Service Brakes Problems of Toyota Matrix - part 2

I'm reading about the recent recall of the Toyota prius involving brake problems - a momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over an uneven road surface, pothole or bump. This has been happening in my 2008 Toyota Matrix since the day I bought it. I'd like to go on record that this problem extends to Matrix models. I have been fortunate to be able to regain control of the car on numerous occasions. I thought this was a something that happened with ibs brakes.

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The brakes on my 2008 Toyota Matrix failed again January 30, 2010. The brake pedal will not depress for a moment and then once the pressure is taken off and reapplied it will engage. It has been an intermittent problem that started sept. 2009. I have taken the car to the original dealer on multiple occasions and the technicians could not find anything wrong. The case went to arbitration and was found in favor of Toyota. I took the car back to Toyota several times after arbitration. They kept it for several days and put 4 miles on the vehicle. They scheduled a "lead" technician to look at the vehicle and canceled the appointment the day before. Unfortunately I felt that no matter how many times I took the vehicle back to Toyota it was not going to be treated as a serious matter.

I was stopped at a red light, on a flat street in the middle of January. The vehicle (2007 Toyota Matrix) was completely at rest. "all of a sudden" the car started inching forward. My foot was firmly on the brake pedal. The engine did not rev. It started gaining speed. The light changed and we went through the light without any problems with the acceleration, brake or steering. I said to my friend, "that was weird. " I thought it was a flux but then when I started reading about all of the problems with Toyota I became concerned. I called our local dealer and he said that 2007 Matrix were not part of the recall. He offered to drive the car around to see if there were any problems. I have not had any further problems and did not take it in for him to drive around. (I had them do a regular maintenance check when I first bought the car and they did far more "maintenance" than was recommended in the manual and I think took advantage of my ignorance about car maintenance. It made me suspicious so I don't really trust the dealer. ).

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Two problems, 1) accelerator is hard to modulate when starting from a stop, will go at higher speed than wanted. 2) once in a while when coming to a stop, the brakes feel like they pulse, or the vehicle just hit a small patch of ice when there was no ice. A weird feeling. I don't know if the car actually goes a few feet further than I wanted it to or if there is just a pulse that makes you feel that way.

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In very cold weather, which we have had plenty of recently, and I make a gradual stop from a speed of 45+ mph, there is a split-second surge forward followed by a hard stop "bump" when the car comes to a final stop that is the best way to describe it, the road surface is not slick, nor am I making a sudden stop. The problem does not happen in temps above freezing, nor does braking seem impaired. I am somewhat unnerved by the momentary surge forward followed by the sudden bump that feels like I hit a curb.

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Brakes do not work (no brake force to wheels) first second of braking when cold in humid weather conditions for example after standing still overnight in temperatures between 0 and 10 c. Have happened repeatedly and is unsafe for example at crossing other road. This is second vehicle of this model with same problem and dealer have not managed to fix. My vehicle is in europe and model is avensis but I believe you need to investigate as this brake system is probably used also in USA on us cars.

On 12/28/09, as I started to brake for a red light, my car unintentionally accelerated while I had my foot on the brake pedal. I was able to slow down by braking hard, but the brakes started to smoke. I turned the ignition key to off, and when I turned it on again the problem went away. Nothing was holding down or interfering with the gas pedal as this problem occurred?not the floor mat, not any clothing or part of my shoe. I am an experienced driver who has never had an accident. My car received major scheduled maintenance from a Toyota dealers service department just about a week before this incident. I brought it back to the dealer on 12/29; the mechanic said he could find nothing wrong with the car and could not duplicate the failure.

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2010 Toyota Matrix purchased brand new November of 2009 with only 5 miles reading on the odometer. Although there has been no accident with this vehicle I am very concerned about two operational issues: steering on highways at highway speed and brakes not engaging. On straightaways this vehicle swerves back and forth. I am constantly having to correct its direction. We tried adjusting the tire inflation with no help. Took it to the dealership who readjusted the tires back and said the vehicle was still within design specs. Our newest attempt was to try extra weight in the back which is not helping either. The other big issue that has happened with this vehicle was 3 separate events I had to pump the brakes to before they would engage. The dealership could not reproduce the problem and questioned operator error. All manufacture specs again were within design limits. Please note these issues were present and noted prior to all the recall notifications. We have tried to make things work but are now beginning to worry about the safety of this brand new vehicle.

I have had my Toyota Matrix for almost a year when it started having problems. The issue for me was coming to a stop light and the car wouldn't stop even though I was braking hard. It kept rolling forward. You could hear the acceleration. Putting it in neutral was not an option when you are sitting in traffic at a light. I could either rear end the car ahead of me or get rear ended by the car behind me. I had to stop the car by putting it in park. The car "bucked. " it stopped the car and for that I was grateful because it just kept moving. I was on a cell phone call when it happened another time going into a garage. The car wouldn't stop again. My friend could hear the acceleration of the car through the cell phone. I couldn't stop the car with my brake. Again I had to put it into park and it bucked again. I reported it to the Toyota dealership on 12/9/09. I called the service manager after that date and he told me to bring the car back and I did on 2/19/10. The pedal was replaced on 3/4/10 and on week of 3/8/10 I experienced the same issue of the car not stopping and the accelerator sticking 3 times in one week. That's after the pedal was replaced. The dealership checked my car out on each occasion. I have documentation for all these visits and opened it looks like 2 accounts with Toyota of America #[xxx] and #[xxx]. They have repeatedly told me that they could find nothing wrong even after driving the car for 4 miles. The problem is intermittent and driving 4 miles is ludicrous in order to see if they can experience the problem. They have told me they have done extensive diagnostic workups on the car. They will not check the computer or electronics as they say it is not the problem. Help. I am in traffic everyday. I don't know when the failure will pop up on me. I now have to get rid of this car and I can't sell it to someone privately as I would be responsible for anything happening to that person. Please help. Thank you.

I would like to reprt serious problems with the accelerator (unintended acceleration) and brake problems (don't stop well) of my Toyota Matrix model 2009.

Driving my 2009 Toyota Matrix - I was driving in back of a truck and he slammed his brakes on. I had to be driving one car away from him then all of a sudden he slammed on his brakes - I had to be going 25 mile per hour. My car accelerate up and by the time I put my brakes on I had slammed into his car gently. It was because of how slow I was going that saved me.

There have been two instances of this problem. The first time, I was completely stopped just back of an intersection, after coming out of my employer's parking lot, preparing to make a right turn on a two lane urban thoroughfare, when all of a sudden I felt the engine rev and my car surge forward, although my foot was on the brake. I pressed hard on the brake to no avail; I thought I was going to be propelled into the intersection into traffic. At the last moment, I managed to stop, I'm not sure now, if I applied the emergency brake or what, because although I relayed this incident to several people, including my brother-in-law, my aunt, and some coworkers, I later dismissed the incident as, other than what it was, possibly due to road conditions (a large building was being built alongside the road at the time). Today, however, while completely stopped waiting for the light to change in front of the exit from the lower parking lot this time, the same exact thing happened again: the engine suddlenly revved, and the car surged forward. I instinctively pressed on the brakes as hard as I could, but the car wouldn't stop until grabbed the gear shifter and put it in neutral.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Matrix. While driving approximately 65 mph, the brakes were applied and the vehicle failed to stop which resulted in a crash. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact sustained unknown injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to by the insurance company. A representative with the manufacturer also inspected the vehicle and was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure and current mileages were 88,208.

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With the last incident being 2 days ago, I finally had a chance to take my car to the shop today. They said they could find no problem. I have had about 5 incidents over the last 4 years of unintended acceleration when my foot was on the brake. One time recently it happened on a flat road as I was approaching a very busy intersection. Luckily I was able to turn into the flow of traffic, cutting some one off but no collision took place. Two days ago it happened again when my car should have been stopped on a hill facing down the hill. When I pressed on the brake it did not brake the car, instead I could hear the engine rev up and pull forward. This is how it happened also on the previous 3 times. I don't know what to do now. I am single and disabled and just finished paying off this car. I don't want to sell the car and have someone die because I sold it to them. I certainly don't have the money to just go out and buy a new car but I am scared to drive this car now. Please advise me as to what course I should take. Thank you.

Driving car and it had unintended acceleration, 2 times. First time it did not stop when brakes were applied. Second time brakes were hit and car quite accelerating.

February 09 I was driving in back of a truck and staying far in advance not close to the truck. The truck went to put his brakes on and my car accelerated and I went to put my brakes on and the car hit the truck from the back.

Parking brake doesn't hold vehicle on slope. Mechanic has fixed twice, but problem re-occurs in about two years. This is a safety issue since this is also the emergency brake and there is no warning when brake will start slipping again after repairs.

I have a 2009 Toyota Matrix and it continues to have issues. Toyota has never sent notification of recalls and this car has a few. When I bring it up to the dealer they act as if I have no idea what I am talking about. My tires need replacement at 20,000 miles and the brakes grind when stopping even after they were replaced at the dealers expense after they told me there was nothing wrong with them twice! I had to go back to the dealer 3 times as the parts people sent the wrong parts twice!! the tire warning light is constantly coming on even though I have had it to the dealership 3 times and they tell me nothing is wrong. I am told that the change in temperature makes the light come on. I am to the point I am going to replace the tires and be done with it. The last thing I need is a tire blow out on the interstate. The engine gets sluggish and bogs down while on the interstate and the interior features keep having to be slammed back into place because they come out of place. I was told by a salesman at a car show that it happens with the Matrixs and they don't know why. Each trip to the dealership I am treated as a woman who knows nothing about cars. My father is a mechanic and I know my way around a car. Cobb county Toyota in kennesaw, georgia is the worst dealership. I am going to try another dealership or just head to an independent. I saved for 2 years to buy it and now I feel very upset that Toyota cares so little about the customer. I understand there are a few more recalls out on the 2009 Matrix, yet I haven't been notified of them by Toyota. When I brought up the new recalls to the dealer he looked shocked and tried to tell me that wasn't true. Why are new Toyota buyers getting free service when our cars are the problem. I'm going back to Honda! Toyota use to be great. The president of the company should be ashamed and commit seppuku or at least provide current owners free service too.

This is the second time the engine control unit failed and been replaced on the 2006 Toyota Matrix. The car had just received a very thorough 30,000 mile checkup and there were no causes for the failure. This failure is extremely dangerous and it almost cost me my life. The ecu spontaneously quit while in the high speed lane, at 6:30 pm pitch dark, in heavy commuter traffic in the boston beltline of rt 128. The brakes were as hard as concrete, and the car decelerated so fast that I could not change lanes and I was left with an electronically dead car in the high speed lane - at night. I called the state police.

My son bought the 2006 Toyota Matrix in 2006 . In 2007 my son was driving very slow and hit the car infront of him. He never has had an accident and no tickets. His car was damage, a total of $6,429. 41 was fix at ron's autobody & paint inc. 1314 n. Closner, edinburg,TX 78539 because he found out he didn't have full coverage,he only had liability and knew the dealership would charge more . We never took the time to find out if the car had acceleration or brakes problems. The car has acceleration& brake problems because my son said the brakes didn't response & car kept on going,and he says the brakes still don't response quickly and I myself drove the car last year and I press the brakes and car just kept on going and I was going slow to stop on a yellow light and received a ticket by mail ,I had a clean record. I did call frank smith Toyota and I was told we would be charge to look at it and afraid they will charge us too much money. Our son is still driving the car. He does drive very slow to go to work. He has 3 childrens that he has as passengers. Don't know what to do. Hope it doesn't happen again. I think the dealership should look at it without charging.

- the contact owns a 2006 Toyota Matrix. While driving on 12/21/06 in heavy traffic at 5 mph heard a knocking sound. The contact stopped the vehicle and observed that the tire failed and that the sidewall was damaged. The contact was certain that he didn't hit anything to cause the tire to fail. The contact placed a spare tire on the vehicle and drove it to the dealer. The dealer advised him to call the tire manufacturer and file a complaint. Sears informed the contact that the tire failure was due to road hazards. The contact stated that the road conditions were good.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Matrix. While the vehicle was traveling approximately 25 mph with the cruise control engaged the contact had applied the brakes and noticed that the vehicle would not stop moving causing the contact to crash into the vehicle in front of him. No one was injured and a police report was filed for the incident. The vehicle was towed to the dealership for body damage repairs. The failure and current mileages were not available.

Problems with parking brake. Driver could drive the vehicle for miles with the parking brake engaged without a noticeable drag. Ph.