2006 Toyota Matrix Complaint Log

2006 TOYOTA MATRIX XR TIRES CUPPING BADLY AFTER 17,000 MILES. CONTINENTAL TIRES, DEALER WILL NOT ADDRESS PROBLEM. NOTED MANY SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH CAR AND TIRE COMBINATION. *TR

PURCHASED 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX ON 14 APRIL 2006 FROM YOUNGER TOYOTA, 1935 DUAL HIGHWAY. HAGERSTOWN, MD. 27140. WITHIN 12,000 TO 13,000 MILES VEHICLE HAD SEVERE ROAD NOISE. BY 15,000 MILES NOTICED SEVERE INSIDE CUPPING OF ALL FOUR TIRES. TIRES WERE ROTATED EVERY 5,000 MILES AT OIL CHANGE. I THOUGHT I HAD BAD TIRES AND PRIOR TO PURCHASING NEW TIRES WENT TO YOUNGER TOYOTA FOR AN ALIGNMENT ON 19 JULY 2007 (17,410 MILES ON VEHICLE). THE YOUNGER SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME THAT THE MATRIX WAS A LITTLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I PURCHASED NEW TIRES FROM DISCOUNT TIRE DIRECT ON 3 AUGUST 2007 AND HAD NEW TIRES INSTALLED (18,714 MILES ON VEHICLE). IN OCTOBER 2007 I CAME ACROSS SEVERAL FORUMS WHERE SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I VISITED YOUNGER TOYOTA AND TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO ACKNOWLEDGED THAT HE HAD MET WITH OTHER MATRIX OWNERS WHO HAD HAD THE SAME PROBLEM THAT I HAD. HIS ANSWER TO ME WAS THAT HE HAD NO SERVICE BULLETINS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM AND THAT I SHOULD CONTACT A CUSTOMER REPRESENTATIVE AT TOYOTA TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I CONTACTED A CUSTOMER REP AT TOYOTA AND GOT THE SAME ANSWER THAT THE SERVICE MANAGER GAVE ME. NO SERVICE BULLETINS AND NO FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. I FILED FOR ARBITRATION ON 11 OCTOBER 2007 ( CASE #200710110721). *TR

EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR DUE TO DESIGN FLAW/WORKMANSHIP OF THE MANUFACTURER. THE REAR END ALIGNMENT IS NOT ADJUSTABLE, AND WAS WAY OFF FROM THE FACTORY. HAD TOP REPLACE THE TIRES AT 15K MILES DUE TO CUPPING CAUSED BY CAMBER/TOE IN WAY OUT OF SPEC. TOYOTA SAID THAT TIRE ALIGNMENT WAS WELL WITHIN DESIGN SPECS. DROVE FOR 15K MILES ON SECOND SET, WAS TOLD BY TIRE SPECIALIST THAT 2ND SET OF TIRES (NOT SAME AS ORIGINAL) WAS ALSO CUPPING, AND THAT THE PROBLEM WAS DEFINITELY IN THE ALIGNMENT OF THE REAR END. HAD TO THREATEN TOYOTA WITH A LAWSUIT BEFORE THEY ADMITTED THERE WAS A PROBLEM. THEY ADDED SHIMS TO CAR (I HAD TO PAY FOR PARTS), BUT FLAT OUT REFUSED TO RE-IMBURSE FOR RUINED TIRES. *TR

THE TIRES ON TOYOTA MATRIX'S ARE WEARING OUT AFTER 15000 MILES. THIS IS ON ALL TOYOTA MATRIX CARS AND TOYOTA IS DENYING ANY PROBLEMS. THE FOLLOWING LINK IS ONE OF MANY THAT OUTLINES THE ISSUES (HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0EEECE/0)

MY TOYOTA MATRIX ENGINE STOP RUNNING AND HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AT 5,393 MILES. *TR

AFTER OWNING MY NEW CAR FOR ABOUT A YEAR (AROUND 25,000 MILES), I WAS INFORMED THAT MY TIRES WERE CUPPING AND ALL NEEDED REPLACED. THIS ISSUE WAS BLAMED ON ALIGNMENT ISSUES. I HAD THE ALIGNMENT FIXED AND TIRES REPLACED. I HAD READ DISCUSSION BOARDS OF OTHER MATRIX OWNERS, MANY OF WHOM HAD SIMILAR TIRE/ALIGNMENT COMPLAINTS. A WORKER AT THE CAR DEALERSHIP SUGGESTED THIS HAS BEEN A COMMON ISSUE WITH THE MATRIX. I COMPLAINED TO TOYOTA, WHO BLAMED BOTH MY DRIVING AND DRIVING CONDITIONS (I DON'T DRIVE RECKLESSLY--TYPICALLY ALL MY DRIVING IS HIGHWAY), AS WELL AS THE TIRE MANUFACTURER (BUT MY WARRANTY HAD ALREADY RUN-OUT). I'VE BEEN GETTING MY TIRES ROTATED ON A REGULAR BASIS, BUT ABOUT A YEAR AFTER THE AFOREMENTIONED REPAIRS (MAY 2008), THE TECH ROTATING MY TIRES NOTED ONE OF MY TIRES WAS CUPPING AND TO HAVE MY REAR ALIGNMENT CHECKED. AGAIN, MY ALIGNMENT WAS OFF AND THE CAR HAD TO BE RE-ALIGNED. NOW, TWO MONTHS LATER, I AM AGAIN HAVING POSSIBLE ALIGNMENT ISSUES (WILL BE CHECKED THIS WEEK). I THINK THE TOYOTA MATRIX HAS A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW CONSIDERING SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE BEEN HAVING ALIGNMENT/TIRE ISSUES WITH THEIR CARS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UNDER COLD CONDITIONS OR IF THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR AN EXTENDED LENGTH OF TIME THE TIRES WOULD CREATE A FLAT SPOT AND PRODUCE A LOUD ROAD NOISE WHEN DRIVING. AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN FOR A WHILE THE NOISE AND THE FLAT SPOT WOULD LEAVE. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER , BUT NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 6,008.*AK

MY SON BOUGHT THE 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX IN 2006 . IN 2007 MY SON WAS DRIVING VERY SLOW AND HIT THE CAR INFRONT OF HIM. HE NEVER HAS HAD AN ACCIDENT AND NO TICKETS. HIS CAR WAS DAMAGE, A TOTAL OF $6,429.41 WAS FIX AT RON'S AUTOBODY & PAINT INC. 1314 N. CLOSNER, EDINBURG,TX 78539 BECAUSE HE FOUND OUT HE DIDN'T HAVE FULL COVERAGE,HE ONLY HAD LIABILITY AND KNEW THE DEALERSHIP WOULD CHARGE MORE . WE NEVER TOOK THE TIME TO FIND OUT IF THE CAR HAD ACCELERATION OR BRAKES PROBLEMS. THE CAR HAS ACCELERATION& BRAKE PROBLEMS BECAUSE MY SON SAID THE BRAKES DIDN'T RESPONSE & CAR KEPT ON GOING,AND HE SAYS THE BRAKES STILL DON'T RESPONSE QUICKLY AND I MYSELF DROVE THE CAR LAST YEAR AND I PRESS THE BRAKES AND CAR JUST KEPT ON GOING AND I WAS GOING SLOW TO STOP ON A YELLOW LIGHT AND RECEIVED A TICKET BY MAIL ,I HAD A CLEAN RECORD. I DID CALL FRANK SMITH TOYOTA AND I WAS TOLD WE WOULD BE CHARGE TO LOOK AT IT AND AFRAID THEY WILL CHARGE US TOO MUCH MONEY. OUR SON IS STILL DRIVING THE CAR. HE DOES DRIVE VERY SLOW TO GO TO WORK. HE HAS 3 CHILDRENS THAT HE HAS AS PASSENGERS. DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. HOPE IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. I THINK THE DEALERSHIP SHOULD LOOK AT IT WITHOUT CHARGING. *TR

JAN. 2007 ANCHORAGE, AK DRIVING 50MPH ON A HIGHWAY, AS THE ROAD BENDED TO THE RIGHT, WE WENT INTO THE TURN AND BEGAN TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS. IT WAS 30 DEGREES F, SO WE MUST HAVE HIT BLACK ICE. I TRIED TO CORRECT AND SENT THE CAR FISH TAILING TO THE OTHER SIDE. WE WHIPPED BACK AND FORTH A FEW TIMES, BEFORE THE CAR STARTED TO SPIN. WE DID TWO FULL CIRCLES BEFORE WE GENTLY HIT A BURM OF SNOW AND CAME TO A STOP. NO OTHER CARS WERE ONCOMING SO WE DID NOT HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. I WENT AND BOUGHT STUDDED TIRED THE NEXT DAY. DEC. 2009 JUNEAU, AK I WAS A PASSENGER. SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. DRIVING 40 MPH ON STRAIGHT ROAD, SLUSHY SNOW CONDITIONS. THE CAR STARTED TO FISH TAIL AND SPUN 1.5 TIMES BEFORE IT STOPPED. NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OR INJURIES. NO STUDDED TIRES. (ALL-WEATHER TIRES) FEB. 2012 JUNEAU, AK I WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SAME CAR AS ABOVE. DRIVING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY, GOING STRAIGHT. WE MUST HAVE HIT BLACK ICE AND THE CAR STARTED TO FISH TAIL. WE SPUN TWO TIMES AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN LIKE IN PREVIOUS INCIDENTS AND WE HIT A GUARDRAIL GOING FULL SPEED (HIT IT BACKWARDS). I GOT WHIPLASH, FACE LACERATIONS, BROKEN NOSE, AND A MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY FROM THE CRASH AND TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL. DRIVER WAS UNHARMED. (ALL-WEATHER TIRES). *TR

AS I WAS DRIVING TO WORK ON DECEMBER 28, 6:50 AM I GRADUALLY FELT MY CAR SLOWING DOWN SO I TRIED ACCELERATING WITH NO SUCCESS! WHEN I LOOKED IF I HAD FORGOTTEN TO LOWER THE SAFETY BRAKE, I CHECKED MY BOARD AND SAW A CHECK ENGINE SIGN SO I PULLED OF TO THE GAS STATION (LUCKY THERE WAS ONE WHEN THIS HAPPENED AND NO TRAFFIC). I CALLED FOR A TOWING AND TURNED OF THE CAR. WHEN THE TOWING GUY CAME, HE TRIED MY VEHICLE AND NOTHING SEEMED TO BE WRONG EXCEPT FOR THE CHECK ENGINE SIGN THAT WAS STILL UP... WHEN I WENT TO THE GARAGE, MY CAR WAS SCANNED AND THE PO607 ERROR WAS FOUND IN THE COMPUTER'S HISTORY! THERE OBVIOUSLY IS A PROBLEM WITH THE ACCELERATOR ON MY TOYOTA MATRIX 2006 AND THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THAT PROBLEM WHICH IS NOT NORMAL EITHER! THIS IS A CAR I BOUGHT ON AUGUST 2010 FROM A POPULAR DEALER SO ITS SECOND HAND AND I'M PRETTY SURE THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME SUCH A PROBLEM OCCURS WITH IT. *TR

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS LOW TO THE GROUND, WHICH MADE IT EASIER FOR PEBBLES TO STRICK THE WINDSHIELD WHICH SUSTAINED DAMAGE FROM GRAVEL BEING KICKED UP BY OTHER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NORMALLY DROVE 45 TO 55 MPH HIGHWAY LIMIT WHEN THE VEHICLE GOT PELTED BY THE GRAVEL. THE GRAVEL WAS A RESULT OF THE SAND AND CHEMICALS PLACED ON THE ROAD TO IMPROVE ICY CONDITIONS. THERE WAS USUALLY SNOW AND ICE ON THE ROAD FROM NOVEMBER TO APRIL. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 15500. *AK UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING ON 12/21/06 IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT 5 MPH HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE AND OBSERVED THAT THE TIRE FAILED AND THAT THE SIDEWALL WAS DAMAGED. THE CONTACT WAS CERTAIN THAT HE DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING TO CAUSE THE TIRE TO FAIL. THE CONTACT PLACED A SPARE TIRE ON THE VEHICLE AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED HIM TO CALL THE TIRE MANUFACTURER AND FILE A COMPLAINT. SEARS INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE TIRE FAILURE WAS DUE TO ROAD HAZARDS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE GOOD. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT TIRES KEEP WEARING OUT AT 7000 MILES. THE FRONT TIRES WERE WORN ON THE INSIDE PORTION. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC EXPRESSED THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE ALIGNMENT.

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX XR 2WD WITH 14000 MI. I HAVE HAD THE TIRES ROTATED 3 TIMES IN THIS PERIOD AND KEEP 32PSI IN EACH TIRE, UPON PRESENTATION TO THE TIRE SHOP (CONTINENTAL ECO PLUS TIRES). THE SHOP REFUSED TO ROTATE THE TIRES SINCE ONE HAD 2/32 TREAD WEAR AND ANOTHER TIRE WAS SHOWING BELTS ON THE VERY INSIDE OF TIRE. THERE IS ALSO A HUMMING NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRES AS WELL. *JB

BOUGHT NEW TOYOTA MATRIX 2 WHEEL DRIVE IN 2006. ALL FOUR TIRES ARE WORN EXCESSIVELY ON THE INSIDE PART OF TIRE. DEALERSHIP SAYS I DROVE THE CAR THEREFORE NOT THEIR PROBLEM. TOYOTA SAYS TIRES NOT THEIR PROBLEM. NEITHER ORGANIZATION SEEMS TO THINK THE CAR MAY HAVE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET I HAVE FOUND OTHERS REPORTING SAME TROUBLES. I KNOW AM FACED WITH BUYING 4 NEW TIRES HAVING TO GET AN ALIGNMENT. AND STILL NOT CONVINCED THE PROBLEM WILL GO AWAY. THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN THEIR WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR. BOTH DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA WANT TO BLAME ME AND THE TIRE COMPANY. *NM

THE CAR WAS OPERATED BY MOTHER WHO WAS IN A PARKING LOT ABOUT TO FINALIZE A FULL PARKING OF IT. ALL OF A SUDDEN, HER WORDS WERE "IT SHOT OFF LIKE A BULLET" AND SHE DID NOT KNOW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING 100 MPH AND SHE DID EVERYTHING UNDER HER CONTROL NOT TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE OR 3 PEDESTRIANS. THE PEDESTRIANS SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING AND RAN, ONE WAS HIT, NOT SERIOUSLY. POLICE AND RESCUE WERE CALLED. THE JOHNSTON, RHODE ISLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT IMPOUNDED THE CAR. THE CAR WILL BE INSPECTED PROBABLY ON JUNE 26 BY THE RI DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES ENFORCEMENT DIVISION. THEY WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THE CAR IS "FIT" TO DRIVE OR "UNFIT" TO DRIVE. IT WAS A SCARY SITUATION. THE CAR IS BRAND NEW. I AM THE OWNER OF IT, I BOUGHT IT IN DECEMBER 2005, IT HAD NOT YET BEEN DELIVERED TO THE DEALERS LOT. I PICKED IT UP A WEEK AFTER INITIATING MY PURCHASE. IT'S A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX, ALL WHEEL DRIVE. *JB

TWICE WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY (IN TRAFFIC BUT NOT BUMPER TO BUMPER), MY TOYOTA MATRIX ENGINE TURNED OFF. I WAS ON THE RIGHT AND ABLE TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AND RESTART THE ENGINE, HOWEVER HAD I BEEN IN THE LEFT LANE THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE AND A SERIOUS ACCIDENT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. THE VEHICLE SUBSEQUENTLY WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALERS' SERVICE DEPARTMENT (RUSSELL TOYOTA IN CATONSVILLE, MARYLAND). THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. THE CAR IS ONLY A FEW MONTHS OLD AND HAS 11,800 MILES ON IT, AND HAS RECEIVED ALL PROPER SERVICE CHECKS, OIL CHANGES, ETC. *JB

I JUST FILED A COMPLAINT TO NHTSA (#10153679) AT THIS WEBSITE. I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT I SEARCHED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND A SIMILAR ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN NY STATE. JEAN M. NAPLES WAS DRIVING A TOYOTA MATRIX ON ROUTE 287 NORTHBOUND IN HARDING AND THE CAR LOST CONTROL AND SPUN TOWARD THE LEFT. SHE WAS TREATED AT MORRISTOWN MEMORIAL HOSPITAL. (IF TOYOTA WANTS TO SEE THE COMPLAINT #10153679, I WOULD LIKE TO OPEN IT TO THEM. I ORIGINALLY SPECIFIED "NON-DISCLOSURE" BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT THE HASSLE OF GETTING INVOLVED IN AN INVESTIGATION, QUESTIONNAIRE, FORMS, AND ALL THAT STUFF!) *JB

I DROVE A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX AND LOST CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE LANE TO MY RIGHT AND FOUND THERE WAS A CAR APPROACHING AND HORNED ME. I HAD NOT LEFT MY LANE AND TRIED TO PULL MY CAR STRAIGHT. THE CAR REACTED BY SHIFTING TOO MUCH TO THE LEFT AND I TRIED ONLY TO ADJUST IT, KEEPING IN MIND THAT IT WAS A POWER-STEERED SYSTEM. TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT. THERE WAS A 1-2 SECONDS AFTERWARDS THE CAR SEEMED TO BE ON TRACK AND I WAS DRIVING FINE. AFTER THAT TIME PERIOD, THE CAR VEERED TOWARD THE LEFT ALL OF A SUDDEN. I TRIED TO MAINTAIN IT STRAIGHT BUT IN VAIN AND COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OVER IT. IT SPUN COUNTERCLOCKWISE OVER 3 LANES TOWARD MY LEFT AND HIT THE CENTRAL GUARDRAIL AND STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BUT I WAS NOT INJURED. *JB

MY COMPLAINT WAS FIRST FILED ON 3/25/2006 (ODI # 10153679). THIS IS THE 2ND COMPLAINT ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE TOYOTA MATRIX THAT I DROVE IN 2006. I WAS DRIVING A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX AND LOST TOTAL CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. I WAS DRIVING ON RT 2 WEST BOUND OUT OF BOSTON DURING EVENING RUSH HOUR. I WAS TRYING TO CHANGE LANE TO MY RIGHT AND FOUND THERE WAS A CAR APPROACHING AND HONKED AT ME. I HAD NOT LEFT MY LANE YET AND TRIED TO PULL MY CAR STRAIGHT BACK. THE CAR REACTED BY SHIFTING TOO MUCH TO THE LEFT AND I TRIED ONLY TO ADJUST IT, KEEPING IN MIND THAT WAS A POWER-STEERED SYSTEM, TO KEEP IT STRAIGHT. THERE WAS A 1-2 SECONDS AFTERWARDS THE CAR SEEMED TO BE ON TRACK AND I WAS DRIVING FINE. AFTER THAT 2 SECONDS, THE CAR ACCELERATED ALL OF A SUDDEN, GAS PEDAL WAS DOWN TO THE FLOOR, THE CAR VEERED TOWARD THE LEFT ON IT'S OWN. I TRIED TO MAINTAIN IT STRAIGHT BUT IN VAIN AND COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL OVER IT. THE WHEEL WAS SO SOLID AND IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER THE CAR EVEN JUST A LITTLE BIT. IT SPUN COUNTERCLOCKWISE OVER 3 LANES TOWARD MY LEFT AND HIT THE CENTRAL GUARDRAIL AND STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE POLICE ISSUED ME A TICKET ON THE SPOT. OTHER THAN COMPLAINT ODI # 10153679 FILED AT THIS WEBSITE AFTER THE INCIDENT, I ALSO FILED A COMPLAINT AT TOYOTA'S WEBSITE ON THE SAME DAY (3/25/2006). THE MATRIX MODEL WAS STOPPED IN 2007 AND CONTINUED IN 2008 WITH AN ADVERTISEMENT THAT IT WAS A COMPLETE NEW DESIGN. I LATER CHECKED THE INTERNET AND FOUND A VERY SIMILAR ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN NEW YORK STATE ON 10/9/2005. A WOMAN NAMED [XXX] , 55 OF WEST HARVERSTRAW WAS DRIVING A MATRIX. HER CAR SPUN OFF ROUTE 287 IN HARDING AND SHE WAS HOSPITALIZED AFTERWARDS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR