Tl* the contact has a 2003 toyota matrix. The contact stated that the vehicle had been having periodic accelelration problems since 2008. The contact stated the sudden acceleration has only happened when the contact is trying to slow down., while driving at any speed. This failure had been happening more over the past two years. The failure mileage was unknown. The current mileage is 86504.
2003 Toyota Matrix acceleration complaints
Page 2 of 2: complaints 11 to 21 of 21, newest first, as owners wrote them.
When on the highway especially, vehicle lurches forward and accelerates quite noticeably. It does this at least once daily when accelerating or braking over 30 MPH. Please provide information on this issue.
Consumer was pulling into a parking space and the vehicle accelerated while consumer's foot was on the brakes, striking a tree on the front passenger's side. Upon impact, frontal airbags did not deploy. Consumer contacted toyota ,and it was inspected by a representative and no defects were found. Vehicle was sold for parts.*ak
I took the matrix in twice shortly after I bought it because the car would unexpectedly lunge forward while at a complete stop. I also complained that the brakes felt "loose" and did not "catch" as they should. I was advised both times by the service manager that they could not duplicate the problem and that nothing abnormal was found with car. While I was beginning to look into "lemon laws", in september of last year I was at a stop light with the brake pedal fully engaged. Due to my previous experiences with the car lunging forward, I would keep several feet between me and the car in front of me to avoid an accident. This time the car not only lunged forward, but it was like the accelerator stuck-I had my foot on the brake but could not stop the car after it lunged forward and I hit a car that was in front of me at the light. My car did not stop until I was almost parallel with the other car on the passenger side! I have had the case looked at by toyota, and their legal department has advised that nothing is wrong with the car-their only explanation is that the vehicle operates to "normal" specifications. They have advised that the car will lunge forward while the air conditioner is as when the AC compressor cycles, it increases the engine RPM and the vehicle will move forward. My air conditioner was not on at the time of this accident, however.
While driving the vehicle accelerated without warning. As a result the consumer had to dodge a vehicle and drove into a corn field. The cause has not been determined. Please provide additional information.
When the sun is shining you can not read the speedometer or the guages. He driver is driving blind without any instruments or guages. This is a very dangerous situation in all types of traffic conditions.
When at a stop sign or when placing vehicle in reverse engine will race and vehicle will unexpectedly accelerate out of control. *ak engine intermittently idle up to about 2,000 RPM regardless of temperature. Cause not yet determined. Problem is similar to pe04021.
Whenever vehicle was at a stop signal and without warning vehicle surged forward. Consumer's foot was on the brakes when surging occurred. This problem occurred several times since ownership of the vehicle. *ak
Toyota matrix 2003 (also applies to pontiac vibe 2003) as instruments are the same. Use of all "red" colored instruments, (speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, etc.) makes them difficult to read, reading trip meter requires removing sunglasses to read. Can become impossible to read in bright sun. Because speedometer is difficult to read, driver can easily be put in position of driving with excessive speed because speedometer is hard to read ot may require sunglasses to be removed to read speedometer. Personal experience tells me that by taking a few seconds to read instruments can put a driver in a potientallly dangerous situation when in some traffic situations. Could lead to accidents or death. "complaints" about this problem are noted in the reviews entered by individuals on the web site www.edmunds.com, specifically: http://www.edmunds.com/used/2003/toyota/matrix/100074126/ratings_consumersdetail.html?dcr_sid=100074126&dcr_usein=u&tid=edmunds.u.ratings_consumer.content..4.toyota*. Please also see also car & driver 6/2002 page 62 in an article titled "comparison test: boxes size small", which states in part: "...the red instruments are hard to read through sunglasses, and the dials seem peculiarly located down in dark tunnels...". Please note that both toyota and pontiac corrected this in their 2004 models of the toyota matrix and pontiac. Action requested: require both toyota and pontiac to offer owners of the 2003 models the choice of updating their instrument panels to the 2004 model instruments.
While traveling on the highway and without prior warning, the vehicle suddenly accelerated. *ak the consumer was unable to read the dashboard lights when the sun was extremely bright. *ts
While air conditioner is running and normal braking vehicle will surge forward. Due to an increase in rpms. Please provide any further information.
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