2006 Toyota MATRIX: complaints, problems and recalls

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 MAI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10153679 at NHTSA ↗

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, QUES…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10153680 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Owner-reported narrative. 11,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10159506 at NHTSA ↗

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…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10160726 at NHTSA ↗

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 …

Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170729 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10173175 at NHTSA ↗

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.

Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10176107 at NHTSA ↗

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 STA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10181414 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

GULF STATES TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2010 VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2005 AND JUNE 2, 2008 WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. DEALERS WILL ALSO CORRECT THE OWNER'S MANUAL. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GULF STATES TOYOTA AT 713-580-3300.

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE SOLD WITHOUT THE REQUISITE LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY MODIFICATION LABELS.

Consequence: A DRIVER MAY OVERLOAD A VEHICLE WHICH MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAIL TO CONSUMERS THE CORRECTED LABEL OR THE CUSTOMER WILL HAVE THE OPTION FOR DEALERS TO INSTALL THE LABEL FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

Reported: 2010-08-26 (August 26, 2010)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2008 COROLLA AND COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FOR THE SUBJECT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH THE 1ZZ-FE ENGINE AND TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A CRACK MAY DEVELOP AT CERTAIN SOLDER POINTS OR ON VARISTORS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD.

Consequence: THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WARNINGS AND CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFECT. THE ENGINE WARNING LAMP COULD BE ILLUMINATED, HARSH SHIFTING COULD RESULT, THE ENGINE MAY NOT START, OR THE ENGINE COULD SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. AN ENGINE SHUTOFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PRODUCTION NUMBER OF THE ECM AND REPLACE THE ECM IF NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. TOYOTA WILL MAIL AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER 2010 TO ADVISE OWNERS OF THIS DEFECT AND RECALL. THIS INTERIM NOTIFICATION WILL INFORM OWNERS THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE A FUTURE NOTIFICATION WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO HAVE THE FREE REMEDY PERFORMED ON THEIR VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.