55 of the 1,422 complaints filed about the Toyota Matrix are about the steering — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2009.
55
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
15
Crashes
0
Fires
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"ELECTRIC POWER STEERING" WHILE DRIVING THE STEERING DOES NOT CENTER CAUSING YOU TO HAVE TO RECORRECT CONSTANTLY. IT SEEMS LIKE A SAFTEY ISSUE BUT TOYOTA SWINDLED THEIR WAY OUT OF A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11219187 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I STARTED MY CAR, AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ON. I TRIED TO TUN THE WHEEL, AND NOTED THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I GOT THE CAR HOME, AND CALLED FOR SERVICE AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. THEY WOULDN'T GIVE ME AN APPOINTMENT". RESEARCHED THE WEB, AND NOTED THIS ISSUE WAS A WIDE SPREAD COMPLAINT. I CHECKED THE FUSES (NOTED THEM OKAY), THE STEERING RESUMED.... HOWEVER, THIS IS A REAL CONCERN, BEING THAT THE STEERING APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE FOR THESE CARS. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THIS REPAIRED?
NHTSA complaint #10916186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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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.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT PROGRESSED INTERMITTENTLY FOR THREE YEARS. IN ADDITION, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FLICKERED, VARIOUS INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL LIGHTS RANDOMLY ILLUMINATED, AND THE POWER STEERING FAILED, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO BE EXTREMELY TIGHT. THE CONTACT ALSO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED MULTIPLE TIMES WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRST DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY WOULD NOT HOLD A CHARGE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BATTERY AND THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE FIRST DEALER WHO THEN FLUSHED THE ENGINE ASSEMBLY, REPLACED THE DRIVE BELT, AND INSPECTED THE ECU FOR AN INTERNAL FAILURE. THE FIRST DEALER REPLACED THE ECU AND RESTRUCTURED THE MAIN CONTROL PLUG ON THE BODY CONTROL MODULE, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RANDOMLY STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SECOND DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE JUNCTION CONTROL FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,318.
NHTSA complaint #10821292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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CLOCK, HVAC SWITCHES BLINK ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE MOVEMENT. POWER LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY INCLUDING WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT IN GEAR. IT ALMOST SEEMS LIKE A ELECTRICAL SHORT BUT IT COMES AND GOES. THIS PROBLEM RESEMBLES THE MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MAKE AND MODEL. THERE IS ALSO A VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHICH ALSO RESEMBLES A MULTITUDE OF COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS MAKE AND MODEL. I AM SURPRISED AFTER READING THE NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL COMPLAINTS THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT OFFERED A REMEDY OR RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10810830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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MY DAUGHTER SAID THE STEERING TOTALLY LOCKED WHILE BEING DRIVEN. HER & HER BOYFRIEND COULD NOT GET THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN AT ALL. THEY WERE NOT SPEEDING BECAUSE IT WAS ON WET ROADS. THEY BOTH SUFFERED MILD CONCUSSIONS & MY DAUGHTER HAS A SEVERE NECK SPRAIN. AFTER SEEING THE CAR, IT WENT OFF THE ROAD & ROLLED 2 OR 3 TIMES IT'S TOTALED, I'M SURPRISED THEY'RE NOT IN ICU! I DID SOME RESEARCH & ALMOST 1000 MATRIX'S HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN!! I DON'T KNOW WHY THERE ISN'T A RECALL. IT SEEMS TOYOTA ISN'T ALL THAT SAFE & DOESN'T CARE ABOUT IT'S CUSTOMERS AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #10765034 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FRACTURED CABLE IN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 207,000.
NHTSA complaint #10759749 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PULL OVER AND DISCOVERED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN AFTER THE ENGINE AND POWER STEERING FLUID WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS POWERED OFF AND BACK ON, THE WARNING INDICATORS WERE NO LONGER ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS THEN TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V384000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 114,000.
NHTSA complaint #10735530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
NHTSA complaint #10731222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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MY CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER I HAD STOPPED TO GET A HAIR CUT. I CLEANED THE BATTERY TERMINALS AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO START. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. I MANAGED TO DRIVE IT A HALF BLOCK TO A NAPA DEALER SO I COULD REPLACE THE BATTERY AND I WAS GOING TO BUY SOME POWER STEERING FLUID. I WAS SURPRISED I COULD NOT EVEN FIND THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. AFTER I REPLACED THE BATTERY THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. REALLY SCARY NOW AFTER I RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT THAN MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE STEERING GO OUT WHEN THEY WERE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. NOT SURE WHY THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10722582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
NHTSA complaint #10670899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, DROVE OVER A ROAD RETAINER, AND LANDED IN A DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10658671 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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WHILE DRIVING THE CAR STALLS. MAINLY THE ISSUE APPEARS TO HAPPEN WHEN TURNING. SUDDENLY, AND ONLY OCCASIONALLY, THE CAR DIES WHILE TURNING. ALL LIGHTS ARE LOST AND POWER STEERING GIVES OUT. SINCE THE LIGHTS ON THE CAR AND THE POWER STEERING GIVE OUT, IT IS A SCARY ISSUE. WE HAVE TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL (SINCE WE'RE DRIVING) AND RESTART THE ENGINE. BACK IN 2010 WE BROUGHT OUR CAR IN FOR THE 2010 RECALL WHERE THEY REPLACED THE PART, ALTHOUGH WE NEVER HAD A STALLING ISSUE THEN. OUR CAR IS STILL AT THE DEALERSHIP BEING LOOKED AT BUT WE WERE TOLD BY TOYOTA CORPORATE THAT THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE RELATED TO THE 2010 STALLING RECALL, SO IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED EVEN IF THE SAME PART THAT WAS REPLACED DURING THE RECALL IS THE ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. ADDITIONALLY, THE DEALERSHIP IS HAVING TROUBLE IDENTIFYING THE CAUSE OF THE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10652973 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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CAR WAS PARKED. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING HAD CEASED TO FUNCTION AND WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT FOR THE POWER STEERING, ABS AND BRAKES. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE POWER STEERING UNIT FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR ISSUES RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING LOCKING UP. LUCKILY I WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10556647 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AND WARNING LIGHT (ON THE DASHBOARD) WAS ON. STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED ON THE PARKING LOT, AND NOT ON MY WAY BACK HOME (TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY) WHICH FOR SURE WOULD RESULTED IN CAR ACCIDENT WITH SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. I HAVE CONTACT TOYOTA HOWEVER AT THIS POINT THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED IN THIS MATTER AS SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL NOT COVER ANY EXPENSES FOR SUCH REPAIR (POWER STEERING ELECTRICAL UNIT/ RELAY WAS REPLACED_PARTS~ 900$ AND LABOR ~500$).
NHTSA complaint #10552619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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WARNING LIGHT FOR ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING CAME ON, AND I LOST POWER STEERING. DEALER SAYS CAR TOO HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE AND I NEED A NEW ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR WITH COST OF INSTALLATION IN EXCESS OF $800 - NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, OUTRAGEOUS ON A FOUR YEAR OLD,WELL-MAINTAINED VEHICLE. NOW WAITING FOR PARTS.
NHTSA complaint #10513524 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I WAS HEADED TO WORK LIKE I USUALLY WOULD M-F THEN OUT OF NO WHERE THE STEERING WHEEL HAD LOCKED. THIS CAUSED THE CAR TO LOOSE CONTROL. THE CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN WAS SPINNING AROUND AND EVENTUALLY IT FLIPPED LANDING ON ITS SIDE. TO TOP IT OFF NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED! I WAS PULLED OUT OF THE CAR MY WHOLE BODY ACHING, ESPECIALLY MY ARMS. THIS WAS BECAUSE I WAS HOLDING ON FOR DEAR LIFE PRAYING THAT I WILL COME OUT OF IT ALIVE. LUCKILY, NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR BUT MYSELF, BUT I KNOW I DO NOT NEED THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME TWICE SO I WILL NO LONGER WILL PURCHASE A TOYOTA.
NHTSA complaint #10505402 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I WENT TO CHANGE LANES TO THE LEFT, AND BEFORE I COULD SPOTTED A CAR THAT HAD BEEN IN MY BLIND SPOT. I VEERED BACK TO THE RIGHT TO STAY IN MY LANE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING IN THE STEERING WHEEL CLICKED AND THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED BACK TO THE LEFT, THE BACK TO THE RIGHT, AND LEFT AGAIN, SWERVING OUT OF MY CONTROL. I TRIED TO COLD ON TO THE WHEEL AND STEADY IT STRAIGHT BUT IT JERKED LEFT HARDER AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, FLYING STRAIGHT INTO THE HIGHWAY BARRIER. THE CAR CRASHED INTO THE BARRIER ON THE FRONT BUMPER, BOUNCED OFF SLIGHTLY AND I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR THE REST OF THE WAY OFF THE ROAD. UP UNTIL I CRASHED INTO THE BARRIER I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AT ALL.
NHTSA complaint #10504091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO DRIFT OFF TO THE RIGHT. THE CONTACT TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN UP THE STEERING WHEEL BUT IT LOCKED UP AND CAUSED HER TO CRASH INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND THE DRIVER AND THE DRIVER SIDE REAR PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DECLARED THE VEHICLE DESTROYED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS GOING TO SEND AN AGENT TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT WOULD SEND AN INVESTIGATOR TO THE DEALER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10481545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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2009 MATRIX XRS CERTIFIED VEHICLE PURCHASED WITH 33,000 MILES AROUND 2010, CURRENTLY 48,000 MILES AND HAS 5 YR, 100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WANDERS INTO THE LEFT OR RIGHT LANES AND DRIVER MUST FIGHT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE LOCAL CHANTILLY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DENIES THE ISSUE AND ANY TSB. THE STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AND WARRANTS FURTHER REVIEW BY NTSB IF TOYOTA CONTINUES TO STONEWALL ITS CUSTOMERS REGARDING SAFETY ISSUES. I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH TOYOTA NATIONAL.
NHTSA complaint #10457450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.