2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix Problems

Brought vehicle in three times, airbag was nothing at time, now the airbag lights all the time

TL* THE CONTACT'S GIRLFRIEND OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS DRIVING 25 MPH, HER VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER MOTORIST AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. DESPITE MINIMAL IMPACT, THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT AN OCCUPANT IN THE SEAT. DUE TO THE SHOCK OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT, THE CONTACT'S GIRLFRIEND JERKED THE WHEEL AND HER BACK PASSENGER TIRE HAD HIT A CURB. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE CONTACT'S GIRLFRIEND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE NEXT DAY, HIS GIRLFRIEND WAS TREATED AT A HOSPITAL FOR INJURIES TO HER NECK AND RIGHT ARM. THE CONTACT THEN CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO INFORMED HIM THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V627000(AIR BAGS). AN APPOINTMENT WAS MADE AT POHANKA TOYOTA OF SALISBURY(2010 N SALISBURY BLVD, SALISBURY, MD 21801) WHERE AN INSPECTOR WAS SENT TO THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE AIR BAG. AFTER THE INSPECTION, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE AND WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT NO REPAIRS WOULD BE MADE TO THE VEHICLE UNTIL THE INVESTIGATION WAS SETTLED. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 282,699.

The contact owns a 2006 Toyota Corolla Matrix. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the check engine warning light and the battery warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and pull over on the side of the road safely where the vehicle shut off again and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that the vehicle had experienced a similar failure as in NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V384000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 200,025.

1. HAD TO CHANGE ALL AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS AT LEAST TWICE AT $400 A POP. 2. HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 COILS TO ENGINE AT A COST OF $810.53 3. HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT DO IT FAILING WHILE OF I295 ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. AT A COST OF 3631.49 4. AFTER TRANSMISSION WORK HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSFER CASE INTERNAL SEALED AT A COST OF $711.55 WHEN WE BOUGHT THIS CAR AT TOYOTA IN DECEMBER 2005, WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR WAS BUILT LONGEVITY OR FOR THE LONG HAUL WITH ONLY HAVING TO DO ROUTINE MAINTANCE WHICH I HAVE KEPT UP ON EVERY 5000 MILES AS RECOMMENDED BY TOYOTA. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE TRANSMISSION COST. FIRESTONE STATED THAT TOYOTA RECOMMENDS A TRANSMISSION SERVICE EVERY 50,000 MILES BUT MY MAINTANCE BOOK SAYS ONLY DO THAT IF YOU EITHER TOW, OFF ROADING, OR DIRT ROADS FOR LONG PERIOD OF THE TIME. I DID NEITHER, SO TOYOTA SAYS NO NEED TO DO SERVICE. I DID CONTACT TOYOTA ADVOCATE AFTER I HAD MY TRASMISSION DONE AT COTTMAN TRANSMISSION AND THEY COULD NOT HELP ME CAUSE I WENT TO AN OUTSIDE VENDOR. MY CAR HAD ONLY 148,745 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR TRANSMISSION UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL. FOR MY SEARCH ON THE INTERNET THERE IS DOCUMENTATION THAT TOYOTA KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS FAILING BUT DID NOT WANT TO DO A RECALL BUT WOULD ONLY COMPENSATE IF THERE IS A RECALL. I JUST WANT TO BE HEARD AND POSSIBLY COMPENSATED FOR SOME OF MY REPAIRS THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE I WANTED TO KEEP IT A LONG TIME AND NOW IT IS COSTING ME MORE THAN IT IS WORK.

MY TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX 2006 HAS A ECM UNDER RECALL. WHEN I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM PREVIOUS OWNER , I DID NOT KNOW THAT CAR WAS SERVICED UNDER RECALL AND ECM WAS REPLACED IN JANUARY OF 2011. IN OCTOBER OF 2013, CAR HAS 54K MILES AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (P2716) IS ON. THE TRANSMISSION DIAGNOSTIC WAS DONE AND IT SHOWS THAT CAR HAS MALFUNCTIONING ECM. TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT BUT NOT BY TOYOTA DEALER. TOYOTA DEALER TOLD ME THAT MY CAR HAS REPLACED ECM AND DOESN'T QUALIFY FOR ANY OTHER ECM REPLACEMENT. NOW THE CAR HAS 106K AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM P2716 AND ECM IS MALFUNCTIONING. *JS

1. HAD TO CHANGE ALL AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS AT LEAST TWICE AT $400 A POP. 2. HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 COILS TO ENGINE AT A COST OF $810.53 3. HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT DO IT FAILING WHILE OF I295 ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. AT A COST OF 3631.49 4. AFTER TRANSMISSION WORK HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSFER CASE INTERNAL SEALED AT A COST OF $711.55 WHEN WE BOUGHT THIS CAR AT TOYOTA IN DECEMBER 2005, WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR WAS BUILT LONGEVITY OR FOR THE LONG HAUL WITH ONLY HAVING TO DO ROUTINE MAINTANCE WHICH I HAVE KEPT UP ON EVERY 5000 MILES AS RECOMMENDED BY TOYOTA. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE TRANSMISSION COST. FIRESTONE STATED THAT TOYOTA RECOMMENDS A TRANSMISSION SERVICE EVERY 50,000 MILES BUT MY MAINTANCE BOOK SAYS ONLY DO THAT IF YOU EITHER TOW, OFF ROADING, OR DIRT ROADS FOR LONG PERIOD OF THE TIME. I DID NEITHER, SO TOYOTA SAYS NO NEED TO DO SERVICE. I DID CONTACT TOYOTA ADVOCATE AFTER I HAD MY TRASMISSION DONE AT COTTMAN TRANSMISSION AND THEY COULD NOT HELP ME CAUSE I WENT TO AN OUTSIDE VENDOR. MY CAR HAD ONLY 148,745 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR TRANSMISSION UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL. FOR MY SEARCH ON THE INTERNET THERE IS DOCUMENTATION THAT TOYOTA KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS FAILING BUT DID NOT WANT TO DO A RECALL BUT WOULD ONLY COMPENSATE IF THERE IS A RECALL. I JUST WANT TO BE HEARD AND POSSIBLY COMPENSATED FOR SOME OF MY REPAIRS THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE I WANTED TO KEEP IT A LONG TIME AND NOW IT IS COSTING ME MORE THAN IT IS WORK.

MY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MINUTES AFTER I RETURNED HOME FROM FROM MY JOB, WHICH IS 12 MILES FROM MY HOME. IT WAS DARK, AND THE ONLY UNUSUAL THING I NOTICED WAS ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WAS OUT AND THE OTHER SEEMED DIM. I MENTIONED IT TO MY HUSBAND AND HE SAID HE'D REPLACE THE BULBS. WITHIN MINUTES I HEARD SIRENS, BUT I WASN'T IN A ROOM THAT FACED THE DRIVEWAY AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALREADY ON SCENE WHEN I REALIZED THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED. THE FIRE TOOK APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES TO FULLY EXTINGUISH AND THE HEAT DAMAGED AN ADJACENT VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND MY HOME WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED WHEN THE FIRE BROKE OUT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE CAUSE AS MECHANICAL AND THEIR REPORT IS PENDING. A POLICE OFFICER RESPONDED BUT DID NOT FILE A REPORT AFTER RULING OUT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT SPECIFICALLY CAUSED THE FIRE BUT THE ATTACHED PHOTOS SHOW THE DAMAGE, INCLUDING TO THE ADJACENT CAR.

WHEN I ROLL DOWN MY WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, THERE IS ALWAYS A LOUD *CHUNK* SOUND WHERE A SCREW THAT IS TOO LONG IN THE DOOR IS SCRAPING UP AGAINST THE WINDOW AS IT ROLLS DOWN, EVERY TIME. IF YOU ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW WHILE THE DOOR IS IN THE OPEN POSITION, YOU CAN NOT CLOSE YOUR DOOR BECAUSE THE GLASS IS CATCHING ON THE SCREW AND PUTTING HUGE GASHES IN THE WINDOW. I AM AFRAID IT WILL ONE DAY DECIDE TO SHATTER ALL OVER ME OR MY MOTHER WHO SOMETIMES BORROWS MY CAR. *TR

1. HAD TO CHANGE ALL AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS AT LEAST TWICE AT $400 A POP. 2. HAD TO REPLACE ALL 4 COILS TO ENGINE AT A COST OF $810.53 3. HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSMISSION REBUILT DO IT FAILING WHILE OF I295 ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. AT A COST OF 3631.49 4. AFTER TRANSMISSION WORK HAD TO HAVE MY TRANSFER CASE INTERNAL SEALED AT A COST OF $711.55 WHEN WE BOUGHT THIS CAR AT TOYOTA IN DECEMBER 2005, WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE THAT THIS CAR WAS BUILT LONGEVITY OR FOR THE LONG HAUL WITH ONLY HAVING TO DO ROUTINE MAINTANCE WHICH I HAVE KEPT UP ON EVERY 5000 MILES AS RECOMMENDED BY TOYOTA. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THE TRANSMISSION COST. FIRESTONE STATED THAT TOYOTA RECOMMENDS A TRANSMISSION SERVICE EVERY 50,000 MILES BUT MY MAINTANCE BOOK SAYS ONLY DO THAT IF YOU EITHER TOW, OFF ROADING, OR DIRT ROADS FOR LONG PERIOD OF THE TIME. I DID NEITHER, SO TOYOTA SAYS NO NEED TO DO SERVICE. I DID CONTACT TOYOTA ADVOCATE AFTER I HAD MY TRASMISSION DONE AT COTTMAN TRANSMISSION AND THEY COULD NOT HELP ME CAUSE I WENT TO AN OUTSIDE VENDOR. MY CAR HAD ONLY 148,745 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR TRANSMISSION UNLESS THERE IS A RECALL. FOR MY SEARCH ON THE INTERNET THERE IS DOCUMENTATION THAT TOYOTA KNEW THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSIONS FAILING BUT DID NOT WANT TO DO A RECALL BUT WOULD ONLY COMPENSATE IF THERE IS A RECALL. I JUST WANT TO BE HEARD AND POSSIBLY COMPENSATED FOR SOME OF MY REPAIRS THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE HAPPENED. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE I WANTED TO KEEP IT A LONG TIME AND NOW IT IS COSTING ME MORE THAN IT IS WORK.

MY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MINUTES AFTER I RETURNED HOME FROM FROM MY JOB, WHICH IS 12 MILES FROM MY HOME. IT WAS DARK, AND THE ONLY UNUSUAL THING I NOTICED WAS ONE OF MY HEADLIGHTS WAS OUT AND THE OTHER SEEMED DIM. I MENTIONED IT TO MY HUSBAND AND HE SAID HE'D REPLACE THE BULBS. WITHIN MINUTES I HEARD SIRENS, BUT I WASN'T IN A ROOM THAT FACED THE DRIVEWAY AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALREADY ON SCENE WHEN I REALIZED THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS FULLY ENGULFED. THE FIRE TOOK APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES TO FULLY EXTINGUISH AND THE HEAT DAMAGED AN ADJACENT VEHICLE. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND MY HOME WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY, PARKED AND UNOCCUPIED WHEN THE FIRE BROKE OUT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE CAUSE AS MECHANICAL AND THEIR REPORT IS PENDING. A POLICE OFFICER RESPONDED BUT DID NOT FILE A REPORT AFTER RULING OUT CRIMINAL ACTIVITY. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT SPECIFICALLY CAUSED THE FIRE BUT THE ATTACHED PHOTOS SHOW THE DAMAGE, INCLUDING TO THE ADJACENT CAR.

I JUST BOUGHT A 2006 MATRIX (TOYOTA). IT ONLY HAS 88,000 MILES ON IT (OCTOBER, 2020). THE CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION AND SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF. I'VE TAKEN IT TO 2 SEPARATE QUALIFIED MECHANICS. THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WHEN THE LIGHT IS OFF THE CAR RUNS PERFECT. WHILE I WAS DRIVING TO WORK THE GAS PEDAL WAS ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL ON A STRAIGHT AWAY FLAT ROAD. I WAS DRIVING 30MPH LEAVING TOWN. THE SPEED LIMIT INCREASED TO 40MPH BEFORE FURTHER INCREASING TO 65MPH HIGHWAY. IT'S A STRAIGHT FLAT ROAD. I COULD NOT GET THE CAR OVER 55MPH. WHEN I GOT TO A SMALL HILL THE CAR FINALLY MADE IT TO THE TOP 45 MPH WITH THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY DEPRESSED. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED AS I WAS COMING DOWN THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL WITH THE GAS PEDAL STILL DEPRESSED COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. I USED A HALF OF A TANK OF GAS TO DRIVE 15 MILES. I AM WRITING THIS AS I AM CONCERNED. WHEN I LOOKED ONLINE I FOUND THE PROBLEM I AM DESCRIBING WAS A COMMON PROBLEM AMONGST OTHER MATRIX OWNERS. I COULD ALSO SEE SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS WHERE THE MATRIX ACCELERATED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE STOPPED. WHY HASN'T THE 2006 BEEN RECALLED? WHAT IS THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE MATRIX ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL ON ME AFTER THE PEDAL IS FLOORED WITH NO ACCELERATION? THE RISK SEEMS PRETTY HIGH CONSIDERING THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE. I AM A MOTHER OF 2. ARE MY KIDS SAFE IN THIS CAR? ARE OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD SAFE FROM THIS CAR?

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. AT ABOUT 40K I BEGAN NOTICING WHEN I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL FROM A STOP THAT IT SOMETIMES LAGGED, OTHER TIMES THE PEDAL SEEMED VERY TOUCHY AND TO TAKE OFF EXCESSIVELY, CAUSING PASSENGERS TO NOTICE THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION. THIS OCCURS SPONTANEOUSLY BUT AT LEAST ONCE EVERY 14 DAYS. IT IS ALWAYS FROM A STOP SUCH AS AT A LIGHT OR DRIVEWAY, AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN DRIVING EVEN A FEW FEET BUT IT HAS NEVER OCCURRED ON THE INITIAL PRESS WHEN THE CAR IS FIRST CRANKED AND MOVED, ONLY AFTER THE WHEELS HAVE MOVED. AS A SIDE NOTE, THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED AT ABOUT 77K AND THIS DID NOT CORRECT THE ISSUE. I HAVE THE OEM FLOOR MATS WITH THE LATCH SYSTEM THAT HOLDS THE MAT IN PLACE. I HAVE NEVER HAD THE PEDAL APPEAR TO EVEN TOUCH THE MAT. WHILE I HAVE NEVER HAD THE TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE OF HAVING THE PEDAL STICK AND CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE, I AM HOPING THAT THIS INFORMATION WILL HELP THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUES COME TO LIGHT. THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THE GAS PEDAL AND THE COMPUTER TELLING THE THROTTLE WHEN AND HOW MUCH TO OPEN. PLEASE DO NOT LET THIS FALL SOLELY ON THE FLOOR MATS. THERE IS MORE TO THE STORY! *TR

I EXPERIENCED A NEAR DEATH EPISODE LAST MONTH WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS GOING AT THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC IN MARIN COUNTY IN THE INNER MOST LANE IN THE EARLY MORNING. SUDDENLY, MY STEERING COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL AND DID NOT FUNCTION. IT WOULD NOT STAY IN MY LANE AND KEPT ERRATICALLY MOVED AND SWERVED INTO THE NEXT LANE THEN BACK AND FORTH BEFORE MAKING MULTIPLE 360 SPINS BEFORE HITTING THE GUARD RAIL ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR BRAKES WASN'T RESPONDING WHEN I BRAKED DURING THIS HORRENDOUS TRAUMA. THANK GOD NOBODY HIT ME DURING THIS CRAZY CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. RECENTLY, I DECIDED TO GOOGLE TO SEE IF OTHER 2006 MATRIX HAD THE SAME SITUATION AND WAS STUNNED TO FIND THAT THERE ARE DRIVERS WITH THE SAME CAR MODELS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING ! I WAS EVEN MORE STUNNED TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE 2010 MATRIX THAT WERE IN CLASS ACTION SUITS. I AM INFURIATED AND DISGUSTED AT THE MANUFACTURER FOR NOT RECALLIGN THE VEHICLES!! THEY ONLY RECALLED THE 2010 AND BEYOND. WHAT ABOUT THE OLDER MODELS>??? I ALMOST DIED IN THAT ACCIDENT. THE COMPANY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSLVES

I WAS STOPPED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AT ABOUT 8AM ON SEPT 11, 2014. THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME MOVED FORWARD SO I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE TO LET MY CAR COAST FORWARD. I BRAKED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND INSTEAD OF BRAKING, THE CAR ACCELERATED. INSTANTLY THINKING I TOUCHED THE WRONG PEDAL OR THAT THE PEDAL WAS STUCK, I LOOKED DOWN (SCRUNCHING TOWARD MY RIGHT SHOULDER) TO ENSURE I WAS PRESSING FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. I BRAKED AGAIN AND THE CAR SHOT FORWARD AGAIN HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I INJURED MY RIGHT SHOULDER TRYING TO PREVENT THE CRASH, SUFFERED WHIPLASH FROM THE INCIDENT AND AM STILL HURTING TODAY. I AM STILL WAITING FOR THE MANUFACTURER TO RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT AND REVIEW THE BLACK BOX FOR MY VEHICLE, WHICH IS CURRENTLY HOUSED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND MAY BE TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT. *TR

Unlatching & False Latching back seat located in the middle of the seat. Incident was discovered after recent purchased from my little sister who also just got the vehicle as well and decided to sell it to me without being aware of the defective unlatching and false Latching buckle.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA COROLLA 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. UPDATED 11/18/15*LJ THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE SEAT BELTS WERE INOPERATIVE. UPDATED 12/09/15.*JB

WHEN I ROLL DOWN MY WINDOW ON THE DRIVERS SIDE, THERE IS ALWAYS A LOUD *CHUNK* SOUND WHERE A SCREW THAT IS TOO LONG IN THE DOOR IS SCRAPING UP AGAINST THE WINDOW AS IT ROLLS DOWN, EVERY TIME. IF YOU ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW WHILE THE DOOR IS IN THE OPEN POSITION, YOU CAN NOT CLOSE YOUR DOOR BECAUSE THE GLASS IS CATCHING ON THE SCREW AND PUTTING HUGE GASHES IN THE WINDOW. I AM AFRAID IT WILL ONE DAY DECIDE TO SHATTER ALL OVER ME OR MY MOTHER WHO SOMETIMES BORROWS MY CAR. *TR

I PURCHASED THIS MATRIX BRAND NEW IN CASH. HOWEVER I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE WHEEL COVERS OVER AND OVER. COSTING ME NEARLY 60.00 A HUBCAP. I TRIED TO REACH OUT TO TOYOTA AND THEY SAID SORRY THEY COULDN'T HELP ME. THERE ARE TONS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. THEY WERE MADE VERY POORLY AND THEY SHOULD BE FIXED. I WILL BE CONTACTING BBB AS WELL. *TR

I EXPERIENCED A NEAR DEATH EPISODE LAST MONTH WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. I WAS GOING AT THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC IN MARIN COUNTY IN THE INNER MOST LANE IN THE EARLY MORNING. SUDDENLY, MY STEERING COMPLETELY LOST CONTROL AND DID NOT FUNCTION. IT WOULD NOT STAY IN MY LANE AND KEPT ERRATICALLY MOVED AND SWERVED INTO THE NEXT LANE THEN BACK AND FORTH BEFORE MAKING MULTIPLE 360 SPINS BEFORE HITTING THE GUARD RAIL ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE HIGHWAY. MY CAR BRAKES WASN'T RESPONDING WHEN I BRAKED DURING THIS HORRENDOUS TRAUMA. THANK GOD NOBODY HIT ME DURING THIS CRAZY CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL. RECENTLY, I DECIDED TO GOOGLE TO SEE IF OTHER 2006 MATRIX HAD THE SAME SITUATION AND WAS STUNNED TO FIND THAT THERE ARE DRIVERS WITH THE SAME CAR MODELS WHO EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING ! I WAS EVEN MORE STUNNED TO FIND OUT ABOUT THE 2010 MATRIX THAT WERE IN CLASS ACTION SUITS. I AM INFURIATED AND DISGUSTED AT THE MANUFACTURER FOR NOT RECALLIGN THE VEHICLES!! THEY ONLY RECALLED THE 2010 AND BEYOND. WHAT ABOUT THE OLDER MODELS>??? I ALMOST DIED IN THAT ACCIDENT. THE COMPANY SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSLVES

THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW. AT 50,000 MILES I'VE GONE THROUGH TWO SETS OF TIRES AND ABOUT REPLACE MY THIRD SET. THERE ARE SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM MANY OTHERS ON SEVERAL FORUMS LIKE: HTTP://WWW.FAQS.ORG/CAR/TOYOTA-MATRIX-2006/SUSPENSION/ AND HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F0EEECE/145 THAT SUGGEST THERE IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT IN THE SUSPENSION THAT IS THE CAUSE OF THIS SYMPTOM. I WILL BE DISCUSSING THIS WITH MY LOCAL DEALER AND POSSIBLY A LAWYER SHOULD IT COME TO THAT. I DID, HOWEVER, WANT TO WRITE A REPORT IN THE MEAN TIME DOCUMENTING THE SITUATION FOR THE RECORD. *JB

WE PURCHASED THIS CAR IN MARCH 2007 AND CHANGED THE TIRES IN 2009 AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES. AND NOW WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE TIRES AGAIN IN 2011 AT ABOUT 55,000 MILES DUE TO ABNORMAL TIRE WEAR. IT IS OUTRAGEOUS THAT THE TIRES (AT WARRANTY OF 80,000 MILES) HAVE TO BE CHANGED AT LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. THIS MAY BE DUE TO PROBLEMATIC CONFIGURATION OR BUILD OF THE CAR. *TR