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Comments
-Bryan Shepler
The dealer has looked at it numerous times and nothing is found. Has anyone had a similar experience and learned the source of this problem?
Thanks,
Todd
Please email if anything has happened out there with a class action suit. I'll file a complaint from that ODI link as well as car talk. Please get in touch - mshaw20 at gmail dot com.
I wouldn't drive it, even though it "seems" to run fine. To many stories of it just crashing, or locking up on the freeway all of a sudden, which sounds like a safety issue to me, but Toyota/Pontiac don't think so.
I just read your comments and wanted to give you some info on my situation. I have a 08 matrix 5 speed, which is not fun to drive. My 3rd gear and reverse seems to stick sometimes, and a few months ago (around 20,000 mi) wy car started to make a single loud popping noise when I left my neighbor hood. It seem to happen more often when I just start the car, but has also happened in mid driving when I go over a bumb or turn but that is very rare. My father-in-law owns a toyota dealership (the reason I bought the car). I gave it to him to look at and they even had the regional toyota specialist look at it and they could not find out what it was. I told them to check the transmission, brakes, and motor mounts. The claimed that they did and found nothing, but it seems that if there was nothing wrong it would not make a loud [non-permissible content removed] noise. I have considered trading back in for a different car since they have no idea what it is.
Let me know if you ever figure it out.
Jordan
Much gratitude,
Toyotafiasco
margot114@gmail.com
Thanks,
Mr. Roatsey
Mr. Roatsey
UPdate: STill compiling a list of names. I need a lot more if we want this to go forward. . . so please everyone that has ever had a problem with their transmission, please fwd me your info. so you can be in this class - action.
Mr. Roatsey
I would like to be involved with this lawsuit. I have a 2003 Matrix with a manual transmission. I am on my third transmission, which has recently died.
I can be contacted at fabjance@gmail.com
thanks.
In April of 2008 my 03 Matrix had just reached the 100K miles (101k to be more exact) when the manual transmission went... no prior warnings much like your description.
We had it replaced and spent upwards of $2,000.
It's been fine since but it was, as for you, a HUGE disappointment coming from a Toyota....! plus, the risk involved on it failing while driving....
Count me in as yet another outraged buyer interested in building a case.
Did you get your $$$ back?
Eugenia
Count me in!
Eporello@yahoo.com
Eugenia Porello
kcram - Pickups/Wagons Host
ted brodek, Atlanta
I have a 2004 Matrix (5 speed manual) with 41K and the clutch has been getting worse over the last 6 months. The low gears do not seem to have as much slipping as the higher gears. Lately, the clutch will slip when you try to apply any acceleration on the roadway.
I realize I need to take this in, but being unemployed makes we not want to hear what it may cost. It would be great if this forum can bring about results for the unfortunates’. Thanks.
Otherwise, it has been a fun car to drive. I did wreak a tire on a spring pot hole (low profile tires) and found out how expensive these tires are!
Have you called Toyota at 1-800-331-4331 to file a complaint?
Have you filed a complaint with www.safercar.gov?
I have received NOT ONE email correspondence concerning the supposed filing of a class-action law suit against Toyota after repeatedly emailing the person who said they were going to speak with an attorney weeks ago.
I am willing to compile a legitimate list of names of Toyota owners with the same transmission issues and post them on the internet. I will create and host a website that will list these names including make, model and VIN numbers of the vehicles in question. Hopefully the negative publicity created by this website will force Toyota to do something about the transmission problem.....what do we have to loose at this point?
If you'd like to be involved in this project please call me with your information:
Bryan Shepler - 802-485-7761
I would like to talk with you and will call you? Here is the message I recently posted which is closely related to what happened to you:
#25 of 26Re: Matrix engine and steering failure [richardi1] by robincm Oct 09, 2009 (9:08 pm)Save | Reply
Replying to: richardi1 (Feb 15, 2008 7:56 pm)
"On October 7th, 2009, I experienced a very similar situation to what Richard described. In my case, my 2007 Matrix lost engine and steering power in the middle of the freeway while I was on my way to work. Thank God I was only traveling 40 or so miles per hour because of traffic; if I had been traveling faster, I have no doubt this incident could have resulted in injuries and/or fatalities. Did I mention there were four other vehicles involved? After investigating the incident, my insurance company told me I'm not at fault because the car stalled. The CHP and highway transportation personnel at the scene also told me it looked like a mechanical problem. My car was towed to the local Toyota dealership and they've had it since that date. I have received a phone message from Toyota service each day, near the end of the day, telling me they are testing my car, their computer reports aren't showing any problem codes, and they need to keep working on my car. Finally this afternoon, around 4:00 p.m., I received a call from the service manager who told me "there is nothing wrong with your car", "come and pick it up", and (by the way), the daily rental car fee clock is ticking. To top things off, I was told by service I would not be charged for a rental vehicle and have no intention of paying them one penny. Toyota is taking absolutely no responsibility whatsoever for this situation, and I have decided I will not drive the car again because I believe it is unsafe. This is a warning to other Toyota customers...Beware!"
Here is an update on what I wrote above:
We went back to the Toyota dealer and were told the car is in perfect condition and there is nothing wrong with it. This report was given to us by the assistant service manager. The person who was with me asked to see a report showing us what the dealership did to check the car and what the results were. We were given a copy and realized the only things Toyota did were 1). Ran a computer report which they claim showed nothing was wrong with the vehicle, and 2). Test drove the vehicle. They never even checked the transmission, fuel line, battery (whatever else) that may have caused the problem. Toyota did offer to let us leave the Matrix in their parking lot because I stated that I am not comfortable driving the car because I believe it is unsafe. I also will not take the car back to try and pass it off by selling it to someone else. I am looking into all of my rights. I believe this is a potentially very serious problem and people's lives are at stake. PS. We weren't charged for the rental car--Thanks so very much, Toyota!
I'm sorry to hear about your ordeal...
Did you read message #345?
Apparently that's the way to go if we want results..
Cheers!
Eugenia
Have you had similar experience? Any suggestions?
Thanks
Eugenia
The 5 speed trans on my matrix 07 have the same trouble and I have only 140,000 km...
If we all follow through, we might see some results....
Cheers,
Eugenia
Now that this work has been completed, the car appears to be making the same noises indicating the tranny main bearing in need of replacement. Reading on line found hundreds of similar complaints and wanted to register ours as we firmly believe Toyota has produced an inferior product. We had owned a few other Toyota's in past years, Corolla, Celica and P/U trucks and kept through a couple hundred thousand miles with no major engine/tranny issues. NOW, we are surprised and disgusted that this once reliable car company has put safety and dependability as a LOW priority. It appears-Buyer Beware- and I am hoping all others with similar issues display their experiences in hopes Toyota will acknowledge and be accountable for such a disgraceful product and assist consumers with these extraordinary repair expenses. Should we decide to now replace this vehicle- not put good money to bad (and a hardship to replace a dead 5yr old vehicle), it will NOT be a Toyota as we are afraid they DO NOT stand behind their products. PLEASE write in, call and make your issues known to Toyota, the media and other resources so that perhaps our voices will be heard and perhaps reconsideration by Toyota be made to make good on this. :sick:
Sorry to hear you're one more upset Matrix driver...
Make sure you read and follow through with recommended actions on message#345
Happy Holidays
Eugenia
I live right next door in NH.
What are we going to do??
Grumpus
frenchy606@earthlink.net
I did purchase the extended warrantee with Toyota. Unfortunately, it expired on June 29th of this year. It was a year OR 100,000 mile warantee (their Gold Plan). I am very disappointed with Toyota. I have taken my car to get it service at the dealership since I took it off the lot. Its very discouraging to learn that other people are having the same (or general) transmission problems. I purchased a Toyota vehicle because I believed in their company and their cars. After this experience, I don't know if I would buy another one.
Anyway, after learning that there is a widespread problem with the Matrix transmission, I would like to do something about it! Toyota needs to fix this and make their customers safe.
Please let me know what I can do.
casey.degolia@gmail.com
did you read message #345?
make sure to follow through to help build a case...
Happy Holidays
Eugenia
I'm wondering if you can expand on the issues with your 2007 and whether or not it has been resolved?
Has anyone else heard of Matrix manual transmission issues for 2005 and subsequent years? Up until now, I've been thinking I wouldn't be affected.
the independent shop who did the work also changed out the clutch. the total bill was $1242 which is 1/3 what it would cost for a replacement (new) transmission.
It turns out those bearings were accessible through the back of the tranny-after removing a housing.
the symptom was a low but distinct growling sound anytime the clutch was engaged. It was especially noticeable when the car was stopped and the clutch engaged in neutral. Once we had diagnosed the problem, I babied it for 2 weeks until a window opend up at the shop.
We'll see how it goes after another 10-15k miles.