2004 Matrix Problem...

[nettro]

Here is an email I wrote to Toyota. Awaiting a response. Called them too.
-----------------------

Hello there,

We bought a Toyota Matrix in March of 04. We were excited as it was
our first new car. We refinanced our home so that we could do this. It
cost us about $18,900.00 or so. We got the whole works with the alloy
wheels, cruise, and so on. We were very excited thinking that we were
getting a car from the quality that Toyota brags about. We had looked
at cars from Honda, Hyundia, Suzuki, etc. But went with the Toyota.

My dad, whom loves toyotas... and had given my wife and I about 8
years ago a 1976 toyota corolla with about 250,000 miles on it -which
has since finally died. I was impressed! He and my mother now own a
Rav4 and also an Avalon... He has always bragged about the toyota and
their quality.

We wanted a reliable car that could get us from here - Superior, Wi. -
to there -Yuma Az. where my parents live. And to be able to drive
without the headaches of having a used car. We drove that car to Az -
which was about a 2500 mile trip. So 5000 in all there and back. It
seemed to get great gas mileage with Me, my wife, my daughter, and some
luggage in back. It was a great city car. It seemed to handle very
well. WE LOVED IT! Well, till the problems started:

Throughout the year I noticed that my seat started to sqeak. It
started to annoy me. Whenever I would move, it would squeak. I also
started to get a rattle on one of the sides of the windshield. Then I
started thinking that maybe this was cheaper quality than I thought.
But nevertheless was still a reliable Toyota. They replaced that arm
part by the drivers windshield side. I was happy -TILL IT STARTED TO
RATTLE AGAIN. I brought it back and they put some stuffing or something
there to make it stop. WOW! I havent got my seat fixed yet though -
still sqeaks sometimes.

I then started to get a leak in what seemed to be in the area of the
oil pan. It was dripping on my garage floor and staining it. I got
concerned and brought the car in. They told me that it had needed an
o-ring for something with the transmission. I ok'd it and they got the
new 0-ring and put it in. It wasn't long after that I noticed it
leaking again. I brought the car back in and they told me that my oil
filter was loose and that it was dripping from there. They had changed
the oil previous to this. Once again... thought it was fixed. I had
to bring it in again today because it has been leaking again in that
same area. They claim that it is the power steering pump and that they
ordered a new one for the car and would call me when it comes in so that
they can replace that. I hate driving thinking that something is wrong
with this almost 1.5 year old car. This is almost brand new.. it should
be a LOT better than this!

About 5-6 times throughtout owning this vehical, I have had times when
it would not start right away. It would just crank over and not
"catch". But after a couple tries it starts. This is not an everyday
occurance. But it does happen periodically. It does finally start in
those times. THIS CONCERNS ME considering that I have about 31000 miles
on it and my bumper to bumper warranty is going to expire soon.

My wife and I are very upset at owning what is supposed to be a very
reliable car! We are now seeing that we can't have the confidence in
being able to drive this car without worrying that something is going to
happen. Maybe we should have gone with something else. I start to
wonder if maybe we were given a lemon that the dealership was trying to
get rid of and pawned it on us. Maybe not... but if we can't get this
fixed and have the quality of car that Toyota brags about, than maybe we
have to go to another car... maybe Honda, Hyundia, or whatever and let
others know what has happend to us. My dad has bought your cars for as
long as I know.

MY WIFE AND I ARE VERY DISAPOINTED AND UPSET! WE SHOULD NOT HAVE
THESE PROBLEMS WITH A NEW CAR!!! ESPECIALLY WHEN WE REFINANCED OUR HOME
TO GET IT! WE EXPECTED MORE!

We are hoping that this letter will not be ignored!

VERY DISAPPOINTED!

[ksbrace]

I can sympathize with you, but may I suggest that you might be more upset about this than warranted. A couple of squeaks and rattles are not too surprising in a non-luxury car, and they are not reliability issues. The transmission leak was probably an assembly problem, but of course they covered that no questions ask, as they should. The loose oil filter isn't a problem with the car, but with a particular mechanic who forgot to tighten it up. The leaking power steering pump is another assembly problem, which they will fix. But keep in mind, these three leaks can be completely, 100% fixed, and should not recur. I'm wondering, what was the purpose of writing that letter to Toyota? Are you hoping they will volunteer to tag some extra miles onto your warranty? Maybe you should have made that suggestion! I don't know whether or not they ever do anything like that.

[Frank@toronto]

nettro,

Join the club. No one ever gets the red carpet treatment. My buddy got an oil change (with the useless inspections) done on his Porsche and it cost $350. Do you think he got better service when paying 10 times our price for an oil change ? (nope)


Buddy #2 paid $60k for is BMW. It’s been in the service center for 60 days during the first year. And the loaner car is not a BMW, nor is it new.

Owning a car is a continuous headache (sometime it's big, other time it’s small). It’s reality.

[slipknot490]

Well, first off, I have never heard 'Toyota', as a company, "brag" about reliability. The people that "brag" about it are the owners. You as an owner and others IN YOUR FAMILY are the ones 'BRAGGING', not toyota.
Second, Every problem you have been having, THEY HAVE FIXED, or at least made attempts to fix. That is worth bragging over in itself. Some car dealers will not even acknowledge that you have a problem. We had a few small problems with our XRS as well, but the dealers were more than accomodating to try to fix the problems for us.
Is Toyota THE BEST car company on the market? Certainly not. From my experience with them though, they are more than willing to 'make things right' to keep their owners happy.
One thing to look at, IN YOUR OWN LETTER, is that they are a VERY reliable company and will work with you to keep your car running. You seem to praise them more than bash them in your letter...hmmm....I , by any means, am bashing you, just want you to see what you yourself have stated. I, too, would have concerns about the not starting problem and a few others you have stated. My advice to you is to get EVERYTHING checked out BEFORE the warranty runs out. Good luck with it!

[CorollaULEV]

The starting problem is something related to the starters. It's not necessarily a mechanical problem, or really an engineering problem. The 03+ 1ZZ and 2ZZ engine saw a new starter which rotates slower (and consumes less battery power to operate). It logical that it'll take a few extra turns to build compression up enough. But the starter should last a lot longer as it doesn't heat up nearly as much during cranking.

Trav

[yotatech603]

There is an updated computer/reprogram availble depending on what the model number is on your computer,also have been replacing fuel pumps in combination with this due to customers complaing of 'extended cranking' per the T.S.B whick shoul be covered to 36,000 miles