOME ADDRESS. TAKE THIS RECALL SERIOUSLY IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR

2006 TOYOTA MATRIX, 50,000 MILES. HEAT SHIELD REARMOST HANGER ASSEMBLY FAILED. LOUD RATTLE AS SHIELD RESTED ON EXHAUST PIPE. TEMPORARY FIX: WIRE FROM TANK STRAP AROUND SHIELD TO KEEP SHIELD FROM RESTING ON PIPE. PLASTIC HANGER ASSEMBLY SPLIT, CAPTIVE NUT SEPARATED, SHIELD DROPPED TO PIPE. I REGARD IT AS A DESIGN FLAW. PLASTIC WAS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE PRESSURE TO HOLD NUT IN PLACE AS WELL AS TO SUPPORT LOAD. EVIDENCE OF LONG TERM CRACKING, DIRT IN CRACK SURFACES. ESTIMATE TO REPAIR FROM DEALER, $100, POSSIBLY INCLUDES BOTH LABOR AND PARTS COST. OTHERWISE, IS A GOOD PRODUCT, TAKE TO DEALER EVERY 5000 MILES FOR APPROPRIATE MAINTENANCE. *TR

DRIVING THOUGH TOWN, WHEN VEHICLE STALLED AT INTERSECTION. PULLED OVER AND VEHICLE STARTED AND DROVE, THEN STALLED AGAIN...HAD NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WITH 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX UNTIL NOW. VEHICLE STARTS AND RUNS NORMAL THEN STALLS INTERMITTENTLY..VEHICLE IS TOYOTA CERTIFIED... *TR

1/2 HEAT SHIELD DROPPED ONTO TOP OF EXHAUST PIPE MAKING A LOUD HORRIBLE NOISE. *TR

2006 TOYOTA MATRIX: ENGINE STALLED AND CHECK ENGINE PLUS OIL LIGHT CAME ON WHILE APPROACHING HIGHWAY ONRAMP. PULLED OFF. CHECKED FOR LOOSE WIRES. TRIED TO START ENGINE, ENGINE STARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE 100 MILES HOME WITHOUT A PROBLEM EXCEPT THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. NEXT MORNING, ENGINE STARTED BUT ACCELERATOR WOULD NOT RESPOND. ENGINE SIMPLY IDLED. TURNED IT OFF, CALLED TOW. TOW TRUCK DRIVER WAS ABLE TO START ENGINE AND REVERSE OUT DRIVEWAY. ENGINE STALLED AGAIN BUT LUCKILY IN THE STREET. TOWED TO MECHANIC. DTC CODE PO607. MECHANIC SAID FAILED ECM AND ONLY TOYOTA CAN FIX DUE TO REPROGRAMMING PARAMETERS. TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER CONFIRMED FAILED ECM. OVER $900 TO FIX. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH ENTERING THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED; HOWEVER, IMMEDIATELY AFTER SHIFTING INTO DRIVE GEAR, THE ENGINE STALLED AGAIN. THE FAILURE OCCURRED REPEATEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 32,000. UPDATED 8/25/10 *CN UPATED 08/27/10 UPDATED 08/30/10*JB

2006 TOYOTA MATRIX: REAR WHEELS OUT OF ALIGNMENT, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE, IRREGULAR WEAR ON TIRES. RUINED AFTER ONLY 24,000 MILES. TOYOTA TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED ME THAT THE NON-ADJUSTABLE REAR AXLE IS "SELF ALIGNING". IF SO, MY TIRES WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN RUINED. OTHER ALIGNMENT SPECIALISTS CONFIRMED PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA COROLLA FRAME. THIS COULD LEAD TO TIRE BLOW-OUT AND ACCIDENTS. SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED. *TR

PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW EXPLODED ONTO MY SON WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY. THE WINDOW WAS OPERATING FINE UNTIL THIS POINT, WHILE BEING CLOSED THE WINDOW MADE A POPPING NOISE AND PARTS DROPPED INTO DOOR, THE WINDOW BEING IN A BIND EXPLODED. *TR

2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE ENGINE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED AT IDLE AND WOULD NOT RESTART AT TIMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE TECHNICIAN FOUND NO COMMUNICATION WITH THE MASTER TECH DIAGNOSTIC SCANNER. HE ALSO FOUND NO ENGINE SPARK OR FUEL INJECTOR PULSE DUE TO ENGINE CONTROL MODULE FAILURE. HE FOUND A MAJOR FUEL LEAK AT THE FUEL INJECTOR RAIL. THE TECHNICIAN RECOMMENDED REPLACING THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, FUEL INJECTOR, O-RINGS AND SEALS. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE, A YEAR AFTER PAYING FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. *JB

DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS DRY WEATHER FLAT ROAD, CAR BEGAN TO MISS, RUN ROUGH AND SHUT DOWN WHILE ON THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO STILL GET VEHICLE TO SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. I BELIEVE A LESS EXPERIENCED DRIVER MAY HAVE NOT HAD THE SAME RESULTS. THIS SOUNDS STRANGELY RELATED TO THE CURRENT ECM RECALL. THEY DID NOT CHANGE MY ECM, BUT REPLACED MY CAMSHAFT TIMING GEAR TO THE TUNE OF $440.00. DO I HAVE ANOTHER PENDING PROBLEM? OR MAYBE THEY DID ADDITIONAL TESTING AND REPLACING? I HAVE NO RECORD OF THIS....IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO INVESTIGATE THIS. I HAVE THE PART.. ALSO.. I WAS ABLE TO FINALLY GET IT RESTARTED WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND IT WAS RUNNING VERY POORLY. HAD TO KEEP RPMS UP TO KEEP FROM STALLING. *TR

MY CAR WAS RUNNING FINE AND DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. LIGHT WHEN OFF LATER IN DAY. NEXT DAY - DIED ON BUSY HIGHWAY - RESTARTED AND WOULD GOING GO ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR. NEXT DAY TRYING TO GET TO THE SHOP DIED AND TOOK SEVERAL TIMES TO GET STARTED AND THEN 5 MILES PER HOUR AGAIN. THEY KNOW THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THIS PART -- THEY SHOULD HAVE TO FIX NO MATTER THE MILEAGE....IT IS NOTED IN A BULLETIN. *TR

2006 TOYOTA MATRIX STALLED WHEN I WAS DRIVING. IT WOULD START, BUT THEN IT WOULD STALL IN APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE. I TRIED TO START IT MANY TIMES, BUT IT WOULD STALL AFTER A MINUTE. TOWED CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ECU. *TR

2006 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH SHIFT PROBLEM MY CAR HAS ONLY 16,000 MILES HAS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT'S SAY SHIFT SOLENOID A BUT IS THE ECM. *TR

AT 10:30 AM ON A SUNNY DAY, I EXITED THE I-880 NORTHBOUND 23RD AVE EXIT. COMING UP TO A LINE OF CARS STOPPED AT THE E11TH ST SIGNAL LIGHT, I BEGAN PRESSING DOWN ON THE SERVICE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN. AS I WAS COMING UP TO THE BMW AHEAD OF ME, I PRESSED MORE ON THE SERVICE BRAKE TO STOP MY CAR. THINGS WENT WRONG WHEN I FELT AND HEARD THE ACCELERATOR REVVING UP, CAUSING ME TO INSTINCTIVELY PRESS EVEN HARDER ON THE SERVICE BRAKE. AS THE ACCELERATION INCREASED, MY TOYOTA MATRIX'S BRAKES BEGAN SLIPPING CAUSING MY CAR TO INCH CLOSER TO THE BMW. REALIZING THAT THE SERVICE BRAKE WAS NOT HOLDING, I PULLED UP ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SHIFTED THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, ALL THE WHILE STILL PRESSING DOWN ON THE SERVICE BRAKE. SINCE THE ENGINE WAS STILL ACCELERATING FASTER, I MANAGED TO TURN THE IGNITION KEY OFF, SUCCESSFULLY SHUTTING DOWN THE ENGINE AND STOPPING THE ACCELERATION. AFTER A BRIEF 15 SECONDS, I RESTARTED THE CAR WITH THE ENGINE IN PARK, AND THE EMERGENCY AND SERVICE BRAKES ON. THE ENGINE IMMEDIATELY REVVED UP AS BEFORE AND I ONCE AGAIN TURNED OFF THE IGNITION KEY TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE. REALIZING I HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM, I KEPT THE ENGINE OFF AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL SO I COULD PUSH THE CAR TO A SAFER PART ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. UPON INSPECTION, I FOUND THAT MY FLOOR MAT WAS SECURELY LOCKED INTO PLACE, AND THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS IN THE UP POSITION, A FEW INCHES OFF THE FLOOR. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER WITH 75000 ACCIDENT AND INCIDENT FREE MILES ON THE CAR, AND THIS IS THE FIRST THING THAT HAS EVER GONE WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. I HAD AAA TOW THE CAR TO ONE TOYOTA IN OAKLAND, AND THEY ARE DOING DIAGNOSTICS WITH THE VEHICLE. THEY GAVE ME A RENTAL CAR FREE OF CHARGE UNTIL THEY DETERMINE WHAT WENT WRONG. THE SERVICE DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT IS THE 2007 AND LATER MATRIX'S THAT HAVE THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM, AND THAT FOR MY 2006 MATRIX TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM IS UNCOMMON. HOPEFULLY TOYOTA WILL FIND AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO OTHERS. *TR

MY REAR DIFFERENTIAL IN MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX XR 4WD WAS MAKING A WHINING NOISE THAT INCREASED IN VOLUME AS SPEED INCREASED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS THE REAR DIFF. AND WOULD COST $2300 TO REPLACE. CAR HAS 68K. POWERTRAIN WARR. IS 5 YRS. OR 60K. DEALER QUOTED ME PRICE OF $2388 TO FIX?? I SAID IT SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE OUT AS I HAVE DONE EVERY MAINTENANCE ON THIS CAR. THEY THEN OFFERED ME A MEASLY 10% AS A WHINER/CONSOLATION FEE. I THEN CALLED THE "CUSTOMER CENTER" OF TOYOTA AND WAS EVENTUALLY TOLD THAT THEY WOULD UP THE "OFFER" TO $600, AND THAT WAS THEIR FINAL OFFER. THEY THEN CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS ACTUALLY THE TRANSMISSION COUPLING ASSY, AND THAT IT WOULD COST ANOTHER $400. TOYOTA SAID THEY WOULD COVER THE DIFFERENCE OF $400 SINCE IT WAS MISDIAGNOSED. I SAID THEY SHOULD COVER ALL OF IT SINCE IT WAS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE. THEY REFUSED. THEN I FOUND A TOYOTA TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE INTERNET DESCRIBING THE EXACT PROBLEM, DATED AUGUST 23, 2007. SO THEY KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM, AND DID NOT NOTIFY ME. I KNOW THIS MUST HAVE HAPPENED OVER A LONG TIME, AND I COULD HAVE BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO BE INSPECTED, WELL WITHIN ITS WARRANTY, BUT TOYOTA DID NOTHING. I THINK TOYOTA IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT. $2417 LATER, TOYOTA WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS WAS A DEFECTIVE PART, AND FORCED ME TO PAY FOR IT. I SHUDDER TO THINK WHAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED HAD THIS PART SEIZED UP ON ME AT 65 MPH IN TRAFFIC, OR ON ONE OF OUR ICY MOUNTAIN ROADS IN THE WINTER. *TR

I OWN A TOYOTA MATRIX, 2006, WITH 49K MILES. THE CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATES AND DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL TO PICK UP SPEED AGAIN. SO FAR, I'VE BEEN ABLE TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. I STOP AND THEN RESTART THE CAR, AND IT DRIVES FINE. ALSO, THE CRUISE CONTROL SUDDENLY GOES INTO DECELERATION, WHICH IS VERY DANGEROUS WHILE CRUISING ON THE FREEWAY. BOTH THESE PROBLEMS HAVE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES SO FAR. THE DEALER SAYS MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON A RECALL LIST, AND ALSO CLAIMS TO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE MATRIX. I KNOW THAT TOYOTA FINALLY SUCCUMBED TO PRESSURE RECALLED ABOUT 50,000 SEQUOIA SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES FOR A DECELERATION PROBLEM. IS THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE MATRIX ALSO BEING COVERED UP? WHAT SHOULD I DO? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE CONTINUED TO STALL ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING INTO A PARKING SPACE OR WHENEVER DRIVING THE VEHICLE STUTTERS AND THEN IT STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS FOR SERVICE AND THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED HER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALER FOR THE REPAIRS. NHTSA RECALL#:10V384000; COMPONENT: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING WAS RELATED TO THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.

2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER STATES BRAKE FAILURE *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONSUMER VEERED TO THE RIGHT, BUT CONSEQUENTLY HE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED ITS COURSE, EVEN THOUGH THE CONSUMER WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE. FINALLY, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AFTER CONTINUING ON FOR A HALF BLOCK. *JB

COMPUTER FAILURE, QUITE SUDDENLY THE CAR STOPPED WORKING, JERKED AND SLOWED DOWN. ALL THE SERVICE LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD CAME ON. AFTER A COUPLE MINUTES THE CAR COULD BE TURNED ON BUT AFTER ABOUT 1.5 MILES THE SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN. THE HIGHWAY WAS AVOIDED BUT IT OCCURRED ON A LOCAL ROAD WITH LOTS OF CARS. THE HAZARDS WERE TURNED ON BUT IT WAS A FRIGHTENING AND CONCERNING INCIDENT. AAA WAS CALLED TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALER. AT THE DEALER A COMPUTER PART WAS REPLACED. THE CAR HAS BEEN WORKING FOR 48HRS. THE CAR WAS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD.

ENGINE STALLS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, DIAGNOSIS VIA COMPUTER LEADS YOU TO DIFFERENT FIX'S. MY 2006 MATRIX HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR ALMOST TWO WEEKS. I HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL MECHANIC AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT (VIA THE COMPUTER), AND SAID IT WAS TWO BURNT COILS ($560.00). PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, SO THEY CHECKED IT AGAIN AND SAID IT WAS A VACUUM LEAK (FIXED FOR FREE) PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. THEN THEY SAID IT WAS A PINCHED WIRE, ETC. THEY FINALLY HAD TO CALL A TOYOTA DEALER AND SEEK HELP. THEY WERE THEN TOLD OF THE COMPUTER PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC, THE COMPUTER IS UNDER WARRANTY TO 80,000 MILES, I HAVE 88,000. MY MECHANIC IS PRESSING THEM TO FIX IT UNDER WARRANTY

2006 TOYOTA MATRIX STALLS, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THE CAR HAD TO BE TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE, AFTER RESTING OVER NIGHT, RAN FINE AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TURNED OFF. HOWEVER, I REQUESTED THAT THE DEALERSHIP RUN THE DIAGNOTICS, WHICH SHOWED AN ERROR CODE P0607 IN THE SYSTEM WHICH MEANS THE ECM IS DEFECTIVE. I HAD THE ECM REPLACED AT A COST OF $867.57, PLUS $95.00 FOR THE TOW. NOW I LEARN THAT A TSB WAS ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM FOR THIS VEHICLE BACK IN 2007, AND ALTHOUGH MY MATRIX WAS IN THE DEALERSHIP FOR MAINTENANCE AND SERVICE DOZENS OF TIMES, AT NO TIME WAS THE DEFECTIVE ECM REPLACED, NOR WAS I TOLD OF THE PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS PRIMARILY DRIVEN BY MY WIFE, A SOCIAL WORKER FOR A CHILD WELFARE AGENCY IN THE CHICAGO AREA. SHE IS OFTEN IN VERY UNSAFE NEIGHBORHOODS, AND WAS IN SUCH A NEIGHBORHOOD THE MORNING BEFORE THE CAR STALLED -- LUCKILY FOR US -- ONLY A MILE FROM OUR HOUSE. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THE PART WAS UNDER WARRANTY PURSUANT TO FEDERAL LAW UNTIL 80K MILES. MY MATRIX HAS 85K. TOYOTA REFUSES TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIR UNLESS IT ISSUES A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. BUT UNDER THE PRESENT TSB, OF WHICH I WAS ONLY MADE AWARE THROUGH AN INTERNET SEARCH AFTER HAVING THE STALLING PROBLEM, TOYOTA HAS NO INTENTION OF COVERING THE COST OF REPAIRING THIS KNOWN AND ADMITTED DEFECT. IF THIS IS NOT RESOLVED BY A RECALL, OTHERS WILL HAVE STALLING VEHICLES ON A HIGHWAY AND GET SEVERELY INJURED OR KILLED, OR IN A BAD NEIGHBORHOOD AND GET MUGGED OR RAPED, OR ON THE WAY TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUFFER HEALTH COMPLICATIONS FROM DELAYED MEDICAL CARE, ETC., ETC. PLEASE TAKE IMMEDIATE STEPS TO FORCE A PROPER RESOLUTION OF THIS PROBLEM. BY THE WAY, WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA (800-331-4331), I WAS TOLD THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER TSBS ON MY MATRIX, BUT THAT THE REPRESENTATIVE CANNOT TELL ME WHAT THEY ARE UNTIL I AM HAVING THE PROBLEM COVERED BY THE TSB. THAT IS UNCONSCIONABLE. LOOK WHAT THAT DID FOR THE SIMILAR APPROACH WITH THE FLOOR MAT AND ACCELERATION PROBLEM.

I WAS STOPPED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION DURING MORNING RUSH HOUR WHEN MY CAR STALLED. I TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY SEVERAL TIMES TO RESTART THE ENGINE. AFTER ALLOWING IT TO SIT FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE CAR FINALLY RESTARTED. I MOVED THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AND ALLOWED IT TO SIT, IDLING, FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. WHEN I PUT THE CAR BACK INTO DRIVE, IT LURCHED FORWARD. DESPITE PRESSING ON THE GAS, IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 10 MPH. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY SAID THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED. IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY BUT, HAD IT NOT BEEN, WOULD HAVE COST ME $900. I PURCHASED THIS CAR NEW IN 2006, AND IT HAS BEEN SERVICED REGULARLY. *TR

ENGINE CODE P2610: ECM / PCM INTERNAL ENGINE OFF TIMER PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCED ISSUES: - ABRUPT JERKING TO LEFT DURING ACCELERATION - HARSH SHIFT OF TRANSMISSION DURING CRUISING SPEED - INTERMITTENT NON-START CONDITION ACTION TAKEN: DEALER REPLACED ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER (PART NO. 89661-02K41). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO SLOW DOWN, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE ALTHOUGH THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH TIME TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR; ONCE THE VEHICLE CRASHED, IT SPUN AROUND IN A 180 DEGREE TURN AND THEN THE ENGINE STOPPED. THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE INJURED AND BOTH WENT TO THE HOSPITAL. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DEALER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

THE CAR QUIT RUNNING IN TRAFFIC WITH NO WARNING. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE ECM COMPUTER. *TR

CAR STALLED WHILE PROCEEDING INTO AN INTERSECTION WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. CAR WOULD THEN NOT RESTART FOR 10-15 MINUTES WHILE TRAPPED IN THE CENTER LANE OF A BUSY 4 LANE ROAD. *TR

I WAS DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX I PURCHASED ONE MONTH AGO. I WAS DRIVING ON A VERY WET ROAD LESS THAN 20-25 MPH. APPROXIMATELY 9:00A.M. COMING HOME FROM LOCAL GYM. I SLOWED TO STOP FOR CONSTRUCTION WORK ON SLICK TWO LANE ROAD. BRAKES DID NOT GRAB AS I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN. I PUSHED BRAKES DOWN HARDER, AND AS THEY STARTED TO WORK, THE ACCELERATOR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN, CAR BEGAN TO FEEL LIKE IT WAS REVVING UP. I PUT CAR IMMEDIATELY IN PARK, AND TIRES BURNED RUBBER (ENOUGH TO SMELL) AND CAR STOPPED COMPLETELY. IT ALL HAPPENED INCREDIBLY FAST, AND SCARED ME TO DEATH. I HAVE NOT HAD THIS PROBLEM PREVIOUSLY (I HAVE OWNED VEHICLE FOR 1 MONTH) AND CAR IS NOT ON RECALL LIST (CLEARLY SHOULD BE). I HAVE CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, AND WILL CALL DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED CAR NEXT. *TR

MY CAR IS A TOYOTA 2006 MATRIX AWD; I WAS PULLING INTO MY DRIVEWAY TO PARK IN FRONT OF MY GARAGE, AND TOOK MY FEET OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT BEFORE I HAD ANY CHANCE TO REACT THE CAR JUST CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UP MY DRIVE WAY AND CRASHED THROUGH MY GARAGE DOOR, CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY CAR, THE GARAGE DOOR, AND SOME DENTS TO MY OTHER CAR PARKED INSIDE; I HAVE ALWAYS PARKED MY CAR OUTSIDE ON THE DRIVE WAY, SINCE THERE ISN'T SPACE TO PARK 2 CARS IN MY GARAGE; I AM FAIRLY SAFE AND CAUTIOUS DRIVER; I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THEM TO TAKE A LOOK, MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX IS NOT IN THE RECALL LIST, AND THE SERVICING GUYS DIDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH MY GAS PEDAL; I AM STILL CONCERNED THAT THERE MAY STILL BE A LURKING ISSUE WITH THE PEDAL OR THE ELECTRONIC SYSTEM THAT CAUSED THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TR

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX AND THE VEHICLE STARTED JERKING WHEN IT SHIFTED OUT OF 1ST GEAR. IT JERKED SO HARD THAT I HAD TO BE CAREFUL TO NOT LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHEN I WOULD BE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THE SHIFTING ISSUE OCCURRED EVERY TIME I DROVE IT AFTER THE PROBLEM STARTED. THE STALLING ISSUE OCCURRED AROUND 5-6 TIMES WHEN I WAS DRIVING. I RECENTLY TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REPLACED THE ECM FOR A COST OF OVER $700 SINCE I WAS OUT OF FACTORY WARRANTY. SO FAR, THE PROBLEM HAS BEEN CORRECTED HOWEVER, I NOTICED A SERVICE BULLETIN IN 2007 WHICH I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE INFORMED CUSTOMER'S. THIS WAS VERY SCARY WHEN IT OCCURRED AND LUCKILY I DIDN'T END UP IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 20 MPH THE VEHICLE HAD SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT RELATED TO ANY RECALLS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 41000.

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS 6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW AND HAVE SERVICED THE CAR WITH THE DEALERSHIP FROM DAY ONE. TODAY I BROUGHT IT IN FOR ITS 45000 MILE SERVICE AND TOLD THEM TO CHECK THE CLUTCH BECAUSE WE NOTICED IT STICKING/SLIPPING IN 5TH GEAR. TURNS OUT I NEED TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH AT A COST OF $1200 EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THEIR PLATINUM SERVICE/EXTENDED WARRANTY PLAN. I HAVEN'T EVEN WORN OUT THE BRAKES AND I HAVE TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH!!!! I AM A 46 YEAR OLD MOTHER AND HAVE DRIVEN SEVERAL CARS WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH WITH SUCH LOW MILEAGE. I READ ON EDMUNDS CAR SPACE ABOUT THIS AND IT SAID TO COME TO YOUR WEBSITE TO DOCUMENT THIS. *TR

I WAS DRIVING TO WORK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL BUT THERE WAS NO ACCELERATION. THE ENGINE STARTED TO STALL OUT. I SLOWLY PULLED OVER, PUT THE CAR IN PARK, PUT THE KEY ON THE OFF POSITION AND I TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN AND NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY WAS WORKING BUT IT WOULD NOT START. I DID THIS PROCESS FIVE MORE TIMES TO NO SUCCESS. I FINALLY CALLED AAA AND WAS TOWED HOME. THE NEXT DAY, MUCH TO MY SURPRISE, THE VEHICLE STARTED RIGHT UP BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. SO, I BROUGHT IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THEY ENDED UP REPLACING THE ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER. *TR

ON 12/28/09, AS I STARTED TO BRAKE FOR A RED LIGHT, MY CAR UNINTENTIONALLY ACCELERATED WHILE I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I WAS ABLE TO SLOW DOWN BY BRAKING HARD, BUT THE BRAKES STARTED TO SMOKE. I TURNED THE IGNITION KEY TO OFF, AND WHEN I TURNED IT ON AGAIN THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY. NOTHING WAS HOLDING DOWN OR INTERFERING WITH THE GAS PEDAL AS THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED?NOT THE FLOOR MAT, NOT ANY CLOTHING OR PART OF MY SHOE. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER WHO HAS NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT. MY CAR RECEIVED MAJOR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE FROM A TOYOTA DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT JUST ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THIS INCIDENT. I BROUGHT IT BACK TO THE DEALER ON 12/29; THE MECHANIC SAID HE COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. *TR

ABOUT 10:00 PM WHEN I WAS JUST PULLING ON TO I-84 IN DOWNTOWN HARTFORD, CT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION OF MY TOYOTA MATRIX MADE A VERY LOUD GRINDING SOUND AND I COULD NOT MOVE. THANKFULLY, MY MOMENTUM ENABLED ME TO GET OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY BUT I WAS STILL STICKING OUT INTO THE RIGHT LANE JUST AROUND A CURVE IN THE ROAD. A STATE POLICE TROUPER PULLED BEHIND ME ALMOST IMMEDIATELY AND PUT ON HIS LIGHTS TO WARN CARS AWAY. OTHERWISE, I AM CERTAIN MY CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR-ENDED WHILE I WAITED FOR THE TOW TRUCK. THE REPAIR SHOP I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO SAID THAT A BEARING HAD FAILED AND DESTROYED THE TRANSMISSION. I HAD TO GET A COMPLETELY NEW TRANSMISSION AT A COST OF OVER $2000. THIS CAR HAD OVER 105,000 MILES ON IT, BUT THEY WERE MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION SHOULD NEVER HAVE FAILED THIS EARLY. *TR

NORMALLY SITTING AT STOP LIGHT, WHEN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. CAR IMMEDIATELY STARTED SHIFTING VERY HARD. THE IDLE SPEED WAS ERRATIC. ENGINE WANTED TOO AND DID CUT OFF AT VARIOUS TIMES. TOOK CAR TO ROSNER TOYOTA/STAFFORD VA AND WAS TOPD THAT THE ECU WAS DEFECTIVE AND THAT ROSNER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF A DEFECT CODE THAT WAS PREVALENT IN THE COROLLA AND MATRIX MODELS. ASKED ABOUT A TOYOTA RECALL AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOT ONE AT THIS TIME OR IN THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE. THIS PART/ECU IS VERY EXPENSIVE AND INTEGRAL TO THE CAR'S PERFORMANCE. *TR

THEY NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL IMMEDIATELY -- MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX HAS BEEN HARD SHIFTING WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON BUT I WAS UNABLE TO GET IT SERVICED BECAUSE I'M UNEMPLOYED. IT HAS 90K AND THE DEALER SAYS I MUST PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR THE REPAIR, $1000-$1300 BECAUSE THERE IS NO RECALL ON IT YET. HAD I KNOWN THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH IT I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT IT IN -- AS IT IS I HAD TO LEARN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN THE NEWSPAPER YESTERDAY! I AM AFRAID NOW TO DRIVE IT THAT IT MAY STALL AT A HIGH SPEED AS DESCRIBED IN THE NEWSPAPER!! *TR

NOVEMBER 18 MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX BEGAN TO ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY AFTER FILLING UP TANK WITH FUEL. I PULLED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE THEN WOULD NOT START SO IT WAS TOWED TO WINDSOR TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. TEST DROVE & CHECK FOR WATER IN TANK ELIMATED CODE P0171 AND GAVE ME FREE INJECTOR CLEANER. SHOULD THE DEALER CHECK GAS PEDAL RECALL ON HIS 2006. *TR

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON THE VEHICLE STALL OUT WHILE DRIVING. MILEAGE 114,522 3 YEAR OLD CAR. ECM MODULE REPLACE. DEALER REPLACE THE UNIT. 871.46 DOLLARS CALL TOYOTA MAIN HEADQUARTERS SPOKE TO CUSTOMER SERVICE.THEY CLAIM THE VEHICLE IS A AWD ALL WHEEL DRIVE AND IT'S NOT ON THE RECALL. I HAVE CHECK TOYOTA MAIN WEB SITE RECALL . ENGINE TYPE IZZ-FE WITH ECM FROM 2005-2008 IS ON THE RECALL . THEY ARE LYING TO ME . A THREE YEAR OLD CAR STALLING OUT AND TRYING TO GET REIMBURSE .TOYOTA IS GIVING ME A RUN AROUND. *TR