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For a good laugh, here is the response I just got from Toyota Canada regarding the my transmission:
"Toyota Canada Inc. is not aware of any common concerns with the transmission on the Toyota Matrix. However, we suggest discussing this directly with the Service Manager at your Toyota dealership. They would be in the best position to advise you in this regard."
Poor dealers having to lie on behalf of Toyota Inc not taking responsibility.
Lets all chant together "Buy a Honda, Buy A Honda, Buy a Honda, Buy a Honda"
When I get my car fixed, I am going to put a info sheet on both windows as well as stick notes on other Matrix Cars, telling the world what Toyota is doing. Bye Bye Reputation!
We should all do that!
I am trying to search for an email address or phone number. If anyone can assist, then post what they find on this blog, it would be appreciated.
Also another problem.....
Since Toyota will not admit there is a problem, then there is no sure fix. If you purchase a replacement part for your transmission from Toyota, it will blow again. If you purchase a used transmission from the wrecker (if you can find one, because I just called everyone in Greater Vancouver and they are all gone as its a hot item), it will blow again as this is a manufacturing problem.
Luckily my brother-in-law who is a Honda mechanic is getting a new custom main bearing made for me and doing the work for free. I'll just pay for the parts. So I am luckily. But Toyota is wrong and I will not purchase from them again.
Until Toyota admits there is a problem, there is no fix. So to those that have fixed their transmissions already, you also need to keep up the pressure as your transmission will blow again - sorry.
Keep in mind that this is the same Toyota that for years did not admit to the sludge problem in their 4 bangers. The dealers were trained to say that it was normal just as the dealers are trained to say that our 5 speeds wear out and that they have never seen the premature failure before!
It sucks but it is fixed in the 2005 on. Lesson learned that first gen cars always have more potential for problems until they work out the bugs. Usually in the second or third year of a bran new car.
2T1KR32E33C713851
2003 Matrix Base indigo blue purchased May 2002.
Only became available Feb'02 so mine was in one of the earliest batches of cars.
My 1986 Corolla was way better than this piece of crap and had 230,000km on it when I sold it. Hence the reason I bought another Toyota! I like my Honda Fit, but it's kind of small and I don't appreciate a new car payment again after just paying off the last lemon.
I did email W5, but the more people who do the better. I tried w-five@ctv.ca
I'd still love to get my $2000 back from the repair job. Sold it 2mths after I fixed it so I could get a reasonable amount of cash for a down payment for a new one rather than waiting for re-failure.
Thanks for your help.
Here is what I have now done.
1. Wrote a letter to W5
2. Wrote a letter to the Ministry of Transportation who is responsible for Vehicle recalls.
3. Wrote a letter to Toyota Canada
4. Went to my local dealer whom I bought the car from and complained to the service manager (whom, without outright admitting there is a problem, said there is one and that the new bearing will not explode).
5. Sent a link for the blog to Toyota Canada and my dealer.
I think your idea of complaining directly to Japan would be awesome. Also, I have been trying to get a lawyer who would be willing to take this to a class action level. I will keep trying.
I dont want to post my details on a blog, so please email me at chickadees98@yahoo.com and I will follow up.
Thanks
toronto provincial courthouse
347 sheppard avenue east
toronto ontario canada
10.00am july 11, 2008
third floor
i am not sure of the room number its probably 304 but if i am wrong try room 301
might help your cause
Thanks.
I haven't posted in a long time
mine went out a few years back and my original post is #17!! of this ever growing thread.
Anyway, the court case cought my attention and i think we should find out more about it.
from some googling, there is a courthouse at 47 sheppard ave east in toronto .... phone number for their small claims is 416-326-3554
Tell me more about the Court Case. I am in Vancouver, BC, so I cant make it.
Update on my car. Its fixed!!! Yes!! And its running just like new.
Thankfully my brother in law is a mechanic and did all the labour for Free! I bought him a gift card, beer, pool game etc, etc.
It was the main bearing just like everyone else. And we determinded that the fith gear is not broken by the bearing, but by when toyota pulls the gear off to get at the bearing. Interesting. The bearing only costs $50!!! Its all labour, so dont believe the dealer when they say its $600 parts - they are lying. Call up your local dealer and ask what the price of the main bearing is and they will say $50!!!!
By the way, someone at toyota did say that the new bearing will not blow like the last one. Unfortunately, we will not get him on record, but the good news is once it is fixed, your done.
I am also looking out for other matrix owners and when I see them I tell them about this site.
Way to go on the court case keep it up.
The transmission code on the 5sp is C59. Check inside of the drivers
door where it tells the date your car was made. C59 refers to the transmission
used in the car. And by the way it is the same transmission code used from
2002 to the brand new 2009. So they have not redisgned this transmission.
The expert witness said that it will keep failing. I have replaced this trans 7 times.
I have approx 535000kms on the car. I have no complaints with the rest of the
car. Just the transmission.
Basically this is a slam dunk case. Toyota on the other hand is trying anything
to get off. That is obvious. Good luck to them. But we will keep pursuing till
the end.
be best. It is at the toronto small claims court July 11 10 am 47 sheppard
ave. east toronto 3rd floor . Any media would be good. The people
need to know what is going on.
I have a general question:
Is this still a problem on the 2009 XRS with a 5 speed auto as I was just about to purchase this car but now I am verrrrry worried.
any info would be helpful
is it only the 5 speed manual that is having this problem?
what do you mean by "not be able to handle their own power"? is the car rolling or becoming unstable?
As such, you should have no particular cause for concern. If you research 4-cylinder Camrys, you will find nothing out of the ordinary with regard to problems with engine or transmissions.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
If so, that is good to know as I am looking at the 2.4 liter engine.
Prior I had a 79 Celica and an 82 Supra. Both were awesome and built to foster brand loyalty. However, since that 92 Camary, I won't buy another Toyota. They never admitted to their errors and their egos have gotten bigger ever since. Toyota is living on a past reputation and we all know that catches up with them soon. Toyota or Lexus, they don't have transmissions which they would warranty for 200,000 miles, which they claim is low mileage for their product. Neither will after market warranty companies take that risk.
You see lots of high milage 92-96 (or whatever year models had the similar trunk lid lighting system) still on the road in Illinois and Pennsylvania where we live now.
W5 / the star / marketplace
47 Sheppard ave east
toronto, ontario
Floor 3
I had an 88 midyear (they called it an 88 1/2) made-in-Japan V6 Camry. I got that one in the Spring of 1988. It had 165 HP, the 4-wheel disk brakes were not very good, long stopping distances. That was the first V6 Camry and it was front wheel drive.
I sold the 88 in November 1993 when I took delivery of one of the first US-made V6 Camrys. The braking in my 94 Camry with the optional ABS is/was better than most comparable cars at that time. The 94 had more horsepower than my 84 Supra.
I appreciate the comments, but we are going on a BIG TAGENT. I dont want to see this blog go off its rails as I have just replaced my matrix transmission and I want some positive results.
So please please, just post problems with your Matrix Transmission on this blog.
Sorry that I cant make it to the court house on the 11th as I am in Vancouver. I was a media person for a Ski Resort here. I can write a press release, but it will need a contact person in Toronto. Please email me directly at chipmore@telus.net to discuss further. Yes, I still have my media list. Its a couple of years old, but it should do.
Great work. Keep it up.
By the way, the new improved bearing just did a 5 hour Mountain Highway freeway drive from Vancouver to Kamloops. It did so well I got a ticket doing 144 km/h. Man, that sucked. No more speeding for me. Anyways, new improved bearing works!
TRANSMISSION FAILURES DUE TO FAILURE OF THE BEARING INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
TRY EMAILING THE STAR EDITOR FOR AUTOMOBILES
OR W5 PRODUCER!!!!!!!! THIS IS STORY THAT NEEDS TO BE
HEARD FOR ALL THE SMALL GUYS IN THIS WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is kind of true. But they did not explain why! Here it is!!!
What the experts have told me is that there are two bearings
on the lower shaft of the transmission. Both bearings will fail.
But the one on the outside towards the drivers wheel seems to
be more prone to failure. Why you ask! Well it can not handle the load
when you accelerate/downshift etc. It only has 7ball bearings in it.
the expert told me it should really have 9 ball bearing inside the bearing.
Then it probably will not fail.
And secondly that bearing is in a different compartment they
told me and that lubrication is minimal to this bearing causing
it to pit etc.Because there is plate between that bearing and the rest of the transmission. He told me there is no upgrade bearing out there.
Have to use the original equipment only.
That is why it keeps failing.
Only way to fix this transmission is a redisgn!!!! That would cost
millions since you may have to recast alot things , redesign the end
part of the transmission where the fifth gear sits with this bearing.
I learnt of this recently from the experts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Camry
I had the 82 Supra and there isn't any Camry, now or then, which could even compare in performance. It came with Ricaro seats, pop up head lights, Crager designed mag wheels, and a nine band graphic equalizer. It had 4 wheel disc brakes and the parking brake housed inside the rear disc rotor. It made the 82 VETT look sick and handled much better. The motor was a double over head cam V6 which looked like a V12. Over 70% of Porche's business is consultation and in 79 the Tagra band, large pistons, and large crank on the Celica reeked of German engineering.
I know this is way off topic. However, I have a 2002 Z28 which is fast over, 300 horse power. The way they measured HP then as to today is different. They use it as a steroid to sell cars today and prior they tried to hush it down so the car would be insurable.
There are a lot of people posting on this blog out $2500 or more each for a failed main bearing in a Matrix transmission. We are using this blog as a means to organize and do something about it. Please start your own blog and enjoy the rest of your conversation.
PLEASE START YOUR OWN BLOG AS THE REST OF US ARE TRYING TO GET OUR MONEY BACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!- !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The reason that it was so cheap was because they fixed your WHEEL bearing, not the main bearing INSIDE the TRANMISSION. Book time to remove the transmission is 6 hour, plus another book time of 6 hours to put it back on, plus a book time of 18 hours to rebuild.
Lots of bearings on car, fortunately, your problem was the wheel hub not your transmission.
First, I never buy brand new cars. I aim for used ones ~3 years old. That would have opened more options. VW's would be out because they're not reliable. I'd have to look at the details from back then, but a '99-'02 Accord or Camry wagon would have been my starting point. I would have bought an Accord or Camry wagon last year if they still made them. The Matrix is a little smaller than my ideal. I maybe would have got a CRV or RAV4 if they weren't so thirsty and had the stupid tire on the back. And the new CRV? No stick shift? Bo-oh-gus!
Anyway, my '06 Matrix had 8200 miles on it when I got it; newer and smaller than my new-old car target, but I still managed to pay for it with cash.
Please read and EVERYONE call the number!!
By the way a seized transmission at high speed will cause a car to loss control.....
Thank you for your correspondence of June 12, 2008, to the Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, Infrastructure and Communities, regarding transmission problems with your Toyota Matrix. The Minister has asked me to reply on his behalf.
At the outset, please be assured that Transport Canada’s top priorities are safety and security. As such, the department establishes motor vehicle safety standards and enforces the Motor Vehicle Safety Act (MVSA). Section 10 of the MVSA requires a manufacturer or importer, upon discovering a defect in the design, construction or functioning of a vehicle or equipment that may affect the safety of any person, to notify the Minister of Transport and all affected vehicle or equipment owners.
The “Vehicle Defects and Recalls” section of Transport Canada’s website offers more information about the process by which potential defects are assessed by the Defects Investigation and Recalls Division.
With respect to your complaint, you may telephone a Defect Investigator at 1-800-333-0510 on weekdays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The investigator will require the 17-digit Vehicle Identification Number of your Toyota Matrix. You may also file a complaint online via the Public Complaint Form .
I should mention that Transport Canada only has jurisdiction over safety issues. This being the case, matters involving financial disputes regarding dealer or manufacturer warranties are not covered by the MVSA and therefore cannot be addressed by the department.
I trust that the foregoing will be of assistance. Again, thank you for writing.
Yours truly,
Andrew Walasek
Senior Special Assistant