2009 Toyota Matrix complaints

2009 MATRIX CONSUMER HAS QUESTIONS REGARDING SUDDEN ACCELERATION RECALL.. *CW SO FAR THE CONSUMER HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY PROBLEMS. HOWEVER, SHE WAS UNDER THE IMPRESSION THAT SHE WOULD RECEIVE A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING UNWANTED ACCELERATION. FROM WHAT SHE HAS READ, IT APPEARED THAT THE GAS PEDAL MAY NOT BE THE ONLY, OR EVEN THE PROBLEM FOR THE REPORTED UNWANTED ACCELERATION, BUT ALSO AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW CAN THE ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM BE CHECKED AND TESTED AND EVEN UPON REPLACEMENT, HOW CAN SHE BE REASSURED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM IS PROPERLY WORKING? *JB

I RECENTLY BOUGHT A 2010 TOYOTA CAMRY AND WAS NEVER CONTACTED BY THE DEALERSHIP OR TOYOTA ABOUT THE TWO RECALLS ON MY CAR. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO FIX MY CAR, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE PERSON THAT WHY DID I NEED TO FIX IT FOR, HE ACTED LIKE HE DIDN'T EVEN KNOW ABOUT THE RECALLS. THEY MADE ME WAIT TWO WEEKS FOR THE APPOINTMENT AND THEN HAD TO KEEP MY CAR FOR A WHOLE DAY. BEFORE THE 2010 CAMRY I HAD BOUGHT A 2009 MATRIX THROUGH ANOTHER DEALERSHIP AND I FINALLY THIS PAST WEEK RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL ON THAT VEHICLE, WELL UNFORTUNATELY I DON'T HAVE THE CAR ANYMORE SINCE I HAD A CAR ACCIDENT IN MARCH OF 2009, WHERE I ALMOST LOST MY LIFE. HAD I KNOWN THE VEHICLE HAD ISSUES I WOULD HAVE IMMEDIATELY RETURNED THE CAR. I WENT THROUGH MONTHS OF PHYSICAL AGONY AND MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS AND TODAY I AM STILL NOT BETTER A YEAR LATER. I FEEL THAT I WAS BETRAYED BY TOYOTA NOT ONCE BUT TWICE. I WOULD NEVER BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE FROM TOYOTA. I FEEL THAT THE WAY THEY HANDLED THIS WHOLE RECALL SITUATION IS UNETHICAL. I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE AND NEVER KNOWN ABOUT THE CAR PROBLEMS. THEN I WATCH THE NEWS AND SEE THAT THERE HAS BEEN MANY DEATHS BECAUSE OF THIS AND I COULD HAVE BEEN ANOTHER STATISTIC. *TR

BOUGHT 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX S NEW. I COMMUTE APPROXIMATELY 45 MILES ONE WAY TO WORK ON FREEWAY, NORMALLY WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON. I HAVE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL OCCASIONS OF ACCELERATION "SURGE"(RELATIVELY MINOR INCREASES IN ACCELERATION WITHOUT TOUCHING ACCELERATOR). MY WIFE ALSO EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION WHILE TAKING OUR SON TO SCHOOL UNDER NORMAL STREET SPEED. I WOULD ALSO EXPERIENCE SEVERAL SITUATIONS OF DIFFICULT VEHICLE CONTROL ON FREEWAY DUE TO STEERING ISSUES. I THOUGHT AT THE TIME IT WAS JUST WIND PUSHING AGAINST THE CAR UNTIL I READ OTHER DRIVERS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THEY NEVER HAD AN ACCELERATION PROBLEM UNTIL AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, AND DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND THEN SETTLED DOWN. THE RPM JUMPED UP AND THEN WENT BACK DOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28213 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 28500.

I HAD MY 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX FIXED FOR THE RECALL AND JUST LAST WEEKEND EXPERIENCED A BRAKING INCIDENT THAT SCARED ME HALF TO DEATH. I WAS APPROACHING A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND STEPPED ON MY BRAKES BUT MY CAR SPED UP AND NEARLY HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. LUCKILY I MOVED TO THE NEXT LANE. *TR

MY 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX WAS ON THE RECALL LIST FOR GAS PEDALS THAT MAY STICK OR ACCELERATE WITHOUT CAUSE. I TOOK THE CAR INTO RICE TOYOTA IN GREENSBORO NC WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED. THEY PERFORMED THE RECOMMENDED REPAIR ON FEB. 13, 2010. ON FEB. 22, I STARTED MY CAR AND IT ACCELERATED WITHOUT CAUSE. THE FLOOR MAT WAS IN ITS PROPER POSITION. I TAPPED THE GAS PEDAL LIGHTLY TO "UNSTICK" IT. THIS DID NOT WORK. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND RESTARTED IT WITHOUT INCIDENT. I HAD NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR PRIOR TO THE "FIX" AND HAVEN'T HAD ANY SINCE THE FEB. 22 INCIDENT. NOW WHAT DO I DO?? I'VE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ARE WILLING TO LOOK AT IT BUT HAVE SAID THERE ISN'T ANYTHING THEY KNOW THAT IS CAUSING THIS AND TOLD ME TO CONTACT TOYOTA. I WILL DO THAT TODAY IF I CAN GET THROUGH. *TR

HAD THE RECALL ISSUE WITH THE GAS PEDAL FIXED - HOWEVER WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A TURN IN TRAFFIC THERE IS A HESITATION BEFORE THE CAR GOES! IT IS ONLY A FEW SECONDS OF A DELAY, HOWEVER DANGEROUS WHEN YOU NEED THE CAR TO GO. ON GOING ISSUE - DOES NOT DO IT EVERY TIME SO IT REALLY CATCHES YOU OFF GUARD. *TR

BRAKE FAILURE--ROLLED INTO PARKING SPOT, STEPPED ON BRAKE AND CAR DIDN'T STOP. PRE-RECALL FIX ON TOYOTA MATRIX. *TR

ON FEBRUARY 11, I TOOK MY 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX TO MOTORCARS TOYOTA OF CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OHIO, TO HAVE THE CAR REPAIRED IN THE GAS PEDAL RECALL. WHILE THERE, I WAS INFORMED OF ANOTHER RECALL ON THE CAR, ON ITS BRAKES. BOTH OF THESE ISSUES WERE ADDRESS AND I PICKED THE CAR UP ON FEBRUARY 13TH. ON FEBRUARY 24 AT 7:45AM, I WAS DRIVING WESTBOUND ON I-90 IN WESTLAKE, OHIO; IT WAS SNOWING AND THE ROADS WERE WET, UNSALTED. AS I WAS ROUNDING A CORNER NEAR THE CROCKER BASSETT EXIT, MY CAR BEGAN TO SKID. I IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO PUMP THE BRAKES AND ATTEMPT TO STRAIGHTEN MY CAR OUT, BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. I FIRMLY PRESSED DOWN ON THE BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED; I THEN TRIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THE CAR STILL DID NOT SLOW DOWN. I WAS UNABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND IT BEGAN TO SPIN OUT AND TO THE LEFT. I PUMPED THE BRAKES AS HARD AND FAST AS I COULD, BUT THE BRAKES NEVER ENGAGED AND MY CAR HIT THE CEMENT MEDIAN AT 55MPH. DUE TO A BUILD UP OF SNOW AND ICE AGAINST THE MEDIAN, MY CAR WAS PROPELLED INTO THE AIR AND LANDED ON ITS ROOF. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN THE CRASH. *TR

2009 TOYOTA MATRIX SINCE PURCHASE HAS HAD A THROTTLE/BRAKE/TRANSMISSION ANOMALY THE CAR ACCELERATES SUDDENLY WHEN GOING DOWN A BIG HILL OR WHENEVER I BRAKE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. ADDITIONAL BRAKE PRESSURE - SO FAR - HAS STOPPED THE CAR..BUT I EXPECT A VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I USE THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE RECALL FIX HAS BEEN APPLIED - SAME ACTION. I AM CONCERNED I AM DRIVING A VEHICLE THAT MAY SUDDENLY CAUSE A LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM, FOR ME OR SOMEONE IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. DEALER SHRUGGED - EXPECTED THE RECALL TO WORK. *TR

I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. I PURCHASED IT IN NOVEMBER OF 2008. IN OCTOBER OF 2009 THE CAR HAD ROUGHLY 7,000 MILES ON IT. I EXPERIENCED MY FIRST INCIDENT OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. I DROVE UP A HILL TO A STOP SIGN AND AS I BRAKED THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD. I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL. I THOUGHT THAT I MIGHT HAVE SOME HOW HAD MY FOOT ON THE GAS, SO I DID NOT THINK IT WAS A SERIOUS CONCERN. HOWEVER, I HAD TWO MORE SIMILAR INCIDENTS IN THE FOLLOWING MONTHS. BOTH PULLING UP TO STOP SIGNS. BOTH TIMES I HEARD THE ENGINE START TO ACCELERATE AND WAS ABLE TO CONTROL IT. WHEN I HEARD ABOUT THE TOYOTA RECALL I IMMEDIATELY CALLED AND HAD MY CAR SERVICED. THE TOYOTA DEALER DID RECALL WORK ON MY BRAKES AND GAS PEDAL ON FEBRUARY 10TH, 2010. ON FEBRUARY 26TH, I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH IN A PARKING AREA WITH MY SON. I PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE AND I FELT THE CAR PUSH FORWARD. I PUT MY OTHER FOOT ON THE BRAKE AS WELL. MY SON SAID "ITS DOING IT AGAIN MOM!" I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND WE BOTH HEARD THE ENGINE WIND OUT LIKE I HAD PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR. THIS OBVIOUSLY MEANS THE RECALL "FIX" ISN'T WORKING! I CONTACTED MY DEALER AND AM GETTING A LOANER CAR. I AM VERY CONCERNED WHAT THIS MEANS IN TERMS OF FUTURE SAFETY AND MY MONETARY INVESTMENT IN THIS CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. HE STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT A WARNING WHEN HE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND HIT A TELEPHONE POLE. THE VEHICLE HAS FRONT END DAMAGE AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THERE IS NO POLICE REPORT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP WHERE THEY ARE INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE ACCELERATION. THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 42000.

AT 12:30 P.M. I WAS HEADING NORTH ON OH-25 IN BOWLING GREEN, OHIO. MY CAR BEGAN SHAKING, BUT I WAS NOT OVERLY CONCERNED AS WE OFTEN HAVE WINDY DAYS. I TURNED RIGHT ONTO OH-582 AND BECAME SLIGHTLY MORE CONCERNED WHEN THE SHAKING IN THE CABIN DID NOT CEASE. I NOTICED THAT THE CAR DID NOT SHAKE BELOW ABOUT 45 MPH BUT AGAIN ATTRIBUTED THE SHAKING I EXPERIENCED TO MY CAR FIGHTING AGAINST WINDS. I TURNED LEFT ONTO I-75 N AND ACCELERATED TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC. AFTER MERGING SAFELY INTO THE RIGHT-HAND LANE, I CONTINUED ACCELERATING UNTIL I REACHED 55-60 MPH AND MERGED INTO THE LEFT HAND LANE. SHORTLY, I REACHED 65 MPH. WHEN THE SHAKING, WHICH I HAD SUPPOSED TO BE DUE TO STRONG WINDS, DID NOT CEASE, I ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE. I PRESSED LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKES TO BEGIN A SLOW DECELERATION, WITH THE INTENTION OF MERGING INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE AND PUTTING ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS UNTIL I COULD COME TO A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER. INSTEAD, WHEN I BEGAN TO PUT LIGHT PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES, THE CAR VEERED UNEXPECTEDLY TO THE LEFT. SURPRISED, BUT NOT OVERLY ALARMED, I LET OFF THE BRAKES AND ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT THE TRAJECTORY OF THE VEHICLE, WHICH I DID NOT JUDGE TO BE A DIFFICULT MANEUVER. INSTEAD OF COMING BACK INTO THE MIDDLE OF THE LANE AS EXPECTED, THE CAR OVERCORRECTED AND SPUN PERPENDICULAR TO THE FOLLOWING TRAFFIC AND THE SEMI BESIDE ME IN THE RIGHT HAND LANE. THE CAR THEN SLID TOWARD THE SEMI, PARTIALLY UNDER THE BED OF THE TRUCK AND AS MY CAR SLOWED, THE FRONT RIGHT END OF THE CAR MADE CO

2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. VEHICLE SURGES FORWARD WHEN SHIFTING FROM PARK TO DRIVE, ALSO WHEN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE. IT HAPPENS SPORADICALLY. HERRIN-GEAR TOYOTA, JACKSON MS SAYS THIS IS A DIFFERENT ISSUE FROM THE STICKING GAS PEDAL, THIS WAS APPROX ONE MONTH AGO. THEY HAVE FINISHED RECALL WORK FOR STICKING PEDAL BUT HAVE NOT ADDRESSED THE SURGING PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK I HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING OF MY 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THIS GENERALLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING OVER 40 MPH. THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY VEER AND I HAVE TO COMPENSATE BY STEERING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO BRING IT BACK ONTO THE ROAD. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE WIND BLOWING MY CAR TO THE SIDE BUT EVEN ON CALM DAYS IT HAS HAPPENED. I HAVE HAD OTHER PEOPLE DRIVE MY CAR WHO HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN TO THEM. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVER DAY BUT AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK I EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. *TR

ON SEPT 9 2009, I WAS ON MY WAY TO LAS VEGAS NEVADA IN MY 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX SPORT AND NOTICED WHEN I EXCEEDED ALITTLE OVER THE SPEED OF 65 MY CAR BEGAN TO SWERVE SIDE TO SIDE NEARLY LOOKING LIKE I'M ABOUT TO SIDE SWIPE THE CAR IN THE NEXT LANE OVER..AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES ON MY WAY TO WORK. AND I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO TOYOTA AND THEY KEPT ON TRYING TO CONVINCE ME THAT I NEED NEW TIRES AND I NEED ALIGNMENT DONE, SO REALLY THEY DIDN'T TO ANYTHING FOR ME MY CAR IS STILL NEW AND I DIDN'T NEED TIRES AT ALL I STILL HAD ALOT OF TIRE TREAD, AND IF YOU LOOKED AT THE TIRES YOU WOULD NOTICE I WAS BURNING NOTHING BUT SHOULDER WERE GOING SINCE I GOT IT. SO I'VE BEEN VERY UNHAPPY WITH TOYOTA THEY HAVEN'T DON'T ANYTHING TO MAKE ME HAPPEN BUT JUST WANT TO TRY AND CHARGE ME FOR SO MANY "SERVICES" THAT MY CAR "NEED". :( VERY SAD THAT I BOUGHT A TOYOTA, I THINK I SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN A FORD. *TR

EXHAUST FUMES IN 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. LEAKAGE IS ESPECIALLY APPARENT AFTER WIDE-OPEN-THROTTLE (WOT) ACCELERATION. THE NOX EMISSIONS FORMED DURING WOT CAN BE SMELLED IN THE CAR. UNDER OTHER OPERATING MODS, THE FUMES ARE LESS NOTICEABLE OR NOT NOTICEABLE. THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM; SO "INCIDENT DATE" BELOW IS TODAY'S DATE. *TR

WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY PULLS TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT THEN WHEN TRYING TO CORRECT THE STEERING OVER CORRECTS THUS JERKING THE CAR IN WHICH EVER DIRECTION YOU ARE TRYING TO CORRECT. THIS ACTION OCCURS EVERY DAY. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, AT ONE WE WERE TOLD THE FRONT TIRES WERE SWAPPED AND AT THE OTHER THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING AND THAT WITHOUT A RECALL THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD OR WOULD DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

BOUGHT 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX IN SEPT. 2009... HAVE EXPERIENCED BOTH GAS PEDAL ISSUES AND STEERING ISSUES. GAS PEDAL ISSUE HAS BEEN "FIXED". IN REGARDS TO THE STEERING ISSUE, I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 35MPH IT DOES PULL TO THE RIGHT AND FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS BEING PUSHED BY WIND, MY DAUGHTER & HUSBAND ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. I DID NOT REPORT THE STEERING ISSUE TO ANYONE BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS A DEFECT, THIS IS THE FIRST TOYOTA I HAVE OWNED AND THOUGHT IT WAS A TOYOTA THING. ALSO, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN NOV. 2009 IN THE TOYOTA MATRIX, I AM UNSURE OF WHETHER THE GAS PEDAL ISSUE MAY HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN THAT INCIDENT. I DO NOT OWN THIS CAR NOW, I TRADED IT IN ON ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR

IN PARKING GARAGE AT PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT - AS I BEGAN TO PULL INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. I IMMEDIATELY HIT THE BRAKES WITH NO EFFECT. THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL IT HIT THE WALL OF THE GARAGE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE UNTIL BODY DAMAGE IS REPAIRED. CURRENTLY WAITING FOR A TOYOTA INSPECTOR TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO INSPEC THE VEHICLE. *TR

ABOUT 4 WEEKS AGO (AND AGAIN, THIS MORNING, TWICE!), I EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WHEN BRAKING: THE PEDAL WOULD GO MORE THEN USUAL, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AT THE SAME TIME AS IT WAS PRODUCING TERRIBLE GRINDING/SCRATCHING NOISES AS IF PARTS WERE COMING OFF. IT IS NOT DOING THIS CONSISTENTLY, BUT SINCE IT HAPPENED TWICE THIS MORNING, I AM CONCERNED. I DID FIND A RECALL NOTICE DATED AUGUST 2009 ON THE BRAKE SYSTEM FOR 12 MORE NORTHERN STATES THAT EXPERIENCED BRAKE PROBLEMS ON 09 AND 10 MATRIX AND COROLLA VEHICLES WITH 1.8 ENGINES DUE TO EXTREME COLD. I LIVE IN THE MOUNTAINS IF NW N-CAROLINA, AND OUR WEATHER IS VERY MUCH LIKE THAT IN MORE NORTHERN STATES. PRESENT, WE HAVE 4-5 INCHES OF SNOW ON THE GROUND, AND TEMPS WERE ABOUT 35-36 THIS MORNING (AWAITING ANOTHER WINTER STORM). WHEN IT HAPPENED LAST MONTH, IT WAS MUCH COLDER, BUT THERE ALSO WAS LOTS OF SNOW ON THE GROUND. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS STUCK THREE TIMES WHICH CAUSED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. HE KICKED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE FIRST TIME AND IT RELEASED. HE ALSO ENGAGED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED TO PREVENT AN ACCIDENT. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT MAY ONLY NEED A LUBRICANT ON THE PEDAL AFTER THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED. WHEN THE THIRD FAILURE OCCURRED, THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE PER RECALL 10V017000, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE CONTACT WAS NOT CONFIDENT WITH THE REMEDY. THE CONTACT WROTE A LETTER TO THE MANUFACTURER AND WAS INSTRUCTED TO FILE A DISPUTE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 22,626. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.

THE FIRST THING I NOTICED WAS THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WOULD NOT ACCELERATE WHEN I STEPPED ON IT GOING ONTO THE ON-RAMP, ABOUT A MONTH AGO. ON TUESDAY, I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PARTS YET, THAT THEY WOULD CALL ME, AND THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH THE PARTS WHEN THEY GOT HERE. THEY SAID THEY HAD ONE OF THOSE COURSES TWO WEEKS AGO, BUT WHAT THEY LEARNED THERE DOES NOT REALLY APPLY TO THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE COMING ON NOW. SO EVEN WHEN THEY GOT THE PARTS, THEY WOULD HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THEM. I TRIED TO ASK FOR A REPLACEMENT OR SOMETHING OF THE SORT, AND THEY SAID THAT THEY DIDN'T EVEN HAVE ANY CARS TO PROVIDE ME BECAUSE ALL THE MODELS ON THE LOT WERE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE NEXT DAY (YESTERDAY), I TRIED TO STOP AT A STOP SIGN AND IT DIMINISHED THE SPEED BUT IT DID NOT STOP COMPLETELY. IT DIDN'T STOP UNTIL THE MIDDLE OF THE INTERSECTION AND I GOT A TICKET. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, SHE DECREASED SPEED AND PLACED HER FOOT ON THE BRAKES; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN AFTER THE CRASH OCCURRED UNTIL THE CONTACT SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL GEAR AND CAME TO A STOP. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER TO BE INSPECTED BY A TECHNICIAN. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.

I WOULD LIKE TO REPRT SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATOR (UNINTENDED ACCELERATION) AND BRAKE PROBLEMS (DON'T STOP WELL) OF MY TOYOTA MATRIX MODEL 2009. *TR

2009 LOW MILEAGE TOYOTA MATRIX STALLS SUDDENLY IN TRAFFIC, COMPLETE STALL, MUST RESTART. OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN ALL SORTS OF WEATHER, BUT MOSTLY IN HUMID CONDITIONS. RESTART CLEARED ENGINE COMPUTER DEALERSHIP HAD DIFFICULT TIME REPLICATING FAILURE. FINALLY REMEDIED WITH REPLACEMENT OF ELECTRONICS PART IN JUNE 2009. *TR

ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I NOTICE MY ACCELERAR /GAS PEDAL STICKING. ALSO AT TIMES HARD TO PRESS THE ACCELERATOR ALSO.AT 1 TIMES I ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT HAD I NOT BEEN ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NUETRAL AND STOP,ALMOST GETTING HIT DOING IT.I DIDN'T REALISE WHAT IT UNTIL I READ ABOUT THIS RECALL AND WAS NEVER CONTACTED TO THIS DAY ABOUT IT FROM TOYOTA OR ITS DEALER. *CN

I PURCHASED A 09 TOYOTA MATRIX 5DR, 2WD, CUV ON 1/24/09. DURING THE FIRST WEEK IN MARCH 2009 I WAS DRIVING ON A 45 MPH CITY STREET GOING A LITTLE LESS THAN THE SPEED LIMIT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR SPED UP. I GAVE THE GAS PEDAL A TAP THINKING IT HAD JUST STUCK, BUT THE MOTOR KEPT RACING AS I PICKED UP SPEED. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE GAS PEDAL AND PUT MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. I NEVER LOOKED TO SEE HOW FAST I WAS GOING, I WAS TOO BUSY, TRYING TO SLOW DOWN AND FIND A PLACE TO PULL OVER BEFORE I CAUGHT UP TO THE CAR AHEAD OF ME AND RAMMED INTO IT. LUCKILY THE TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME A WAYS OFF, AND I WAS IN AN OUTER LANE AND FOUND A PLACE TO PULL IN, CONTINUING TO PRESS DOWN ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AS HARD AS I COULD. I IMMEDIATELY TURNED OFF THE KEY AND PUT THE CAR IN PARK. I TRIED TO START IT UP AGAIN AFTER A FEW MINUTES, BUT THE MOTOR CONTINUED TO RACE IN PARK. I TUNED THE IGNITION OFF, AND I THEN DISCOVERED THAT A FLOOR MAT HAD SLIPPED UNDER THE GAS PEDAL, SO I PULLED IT OUT AND STARTED THE CAR AGAIN. I STARTED NORMALLY. MY HEART WAS RACING AND IT TOOK ME MORE THAN AN HOUR TO GET MY EMOTIONS UNDER CONTROL BECAUSE I KNEW WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON NEARBY RT. 95 WHERE TRAFFIC MOVES AT A FAST CLIP AND THERE IS REALLY NOWHERE TO PULL OVER. A FEW MONTHS LATER I SAW ON TV ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT WITH HEART WRENCHING RESULTS. I CALLED TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS AND HAD THE INCIDENT DOCUMENTED. I

IN VERY COLD WEATHER, WHICH WE HAVE HAD PLENTY OF RECENTLY, AND I MAKE A GRADUAL STOP FROM A SPEED OF 45+ MPH, THERE IS A SPLIT-SECOND SURGE FORWARD FOLLOWED BY A HARD STOP "BUMP" WHEN THE CAR COMES TO A FINAL STOP THAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT, THE ROAD SURFACE IS NOT SLICK, NOR AM I MAKING A SUDDEN STOP. THE PROBLEM DOES NOT HAPPEN IN TEMPS ABOVE FREEZING, NOR DOES BRAKING SEEM IMPAIRED. I AM SOMEWHAT UNNERVED BY THE MOMENTARY SURGE FORWARD FOLLOWED BY THE SUDDEN BUMP THAT FEELS LIKE I HIT A CURB. *TR

THE CONTACT THAT THE 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX STALLS EVERY TIME THE CONTACT STOPS AT AN ENTER SECTION. AND WHEN THE CONTACT TURNS THE CAR BACK THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER. THE CALLER HAS OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR 5 MONTHS. THIS HAS ALSO HAPPENED WHEN THE CONTACT TRIES TO PULL OFF FROM THE INTERSECTION. PROBLEM STARTED AT 3000 MILES CURRENT MILES IS 9000. UPDATED 12/30/09 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE STALLING WOULD OCCUR AFTER PULLING INTO AN INTERSECTION AFTER IDLING AT A RED LIGHT. THE DEALER STATED THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY RESET THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE, HOWEVER THE STALLING CONTINUED. UPDATED 12/30/09.*JB

2009 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH 1.8 L ENGINE STALLS AT INTERSECTIONS. DEALER VERY RESISTANT TO ADMITTING TO THE PROBLEM, BUT ALLEGEDLY "RESET" CONTROL MODULE, RESULTING IN LESS FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE. POTENTIALLY VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS NOT POSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHEN STALL WILL OCCUR AND MORE LIKELY IN INTERSECTIONS. STALLING OCCURRED NUMEROUS TIMES, ESPECIALLY FROM 8000 TO 10000 MILES. VEHICLE CURRENTLY AT APPROXIMATELY 19000 MILES AND HAS OCCASIONAL STALLS. *TR

TOYOTA ACCIDENT I DRIVE A LEASED 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. AT 8:24 AM ON NOVEMBER 16, 2009. PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT THE DOCTORS OFFICE BUILDING BOCA RATON. THE CAR WAS ALMOST STOPPED AND MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, WHEN THE CAR REVVED UP TO THE MAXIMUM, JUMPED THE CURB AND HIT A PALM TREE. I IMMEDIATELY SWITCHED OFF THE ENGINE. I WAS DAZED, AND AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES I GOT OUT THE CAR TO SEE THE DAMAGE. HAVING HEARD OF CAR MAT PROBLEMS, I INSPECTED THE MATS, BUT NOTHING WAS OUT OF PLACE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, I WENT TO MY DOCTORS APPOINTMENT , BUT HAD TO LEAVE BEFORE I SAW THE DOCTOR, AS I DIDN'T FEEL WELL. DESPITE A LOT OF FRONT END DAMAGE, THE CAR WAS DRIVABLE, SO I DECIDED TO DRIVE THE CAR TO MY HOME , BUT I WAS FRIGHTENED ALL THE WAY AS I THOUGHT THE CAR MIGHT DO THE SAME THING AGAIN IN TRAFFIC. WHEN I GOT HOME I CALLED ALLSTATE AND REPORTED THE ACCIDENT. I TOLD THEM THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE CAR, AS IT ACCELERATED BY ITSELF, AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT INFLATE.. PER INSTRUCTIONS FROM ALLSTATE, THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO ED MORSE CADILLAC FOR REPAIR OF THE DAMAGE INCURRED. MY QUESTION IS, CAN I LEGALLY BREAK MY LEASE AND RETURN THE CAR TO TOYOTA, AS IT IS UNSAFE.. *TR UPDATED 05/25/10 UPDATED 07/29/10 UPDATED 12/21/10.*JB

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED, AND THEN THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 72483. UPDATED 12/17/09 *BF THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ON UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER NEVER LEFT ZERO. UPDATED 12/21/09

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE ALL-WEATHER FLOOR MAT INTERFERED WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND CAUSED THE DRIVER TO EXPERIENCE UNINTENDED VEHICLE ACCLERATION. THE CONTACT IS AWARE OF THE SAFETY RISK AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH IF THE FLOOR MAT INTERFERED WITH THE ACCELERATOR OR BRAKE PEDALS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 400. UPDATED 12/7/09 *CN UPDATED 12/08/09.*JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE EXTERIOR SIDE VIEW MIRRORS ON BOTH SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BLOCK THE CONTACT'S VIEW WHENEVER A TURN IS BEING MADE. SHE STATED THAT THE MIRRORS PREVENTED HER FROM PROPERLY SEEING THE ROAD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MIRRORS WERE PLACED IN THE PROPER POSITION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 1,100. UPDATED 07/28/09. *LJ UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

I WAS TRAVELING AT EASTBOUND AT 25 MPH AND ENTERED A CONTROLLED INTERSECTION IN MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN. A MOTORCYCLIST TRAVELING NORTHBOUND APPROACHING SPEEDS OF 60 MPH RAN A YIELD SIGN AND T-BONED MY 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX S 5 SPD MANUAL IN THE BACK PASSENGER DOOR AND BACK QUARTER PANEL. THE FORCE OF THE IMPACT SPUN MY MATRIX 180 DEGREES SO I ENDED UP FACING WESTBOUND AT THE CURB. THE PASSENGER-SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYED. HOWEVER, THE DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY AND I ENDED UP WITH A MILD HEAD INJURY AND A SPRAIN/POSSIBLE DISLOCATION OF MY LEFT SHOULDER FROM WHERE I STRUCK THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. MY CONCERN IS WHY THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG CURTAIN FAILED TO DEPLOY WHEN I WAS T-BONED BY A MOTORCYCLE AT 60 MPH TURNING MY CAR 180 DEGREES TO FACE THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION I WAS TRAVELING. IN MY OPINION, BASED ON THE IMPACT, MY SIDE CURTAIN AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED AS THE DIRECTION AND FORCE OF THE IMPACT WOULD OBVIOUSLY FORCE MY BODY IN THE SAME DIRECTION, NORTH, INTO THE SIDE OF MY CAR; THE SAME DIRECTION THE MOTORCYCLE WAS HEADED. THE FAILURE OF MY DRIVER'S SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT LED TO A HEAD INJURY AND A SHOULDER INJURY; POSSIBLY A DISLOCATION OF MY SHOULDER. I AM AWAITING THE RADIOLOGISTS REVIEW OF THE X-RAYS TAKEN TODAY AT AURORA HEALTH CARE CENTER ON REED AVENUE IN MANITOWOC, WISCONSIN. TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE MY CONCERNS SERIOUSLY AND INVESTIGATE THE AIR BAG SYSTEMS IN THEIR 2009 MATRIX MODELS. *TR

I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX XR. IT STALL INTERMITTENTLY , MORE FREQUENTLY IN HUMID WEATHER. CAN NOT "RECREATE" SITUATION, BUT HAPPENS AT LEAST 5 TIMES PER WEEK NOW THAT WE ARE IN A MORE RAINY SEASON. I FIRST NOTICED THIS PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER BUT IT CLEARED UP DURING THE COLD MONTHS AND NOW IS BACK WITH THE FURY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN DECEMBER--AGAIN COULD NOT RECREATE FOR DEALER. YESTERDAY IT HAPPENED TWICE IN CITY TRAFFIC. I HAVE DROPPED OFF CAR AT DEALER AND THEY LOOKED AT IT TODAY AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THE CAR HAD 60 MILES ON IT WHEN I PURCHASED IT IN NOVEMBER AND CURRENTLY HAS 6,300 MILES. I HAVE SERVICED IT ACCORDING TO SCHEDULE. I HAVE DRIVEN A MANUAL TRANSMISSION EXCLUSIVELY FOR OVER 20 YEARS WITH NOT SIMILAR PROBLEMS. DEALER WILL LOOK AT IT BUT WILL NOT PROVIDE ME WITH LOANER CAR. *TR

THE SIDE REAR-VIEW MIRROR IS LARGE AND CREATES A LARGE BLINDSPOT SO THAT IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE OBJECTS WHEN TURNING LEFT. I WAS TURNING INTO MY SUBDIVISION AND ALMOST HIT A VEHICLE THAT WAS WAITING FOR ME TO COMPLETE MY TURN BEFORE ENTERING THE INTERSECTION. I BELIEVE THE VEHICLE WAS A RED BMW SEDAN (SMALL), AND I DIDN'T SAW IT UNTIL WE ALMOST COLLIDED. FORTUNATELY I WAS GOING SLOWLY ENOUGH TO MAKE A QUICK CORRECTION WHEN THE DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE HONKED. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENTS DURING THE SIX MONTHS I HAVE DRIVEN MY CAR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS A STEEL PLATE ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT, WHICH IS A NEW DESIGN ON THE 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX MODELS (ACTIVE HEADREST). AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS LOWER BACK, A HERNIATED DISC, AND OTHER MAJOR INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT TO HIS BODY. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST AND THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,535 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS LESS THAN 12,111. UPDATED 03/17/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/17/09. *JB

I SIGNED UP A LEASE WITH HUDSON TOYOTA FOR A MATRIX 2009 PRESUMABLY A BRAND NEW ONE. I SIGNED THE PAPERS AND BROUGHT IT HOME ON SEPT.3,2008. I DRIVE IT TO NYC ON SEPT.4,5,6 THEN IT WAS PARKED ON MY DRIVEWAY THE WHOLE DAY ON SEPT.7. ON SEPT.9,IT WAS DEAD. I CALLED SERVICE AND DESCRIBED THEM THE PROBLEM,THE SERVICE PERSON SAID "THE BATTERY IS DEAD ,GO GET A JUMPER AND START AS SOON AS IT STARTS BRING IT TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA SERVICE". AND I DID JUST THAT,I FOLLOWED HIS INSTRUCTIONS TO A TEE. I BRING IT TO THE TOYOTA ROCKLAND SERVICE,THEY TESTED IT THEY SAID ITS WEAK,THEN ITS DEAD. THEY DID SOME MORE TESTS AND THEY SAID ITS THE ABS MOTOR THAT IS DEFECTIVE,THEY HAVE TO ORDER IT SO THEY SAID THEY WILL REPLACE THE BATTERY BUT EVERY NIGHT WHEN I TURN OFF THE ENGINE,YOU TAKE OFF THE SWITCH INSIDE,"YOU OPEN THE FRONT TO EXPOSE THE ENGINE AND YOU TAKE OUT THAT PART,IN THE MORNING WHEN YOU ARE READY TO GO YOU PUT THE THING BACK ON"THE ABS MOTOR WILL COME ON THURSDAY BUT THURSDAY MORNING IT WAS NOT YET THERE IT CAME LIKE IN THE AFTERNOON ALREADY SO THEY PUT IT IN. THE FOLLOWING DAYS THE ABS SIGN WILL STILL TURN ON BUT IT WILL TURNED OFF AFTER AWHILE. NOW ITS THE AWD SIGN IS ON SO I BRING IT TO HUDSON TOYOTA BUT NOBODY WANTS TO TALK TO ME ON THE PHONE SO I CAME THERE EVEN IF ITS LATE. I SAW XX AND XX AND I SHOWED THEM THE LIGHTS AND TELL THEM WHAT HAPPENED THEY SAID THEY'RE SORRY AND I ASKED THEM ABOUT MY REGISTRATION AND THE PLATES THEY SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE PLATES ONLY REGISTRATION. XX

THE 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX HAS A SAFETY ISSUE IN MY OPINION. I BOUGHT MY MATRIX (NEW) FROM DOWNEAST TOYOTA IN BREWER, MAINE, ON OCTOBER 6, 2008. WHILE DRIVING THIS CAR DURING A TEST DRIVE IN THE PROXIMITY OF THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT 60 DAYS PRIOR TO MY PURCHASE, THERE CAME A TIME WHEN I HAD DO MAKE A LEFT-HAND TURN AS DIRECTED BY THE DEALERS SALESMAN WHO WAS WITH ME. BEFORE I MADE THE TURN I NOTICED A YOUNG LADY ON THE EDGE OF THE ROAD TO WHERE I WAS TURNING. THIS BROUGHT ON A CAUTION IN MY MIND TO BE EXTRA CAREFUL IN MAKING THE TURN. AS I PROCEEDED THE TURN, THE OVERSIZED (IN MY OPINION) SIDE VIEW MIRROR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT IS SITUATED TOO HIGH (IN MY OPINION) BLOCKED ABOUT 80 % OF MY VIEW. AT ONE POINT IT WAS DIRECTLY IN MY LINE OF VISION. I LET OUT A, "WHOA, ERIC" (TO THE SALESMAN)," I CAN'T SEE A THING." HE DID NOT SAY A WORD. I LIKED THE MATRIX OTHERWISE, SO ABOUT SIXTY DAYS LATER, I BOUGHT IT (I THOUGHT THE "BAD VISION INCIDENT" WAS A FLUKE.) WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM MY DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT TWO DAYS LATER, I CAME UPON A LEFT-HAND TURN IN DOWNTOWN ORONO, MAINE. TO MY ABSOLUTE DISAPPOINTMENT, I COULD NOT SEE WHERE I WAS TURNING WHEN THE OVERSIZED SIDE MIRROR CAME IN MY LINE OF VISION. AGAIN, APPROXIMATELY 80 % OF MY VISION WAS BLOCKED! I RETURNED THE MATRIX TO THE DOWNEAST TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN BREWER. I TOLD SEVERAL PEOPLE AT THE DEALERSHIP, IN PERSON, AND BY PHONE FROM HOME, THAT I COULD NOT DRIVE THE MATRIX BECAUSE OF A SAFETY ISSUE. I ASKED FOR MY MONEY BACK. THEY MORE

AS A OWNER OF A BRAND NEW 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX, I WAS RECENTLY HIT BY A BICYCLE RIDER RIDING HIS BIKE IN A OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON A SIDE WALK. HE HIT MY FRONT BUMPER AND THE BUMPER WAS SLIGHTLY DAMAGED. THE BIKE RIDER HAD MINOR INJURIES. THE POLICE ISSUED THE RIDER A CITATION FOR RIDING HIS BIKE IN THE WRONG DIRECTION. I WENT TO A LOCAL CERTIFIED AUTO REPAIR SHOP AND GOT MY FRONT BUMPER REPAIRED INCLUDING A PAINT FINISH. THE COST CAME OUT TO BE $500 FOR THIS VERY MINOR DAMAGE. WHY? IT TURNED OUT TO BE SO COSTLY ? BECAUSE NOWADAYS ALL THE BUMPERS--FRONT & REAR ARE BEING MADE OUT PLASTIC BY AUTO MANUFACTURERS TO CUT COST. IF THE BUMPERS WERE TO BE MADE FROM STEEL, I WOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY DAMAGE COST FOR ANY MINOR IMPACT. MY QUESTION TO YOU: WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR OLD REGULATION 10 M.P.H. IMPACT TO BUMPERS TO BE FREE OF ANY DAMAGE? DID YOU CAVE IN TO THE BIG BROTHERS --AUTO MANUFACTURERS, AND YET, THE AMERICAN CONSUMERS ARE BEING SHAFTED FOR HIGH COST OF REPAIRING THE CAR. WHY DON'T YOU FORCE THE AUTO MANUFACTURERS TO MAKE ALL BUMPERS OUT OF STEEL? THE FACT IS THE STEEL MILL HAVE ALREADY DEVELOPED THE STEEL MATERIAL WHICH IS VERY COMPARABLE TO PLASTIC TO BE LIGHTER, STRONGER AND CAN BE FORMED INTO BUMPERS VERY EASILY. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND FORCE THE AUTO MANUFACTURERS TO COMPLY 10 M.P.H IMPACT REGULATION. THANK YOU! *TR UPDATED 09/24/08. *JB