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.
7.3
pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$420
Average Mileage:
133,250 miles
Total Complaints:
3 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
rebuild rear brakes, new rotors and caliper and pads (2 reports)
Damned rear brake caliper stuck again and chewed up the pads and rotor. Will fix myself, but pretty annoying and could compromise emergency braking control.
For day to day driving it's really not issue except the squealing and the need for it to be fixed.
Like so many others, the back LH caliper stuck and would not release. Ate up the pad and rotor. I fixed myself, but only took a heavy duty C-clamp to put the brake piston back in (VERY difficult). Hoped it would fix it.
Worked ok for a while, then started up again, which I'll make another complaint about. (50 miles later and the pad and rotor were chewed up again).
This happened in 2012 - shortly after I got rid of the car. Was driving to golf and noticed smoke pouring off one of the rear wheels when I arrived there. After golfing I called the dealer and took it in. They said I needed a new caliper and rotors and pads. Not sure why these problems come all of a sudden when you car goes in for all the routine brake maintenance.
When I got rid of this one I bought a new 2013 Matrix..... So now I am doing my own brake maintenance on the new one now that the warranty is done. Recently replaced my front rotor and pads myself. Will probably do the rear ones in the spring. I live well out of town and am seldom in a city where there is stop and go driving so the brakes are not heavily used. Anyways, hope to do the rears before any issues. The Toyota "brake service" is a waste of money since it does nothing.
- Doug V.,
Glen Morris, ON, Canada
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A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Damned rear brake caliper stuck again and chewed up the pads and rotor. Will fix myself, but pretty annoying and could compromise emergency braking control.
For day to day driving it's really not issue except the squealing and the need for it to be fixed.
- Robert H., Oklahoma City, US