general problems of the 2003 Toyota Matrix

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.

Morning of June 22nd, when I drove back from charlotte, nc airport to university area, on highway I-85, my Toyota Matrix 2003 stop acceleration-quickly drop the speed from 70mph to 40mph and still dropping. Doesn't matter how hard I apply the gas pedal, it won't accelerate. I stopped the car in an open area close to an exit and stopped the engine--power was on and radio was working. I stopped the engine and waited a few minutes. I then turned the engine back on, tried it again. I was able to drive it to home. God, I was lucky.

When I start my car it revs up very high making it sound like it is going to take off by itself. It has been doing it since I bought the car in 2004, and I mentioned it to the dealer and he said those kind of cars do that.

When on the highway especially, vehicle lurches forward and accelerates quite noticeably. It does this at least once daily when accelerating or braking over 30 mph. Please provide information on this issue.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Matrix. The contact stated the rpms suddenly increased while the vehicle was in park and would move forward even when the brakes are being appied. The contact took the vehicle to a dealership to have it inspected and the dealer informed the contact that the idle was low. In 2007, the sales dealer told the contact they would lower the idle but she is not sure if that repair was performed. Her concern was that the vehicle could possibly lunge forward and cause a crash. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000. Updated 5/10/10 the consumer stated since the vehicle was purchased, it has lurched forward about once a week or more. Occassionally, when the vehicle was started, the engine would rev extremely high. Updated 06/11/10.

While driving the vehicle accelerated without warning. As a result the consumer had to Dodge a vehicle and drove into a corn field. The cause has not been determined. Please provide additional information.

Toyota Matrix 2003 (also applies to pontiac vibe 2003) as instruments are the same. Use of all "red" colored instruments, (speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, etc. ) makes them difficult to read, reading trip meter requires removing sunglasses to read. Can become impossible to read in bright sun. Because speedometer is difficult to read, driver can easily be put in position of driving with excessive speed because speedometer is hard to read ot may require sunglasses to be removed to read speedometer. Personal experience tells me that by taking a few seconds to read instruments can put a driver in a potientallly dangerous situation when in some traffic situations. Could lead to accidents or death. "complaints" about this problem are noted in the reviews entered by individuals on the web site www. Edmunds. . Read more...

Whenever vehicle was at a stop signal and without warning vehicle surged forward. Consumer's foot was on the brakes when surging occurred. This problem occurred several times since ownership of the vehicle.

When the sun is shining you can not read the speedometer or the guages. He driver is driving blind without any instruments or guages. This is a very dangerous situation in all types of traffic conditions.

While air conditioner is running and normal braking vehicle will surge forward. Due to an increase in rpms. Please provide any further information.