2006 Toyota Matrix Complaint Log

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS OUR 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX HAS ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WITHOUT WARNING. ON ALL THREE OCCASIONS WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SLIP THE TRANSMISSION OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL OR SLAM THE BRAKES ON TO STOP THE ACCELERATION. THE MOST RECENT TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS LAST WEEKEND. THE MOST PREVIOUS WAS THREE MONTHS AGO. *TR

BEARING GOING IN 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. *TR

THE ECU ON MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX DIED SUDDENLY, AFTER THE ECU FAILED THE CAR TO HALT IMMEDIATELY. LUCKILY FOR ME THIS DID NOT HAPPEN ON A FREEWAY , IN WHICH CASE I WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED AND POSSIBLY SERIOUSLY INJURED. WHEN MY CAR WAS TOWED INTO THE DEALERSHIP , THE TECH AT THE SERVICE DESK GUESSED THAT IT WAS THE ECU AS HE HAD SEEN QUITE A FEW OF THESE FAIL. AFTER TESTS THEY DETERMINED IT WAS THE ECU. THE ECU WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER AS IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. *TR

1. DRIVING DOWN ROAD AT 35MPH ON A CLEAR SUNNY DAY. 2. 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX JERKED UNCONTROLLABLY TO THE SIDE AS IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS HELD STRAIGHT FOR NORMAL DRIVING. THIS RESULTED IN LOSING CONTROL OF THE CAR AND NEARLY CAUSING AN ACCIDENT WITH OUR INFANT IN THE BACKSEAT. 3. TOWED TO MAINTENANCE CENTER AND THEY MENTIONED THEY HAD SEEN THIS PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE. THEY TOLD US OF A STEERING TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ST005-01 THAT MENTIONED THIS PROBLEM. WE HAVE NOW TOWED IT TO THE DEALER AND ARE WAITING FINAL RESOLUTION. *TR

MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX HAS DEVELOPED EXTREME CUPPING OF THE TIRES AT 21, 000 MILES DESPITE REGULAR ROTATIONS AT 5,000, 10,186, AND 14,722 MILES. I HAD BEGUN TO NOTICE A CHANGE IN THE SOUND OF THE TIRES AT 21,500 MILES. MY MECHANIC REFUSED TO ROTATE THE TIRES AT 21,981 MILES SAYING SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE STRUTS THUS CAUSING EXTREME WEAR ON THE TIRES. I WENT TO THE LAS CRUCES TOYOTA IN NEW MEXICO WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR BUT THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG AND REFUSED TO REPLACE STRUTS OR PROVIDE NEW TIRES. MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM RELATED TO THE TOYOTA MATRIX HAS BEEN POSTED ON THE CONSUMER REVIEW SITE FOR EDMUNDS.COM. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE BRAKES FAILED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO AVOID A NEAR CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE CONTACT WAS AT FAULT. THE REPAIR COST MORE THAN $600. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 21,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 07/28/09. *LJ UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR ON 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. LESS THAN 45,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND WE HAVE GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF LONG LIFE TIRES. WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE VEHICLE AND TIRES PROPERLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM BUT TOYOTA SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. SEE HERE FOR MORE: HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0EEECE/154. *TR

PURCHASED CERTIFIED PRE OWNED - (LEASED) 2006 MATRIX 27940 MILES 7/26/08 - ON 11/12/08 32955 MILES AFTER OIL CHANGE DEALER WROTE : "TIRES ARE WEARING FUNNY - ALIGNED AT N/C DID NOT ROTATE RHT REAR CUPPING - 3/25/09 OIL CHANGE 38632 - DEALER WROTE - ROTATE TIRES IF NEEDED - LAST TIME IN HAD TIRE WEAR ISSUE NEEDS TIRES HAS 1 GOOD TIRE ON CAR ON LF. APPARENTLY THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA - HAVEN'T CONTACTED DEALER YET BUT WILL AFTER READING COMPLAINTS. I DON'T KNOW IF THE AFTER MARKET SHIM FIX WILL VOID MY EXTENDED WARRANTY OR NOT...... *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX HATCH BACK. HE STATED THAT WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT AT SPEEDS OF LESS THAN 20 MPH, HE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP OR SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO A LOWER GEAR AND THEN TO NEUTRAL. HE THEN SHUT OFF THE IGNITION AND BRAKED TO A STOP. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND PERFORMED A SAFETY TEST ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE TO DATE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNDER 20,000. UDDATED 03/09/10. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. HE SHIFTED TO A LOWER GEAR THEN TO NEUTRAL WHILE CONTINUING TO APPLY THE BRAKE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL HE PUMPED THE BRAKES TO STOP. UPDATED 06/11/10 *JB

46,686 MILES AND THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACES AS IT WAS A DEFECTIVE GASKET- HARD WITH BUBBLES- I HAVE THE GASKET. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS AN ISSUE WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL, BUT TOYOTA WOULDN'T REIMBURSE COSTS OF REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE PART. *TR

MY TIRES WORN UNEVENLY AND CUPPED AFTER 25000 MILES ON MY BRAND NEW 06 TOYOTA MATRIX. MY DEALERSHIP TOLD ME IT WAS BECAUSE OF ROTATION. BUT WHEN I CHECKED ONLINE, I SAW THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME CAR. I HAD TO CHANGE MY TIRES AND DO AN ALIGNMENT. TOYOTA HAS TO RECALL, FIX AND REIMBURSE THOSE TIRES. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THE CAR INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE DRAGGED OVER A CLIFF. THE CONTACT STATED SHE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT HER EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED. A YEAR LATER THE CONTACT FOUND OUT THE CAR WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR WHICH SHE IS EXPECTING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 11/20/14*LJ UPDATED 4/30/2015 *JS

2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. TIRES WEAR OUT EVERY 16,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE REAR AXLE. TOYOTA HAS CONSISTENTLY TOLD ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM. TODAY I AM ON A DISCUSSION BOARD AND FIND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE MATRIX/VIBE. THE SOLUTION IS AN AFTERMARKET REAR WHEEL SHIM KIT COSTING $50 PLUS LABOR. WHY IS TOYOTA ALLOWED TO CONTINUE DENYING THE PROBLEM EXISTS AND NOT RECALL AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

MY WIFE AND I OWN 2 TOYOTA MATRIX'S. A 2005 AND A 2006. BOTH ARE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. FOR SOME REASON THE CAR WEARS THROUGH TIRES VERY FAST. WE CAN ONLY GET 25,000 MILES MAX OUT OF A 60,000 MILE TIRE. WE MAKE IT A POINT TO ROTATE EVERY 5,000 MILES AND KEEP PRESSURE AT 35PSI AS RECOMMENDED, BUT THE CAR JUST WEARS TIRES SO QUICKLY FOR SOME REASON. *TR

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE ENGINE DIED. POWER BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED SO STOPPING WAS DIFFICULT. THE ENGINE REFUSED TO START FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES. TOYOTA REPLACED THE ELECTRONIC COMPUTER UNIT AT NO COST TO ME THE NEXT DAY. *TR

HAD A FLAT TIRE, WHEN THEY TOOK MY TIRE OFF, THEY ASKED IF MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, WHICH IT HAS NOT, THE TIRE WAS CUPPING REALLY BAD. THEY ALSO SAID THEY WERE VERY WORN FOR THE AMOUNT OF MILES ON MY VEHICLE. *TR

I WAS PARKING OUR TOYOTA MATRIX, 2006 AND IT "JUMPED" AHEAD AND I HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MY ACCIDENT REPORT INDICATED A JUMP IN THE CAR. WHEN I READ ABOUT THE TOYOTA ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS, I AM CONVINCED OUR CAR SUFFERS THE SAME FLAW AND I HOPE THAT 2006 WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY OTHER ACCIDENT AND I AM OVER 50 YEARS OLD. *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE DRIVER STATED THAT IN 2008 HE WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED AND IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO DRIVE ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOYOTA DEALER WHO STATED THAT THEY HAD RECEIVED SEVERAL RELATED COMPLAINTS. THE CONTACT HAD TO RENT A VEHICLE WHILE HIS VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,126 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,000.

ON OCTOBER 3, 2008, WHILE DRIVING MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX I HAD TO ACCELERATE RAPIDLY TO MERGE ONTO A BUSY STREET. I IMMEDIATELY SMELLED A ODOR COMING FROM MY VENTS OF BURNING WIRING. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND MADE SOME CALLS TO SERVICE STATIONS AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. WAS ADVISED TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER. DID. AFTER INVESTIGATING THE ISSUE FOR SEVERAL DAYS THEY DECIDED MY ECM WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT. WITH THE RECENT TOYOTA RECALLS, I FINALLY DECIDED YESTERDAY THAT I SHOULD CHECK INTO IF I AM INVOLVED. MY VEHICLE IS TOYOTA CERTIFIED AND THEY DO HAVE RECORD OF THE ECM FAILURE TO MY VEHICLE. I ALSO WANTED TO REPORT IT TO YOU FOLKS, JUST IN CASE IT IS IN FACT THE COMPUTERS THAT ARE FAULTY. IT IS UNKNOWN TO ME WHETHER THE REPLACEMENT COMPUTER THEY PUT IN MY CAR IS A 2006, OR WHAT YEAR ECM IT IS. MY ECM FAILED IMMEDIATELY AFTER RAPID ACCELERATION AND MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. *TR

FIRST AND ONLY OWNER. EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON ALL 4 TIRES AT ONLY 20,000 MILES. ALL TIRES HAVE EXCESSIVE WEAR AT THE INSIDE RIM. I DIDN'T HAVE ANY ACCIDENT AND MY DRIVING WAS NEVER AGGRESSIVE. THE TIRES HAVE TO REPLACED AT 20,000 MILES. THE CONCERNS ARE THE NEW TIRES WILL BE GONE IN ABOUT ANOTHER 20,000 MILES. TOYOTA SHOULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM WITH THE CAR. *TR

I PURCHASED A NEW 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX XR AWD ON FEB. 2006. I'M GOING THROUGH A 'WHAT SEEMS TO BE' A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL MATRIX'S "AN AB-NORMAL TIRE WEAR PROBLEM". THE WEAR/CHOPPING STARTED AT AROUND 10K... IT CURRENTLY HAS 17K... I'VE ROTATED THE TIRES 3 TIMES ALREADY!!! THE DEALER IS TELLING ME IT'S A REAR DIFFERENTIAL PROBLEM... THEY'RE REPLACING IT UNDER WARRANTY... NOT SURE IF THIS WILL FIX THE PROBLEM??? THE TIRES ARE ALL CHOPPY AND WORN NOW (AT ONLY 17 MILES) ... THEY MUST BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY!! *TR

I HAVE OWNED 2 TOYOTA MATRIX CARS, 2005 & 2006. BOTH VEHS GAVE ME TIRE TROUBLE. PRE-MATURE TIRE WEAR ON THE EDGES IN THE FORM OF SCALLOPING AND FLAT SPOTS. NEW TIRES AND WHEEL ALIGNMENT BY THE CAR & TIRE DEALER DID NOTHING TO IMPROVE THE SITUATION, EVEN AFTER REPEATED ATTENTION TO THE PROBLEM. ROAD NOISE IS ALMOST UNBEARABLE AT TIMES DEPENDING ON SPEED. TOYOTA REJECTS ANY RESPONSIBILITY TO THE SITUATION AND PREFER TO BLAME THE DRIVER, THE TYPE OF DRIVING, ROAD SURFACE, TIRE PRESSURES, TIRE ROTATION FREQUENCY AND TIRE MANUFACTURER. I WON'T BE BUYING ANOTHER MATRIX!! OR FOR THAT MATTER, TOYOTA! *TR

ENGINE STALLED IN MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. FORTUNATELY I WAS DRIVING VERY SLOW AND WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OUT. THE DEALER MADE A REPAIR AND TOLD ME THAT THIS WAS A COMPUTER PROBLEM. *TR

I HAVE ABOUT 15500 MILES ON A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX THAT HAS ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR. THE HEAD SERVICE MECHANIC EXPLAINED TO ME THAT MY CAR HAD TO LIGHT OF A REAR END AND THAT THE TIRES BOUNCE AROUND AND CREATE ABNORMAL WEAR. HE STATED THAT IT WOULD ONLY MAKE IT WORSE TO ROTATE THEM TO THE FRONT. I HAVE VIBRATION AND TWO RUINED TIRES. TOYOTA ANSWERS THAT IT IS A TIRE ISSUE AND TO TAKE IT UP WITH THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER STATES THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TIRE WEAR. EVERY TIRE INSTALLER AND MECHANIC KNOW ABOUT THE FLAW IN THESE CARS BUT TOYOTA DOES NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS DESIGN ERROR. *TR

CLUTCH HAD TO BE REPLACED AT 35,557 MILES. *TR

I HAD CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON AND COULDN'T GET INSPECTION. DEALER SAID I NEED NEW TRANSMISSION AND HAD REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY REPLACE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AGAIN. *TR

WAS DRIVING THE CAR NORMALLY TO WORK AS I HAVE FOR THE PAST 2 YEARS. WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN WITH A VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN FRONT. TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO ALLOW THE CAR TO ROLL FORWARD AND THE CAR TOOK OFF ABOUT 4-6 FEET INTO THE CAR IN FRONT. THE ONLY SIGN OF A PROBLEM WAS THE RPMS JUMPED SLIGHTLY AS THE CAR TOOK OFF. TRIED USING THE BRAKE BUT IT COULDN'T HOLD THE CAR. MINOR DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND NO DAMAGE TO VEHICLE STRUCK. CALLED THE DEALER, WAS TOLD TO BRING THE CAR IN. WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE CAR THEY SAID IT WAS FINE AND I NEEDED NEW ROTORS. ASKED ABOUT WHY THE CAR JERKED FORWARD, WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT SINCE THEY WERE NOT THERE. FRUSTRATED, TOOK THE CAR TO BE PRIVATELY INSPECTED ELSEWHERE, AGAIN, COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. MECHANIC COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE CAR JERKED FORWARD. WAS TOLD TO MONITOR CRACKLING NOISE I COMPLAINED ABOUT JUST IN CASE IT BECAME WORSE, AT CURRENT TIME WAS FINE BUT COULD BE EARLY SIGN OF A TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER PROBLEM. CAR HAS CURRENTLY 39,855K AND HAS HAD 2 NEW BELT TENSIONERS INSTALLED, 1 NEW BELT, AND 1 NEW TIMING CHAIN TENSIONER REPLACED. HAVE PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED OF BRAKE PROBLEMS, INCLUDING THE FEELING OF BEING REAR-ENDED AT A LOW SPEED, AS WELL AS THE CAR JERKING FORWARD WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE CAR ALSO ON OCCASION CONTINUES TO GAS ENGINE EVEN AFTER GAS PEDAL HAS BEEN RELEASED, WHEN BRAKE OR GAS IS TAPPED THE CAR RESUMES TO NORMAL OPERATION. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM AND CAR WAS FINE. *TR

DEFECTIVE SHOCKS CAUSED PREMATURE AND UNEVEN TIRE WEAR. *TR

CAR WEARS THE INSIDE TREAD OF THE TIRE PREMATURELY (10% LEFT AFTER ONLY 16,000 MILES), REVEALED DURING THE SAFETY INSPECTION. THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT IS WITHIN THE MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATION AND THE TIRES WERE ROTATED EVERY 3,000-5,000 MILES. *TR

I HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON SO I WENT TO THE DEALER TO GET IT FIX. THEY TOLD ME I NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION. *TR

AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE THE VARIABLE SPEED WIPER ARM QUIT WORKING, ONLY THE VARIABLE SPEED FEATURE DOES NOT WORK WHICH TELLS ME THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE QUALITY OF THIS PART. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I HAVE EVER HEARD OF FAILING ON A VEHICLE AND CERTAINLY NEVER AFTER ONLY 2 YEARS. THE VEHICLE DID HAVE A LOT OF MILES ON IT AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT IN SOUTH TEXAS WE DON'T USE WIPERS THAT OFTEN SO THIS POINTS TO A QUALITY CONTROL ISSUE. *TR

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) HELLO I AM THE PROUD OWNER OF A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. IN LATE 2007 WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WOULD SHUT OFF. I HAD IT TOWED TO SUN TOYOTA (NEW PORT RICHEY FL) IN WHICH THEY STATED THIS MODEL CAR HAS A FAULTY ENGINE SECURITY DEVICE WHICH CAUSES THE CAR TO SHUT OFF. THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER AND ASSURED ME THERE WERE NO OTHER PROBLEMS. IN EARLY 2008 I STARTED NOTICING WHEN I WOULD TURN IT WOULD FEEL AS IF I LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE STEERING, THEN SUDDENLY I COULD STRAIGHTEN THE WHEEL AGAIN. FOR MONTHS THERE WAS NOTHING TOYOTA WOULD DO. JUST LAST WEEK I STARTED SEEING REPORTS OF OTHER MATRIX/CORROLA OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME INCIDENT. YESTERDAY I CONTACTED SUN TOYOTA TO SEE IF THEY WILL FINALLY CHECK MY CAR OUT AND TO SEE IF IT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE PAST COMPUTER/ENGINE ISSUE. TOYOTA INFORMS ME THEY HAVE NO RECORD OF MY EVER BEING THERE OR THE PART BEING REPLACED. LUCKILY I SAVED MY RECIEPT WHICH PROVES I WAS. MY TWO COMPAINTS ARE THAT THEY REFUSE TO AKNOWLEDGE THE STEERING PROBLEM OR LOOK AT IT AND THEY HAVE MISPLACED MY PREVIOUS RECORDS? I FIND IT HARD TO BELEIVE AND QUITE CONVENIENT ON THEIR PART. WHAT CAN I DO? I'VE EVEN FILED A COMPLAINT AT TOYOTA CORP OFFICE ONLY TO BE BRUSHED OFF. I FEEL I'M STUCK WITH AN UNSAFE PIECE OF JUNK THAT I PAID 16K FOR AND TOYOTA WILL NOT HELP ME. PLEASE HELP!!!! [XXX] *TR

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE ENGINE CONTROL UNIT FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED ON THE 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CAR HAD JUST RECEIVED A VERY THOROUGH 30,000 MILE CHECKUP AND THERE WERE NO CAUSES FOR THE FAILURE. THIS FAILURE IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND IT ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE. THE ECU SPONTANEOUSLY QUIT WHILE IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE, AT 6:30 PM PITCH DARK, IN HEAVY COMMUTER TRAFFIC IN THE BOSTON BELTLINE OF RT 128. THE BRAKES WERE AS HARD AS CONCRETE, AND THE CAR DECELERATED SO FAST THAT I COULD NOT CHANGE LANES AND I WAS LEFT WITH AN ELECTRONICALLY DEAD CAR IN THE HIGH SPEED LANE - AT NIGHT. I CALLED THE STATE POLICE. *TR

EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR/MISALIGNMENT ON 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX: I HAVE HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT 2 AND 1/2 YEARS, ABOUT 35,000 MILES. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE TIRES THREE TIMES DUE TO EXCESSIVE WEAR, AND HAD SEVERAL FOUR-WHEEL ALIGNMENTS DONE. I'VE NOTICED ON THE CHAT BOARDS THAT SEVERAL OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME CAR TYPE ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. I SUSPECT THAT THE MISALIGNMENT AND SUBSEQUENT DRIFT WAS ONE OF THE LEADING CAUSES IN AN ACCIDENT I HAD LAST YEAR. *TR

OWN A 2006 MATRIX AND HAD ALL 4 TIRES WARE OUT ON INSIDE OF THREAD WITH 21000 MILES ON CAR. DID NOT NOTICE THE PROBLEM TILL CAR WENT OFF ROAD HITTING A TREE. REPAIR SHOP SAID TIRES WERE WORN EXCESSIVELY, AND CAR SHOULDN'T BE DRIVEN. UPON REPAIR, CAR WAS TAKEN TO HAVE FRONT END ALIGNED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS WITHIN TOYOTAS SPECKS, BUT COULD BE CORRECTED TO A TIGHTER STANDARD. CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE TIRES FAULT, WHEN CONTACTED THE TIRE MANUFACTURE(CONTINENTAL) , THEY STATED IT WAS CLEARLY OUT OF ALIGNMENT, AND THEREFORE CAR CAME FROM THE FACTORY LIKE THAT. *TR

VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. AFTER RESTARTING, VEHICLE WOULD ONLY RUN IN LOW SPEED, AND STALL AGAIN. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. SERVICE CENTER REPLACED ENGINE COMPUTER AND THROTT BODY ASSEMBLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE ENGINE WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 1,500 RPM. THE CONTACT PULLED OFF THE ROAD AND, APPROXIMATELY THIRTY SECONDS LATER, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ECU WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 37,687 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,680.

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE TO INVESTIGATE A LOUD VIBRATION NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRES AS LONG AS VEHICLE WAS ROLLING. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 18,000 MILES ON IT. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE SEVERELY CUPPED. THE DEALER CONTACTED THE FACTORY REFERENCE THE TIRES AND THE FACTORY RECOMMENDED THE TIRES BE REPLACED. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED AND WERE ALIGNED TO SPEC. UPON LEAVING THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER A NEW TIRE NOISE WAS NOTICED. IT WAS NOT THE SAME VIBRATION NOISE BUT A LOUD ROAR AS LONG AS THE TIRES WERE ROLLING. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX MY TIRES ARE WEARING IMPROPER. THE TIRES ARE CUPPING, AT 3,000 TO 5,000 MILES. AFTER RESEARCHING I FOUND THAT EVERY MATRIX, PONTIAC VIB AND COROLLA OWNER IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. ALL OWNERS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. A SOLUTION FOR THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN FOUND BUT THE TOYOTA DOES NOT WANT TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX XR. DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AT THE DEALER THE CAR HAD ABOUT 7500 MILES. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR, CUPPING, ON THE TIRES AND THEY SHOULD PROBABLY BE REPLACED AT MY NEXT MAINTENANCE. THESE TIRES WERE RATED FOR APPROXIMATELY 30,000 MILES. THE MANAGER AT THE TOYOTA REPAIR SHOP SAID THIS WAS SOMETHING HE HAD NOTICED WITH MATRIX TIRES. BECAUSE I HAD DONE ALL OF THE CORRECT MAINTENANCE CHECKS INCLUDING TIRE ROTATION THE REPAIR SHOP SAID IT WAS NOTHING THAT I HAD DONE. AT THE NEXT SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE I HAD THE TIRES REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND OF TIRES (JUST IN CASE IT WAS A TIRE PROBLEM). TOYOTA AGREED TO PAY FOR 1/2 OF THE TIRE COST BECAUSE MANY MATRIX OWNERS WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE COST OF INSTALLATION AND BALANCING BUT WHEN I COMPLAINED ABOUT THESE FEES WAS GIVEN A DISCOUNT. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I FILE A REPORT WITH TOYOTA ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES. WHEN I CALLED TO REPORT IT THEY SAID THEY HAD NOTHING ON FILE ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE MATRIX AND UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR. THEY STATED IT WAS PROBABLY A PROBLEM WITH THE ACTUAL TIRES AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT THE TIRE DEALER. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA STATING WHAT WAS TOLD TO ME BY THE MAINTENANCE SHOP BUT WAS TOLD THAT THE REPAIR SHOPS ARE INDEPENDENT AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH TOYOTA. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 6,000 MILES ON MY NEW TIRES, UNEVEN WEAR IS APPARENT AND THERE IS A LOUD NOISE CREATED BY THE TIRES WHEN I REACH SPEEDS OF ABOUT 35 MPH OR ABOVE. *TR

2006 TOYOTA MATRIX, CURRENTLY HAS 21000 MILES ON IT. ALL 4 TIRES ARE BALD ON THE INSIDE TREAD, OUTSIDE STILL HAS 75% LEFT. I ROTATE THESE TIRES EVERY 4000 MILES AND THE ALIGNMENT IS WITHIN SPECS. THE NOISE STARTED AT ABOUT 17,000 MILES & KEEPS GETTING LOUDER. NOW I AM FACED TO BUY NEW TIRES ON A CAR THAT IS NOT THAT OLD. *CN

FAULTY CAMBERING OF WHEELS ON TOYOTA MATRIX 2006 (XRS FWD). IT CAUSES UNEVEN AND PREMATURE WEAR OF TIRES. AT 12000 MILES TIRES BECAME NOISY WITH ALMOST NO THREAD ON THE EDGES. *TR

SEVERE TIRE CUPPING AT 24,000 MILES ON TOYOTA MATRIX 2006 XR AWD. ALL 4 TIRES NEEDED REPLACING - TIRE INFLATION LIGHT WAS ON AND WOULD NOT RESET. NOTICED PROBLEM AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES. *TR *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BROUGHT IN INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER CUSTOMER'S WITH THE SAME DEFECT. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH ALL THE SERVICE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD BEGAN ILLUMINATING BEFORE THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS TOLD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME WHERE THE CONTACT REPLACED THE BATTERY. THE FAILURE HAS SINCE RECURRED TWICE. AFTER EACH FAILURE THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND CONTINUE DRIVING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,736 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000. SM.

VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC. WHILE WAITING TO MOVE ON, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE,THE ENGINE ALL OF A SUDDEN ROARED AND THE VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD AND HIT THE VEHICLE (APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 7 FEET) IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT OPEN AND THE HIT TO THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS MORE LIKE A PUNCH. I TRIED TO STOP MY FORWARD THRUST BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE. UPON STRIKING THE OTHER VEHICLE THE ENGINE ROAR STOPPED AND EVERYTHING SEEMINGLY RETURNED TO NORMAL. MINOR DAMAGE WAS DONE TO BOTH VEHICLES AND NO ONE WAS REPORTEDLY INJURED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND AN ACCIDENT REPORT WAS FILED. MY TOYOTA DEALER WAS CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE AND ADVISED ME THAT THEY NEVER HAD SUCH AN EXPERIENCE REPORTED BUT SUGGESTED I BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. *TR

ABNORMAL TIRE WARE ON TOYOTA MATRIX 2007 XR AWD AROUND 16,000 MI. BAD CUPPING AND NOISE CONTINENTAL TIRES. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA AWD MATRIX WITH 25,000 MILES. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK A VIBRATION I FELT WHEN DRIVING THE CAR. THEY TOLD ME THE TIRES (ALL 4) ARE CUPPING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED TWICE ( AT 8,000 AND 21,000 MILES). I SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD PROBLEMS AND FOUND THE PROBLEM WITH CUPPING AND PREMATURE TIRE WEAR WAS COMMON. THE POSTINGS REFER TO A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM. IRONICALLY TOYOTA DISCONTINUED AWD IN 2007 AND OWNERS OF THE NEWER MODELS REPORTED NO TIRE WEAR PROBLEMS. *JB

THE TIRES ON MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX ARE CUPPING. I HAD TO REPLACE THEM AT 13,000 MILES. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON MATRIXS NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF TIRE ARE ON THE CAR. *JB

2006 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH ALLOY WHEELS AND CONTINENTAL TIRES : AT 5,000 MI ROTATION THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE BACK AND FORTH A BIT, SHIMMY. AT 10,000 MI ROTATION SHIMMY WAS WORSE AND NOISE WAS NOTICED. AT 14,000 MI DEALER SERVICE SAID THAT NOISE WAS DUE TO SEVERE CUPPING AND ALL TIRES NEEDED REPLACED BUT THAT CONTINENTAL HAD NO WARRANTY (EVEN THOUGH CAR CAME WITH A CONTINENTAL WARRANTY PAPER). REPLACED TIRES WITH YOKOHAMA AT DEALER. *TR

WITH ONLY 24,707 MILES ON MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX, I WAS TOLD THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE FOUND MANY SUCH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE VEHICLES AFTER DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH. THE PROBLEM WAS DESCRIBED AS EXCESSIVE CUPPING OR WEAR TO THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES. THE SIXTEEN INCH CONTINENTAL TIRES STANDARD ON THESE HAVE A TREAD LIFE OF 50,000 MILES, BUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THEY HAVE A TREAD LIFE OF ABOUT 25,000 MILES. I HAVE THE RECORDS TO PROVE THAT I BROUGHT THE AUTO IN EVERY 5,000 MILES FOR A SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. EACH ONE CALLED FOR A TIRE ROTATION. I AM SO ANGRY THAT THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T MENTION THIS PROBLEM OR MAKE CORRECTIONS TO THE ALIGNMENT OR BALANCE OF THE TIRES, THAT I REFUSE TO GO BACK TO THEM. IN MY OPINION, THIS CONSTITUTES NEGLIGENT BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF THE DEALERSHIP AND A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW ON THE PART OF THE MANUFACTURER THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED FOR ALL TOYOTA MATRIX. *TR