CarComplaints.com Notes: The Toyota Matrix is the mechanical twin of the Pontiac Vibe.
Both models were a joint GM-Toyota venture, manufactured together at a NUMMI production facility in Fremont, CA. Only the heating & A/C systems are different.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
16,727 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Jan. 2007 anchorage, ak driving 50mph on a highway, as the road bended to the right, we went into the turn and began to slide sideways. It was 30 degrees F, so we must have hit black ice. I tried to correct and sent the car fish tailing to the other side. We whipped back and forth a few times, before the car started to spin. We did two full circles before we gently hit a burm of snow and came to a stop. No other cars were oncoming so we did not have any significant damage and there were no injuries. I went and bought studded tired the next day. Dec. 2009 juneau, ak I was a passenger. Same make, model, and year. Driving 40 mph on straight road, slushy snow conditions. The car started to fish tail and spun 1.5 times before it stopped. No significant damage or injuries. No studded tires. (all-weather tires) Feb. 2012 juneau, ak I was a passenger in the same car as above. Driving 55mph on highway, going straight. We must have hit black ice and the car started to fish tail. We spun two times and the car did not slow down like in previous incidents and we hit a guardrail going full speed (hit it backwards). I got whiplash, face lacerations, broken nose, and a mild traumatic brain injury. No airbags deployed. We were able to drive away from the crash and take me to the hospital. Driver was unharmed. (all-weather tires).
The car was purchased new. At 50,000 miles I've gone through two sets of tires and about replace my third set. There are similar complaints from many others on several forums like: www.faqs.org/car/Toyota-matrix-2006/suspension/ and townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.F0eeece/145 that suggest there is a manufacturer's defect in the suspension that is the cause of this symptom. I will be discussing this with my local dealer and possibly a lawyer should it come to that. I did, however, want to write a report in the mean time documenting the situation for the record.
2006 Toyota Matrix. Tires wear out every 16,000 miles. The problem is in the rear axle. Toyota has consistently told me there is no problem. Today I am on a discussion board and find it is a common problem for the Matrix/vibe. The solution is an aftermarket rear wheel shim kit costing $50 plus labor. Why is Toyota allowed to continue denying the problem exists and not recall and correct the problem.
My wife and I own 2 Toyota Matrix's. a 2005 and a 2006. Both are front wheel drive. For some reason the car wears through tires very fast. We can only get 25,000 miles max out of a 60,000 mile tire. We make it a point to rotate every 5,000 miles and keep pressure at 35psi as recommended, but the car just wears tires so quickly for some reason.
- Bradford, RI, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Excessive tire wear/misalignment on 2006 Toyota Matrix: I have had my car for about 2 and 1/2 years, about 35,000 miles. I have already replaced the tires three times due to excessive wear, and had several four-wheel alignments done. I've noticed on the chat boards that several other owners with the same car type are having similar problems. I suspect that the misalignment and subsequent drift was one of the leading causes in an accident I had last year.
After owning my new car for about a year (around 25,000 miles), I was informed that my tires were cupping and all needed replaced. This issue was blamed on alignment issues. I had the alignment fixed and tires replaced. I had read discussion boards of other Matrix owners, many of whom had similar tire/alignment complaints. A worker at the car dealership suggested this has been a common issue with the Matrix. I complained to Toyota, who blamed both my driving and driving conditions (I don't drive recklessly--typically all my driving is highway), as well as the tire manufacturer (but my warranty had already run-out). I've been getting my tires rotated on a regular basis, but about a year after the aforementioned repairs (May 2008), the tech rotating my tires noted one of my tires was cupping and to have my rear alignment checked. Again, my alignment was off and the car had to be re-aligned. Now, two months later, I am again having possible alignment issues (will be checked this week). I think the Toyota Matrix has a serious design flaw considering so many people have been having alignment/tire issues with their cars.
I have about 15500 miles on a 2006 Toyota Matrix that has abnormal tire wear. The head service mechanic explained to me that my car had to light of a rear end and that the tires bounce around and create abnormal wear. He stated that it would only make it worse to rotate them to the front. I have vibration and two ruined tires. Toyota answers that it is a tire issue and to take it up with the manufacturer. The manufacturer states they are not responsible for tire wear. Every tire installer and mechanic know about the flaw in these cars but Toyota does not take responsibility for this design error.
I own a 2006 Toyota Matrix my tires are wearing improper. The tires are cupping, at 3,000 to 5,000 miles. After researching I found that every Matrix, Pontiac vib and corolla owner is having the same problem and it is a manufacturer defect. All owners are having this problem. A solution for this problem has been found but the Toyota does not want to correct the problem.
Own a 2006 Matrix and had all 4 tires ware out on inside of thread with 21000 miles on car. Did not notice the problem till car went off road hitting a tree. Repair shop said tires were worn excessively, and car shouldn't be driven. Upon repair, car was taken to have front end aligned and was told it was within Toyota specks, but could be corrected to a tighter standard. Contacted Toyota and they said it was the tires fault, when contacted the tire manufacture(Continental), they stated it was clearly out of alignment, and therefore car came from the factory like that.
Vehicle was taken to dealer for service to investigate a loud vibration noise coming from the tires as long as vehicle was rolling. The car has about 18,000 miles on it. All four tires were severely cupped. The dealer contacted the factory reference the tires and the factory recommended the tires be replaced. All four tires were replaced and were aligned to spec. Upon leaving the dealer service center a new tire noise was noticed. It was not the same vibration noise but a loud roar as long as the tires were rolling.
The tires on my 2006 Toyota Matrix are cupping. I had to replace them at 13,000 miles. I have since found out that this is a common problem on Matrixs no matter what type of tire are on the car.
With only 24,707 miles on my 2006 Toyota Matrix, I was told that all four tires needed to be replaced. I have found many such complaints about these vehicles after doing an internet search. The problem was described as excessive cupping or wear to the inside of the tires. The sixteen inch Continental tires standard on these have a tread life of 50,000 miles, but the customer service representative told me they have a tread life of about 25,000 miles. I have the records to prove that I brought the auto in every 5,000 miles for a scheduled maintenance. Each one called for a tire rotation. I am so angry that the dealership didn't mention this problem or make corrections to the alignment or balance of the tires, that I refuse to go back to them. In my opinion, this constitutes negligent behavior on the part of the dealership and a serious design flaw on the part of the manufacturer that should be corrected for all Toyota Matrix.
I have a 2006 Toyota Matrix xr 2wd with 14000 mi. I have had the tires rotated 3 times in this period and keep 32psi in each tire, upon presentation to the tire shop (Continental eco plus tires). The shop refused to rotate the tires since one had 2/32 tread wear and another tire was showing belts on the very inside of tire. There is also a humming noise coming from the tires as well.
Bought new Toyota Matrix 2 wheel drive in 2006. All four tires are worn excessively on the inside part of tire. Dealership says I drove the car therefore not their problem. Toyota says tires not their problem. Neither organization seems to think the car may have a manufacturing defect. After searching the internet I have found others reporting same troubles. I know am faced with buying 4 new tires having to get an alignment. And still not convinced the problem will go away. The problem may have been their when I bought the car. Both dealership and Toyota want to blame me and the tire company.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Wayland, KY, USA