Page 3 of 3 · complaints 101–138 of 138

2004 Toyota Matrix complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2004 record →

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Aug 15, 200892,000 milesOK

2004 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS TRANSMISSION WEAR OUT IN 6TH GEAR. @ APPROX. 92,000 MILES. *TR

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Jun 6, 200861,000 milesAZ

BOUGHT A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX XR WITH ONLY 60,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WENT OUT DUE TO A FAULTY BEARING.... NO RECALL AND NO FAULT ACCORDING TO TOYOTA. *TR

Structure › Body › Door2 injured
Filed May 16, 2008FL

2004 TOYOTA MATRIX - WINDOWS, DOOR HANDLES AND SURGING ELECTRIC WINDOWS RATTLE, GRIND AND POP. DEALER COULD NOT ADDRESS PROBLEM. EVENTUALLY THE WINDOW FELL OUT. ENGINE SURGES WHILE STOPPED AT LIGHT OR IN TRAFFIC. DEALER COULD NOT ADDRESS PROBLEM. THE DOOR HANDLES HAVE A "METALLIC" FINISH THAT PEELS AWAY. OCCUPANTS HAVE CUT THEIR FINGERS ON THE EDGE OF METAL/PLASTIC THAT WAS COMING AWAY. EVENTUALLY GOT WORSE TO WHERE YOU COULD SEE THE WHITE PLASTIC HANDLE UNDERNEATH SO I PEELED AWAY THE REMAINING SHARP EDGES AND CAUTION OCCUPANTS. DEALER OFFERED TO REPAIR AT MY EXPENSE. CONTACTED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE EXPERIENCE CENTER AND WAS REFERRED BACK TO A DEALER. *TR

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Apr 21, 200840,000 milesTX

ALL FOUR WINDOWS HAVE LOOSE BOLTS. PAID FOR REPAIR OF 2. REMAINING 2 ARE REAL LOOSE. *TR

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Apr 14, 200832,000 milesPA

DRIVER SIDE WINDOW MADE CRACKING SOUNDS WHILE RISING AND THEN SHATTERED. *TR

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Apr 9, 200867,400 milesME

DUE TO CLOSING CAR DOOR WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, REARVIEW MIRROR FELL OFF WINDSHIELD TAKING A CHUNK OF INTERIOR GLASS WITH IT. HAD TO REPLACE WHOLE WINDSHIELD AT MY OWN EXPENSE. *TR

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Apr 1, 200852,000 milesTX

CLUTCH SLIPPING, WORN OUT AT ONLY 52,000 MILES. *TR

Visibility › Power Window Devices and Controls
Filed Feb 22, 2008NJ

PASSENGER POWER FRONT WINDOW MAKES A POPPING/CLICKING NOISE DURING OPERATION. *TR

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Feb 8, 200814,000 milesNJ

NUMEROUS CLUTCH FAILURES STARTING WITH #1 AT 14K REPLACED AT DEALERSHIP IN 04', FOUR MONTHS AFTER NEW PURCHASE. SECOND REPLACED AT 45K IN 05'. THIRD REPLACED AT 96K IN MAY OF 07'. FOURTH INSTALLED TREE MONTHS LATER WITH NEW FLY WHEEL. NOW SYNCRO'S ARE GOING. ALL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE STEM FROM TRANSMISSION SINCE NEW. NO OTHER "MAJOR" PROBLEMS NOTED OTHER THAN WHAT WOULD BE EXPECTED AS "NORMAL" WEAR AND TEAR. *TR

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Feb 4, 200877,432 milesWI

1.) PUTTING CAR INTO FOURTH GEAR AND HEARD A LOUD WHINING AND GRINDING METAL SOUND. NO INDICATION BEFORE THAT THERE WAS ANY ISSUES WITH CAR. CONTINUED HEARING GRINDING SOUND WHEN PUTTING CAR INTO DIFFERENT GEARS. 2.) TOOK TO DEALER AND FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. 3.) TOOK TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND IS CURRENTLY BEING INVESTIGATED FOR EXTENT OF DAMAGE. BAD BEARINGS FOR SURE AND POSSIBLY NEED A REBUILD ON TRANSMISSION. *TR

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jan 22, 2008MN

THE 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX XLS HAS ONLY 50,000 MILES ON IT. COMPLETE CLUTCH FAILURE ON INTERSTATE. *TR

Suspension
Filed Sep 20, 200718,000 milesTX

TOYOTA IS IGNORING THE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM CAUSING UNEVEN TIRE WEAR ON EVERY MODEL AND YEAR OF THE MATRIX. *JB

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Aug 16, 200735,009 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX (NA). THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT A BIKE RACK COULD BE PLACED ON HIS VEHICLE. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE BIKE RACK PULLED APART THE BACK DOOR METAL AND LOOSENED THE BOLTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT TOYOTA CORPORATION WILL DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO REPAIR THE DOOR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,239 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,009.

SteeringCrash
Filed Aug 2, 2007NY

2004 MATRIX STEERING,THE STEERING LOCKED UP. WHEN I TRY TO TURN IT, THERE IS A HARSH JERK IT UNLOCKED,CAUSING THE CAR TO GO FROM LEFT TO RIGHT THEN IT DID A 360 SPIN AND WENT INTO THE BUSHES,THIS ALL HAPPENED ON 07/07/07 ON THE NORTHERN STATE PARKWAY LONG ISLAND NEW YORK, MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE WEEK BEFORE SHE TOLD ME ABOUT THE STEERING NOT WORKING WELL,SO I TOLD HER THAT I WOULD TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BUT DID NOT MADE IT,SHE DOES NOT WANT TO DRIVE IT ANY LONGER, SHE IS VERY SCARED TO DRIVE IT. *JB

Engine and Engine CoolingCrash
Filed Dec 5, 2006GA

AFTER LAST OIL CHANGE, OIL WAS GEL-LIKE, ENGINE MADE TAPPING NOISE...TOOK TO DEALER WITH A LIST OF OTHER PROBLEMS, AC NOT COLD, HEATER NOT BLOWING HOT, WINDOW JUMPING WHEN ROLLING DOWN, AND TIRES MAKING FUNNY NOISE. WAS TOLD ENGINE NOISE WAS NORMAL, FIXED AC AGAIN, 3RD TIME, HEATER HAD LOOSE PART TIGHTEN, WINDOW PART ORDERED, TIRE HAD FLAT SPOT, LAST TIME WAS WATER IN WHEEL. CRASH DID NOT DAMAGE ENGINE, OR WINDOWS, OR TIRES. *JB

Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Filed Feb 17, 200631,229 milesCA

AT TWO YEARS AND ONE MONTH OLD, THE ORIGINAL BATTERY DIED AND WAS NOT ABLE TO HOLD A CHARGE. THIS OCCURRED ON 2/3/06 AT 31,229 MILES. A NEW BATTERY WAS PURCHASED FOR $ 68.06 AND WAS INSTALLED ON 2/6/06. TWO DAYS LATER THE REPLACEMENT BATTERY DIED. IT WAS RECHARGED AND RAN OK FOR A FEW DAYS. IT DIED AGAIN ON 2/12/06. JUST BEFORE THE ORIGINAL BATTERY DIED THE CD PLAYER STOPS WORKING AS DID THE CLOCK. NEITHER OF THESE HAS WORKED EVER SINCE. *JB

Tires
Filed Feb 17, 200615,297 milesCA

ONE YEAR AND ONE MONTH AFTER BUYING THE CAR NEW, ALL FOUR TIRES WERE DANGEROUSLY BALD. HAD TO STOP AT THE NEAREST TIRE STORE WHERE I WAS TOLD IF I HAD RUN OVER A DIME I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE HAD A BLOW OUT.THESE DEFECTIVE TIRES WERE THE ORIGINAL TIRES ON THE CAR. I DON'T HAVE A RECORD OF THE TIRES AND WAS GIVEN NO WARRANTY FROM THE DEALERSHIP AT THE TIME OF THE PURCHASE. THIS EXPERIENCE COST ME $ 434. MILEAGE ON THAT DAY WAS 15,297 MILES. *JB

TiresCrash
Filed Feb 10, 200613,000 milesOH

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THE VEHICLE VEERED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND THIS CONDITION BECAME WORSE WHILE STOPPING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. UPON INSPECTION IT WAS DETERMINED THE TIRES WERE THE CAUSE OF THE STEERING PROBLEMS. THE DEALER DETERMINED THE TIRES THAT WERE PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE WERE THE WRONG TYPE OF TIRES, WHICH CAUSED THE FRONT END TO BECOME OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED WITH TIRE ROTATION EVERY 3,000 MILES. THERE HAS BEEN NO REPLACEMENT OF THE TIRES. THE TIRE LINE IS CONTINENTAL P20555R16. UPDATED 3/20/2006 - THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO AVOID HITTING A DEER BECAUSE OF THE FAULTY TIRE. THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE WAS DAMAGED. ON 2/11/2006 THE CONSUMER REPLACED ALL FOUR TIRES WHICH RESOLVED THE PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT END . *NM

TiresCrash
Filed Jan 13, 2006NY

2004 TOYOTA MATRIX RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND STRUCK A GUARDRAIL. THE ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS SCRAPED AND DENTED INCLUDING THE FENDER, BOTH DOORS, REAR QUARTER AND BOTH BUMPER. *NM

SteeringCrash2 injured
Filed Oct 20, 200521,000 milesCA

FIANCE AND I WERE ON THE 210 FREEWAY HEADING EAST. HE SAID WE SHOULD TAKE THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHEN I ASKED WHY HE SAID THE STEERING IS ACTING FUNNY. THE SECOND HE FINISHED HIS SENTENCE, THE CAR SPUN OUT OF CONTROL. CAR DID 360 DEGREE TURNS ACROSS FREEWAY (FROM LEFT LANE TO RIGHT LANE) AND OVER THE EDGE, DOWN A HILL, OVER A FENCE, AND INTO A DITCH. MINOR INJURIES. WE WERE LUCKY NOT TO HAVE BEEN KILLED. CAR WAS TOTALED. ACCIDENT IS STILL BEING INVESTIGATED TO DETERMINE IF THERE WAS A MECHANICAL DEFECT.*JB

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Aug 23, 200542,266 milesNY

DT: 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX XR, THE VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING, THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING YOKE, CONSUMER STATES THE STEERING DID NOT FEEL RIGHT, THE CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO BE REPAIRED, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM WAS BECAUSE THE SPLASH GUARD WAS DRAGGING, THE DEALER PUT TWO PINS IN THE SPLASH GUARD, BECAUSE THE PINS WERE MISSING, THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN TO BE REPAIRED, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE STEERING YOKE, PREVIOUSLY THE TRANSMISSION HAD WENT OUT ON THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION SEEMED TO HAVE A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM IT. THE CONSUMER TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE CASE AND THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALERSHIP WAITING FOR A YOKE REPLACEMENT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT IT IS ON BACK ORDER, ALL THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. ACCORDING TO THE DEALER THE STEERING WAS NOT STILL UNDER WARRANTY THE FIRST TIME THE CONSUMER TOOK IT TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY NOW, THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN MAY 2003. *NM THE CLICKING NOISE IS STILL PRESENT WHEN TURNING THE WHEEL. *SC

Electronic Stability Control › Automatic (asc)Crash1 injured
Filed Jul 8, 20052,500 milesMD

DT: WHILE DRIVING UNDER NORMAL DRY CONDITIONS ON STRAIGHT ROAD VEHICLE DRIFTED TO LEFT SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY ,ATTEMPTED TO GAIN CONTROL, WENT TO RIGHT OF HIGHWAY, FELT LIKE PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL. CORRECTED TO THE RIGHT, AND IT OVER CORRECTED. COULDN'T GET THE VEHICLE TO GO STRAIGHT. INSURANCE INSPECTED IT, AND THEY SAID THEY WERE UNABLE TO INSPECT THE STEERING. TOYOTA SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND A MECHANICAL DEFECT. *AK CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND WENT INTO THE DITCH. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BECAME AIRBORNE, LANDED ON IT'S SIDE IN A CORNFIELD, AND WAS DETERMINED A TOTAL LOSS. CONSUMER WAS THEN TAKEN AND ADMITTED TO THE HOSPITAL WITH INJURIES SUCH AS A BROKEN STERNUM, FOOT, FINGER, MULTIPLE CUTS AND CONTUSIONS.*SB

SteeringCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 8, 2005MD

2004 TOYOTA MATRIX DRIFTED TO THE LEFT WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN THE CONSUMER LOSING CONTROL AND THE VEHICLE FLIPPING OVER.***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *MR AS THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED ONCE MORE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE STEERING, THE VEHICLE VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT, HIT A DITCH, WENT AIRBORNE AND FLIPPED. TOYOTA DETERMINED THAT THERE WAS STEERING PROBLEMS. *SC *JB

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 5, 200516,000 milesVA

MY 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX HAS EXPEREINCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES SINCE I HAVE PURCHASED IT; I HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD BY FURTHER DEPRESSING THE BRAKE. BUT ON SATURDAY MARCH 26 WHILE AT A STOP SIGN, THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAPPENED AGAIN AND I WAS UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY STOP MY CAR FROM LURCHING FORWARD. IT MOVED SEVERAL INCES INTO ONCOMING (PERPENDICULAR) TRAFFIC BEFORE I FINALLY THREW IT INTO PARK AND PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP IT. NO ACCIDENT OCCURRED BUT IT CAME CLOSE, AND I HAD MY TODDLER IN THE BACK SEAT, SO I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS MATTER. I TOOK IT TO MY DEALERSHIP (OURISMAN TOYOTA IN CHANTILLY, VA) THAT MONDAY, AND THEY KEPT IT FOR TWO DAYS. THEY RAN ALL DIAGNOSTIC TESTS POSSIBLE AND FOUND NO PROBLEM. NOTHING WAS FIXED BECAUSE NO TEST SHOWED A PROBLEM BUT I AM SCARED TO DRIVE MY CAR -- THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAPPENS ONLY RANDOMLY AND CANNOT BE PREDICTED. I DRIVE WITH ONLY ONE FOOT SO THIS IS NOT A CASE OF TWO-FOOTED DRIVING AND ACCIDENTAALLY STEPPING ON THE ACCELERATOR. IN EACH CASE MY FOOT WAS OFF THE ACCELERATOR AND ON THE BRAKE. *AK

Tires
Filed Feb 10, 2005TX

I'M VERY HAPPY WITH MY MATRIX EXCEPT FOR ONE THING. THE HUB CAPS ARE SO LOSE. I'M CONSTANTLY PUSHING THEM BACK ON TIGHTER. I HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR MORE THAN A FEW MONTHS AND 3 HUBCAPS HAVE ALREADY FALLEN OFF, WITHINS DAYS OF ME MAKING SURE THEY WERE TIGHT ENOUGH. WHEN THEY FLY OFF MY CAR, ALL THE PIECES THAT HOLD THEM ONTO THE RIM ARE BROKEN OFF AND THEY ARE USELESS. I HAVE LOST 3 HUBCAPS IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS!*AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jan 21, 200520,000 milesCA

CLUTCH FAILED AFTER 20K MILES. NON-WARRANTY ITEM. *NM

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Dec 1, 2004NC

WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END CRASH. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed Nov 17, 200426,050 milesMI

LOW SPEED BRAKING VEHICLE MOVES EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. SEVERAL SERVICE VISITS TO DEALER FOR BRAKE REPAIRS, REPLACED ABS SENSOR, BRAKE PADS, TURNED ROTORS, ALIGNMENTS AND TIRE ROTATIONS.*AK

Structure › Body › Bumpers
Filed Sep 8, 200450 milesWI

THE FRONT SPOILER ON THE MATRIX IS CONSTANTLY GETTING SCRAPED UP ON DRIVEWAYS. IT IS TOO LOW. THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO PUT A WHOLE NEW BUMPER ON THE CAR, AT MY COST. THE SPOILERS ARE LISTED AS A OPTION, BUT WHERE I AM FROM IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND A XR WITHOUT THEM INSTALLED. THE CAR IS LESS THEN A YEAR OLD, AND ALREADY LOOKS BAD. WHO WOULD THINK THEY WOULD DESIGN A CAR THAT WOULD CONSTANTLY GET ALL SCRAPED UP. IT WOULD BE NICE IF THIS "OPTION" WAS TRULY A OPTION.*AK

Tires
Filed Aug 9, 2004TX

I BOUGHT A SET OF 4 "TIRE MINDER" BRAND 28-32 PSI TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING VALVE CAPS AT BROOKSTONE ON JUL 27, 2004. I INSTALLED THEM ON THE TIRES OF A NEW 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX ACCORDING TO THE PACKAGE INSTRUCTIONS. (NO VALVE EXTENSTIONS AND MAKING SURE "O" RING WAS IN PLACE, PRESSURE MEASURED BY 2 GUAGES AT 30 PSI.) ALL THE CAPS HELD PRESSURE AND WORKED CORRECTLY FOR APPROX 24HRS. THEN THE FIRST CAP FAILED WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY RELEASING THE AIR WITHIN SECONDS. APPROX 12 HRS LATER THE 2ND CAP FAILED IN SIMILAR FASHION. FORTUNATELY, THE CAR WAS NOT BENG DRIVEN AT THE TIME OR ELSE AN ACCIDENT MAY HAVE RECURRED. I REMOVED THE REMAINING 2 CAPS. I CONTACTED BROOKSTONE AND REPORTED THE ISSUE. THEY OFFERED TO REFUND MONEY BUT NO OTHER ACTION. I STILL HAVE THE CAPS. I WOULD BE WILLING TO SEND THEM TO A TESTING LAB FOR ANALYSIS. *AK

Power Train › Clutch Assembly
Filed Jun 30, 200413,000 milesCO

WE HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS THE CLUTCH WENT OUT AT 13,000 MILES. DEALER SAID IT WAS DRIVER ERROR. WE HAVE ANOTHER CAR WITH A CLUTCH THAT HAS 165,000 MILES WITHOUT ANY CLUTCH PROBLEMS. THE CLUTCH SMELLS LIKE IT IS BURING AGAIN AND THE DEALER SAID IT IS FROM THE OLD CLUTCH EVEN THOUGH THEY REPLACED IT.*AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Jun 11, 200412,400 milesNY

FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED,CAME DOWN LONG WINDING HILL AT 55 MPH, HIT BRAKES AN STEERING WHEEL SHOOK LEFT TO RIGHT QUITE ALOT.*AK

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed May 30, 2004150 milesCA

2004 TOYOTA MATRIX PURCHASED 12/8/03 IS SUPPOSED TO GET AT LEAST 26 MPG IN CITY TRAFFIC. MINE CONSISTENTLY GETS NO MORE THAN 21 MPG. DEALER CAN FIND NOTHING WRONG BUT SOMETHING IS, EITHER FALSE ADVERTISING FOR THE ENTIRE MATRIX LINE OR SOMETHING WITH THIS CAR. I WOULD NOT HAVE TRADED A PAID UP 99 COROLLA THAT GOT 26 MPG FOR THIS CAR, HAD I KNOWN IT WOULD COST ME FAR MORE TO RUN (AS WELL AS TO FINANCE). *LA

Wheels › Rim
Filed Apr 5, 2004NY

FRONT WHEELS VIBRATE AT HIGHWAY SPEED, IF SNOW SLUSH FREEZES IN LOW PROFILE STEEL WHEEL RIMS. THIS HAPPENED TWICE THIS WINTER TO ME, I FIRST THOUGHT A WHEEL WEIGHT CAME OFF THE SHAKE WAS SO BAD, THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED IT OUT AN SAID IT WAS ICE INSIDE THE BACK OF THE WHEEL RIM, HE MELTED IT OUT AN IT WAS FIND. IT HAPPENED AGAIN LATTER ON IN THE WINTER YOU ONLY FEEL THE SHAKING IF YOU BRING THE CAR UP TO HIGHWAY SPEED,I HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH WHEEL RIMS BEFORE AN I LIVE IN UPSTATE N.Y. WHERE WE GET ENOUGH SNOW. WHEN THE ICE MELTS OR BREAKS OUT OF THE BACK OF THESE DEEP DISH RIMS THE WHEELS STOP SHAKING, I CONSIDER THIS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BE FORE SOME ONE GETS INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF IT. THE VEHICLE IS A 2004 TOYOTA 4WD MATRIX. *JB

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Feb 17, 2004MO

WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Jan 31, 20045,100 milesAZ

CLUTCH FAILURE AT 5100 MILES; --- COMPLETE-- REPLACED BY DEALER AT 8600 MILES---- CLUTCH FAILURE. DEALER REFUSES TO DEAL WITH WARRANTY. TELLS ME THAT IT IS MY FAULT, " I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION". INDICATES THAT MY WIFE AND I ARE "RIDING" THE CLUTCH AND PERHAPS "RACING" MENTIONED VEHICLE. AFTER A COMBINED DRIVING EXPERIENCE OF NEARLY 3/4 OF CENTURY ON DRIVING MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS WITH ZERO PROBLEMS, I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THAT THE CAUSE OF MY CLUTCH FAILURES ARE MY DRIVING ABILITIES OR HABITS. DEALER SERVICE MENTIONS THAT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF HISTORY OF COMPLAINTS AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE. INSTEAD WISHES TO PASS THE "BLAME" AND CAUSE ONTO THE CUSTOMER. *JB

Structure › Body › Bumpers
Filed Nov 23, 200325 milesTX

I PURCHASED A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX ON NOVEMBER 10, 2003. THE FIRST DAY I PULLED INTO MY DRIVEWAY WHICH HAS A SLIGHT SLOPE, THE BUMPER DRAGGED ON THE DRIVEWAY. EVEN GOING VERY SLOWLY, I REALIZED THAT THE FRONT END OF THIS VEHICLE WAS ENTIRELY TOO LOW. ON NOVEMBER 17, PULLING OUT FROM A STORE, I NOTICED IT WAS STILL DRAGGING AND THE DRIVE WAS NOT AS MUCH OF A SLOPE AS MY DRIVE. I NOTIFIED CLASSIC TOYOTA WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON NOVEMBER 17 ABOUT THE PROBLEM. I WENT IN TO SPEAK WITH THEM ON NOVEMBER 22 SINCE I LIVED AN HOUR AWAY. I WAS TOLD THAT ONCE I PURCHASE THE VEHICLE IT WAS MY RESPONSIBILITY. WHEN THEY LOOKED AT THE FRONT BUMPER, THEY NOTICED THAT IT WAS COMING A PART. I WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR IT. I TOOK IT TO THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT. THE GENTLEMAN THERE TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THE BUMPER AND HE HAD REPLACED SEVERAL. HE SAID THEY EVEN HAD TO REPLACE THE ONES ON THEIR OWN LEASE CARS AND BECAUSE OF THE CONSTANT COMPLAINTS. THIS FRONT BUMPER IS BARELY 2 INCHES FROM THE GROUND. TOYOTA TOLD ME TO JUST PARK ON THE ROAD WHENEVER TO AVOID ANY SLOOPS. I AM 20 YEARS OLD AND WAS VERY PROUD OF PAYING FOR MY FIRST VEHICLE. TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING. I HAVE TAKEN ALL NECESSARY CARE TO USE MY VEHICLE IN THE MANNER IT WAS INTENDED, JUST DRIVE IT AND MY ABILITY TO DO THIS IS IMPAIRED BY THEIR DESIGN DEFECT. THE PARTS DEPARTMENT WILL CHANGE THE BUMPER OUT TO THEIR OTHER MAKE FOR THIS VEHICLE, BUT THEY ARE CHARGING ME FOR IT. *LA

Structure
Filed Nov 5, 2003NH

DASHBOARD REFLECTS OFF THE WINDSHIELD WHICH IMPAIRS VISIBILITY. *AK IMAGES REFLECTED ALL TIMES THROUGHOUT THE DAY/NIGHT. *PH *JB

Reading these

NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

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