Bumper Problems of Toyota Matrix

As a owner of a brand new 2009 Toyota Matrix, I was recently hit by a bicycle rider riding his bike in a opposite direction on a side walk. He hit my front bumper and the bumper was slightly damaged. The bike rider had minor injuries. The police issued the rider a citation for riding his bike in the wrong direction. I went to a local certified auto repair shop and got my front bumper repaired including a paint finish. The cost came out to be $500 for this very minor damage. Why? it turned out to be so costly ? because nowadays all the bumpers--front & rear are being made out plastic by auto manufacturers to cut cost. If the bumpers were to be made from steel, I wouldn't have to pay for any damage cost for any minor impact. My question to you: what happened to your old regulation 10 m. P. H. Impact to bumpers to be free of any damage? did you cave in to the big brothers --auto manufacturers, and yet, the american consumers are being shafted for high cost of repairing the car. Why don't you force the auto manufacturers to make all bumpers out of steel? the fact is the steel mill have already developed the steel material which is very comparable to plastic to be lighter, stronger and can be formed into bumpers very easily. Please investigate and force the auto manufacturers to comply 10 m. P. H impact regulation. Thank you! updated 09/24/08.

See all problems of the 2009 Toyota Matrix 🔎.

The front spoiler on the Matrix is constantly getting scraped up on driveways. It is too low. The only way to fix the problem is to put a whole new bumper on the car, at my cost. The spoilers are listed as a option, but where I am from it is impossible to find a xr without them installed. The car is less then a year old, and already looks bad. Who would think they would design a car that would constantly get all scraped up. It would be nice if this "option" was truly a option.

See all problems of the 2004 Toyota Matrix 🔎.

I purchased a 2004 Toyota Matrix on November 10, 2003. The first day I pulled into my driveway which has a slight slope, the bumper dragged on the driveway. Even going very slowly, I realized that the front end of this vehicle was entirely too low. On November 17, pulling out from a store, I noticed it was still dragging and the drive was not as much of a slope as my drive. I notified classic Toyota where I purchased the vehicle on November 17 about the problem. I went in to speak with them on November 22 since I lived an hour away. I was told that once I purchase the vehicle it was my responsibility. When they looked at the front bumper, they noticed that it was coming a part. I was told that I would have to pay for it. I took it to their parts department. The gentleman there told me that there was a major problem with the bumper and he had replaced several. He said they even had to replace the ones on their own lease cars and because of the constant complaints. This front bumper is barely 2 inches from the ground. Toyota told me to just park on the road whenever to avoid any sloops. I am 20 years old and was very proud of paying for my first vehicle. Toyota was aware of this problem and did nothing. I have taken all necessary care to use my vehicle in the manner it was intended, just drive it and my ability to do this is impaired by their design defect. The parts department will change the bumper out to their other make for this vehicle, but they are charging me for it.