30 of the
477 complaints filed about the Toyota Corolla Matrix
are about the electrical system —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2005.
Car has over 290,000 miles, sole owner of car. Just learned the odometer will freeze at 299,999 miles based on issue known by Toyota for a few models. Odometer freeze was not disclosed even though Toyota has selectively repaired some cars odometers at no charge to customers or split costs with customers. Odometer freeze makes safe maintenance of car more difficult. Toyota apparently added a 9 year warranty extension because of its knowledge of problems but didn't notify owners. My 2004 vehicle would have been covered through 2013, but I was not given an opportunity to have the problem repaired under warranty. Toyota apparently knew this problem affected Corolla (up through 2008), Matrix & Vibe (1st generation) and 1st generation Prius cars. My car manual says that the odometer "shows the total distance the vehicle has been driven." My ability to continue safely using my car will be compromised when my odometer reaches 299,999 and Toyota chose not to warn and repair this defect which affects their customers, and our ability to safely operate our cars on the road. If I had known about the problem sooner I would have addressed it sooner. Toyota knew but chose to only address the issue on a case by case basis even though the cars were apparently designed with this defect which was hidden.
NHTSA complaint #11741233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle keeps stalling while driving if stopped at a light or stop sign or if mrps drop to low engine shuts off lights flicker and no check engine light has come on.
NHTSA complaint #11627670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AFTER TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED THE AIRBAG, THE CAR AUDIO STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WHEN I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER, THEY SAID THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME AND HANG UP ON THE PHONE. MY EMAIL TO TOYOTA COMPANY WAS NOT RETURNED.
NHTSA complaint #11399614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER STEERING WENT OUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING AND NEARLY KILLED MYSELF 149,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THIS IS SUPER DANGEROUS. FROM WHAT I READ, PLENTY OF OTHER MATRIX DOING THE SAME. BRAKES, WINDOWS ALL WENT OUT AS WELL
NHTSA complaint #11377340 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT LAST YEAR AND I WAS SITTING ON THE PASSENGER SEAT AND MY HUSBAND WAS ON THE DRIVERS SEAT ALONG WITH MY TWO CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT. WE WERE REAR ENDED BY HIGH SPEED VEHICLE DRIVING ERRATICALLY. ALL OF US SUFFERED WHIP LASH AND BACK INJURIES IN THE ACCIDENT. ALSO, THE AIRBAG NEVER GOT DEPLOYED AND THE AIR BAG SIGN IS ON THE DASH BOARD. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION AND I AM UPSET FOR BUYING A BRAND NEW CAR WHICH I HOPED THAT ALL SAFETY EQUIPMENT WILL BE WORKING. I WAS SHOCKED AND HURT AT THE SAME TIME. AFTER THAT FEW MONTHS LATER I RECEIVED AIRBAG RECALL NOTICE TO TAKE THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIR TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER SHIP. I WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT THEY COULDN'T DO ANYTHING AND THEY COULDN'T FIX THE AIR BAG SIGN COMING ON THE DASHBOARD AND THEY DIDN'T FIX THE DEFECTIVE AIRBAG. I AM REFERRING TO THIS SERIOUS ISSUE WITHOUT ANY OUTCOME. MY INJURED TO ME AND MY FAMILY IS NOT WORTH DRIVING DEFECTIVE VEHICLE. I NEED SOMEONE WHO CAN GET BACK TO ME AND PROVIDE SOLUTION.
NHTSA complaint #11323606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AFTER COMING OFF OF A HIGHWAY EXIT, AND CAR STALLED. BATTERY LIGHT CAME ON. RESTARTED IGNITION AND CAR WORKED FINE FOR A FEW MILES. STALLED AGAIN AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN. STRONGLY BELIEVE ECM IS FAULTY. COULD BE CONNECTED TO TOYOTA RECALL 10V384000.
NHTSA complaint #11208664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE HAS STALLED SEVERAL TIMES. ALL INSTANCES THE VEHICLE STALLS WHILE DRIVING. PROBLEM IS RANDOM AND NON-REPEATABLE. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE STALL WHILE AT VARIOUS SPEEDS RANGING FROM 15 MPH TO 55+ MPH (ON HIGHWAYS OR EVEN LOCAL ROADS). MOST RECENT STALL WAS 09/17/2018. MAKING A RIGHT HAND TURN, VEHICLE STALLED. TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, WENT TO TURN BACK ON, STALLED AGAIN. TURNED OFF, WAITED FOR A MOMENT, STARTED THE MOTOR AND VEHICLE RAN WITHOUT ANY FURTHER ISSUES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. IN DOING READING, I SEE THE ENGINE CONTROL MODAL HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE TOYOTA MATRIX UP TO AND INCLUDING 2008 MODELS. I BELIEVE THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXTENDED TO 2009 MODELS. I HAVE ALSO DONE SOME READING THAT THERE WAS OVERLAP BETWEEN PRODUCTION YEARS OF 2008/2009 WHERE PARTS WERE USED FROM THE 2008 MODELS IN THE 2009 MODELS WHICH FURTHERS MY EMPHASIS TO EXPAND THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11130045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPECT FAULTY ECM (ENGINE CONTROL MODULE) AS EVIDENCED BY RECALL ON VEHICLES UP TO 2008. VEHICLE RANDOMLY LOSES POWER, BOTH IN MOTION AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND AT REST. ALL LIGHTS AND INDICATIONS GO DARK. DASH LIGHTS MAY COME BACK ON MOMENTARILY INCLUDING ALL WARNING INDICATIONS IN DASH, AND ENGINE MAY RESUME RUNNING. ALSO STALLS RANDOMLY UPON STARTING, AS WELL AS RANDOMLY WHEN SWITCHING HEADLIGHTS FROM LOW BEAMS TO HIGH BEAMS. RANDOMLY WILL NOT START EITHER, WITH ONLY ONE VERY DIM DASH INDICATION. BATTERY IS 3 MONTHS OLD AND HAS BEEN LOAD TESTED: IN PERFECT CONDITION. TERMINALS ARE CLEAN WITH SOLID CONNECTIONS. HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW WEEKS.
NHTSA complaint #11081465 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10892742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAD TO REPLACE MY ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) BECAUSE THE ENGINE WOULD LOOSE POWER AND CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING ON STREET. THIS BECAME NOTICEABLE AFTER A RAIN STORM. I WAS TOLD BECAUSE MY VEHICLE WAS A MATRIX XRS, IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR THE OTHER MATRIX MODELS; THEREFORE I SPENT APPROX. $1000 IN HAVING THE ECM REPLACED. I HAD ALL OF THE SAME CITED SYMPTOMS. PLEASE INCLUDE MY ENGINE IN THE RECALL SO I MAY BE REIMBURSED. THANKS YOU.
NHTSA complaint #10870037 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY MATRIX WILL SHUT OFF WHILE IM DRIVING EVERYTHING OINTS TO THE ECM BEING BAD. MY VIN # IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL BUT I FEEL IT SHOULD BE. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS.
NHTSA complaint #10821601 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
NHTSA complaint #10821106 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE COULD BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000.
NHTSA complaint #10817549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL: IN JUNE 2015 I RECEIVED THIS NOTICE OF A SAFETY RECALL DUE TO THE AIRBAG INFLATORS POSSIBLY BEING MANUFACTURED IN SUCH A WAY AS TO WHERE THEY COULD RETAIN MOISTURE WHICH COULD RUPTURE AND CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.I AM ADVISED TO NOT LET ANYONE SIT IN THE PASSENGER SEAT TILL IT IS FIXED. IT HAS BEEN SIX MONTHS! THIS IS WAY WAY BEYOND A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO HAVE THIS FIXED. HORRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE TOYOTA! I AM THE CARE TAKER OF MY ELDERLY PARENTS AND DRIVE THEM ON ERRANDS AND TO APPTS ECT. I ALSO CARE FOR MY GRAND DAUGHTER. AND CARPOOL TO SCHOOL. THIS HAS BEEN A HUGH BURDEN ON ME. FOR THE RECORD MY AIR BAG LIGHT IS ALWAYS ON, AND MY CLOCK AND STEREO KEEP RESETTING. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG CONSTANTLY BLINKS AND THE NO SEAT BELT SIGN BLINKS AND BEEPS AS IF SOMEONE WAS SITTING THERE WITH OUT A SEATBELT. YOU ARE UNPREPARED TO FIX THIS SITUATION, AND I FIND THIS UNACCEPTABLE. EVERYTIME I GET IN MY CAR, I AM WORRIED THEY COULD DEFLATE AND INJURE OR KILL MYSELF OR MY PARENTS OR GRANDDAUGHTER. UNFORTUNATELY I HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO USE MY VEHICLE AS IT IS THE ONLY ONE I HAVE. YOU MAY CONTACT ME ASAP REGARDING A RENTAL CAR UNTIL THIS IS RESOLVED. I AM NO LONGER PUTTING MY LIFE AT RISK BECAUSE YOU ARE UNPREPARED ! I WILL BE FILING A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AS SOON AS I AM DONE WITH THIS, AND WILL CONTACT AN ATTORNEY IF NEED BE. AWAITING YOUR PROMPT REPLY REGARDS, LINDA
NHTSA complaint #10807904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10785430 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.