145 of the
1,422 complaints filed about the Toyota Matrix
are about the throttle and cruise control —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2009.
145
Complaints
10%
Share of all complaints
59
Crashes
0
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND CRASHED INTO AN APARTMENT BUILDING. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED DURING THE FAILURE. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED STERNUM, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY SERVICED FOR BOTH UNINTENDED ACCELERATION AND AN UNKNOWN AIR BAG RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. THE VIN WAS INVALID.
NHTSA complaint #11142316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS PLACING THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK IN THE DEPRESSED POSITION. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A WALL IN THE PARKING GARAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE SIDE AND FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME TO BE RETRIEVED BY STATE FARM INSURANCE. THE INSURANCE CLAIM NUMBER WAS 372327J90. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.
NHTSA complaint #11054235 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CAUSED A CRASH. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BECAUSE THE CONTACT COULD NOT REMEMBER. MOTTER AUTO REPAIR OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH AND REPAIRED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE AND THE PASSENGER DOOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE CRASH. IN ADDITION, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING AGAIN. THERE WAS NO CRASH AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING 2 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S GARAGE DOOR. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE LEFT LEG AND LEFT HAND, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DAMAGED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10995610 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY MATRIX 2009 HAS HAD INTERMITTENT SUDDEN ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. I MENTION IT AT MY REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECK UPS, BUT RECEIVE NON-COMMITTAL REPLIES. I FIGURE I MUST BE LOSING IT. OVER THE LAST 8 MONTHS OR SO, IT GOT EXTREME: THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD AT DIFFERENT TIMES: WHEN I START UP THE CAR, IDLING AT A LIGHT, OR SLOWING TO A STOP. TODAY, SUNDAY MORNING, AS I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT WALMART, I BEGAN TO BRAKE SLOWLY WHEN THE TRANS ROARED AND LURCHED FORWARD. IT JUMPED THE CURB AND PLOWED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE CAR FACING ME. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT I MUST HAVE HIT THE GAS - BUT NO. MY FOOT WAS STILL ON THE BRAKE - ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. I STILL OWE MONEY ON THIS CAR. I RUINED THE FRONT END OF ANOTHER CAR. I AM A SINGLE MOM OF 2 AND A TEACHER. I DON'T KNOW HOW I AM GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANDLE THIS. I DO NOT INTEND TO REPAIR THIS CAR. IT IS NOT SAFE. THANK GOD THE OTHER CAR WAS EMPTY. THIS CAR COULD HAVE KILLED SOMEONE. AND, NO: NO TICKETS/ACCIDENTS/AGEISM. JUST A REGULAR MIDDLE-AGE LADY WHO BOUGHT A USED CAR 4.5 YEARS AGO, TOOK GOOD CARE OF IT, AND AM NOW SERIOUSLY STUCK AND STRESSED. SO, THANK YOU TOYOTA. I SAW ON OTHER BLOGS TODAY THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, BUT A RECURRING PROBLEM. YOU HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS FOR YEARS, AND HAVE DONE NOTHING. YOUR COMPANY WILL CAUSE INNOCENT PEOPLE TO KILL SOMEONE OR THEMSELVES.
NHTSA complaint #10968536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS EXITING A PARKING GARAGE AND WAITING AT A TOLL BOOTH, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND A RETAINING WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 145,000. UPDATED 04/19/17 *LJ
NHTSA complaint #10945064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON THE MORNING OF 12/16/2016, WHILE IN THE PARKING GARAGE WHERE MY WIFE WORKS, SHE STOPPED TO BACK INTO A PARKING SPOT AND THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED FORWARD AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO VIGOROUS BRAKING NOR THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. THE CAR HIT A CONCRETE WALL, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, AND SHE WAS INJURED (NUMEROUS FRACTURES TO DATE). WE HAVE SEEN THE WORDS 'BRAKE OVERRIDE' AND 'SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION' IN CASES AGAINST TOYOTA. THERE WERE NO FLOOR MATS IN THE CAR. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR IN THE FIRST WEEK OF OCT 2016, SO IT WAS ONLY APPROX 75 DAYS IN OUR POSSESSION. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NEVER GET US IN CONTACT WITH THE PREVIOUS OWNER (ABOUT UNRELATED QUESTIONS) AND NEVER MENTIONED ANY POSSIBLE ISSUE WITH THE CAR. THEY GAVE ME A CARFAX, BUT THERE WAS NO MENTION OF THE SUA ISSUE. WE FEEL TOYOTA OR SOMEONE SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS HAPPENING. NOT ONLY IS THERE PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THE PERSON, BUT ALSO MENTAL DAMAGE ABOUT DRIVING ANY CAR. WE BELIEVE THE ELECTRONICS ARE TO BLAME FOR THIS HAPPENING. WHAT ARE OUR OPTIONS? WE CANNOT FIND ANYONE TO TAKE THE CASE. PLEASE ADVISE, THANKS.
NHTSA complaint #10943818 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS BACKING DOWN MY DRIVEWAY WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED-THE BRAKES AND STEERING ALSO WENT OUT-I CRASHED INTO A BANK ON ONE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THEN THE CAR SWUNG AROUND AND I ENDED UP SUSPENDED OVER A DITCH. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO SWITCH GEARS AND TURN THE CAR OFF
NHTSA complaint #10893747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AUTOMATICALLY DEPRESSED AND THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOORBOARD IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 202,912.
NHTSA complaint #10864822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE EXITING THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO A COLLISION LOT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.
NHTSA complaint #10836755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A MANUAL TRANSMISSION CAR. WHEN I STARTED IT IN MY DRIVEWAY AND PUT IN REVERSE THE CAR IMMEDIATELY WHEN SPEEDING BACKWARD OUT OF CONTROL. I ENGAGED THE CLUTCH WHILE THE CAR CONTINUED TO SPEED IN REVERSE THEN MOVED TO 1 GEAR AND THE CAR STARTED SPEEDING FORWARD OUT OF CONTROL. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN IT OFF TO STOP THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10794842 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM PARK, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED EXCESSIVELY. THE CONTACT HAD TO DEPRESS THE CLUTCH AND SHIFT THE GEAR SHIFTER IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10794579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. EACH TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT DROVE OVER THREE CURBS, A YIELD SIGN, AND A STOP SIGN. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BACK PAIN AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS TREATED AND RELEASED THE SAME DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,465. UPDATED 01/21/16*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10794573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO MY GARAGE (IN THE BASEMENT OF MY HOUSE), GRADUALLY BRAKING AS I HAD DONE MANY TIMES BEFORE. I WAS STOPPING THE VEHICLE IN ITS USUAL POSITION WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN RACING AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD. IT STRUCK SOME SHELVES I HAD AGAINST THE WALL OF THE GARAGE, CRUMPLING BOTH THE SHELVES AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR'S HOOD. EVERYTHING HAPPENED SO FAST AT THAT POINT THAT I AM NOT SURE JUST WHAT HAPPENED, BUT I ENDED UP WITH THE CAR STOPPED UP AGAINST THE GARAGE WALL AND THE CAR IN PARK. I BELIEVE I THREW IT INTO NEUTRAL, THEN APPLIED THE BRAKE SINCE IT WAS STILL MOVING, THEN TRIED TO BACK UP, AND FINALLY PUT IT INTO PARK. THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN STOPPING SEVERAL TIMES PREVIOUSLY, BUT NONE OF THOSE INCIDENTS CAUSED ANY DAMAGE. IN EACH OF THOSE SITUATIONS I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, STOP IT WITH THE BRAKE, AND CONTINUE ON MY WAY. IN THIS INSTANCE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SPACE AHEAD OF ME TO DO THAT SUCCESSFULLY. I KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF A TOYOTA MATRIX HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPORTED FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #10745479 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO TWO PARKED VEHICLES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MULTIPLE BRUISES, A FRACTURED RIB, AND PACEMAKER REPLACEMENT THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,800.
NHTSA complaint #10712605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2009 TOYOTA MATRIX FIRST PROBLEM STARTED STALLING SUDDENLY IN TRAFFIC LAST YEAR, BUT NOW VERY FREQUENTLY STALLS EVEN ON HIGHWAYS AT HIGH SPEEDS. NO WARNINGS. WHEN STALLED ALL LIGHTS COMES ON IN DASH, INCLUDING "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT. COMPLETELY TURN OFF IGNITION AND RESTARTING IS THE ONLY WAY TO FIX THIS ISSUE AT THAT TIME. AFTER RESTARTING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES OUT. OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES IN ALL SORTS OF WEATHER, BUT MORE FREQUENTLY IN HOT SUMMER DAYS. YESTERDAY STALLED 4 TIMES WITHIN 90 MINUTES DRIVE. RESTART CLEARED ENGINE COMPUTER DEALERSHIP HAD DIFFICULT TIME REPLICATING FAILURE. BUT, ADVISED REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE AT A COST OF OVER $1000. SINCE THIS YEAR MODEL NOT RECALLED BY TOYOTA YET. I DO NOT KNOW HOW OR WHERE TO COMPLAIN SO THAT TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND FIX THIS AT THEIR EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #10706554 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING ON A SECONDARY HIGHWAY GOING BETWEEN 80 AND 100 KPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED. I WAS TRAVELING ALONG IN TOP GEAR AT AN RPM OF 2000-2500 - WHEN I NOTICED THAT I WAS ENTERING A CONSTRUCTION ZONE WHERE TRAFFIC WAS HALTED. I HAD JUST BEGUN TO TRAVEL UP A HILL TOWARD THE HALTED TRAFFIC. AS THE CAR STARTED UP THE HILL, I NOTICED THAT THE RPMS HAD DROPPED AND CAUSED THE GEARS TO SHIFT DOWN INTO A LOWER GEAR WITH HIGHER RPM TO PULL THE CAR UP THE HILL. ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY OF THE CAR SHIFTING GEARS, I PRESSED THE BRAKES HARD TO BEGIN STOPPING. I WAS ALARMED AS I FELT THE CAR STRUGGLING TO ACCELERATE HARD AGAINST MY BRAKING. THE BRAKING HAD NOT DISENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL. I PRESSED THE BRAKES HARDER. THEN, THINKING THE CAR MIGHT BE CONFUSED, I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES BEFORE PRESSING THE BRAKES HARD AGAIN. I STILL FELT THE CAR STRUGGLING TO ACCELERATE HARD AGAINST THE HARD BRAKING. I HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND THE TURN OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL BY PRESSING THE BUTTON ON THE END OF THE CRUISE CONTROL STICK. IMMEDIATELY, THE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION STOPPED AND THE BRAKING WAS EFFECTIVE TO STOP THE CAR. I HAVE NEVER AGAIN EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM OF CRUISE CONTROL NOT DISENGAGING UPON BRAKING. I SUSPECTED THAT THE SEQUENCE OF BRAKING BEGINNING ALMOST SIMULTANEOUSLY TO THE GEARS SHIFTING MAY HAVE CAUSED THE CONFUSION IN THE CRUISE CONTROL. THAT COULD MAKE THE ISSUE A SOFTWARE PROBLEM IN CRUISE CONTROL AS OPPOSED TO A MECHANICAL BRAKING PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10576471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS LEAVING A PARKING LOT ON AN INCLINE WHEN THE CAR ACCELERATED WITHOUT STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL. I APPLIED SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE TO THE BRAKES AND IMMEDIATELY PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL. THE CAR RETURNED TO NORMAL OPERATION. THIS IS THE THIRD INCIDENT OF THIS TYPE.
NHTSA complaint #10573640 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THE CAR INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO BE DRAGGED OVER A CLIFF. THE CONTACT STATED SHE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT HER EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPLACED AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED. A YEAR LATER THE CONTACT FOUND OUT THE CAR WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR WHICH SHE IS EXPECTING TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 11/20/14*LJ UPDATED 4/30/2015
NHTSA complaint #10562880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AS I WAS LEAVING THE HIGHWAY VIA THE EXIT, I STOPPED AT THE END OF RAMP LEADING TO SECONDARY HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE THEN UNEXPECTEDLY ACCELERATED WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. THE BRAKES SEEMED TO BARELY KEEP IT FROM PROPELLING. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THE RPMS RETURNED TO NORMAL.
NHTSA complaint #10561966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS EXITING ON A RAMP FROM THE HIGHWAY. I STOPPED THE CAR BEFORE COMING OFF THE RAMP ON AN INCLINE WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED UP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I IMMEDIATELY PUT THE SHIFTER IN NEUTRAL AND IT RETURNED TO NORMAL RPMS. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED IN THREE WEEKS.
NHTSA complaint #10561262 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.