2006 Toyota Matrix complaints

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR SERVICE TO INVESTIGATE A LOUD VIBRATION NOISE COMING FROM THE TIRES AS LONG AS VEHICLE WAS ROLLING. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 18,000 MILES ON IT. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE SEVERELY CUPPED. THE DEALER CONTACTED THE FACTORY REFERENCE THE TIRES AND THE FACTORY RECOMMENDED THE TIRES BE REPLACED. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED AND WERE ALIGNED TO SPEC. UPON LEAVING THE DEALER SERVICE CENTER A NEW TIRE NOISE WAS NOTICED. IT WAS NOT THE SAME VIBRATION NOISE BUT A LOUD ROAR AS LONG AS THE TIRES WERE ROLLING. *TR

2006 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH ALLOY WHEELS AND CONTINENTAL TIRES : AT 5,000 MI ROTATION THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MOVE BACK AND FORTH A BIT, SHIMMY. AT 10,000 MI ROTATION SHIMMY WAS WORSE AND NOISE WAS NOTICED. AT 14,000 MI DEALER SERVICE SAID THAT NOISE WAS DUE TO SEVERE CUPPING AND ALL TIRES NEEDED REPLACED BUT THAT CONTINENTAL HAD NO WARRANTY (EVEN THOUGH CAR CAME WITH A CONTINENTAL WARRANTY PAPER). REPLACED TIRES WITH YOKOHAMA AT DEALER. *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

SEVERE TIRE CUPPING AT 24,000 MILES ON TOYOTA MATRIX 2006 XR AWD. ALL 4 TIRES NEEDED REPLACING - TIRE INFLATION LIGHT WAS ON AND WOULD NOT RESET. NOTICED PROBLEM AT ABOUT 15,000 MILES. *TR *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED BROUGHT IN INFORMATION ABOUT OTHER CUSTOMER'S WITH THE SAME DEFECT. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

VEHICLE COMPLETELY STOPPED IN A LINE OF TRAFFIC. WHILE WAITING TO MOVE ON, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE,THE ENGINE ALL OF A SUDDEN ROARED AND THE VEHICLE SHOT FORWARD AND HIT THE VEHICLE (APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 7 FEET) IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT OPEN AND THE HIT TO THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS MORE LIKE A PUNCH. I TRIED TO STOP MY FORWARD THRUST BUT THE BRAKES WOULD NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE. UPON STRIKING THE OTHER VEHICLE THE ENGINE ROAR STOPPED AND EVERYTHING SEEMINGLY RETURNED TO NORMAL. MINOR DAMAGE WAS DONE TO BOTH VEHICLES AND NO ONE WAS REPORTEDLY INJURED. THE POLICE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE AND AN ACCIDENT REPORT WAS FILED. MY TOYOTA DEALER WAS CALLED FOR ASSISTANCE AND ADVISED ME THAT THEY NEVER HAD SUCH AN EXPERIENCE REPORTED BUT SUGGESTED I BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. *TR

I OWN A 2006 TOYOTA AWD MATRIX WITH 25,000 MILES. I BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AND ASKED THEM TO CHECK A VIBRATION I FELT WHEN DRIVING THE CAR. THEY TOLD ME THE TIRES (ALL 4) ARE CUPPING AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE TIRES HAD BEEN ROTATED TWICE ( AT 8,000 AND 21,000 MILES). I SEARCHED THE INTERNET TO SEE IF ANYONE ELSE HAD PROBLEMS AND FOUND THE PROBLEM WITH CUPPING AND PREMATURE TIRE WEAR WAS COMMON. THE POSTINGS REFER TO A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM. IRONICALLY TOYOTA DISCONTINUED AWD IN 2007 AND OWNERS OF THE NEWER MODELS REPORTED NO TIRE WEAR PROBLEMS. *JB

THE TIRES ON MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX ARE CUPPING. I HAD TO REPLACE THEM AT 13,000 MILES. I HAVE SINCE FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON MATRIXS NO MATTER WHAT TYPE OF TIRE ARE ON THE CAR. *JB

WITH ONLY 24,707 MILES ON MY 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX, I WAS TOLD THAT ALL FOUR TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVE FOUND MANY SUCH COMPLAINTS ABOUT THESE VEHICLES AFTER DOING AN INTERNET SEARCH. THE PROBLEM WAS DESCRIBED AS EXCESSIVE CUPPING OR WEAR TO THE INSIDE OF THE TIRES. THE SIXTEEN INCH CONTINENTAL TIRES STANDARD ON THESE HAVE A TREAD LIFE OF 50,000 MILES, BUT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE TOLD ME THEY HAVE A TREAD LIFE OF ABOUT 25,000 MILES. I HAVE THE RECORDS TO PROVE THAT I BROUGHT THE AUTO IN EVERY 5,000 MILES FOR A SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. EACH ONE CALLED FOR A TIRE ROTATION. I AM SO ANGRY THAT THE DEALERSHIP DIDN'T MENTION THIS PROBLEM OR MAKE CORRECTIONS TO THE ALIGNMENT OR BALANCE OF THE TIRES, THAT I REFUSE TO GO BACK TO THEM. IN MY OPINION, THIS CONSTITUTES NEGLIGENT BEHAVIOR ON THE PART OF THE DEALERSHIP AND A SERIOUS DESIGN FLAW ON THE PART OF THE MANUFACTURER THAT SHOULD BE CORRECTED FOR ALL TOYOTA MATRIX. *TR

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

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)

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

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 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

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