39 of the 1,422 complaints filed about the Toyota Matrix are about the suspension — 3% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2006.
39
Complaints
3%
Share of all complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
SUSPENSION
2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO RUSTED RIGHT SIDE REAR STRUT. *LD
NHTSA complaint #11301994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN UNKNOWN SOUND EMITTED FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #10682354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT TIRES WERE PREMATURELY WEARING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THE TIRES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 500.
NHTSA complaint #10503791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE ALIGNMENT ISSUES WITH THIS MODEL. CONSTANT INNER TIRE WEAR ISSUES. ALIGNED TO SPEC. EVERY YEAR. SHIM ADDED TO REAR TO CORRECT FACTORY MISALIGNMENT. TIRES BADLY CHOPPED AFTER JUST 15K MILES.
NHTSA complaint #10487736 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
JAN. 2007 ANCHORAGE, AK DRIVING 50MPH ON A HIGHWAY, AS THE ROAD BENDED TO THE RIGHT, WE WENT INTO THE TURN AND BEGAN TO SLIDE SIDEWAYS. IT WAS 30 DEGREES F, SO WE MUST HAVE HIT BLACK ICE. I TRIED TO CORRECT AND SENT THE CAR FISH TAILING TO THE OTHER SIDE. WE WHIPPED BACK AND FORTH A FEW TIMES, BEFORE THE CAR STARTED TO SPIN. WE DID TWO FULL CIRCLES BEFORE WE GENTLY HIT A BURM OF SNOW AND CAME TO A STOP. NO OTHER CARS WERE ONCOMING SO WE DID NOT HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. I WENT AND BOUGHT STUDDED TIRED THE NEXT DAY. DEC. 2009 JUNEAU, AK I WAS A PASSENGER. SAME MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. DRIVING 40 MPH ON STRAIGHT ROAD, SLUSHY SNOW CONDITIONS. THE CAR STARTED TO FISH TAIL AND SPUN 1.5 TIMES BEFORE IT STOPPED. NO SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE OR INJURIES. NO STUDDED TIRES. (ALL-WEATHER TIRES) FEB. 2012 JUNEAU, AK I WAS A PASSENGER IN THE SAME CAR AS ABOVE. DRIVING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY, GOING STRAIGHT. WE MUST HAVE HIT BLACK ICE AND THE CAR STARTED TO FISH TAIL. WE SPUN TWO TIMES AND THE CAR DID NOT SLOW DOWN LIKE IN PREVIOUS INCIDENTS AND WE HIT A GUARDRAIL GOING FULL SPEED (HIT IT BACKWARDS). I GOT WHIPLASH, FACE LACERATIONS, BROKEN NOSE, AND A MILD TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. WE WERE ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY FROM THE CRASH AND TAKE ME TO THE HOSPITAL. DRIVER WAS UNHARMED. (ALL-WEATHER TIRES).
NHTSA complaint #10467114 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
2006 TOYOTA MATRIX XR. TIRES WHERE PREMATURALLY. 66,000 MILES ON CAR AND THIRD SET OF TIRES ARE CUPPING AND STARTING TO CAUSE HANDLING PROBLEM. EACH SET OF TIRES (2 DIFFERENT BRANDS) HAS LASTED ABOUT 16,000-20,000 MILES. HAD REGULAR ALIGNMENTS AND TIRE ROTATION. WENT AS FAR AS REPLACING SHOCKS AND STRUTS ALL THE WAY AROUND (VERY EXPENSIVE). NOTHING SEEMS TO HELP.
NHTSA complaint #10414653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE ALIGNMENT WAS UNEVEN, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRES THREE TIMES. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 54,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 8,000. UPDATED 04/12/11*LJ UPDATED 04/13/11
NHTSA complaint #10373500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
GETTING READY TO EXIT A SIDE STREET AND CAR WOULDN'T GO. I HEARD A THUMP, CRACKING NOISE AND THEY IT FELT AS IF THE WHEEL WELL HAD SOMETHING STUCK INSIDE. TURNED OUT THAT THE BALL JOINT WAS THE CULPRIT.
NHTSA complaint #10361096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
LETTER FROM SENATOR ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT. RE DIFFICULTIES WITH HER 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES WERE DEFECTIVE DUE TO THE ROTOR GETTING CAUGHT IN THE BRAKE PAD. THE PROBLEM CONTINUED AFTER THE SECOND BRAKE REPAIR. THE BRAKES MADE AN AUDIBLE SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSED. THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND THE GEARS WERE ENGAGED. THE ABS DID NOT WORK ON AN IRREGULAR SURFACE. A DEFECTIVE REAR AXLE CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TIRES. THE LIGHTS WOULD GO OUT BY THEMSELVES WHEN IT WAS DARK.
NHTSA complaint #10326334 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
1) I TOOK MY 05 TOYOTA MATRIX INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A 60,000 MILE CHECK UP. I HAD PURCHASED THE 100,000 MILE WARRANTY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT. I WAS BILLED $700.00, AND TOOK THE VEHICLE HOME. 2) I TOOK THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTAT TO WORK AND NOTICED A VERY BAD 'SHIMMY', AND THE VEHICLE DRIFTED TO THE LEFT. A DEFINITE ALIGNMENT PROBLEM. I WAS VERY UPSET AT SPENDING $700, TO HAVE THE VEHICLE RETURNED IS WORSE CONDITION THAN WHEN I TOOK IT IN. FOR THE CHECK UP. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY TOLD ME THEY "ADJUSTED" THE ALIGNMENT, AND RETURNED THE CAR TO ME. I TOOK THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE AND FOUND I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK THE NEXT DAY TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DELERSHIP TOLD ME THAT 'CENTERING RINGS' WERE NOT PUT ON THE RIMS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE. I HAD CENTERING RINGS PUT ON THE VEHICLE, AND TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE PROBLEMS TO BE FIXED. THEY RETURNED THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSATE AND FOUND I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. I RETURNED THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY. I INFORMED THE DEALERSHIP THAT I WENT ON-LINE AND FOUND OTHERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT A 'SHIM KIT'COULD HELP. THE DELALERSHIP TOLD ME I HAD THE 'WRONG' TIRES ON THE VEHICLE, ALTHOUGH THEY WERE VIRTUALLY NEW. THEY SAID I NEEDED "DIRECTIONAL" TIRES. I PURCHASED AND INSTALLED NEW DIRECTIONAL TIRES. I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP INSTALLED A SHIM KIT, WHICH HELPED BUT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEMS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY DID ALL THEY COULD DO. THEY DID NOT LIST THE SHIM KIT ON THEIR REPAIR PAPERWORK FOR THE VEHICLE. I HAD NO PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE BEFORE TAKING IT IN FOR THE CHECKUP. THIS IS EVIDENTLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, WHICH A 'QUICK FIX' WAS DONE AT THE TIMEOF MANUFACTURE. IT DID NOT ELIMINATE THE PROBLEM. IT ONLY "HID" THE PROBLEM. MY VEHICLE STILL HAS A SHIMMY AND ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10308378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
REQUEST TO THE GOVERNMENT: PLEASE LOOK INTO SUSPENSION PROBLEMS IN THE 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX AND SIMILAR TOYOTAS THAT CAUSE IRREGULAR AND PREMATURE TIRE WEAR, INCLUDING "CUPPING" WHICH COULD LEAD TO UNEXPECTED TIRE FAILURE AND WHICH CAUSE OWNERS TO BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE TIRES PREMATURELY. I EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM, FIRST NOTICED BY LOUD, UNEXPECTED TIRE NOISE. I HAD TO REPLACE 4 TIRES AT 30,000 MILES, FAR EARLIER THAN EVER IN MY 50 YEARS OF DRIVING EXPERIENCE. A DEALER UNOFFICIALLY ADMITTED THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MATRIX SUSPENSION. THE INTERNET HAS MANY ANGRY OWNERS DESCRIBING THE PROBLEM (UNDER T. MATRIX TIRE PROBLEMS, AND SIMILAR). TOYOTA NEVER ADMITTED THE PROBLEM WAS FAULTY DESIGN, BUT IN LIGHT OF RECENT EVENTS, THIS CLEAR FAULT SHOULD ALSO BE INVESTIGATED. THIS IS A DEFECT THAT MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO DANGEROUS EVENTS AT WORST AND EXTRA EXPENSE COMMONLY. THANKS
NHTSA complaint #10307918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
05MY TOYOTA MATRIX - IRREGULAR WEAR OF TIRES POSSIBLY DUE TO FRONT SHOCKS. BRAND NEW TIRES DON'T LAST MORE THAN A FEW YEARS ON THESE VEHICLES. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET YET TOYOTA HAS NOT ISSUED A TSB FOR THIS ISSUE. IT'S NOT THAT THE TIRES HAVE LOTS OF TREAD WEAR, BUT THEY WEAR UNUSUALLY AND LEAD TO VIBRATION - EVEN AFTER THEY ARE MAINTAINED AND BALANCED. ADDITIONALLY, I RECENTLY REPLACED MY 4 TIRES THAT HAD UNUSUAL AND IRREGULAR WEAR. WITH THIS WEAR, THE VEHICLE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE 50MPH. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS COMPLAINT FOR A POSSIBLE SAFETY RECALL. FRONT SHOCKS SHOULD BE COVERED UP TO 80K SINCE MOST OF THE 05'S ARE ALMOST OUT OF WARRANTY. AGAIN TREAD WEAR IS STILL GOOD, BUT IT'S THE WAY THAT THE TIRES WEAR THAT IS THE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10307071 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
PURCHASED CERTIFIED PRE OWNED - (LEASED) 2006 MATRIX 27940 MILES 7/26/08 - ON 11/12/08 32955 MILES AFTER OIL CHANGE DEALER WROTE : "TIRES ARE WEARING FUNNY - ALIGNED AT N/C DID NOT ROTATE RHT REAR CUPPING - 3/25/09 OIL CHANGE 38632 - DEALER WROTE - ROTATE TIRES IF NEEDED - LAST TIME IN HAD TIRE WEAR ISSUE NEEDS TIRES HAS 1 GOOD TIRE ON CAR ON LF. APPARENTLY THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA - HAVEN'T CONTACTED DEALER YET BUT WILL AFTER READING COMPLAINTS. I DON'T KNOW IF THE AFTER MARKET SHIM FIX WILL VOID MY EXTENDED WARRANTY OR NOT......
NHTSA complaint #10263348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:REAR
NEW 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX CHEWED UP THE FACTORY (CONTINENTAL CONTI-TOURING) TIRES IN SHORT ORDER (CAUSED "CUPPING"). DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO - IT WAS MY PROBLEM AND NOT A PROBLEM WITH MATRIX AND WE'D HAVE TO BUY NEW TIRES. COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES AFTER THAT BUT WAS BLOWN OFF EACH TIME. MY RESEARCH NOW SHOWS THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL, THAT TOYOTA EVEN HAS A SHIM AND ADJUSTMENT KIT AVAILABLE BUT CONTINUES TO DENY IT TO CUSTOMERS AND REFUSES TO ISSUE A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10259784 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AT 60,000 MILES, THE WHEEL BEARINGS AND REAR AXLE FAILED. THIS INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH. THE DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT NO RECALLS WERE AVAILABLE; THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE IS 123,000. UPDATED 3/16/09 *CN UPDATED 03/18/09.
NHTSA complaint #10259200 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
2006 TOYOTA MATRIX. TIRES WEAR OUT EVERY 16,000 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS IN THE REAR AXLE. TOYOTA HAS CONSISTENTLY TOLD ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM. TODAY I AM ON A DISCUSSION BOARD AND FIND IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THE MATRIX/VIBE. THE SOLUTION IS AN AFTERMARKET REAR WHEEL SHIM KIT COSTING $50 PLUS LABOR. WHY IS TOYOTA ALLOWED TO CONTINUE DENYING THE PROBLEM EXISTS AND NOT RECALL AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10253163 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
MY WIFE AND I OWN 2 TOYOTA MATRIX'S. A 2005 AND A 2006. BOTH ARE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE. FOR SOME REASON THE CAR WEARS THROUGH TIRES VERY FAST. WE CAN ONLY GET 25,000 MILES MAX OUT OF A 60,000 MILE TIRE. WE MAKE IT A POINT TO ROTATE EVERY 5,000 MILES AND KEEP PRESSURE AT 35PSI AS RECOMMENDED, BUT THE CAR JUST WEARS TIRES SO QUICKLY FOR SOME REASON.
NHTSA complaint #10252867 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
2008 TOYOTA MATRIX XR....CAR DRIFTS SEVERELY TO THE LEFT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS...ESPECIALLY WHEN IN THE LEFT LANE. I REALIZE THERE IS A CROWN TO EVERY ROAD, BUT OUR OTHER VEHICLES DO NOT DO THIS ON THE SAME STRETCH OF HIGHWAY IN ANY LANES. TO GIVE AN INDICATION OF THE SEVERITY, AT 65+MPH, THE CAR WOULD BE IN THE MEDIAN WITHIN 2-3 SECONDS WITHOUT THE CONSTANT RIGHTWARD PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL. I DID NOT NOTICE THE DRIFT ON THE TEST DRIVE AT THE DEALER. FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH, THE NEW ROADWAY NEAR THE DEALER IS NEARLY PERFECTLY FLAT. ALSO, THE CAR DOES NOT SEEM TO DRIFT AS MUCH WITH TWO ADULTS IN THE CAR AS WAS THE CASE DURING THE TEST DRIVE. I NOTICED IT IMMEDIATELY UPON DRIVING THE CAR A LONGER DISTANCE ON OTHER MAJOR HIGHWAYS WITH ONLY MYSELF IN THE CAR. I NOTIFIED THE SALESMAN RIGHT AWAY. I HAVE NOT YET HAD AN ACCIDENT, BUT MUST MAINTAIN CONSTANT RIGHTWARD PRESSURE ON THE STEERING WHEEL...ESPECIALLY ANY TIME I VENTURE INTO THE LEFT LANE. IT DOESN'T TAKE MUCH OF A DISTRACTION TO IMAGINE A SCENARIO WHERE THE CAR DRIFTS INTO THE ONCOMING LANE, OR WORSE, AN ONCOMING CAR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO DEALER THREE TIMES WITH NO SUCCESS. NOW I AM GETTING THE RUN-AROUND (DEALER FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE CAR IS TRYING TO PUSH ME OFF ON ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER WHO DID THE FIRST "WARRANTY" ALIGNMENT WHICH DID NOT RESOLVE THE ISSUE.
NHTSA complaint #10246310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
PREMATURE EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR ON REAR OF 2007 TOYOTA MATRIX AT 40,000 MILES. ADVISED BY LOCAL NTB TIRE STORE THAT REAR TIRE/WHEEL ALIGNMENT IS OUT OF SPECS WHILE FRONT ALIGNMENT WAS PERFECT.
NHTSA complaint #10244489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
I HAVE TO REPLACE TIRES DUE TO THEM WEARING ON THE OUTSIDE THAT THE TIRE COMPANIES SAY IS NOT A CONSEQUENCE OF THE TIRES BUT RATHER MY CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10244440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.