2010 Toyota MATRIX: complaints, problems and recalls

BRAKES DO NOT WORK (NO BRAKE FORCE TO WHEELS) FIRST SECOND OF BRAKING WHEN COLD IN HUMID WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR EXAMPLE AFTER STANDING STILL OVERNIGHT IN TEMPERATURES BETWEEN 0 AND 10 C. HAVE HAPPENED REPEATEDLY AND IS UNSAFE FOR EXAMPLE AT CROSSING OTHER ROAD. THIS IS SECOND VEHICLE OF THIS MODEL WITH SAME PROBLEM AND DEALER HAVE NOT MANAGED TO FIX. MY VEHICLE IS IN EUROPE AND MODEL IS AVENSIS BUT I BELIEVE YOU NEED TO INVESTIGATE AS THIS BRAKE SYSTEM IS PROBABLY USED ALSO IN USA ON US CARS. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10304393 at NHTSA ↗

2010 TOYOTA MATRIX PURCHASED BRAND NEW NOVEMBER OF 2009 WITH ONLY 5 MILES READING ON THE ODOMETER. ALTHOUGH THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT TWO OPERATIONAL ISSUES: STEERING ON HIGHWAYS AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND BRAKES NOT ENGAGING. ON STRAIGHTAWAYS THIS VEHICLE SWERVES BACK AND FORTH. I AM CONSTANTLY HAVING TO CORRECT ITS DIRECTION. WE TRIED ADJUSTING THE TIRE INFLATION WITH NO HELP. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO READJUSTED THE TIRES BACK AND SAID THE VEHICLE WAS STILL WITHIN DESIGN SPECS. OUR NEWEST …

Owner-reported narrative. 10 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311246 at NHTSA ↗

IN JULY 2009 I PURCHASED A NEW 2010 TOYOTA MATRIX FROM SUNRISE TOYOTA IN OAKDALE , NEW YORK. WHEN SHOPPING FOR MY VEHICLE I WAS LOOKING FOR ONE THAT HAD A DRIVERS SIDE KNEE AIRBAG SINCE I HAD RECENTLY HAD KNEE SURGERY AND A CHRONIC KNEE PROBLEM. WHEN LOOKING AT THE 2010 TOYOTA MATRIX THE WINDOW STICKER (MONRONEY) INDICATED THAT THE CAR CAME EQUIPPED WITH A DRIVERS SIDE KNEE AIR BAG AS STANDARD SAFETY EQUIPMENT. THE SALES PERSON ALSO REITERATED THAT THE CAR HAD THIS SAFETY EQUIPMENT. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. IN JANUARY OF 2010, NEARLY 6 MONTHS A…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10317345 at NHTSA ↗

DRIVING TOYOTA MATRIX 2010, IN 97DEGREE HEAT, UP A HILL (6 MILES LONG), IN 3RD GEAR, AIR CONDITIONING OFF (AS SUGGESTED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HILL), ON CRUISE CONTROL. SPEED OF APPROX 60 MPH. THE CAR SPUTTERED AND THEN STALLED. I WAS ABLE TO RESTART IT AFTER ABOUT 5 MIN. NOTHING WAS DONE TO CORRECT THE FAILURE YET. AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN MADE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10342835 at NHTSA ↗

WHILE DRIVING A 2010 MATRIX, TUESDAY OCT. 19,2010, APPROX. 30MPHS. THE CAR MADE A CLICKING SOUND AS IF A CRUISE CONTROL HAD BEEN SET BUT THIS CAR DOESN'T HAVE CRUISE CONTROL. THE CAR THEN TOOK OFF A VERY HIGH SPEED LIKE A JET PLANE AT TAKE OFF. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE BRAKES OR STEERING. THE VEHICLE TRAVEL APPROX. A HALF OF A MILE BEFORE HITTING AN EMBANKMENT AND THEN JUMPING OUT OF THE DITCH AND BACK ONTO THE HIGHWAY WHERE IT LANDED AND STOPPED. THE CAR IS SUPPOSE TO BE EQUIPPED WITH SIX AIR BAGS BUT NONE OF THEM DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10361901 at NHTSA ↗

2010 TOYOTA MATRIX. S10 APPROPRIATE LETTER FROM REGARDING TOYOTA PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED HE REQUESTED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO HAVE THE BRAKE OVERRIDE INSTALLED IN HIS VEHICLE, BUT TOYOTA DECLINED HIS REQUEST. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10363332 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED AN ABNORMAL INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WHERE THE DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 5,800.

Owner-reported narrative. 5,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10442672 at NHTSA ↗

BRAKE PEDAL SUDDENLY FELT SOFT AS IF THERE WAS AIR IN THE BRAKE LINE. BRAKE ONLY WORKED WHEN YOU PUMPED FAST. OTHERWISE THE PEDAL WOULD GO DOWN TO THE FLOOR. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY VERIFIED THE COMPLAINT, AND FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR FREE. THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AND FLUID. BRAKES WERE FINE UNTIL 3 WEEKS AGO, APRIL 23, 2012. EXACTLY THE SAME HAPPENED, THANK GOODNESS AS I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY. TOOK THE CAR BACK IN AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM. THEY CONCLUDED IT WAS A FAULTY PART. THEY REPLACED THE MASTER CYLINDER AGAIN…

Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10457946 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2010-01-27 (January 27, 2010)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 HIGHLANDER, MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 COROLLA, VENZA AND MATRIX PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN GET STUCK IN THE WIDE OPEN POSITION DUE TO ITS BEING TRAPPED BY AN UNSECURED OR INCOMPATIBLE DRIVER'S FLOOR MAT. THIS RECALL IS AN EXPANSION OF A CAMPAIGN OF 3.8 MILLION OTHER TOYOTA VEHICLES ANNOUNCED IN 2009 FOR THE SAME ISSUE (SEE 09V-388).

Consequence: A STUCK OPEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL MAY RESULT IN VERY HIGH VEHICLE SPEEDS AND MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO STOP THE VEHICLE, WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL MODIFY OR REPLACE THE ACCELERATOR PEDALS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. FLOOR SURFACE MODIFICATIONS ARE ALSO BEING CONSIDERED AND WILL BE INCLUDED FOR ANY MODEL FOR WHICH IT IS DEEMED APPROPRIATE. INITIALLY, DEALERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO RESHAPE THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FOR THE REPAIR. AS REPLACEMENT PARTS WITH THE SAME SHAPE AS THE MODIFIED PEDAL BECOME AVAILABLE, THEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE DEALERS FOR THE REPAIR. CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD THE PEDAL RESHAPE REMEDY COMPLETED WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO RECEIVE A NEW PEDAL IF THEY DESIRE, AFTER REPLACEMENT PEDALS BECOME AVAILABLE. IN ADDITION, TOYOTA WILL REPLACE ANY TOYOTA ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT IN A SUBJECT VEHICLE WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED MAT, FREE OF CHARGE. FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE THE PREVIOUS DESIGN ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT BUT DO NOT NEED OR WANT THE NEWLY DESIGNED ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT, TOYOTA WILL RECOVER THE PREVIOUS DESIGN ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT AND REIMBURSE ITS PRICE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN MARCH 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

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: 2016-05-23 (May 23, 2016)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2008-2011 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2009-2011 Toyota Corolla and Corolla Matrix, 2006-2011 Toyota Yaris, Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, Lexus IS250C, Lexus IS350C and Lexus GX460, 2011 Sienna, 2007-2011 Lexus ES350, and 2009-2010 Pontiac Vibe vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, unless included in "Zone A" above, Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 Scion xB and Lexus IS F, 2007-2008 Toyota Yaris, 2006-2008 Lexus IS250 and Lexus IS350 and 2007-2008 Lexus ES350 vehicles, originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Vehicles of these model years and models that were not originally sold or ever registered in either Zones A or B are not subject to this safety recall. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will contact the Pontiac owners. Depending on the model, dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator or the air bag assembly, free of charge. The recall began on December 6, 2016. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for interim notification for this campaign are G1P (Toyota Zone A), G1R (Toyota Zone B), G2G (Lexus Zone A), and G2H (Lexus Zone B). Toyota's numbers for final remedy for this campaign are G0P (Toyota Zone A), G0R (Toyota Zone B), GLG (Lexus Zone A), and GLH (Lexus Zone B).