2009 Toyota Matrix: adaptive cruise control problems

Filed Apr 1, 2014 · Acceleration · AA

I was driving on a secondary highway going between 80 and 100 kph with the cruise control engaged. I was traveling along in top gear at an RPM of 2000-2500 - when I noticed that I was entering a construction zone where traffic was halted. I had just begun to travel up a hill toward the halted traffic. As the car started up the hill, I noticed that the rpms had dropped and caused the gears to shift down into a lower gear with higher RPM to pull the car up the hill. Almost simultaneously of the car shifting gears, I pressed the brakes hard to begin stopping. I was alarmed as I felt the car struggling to accelerate hard against my braking. The braking had not disengaged the cruise control. I pressed the brakes harder. Then, thinking the car might be confused, I took my foot off the brakes before pressing the brakes hard again. I still felt the car struggling to accelerate hard against the hard braking. I had the presence of mind the turn off the cruise control by pressing the button on the end of the cruise control stick. Immediately, the unintended acceleration stopped and the braking was effective to stop the car. I have never again experienced this problem of cruise control not disengaging upon braking. I suspected that the sequence of braking beginning almost simultaneously to the gears shifting may have caused the confusion in the cruise control. That could make the issue a software problem in cruise control as opposed to a mechanical braking problem.

Filed Apr 16, 2011 · Acceleration · 25,000 miles · PA

While driving with the cruise control engaged and traveling in the right lane on an interstate, I applied the brakes to slow down from 65 to 55 as I approached a truck in front of me. This was done to allow a car in the passing lane to pass me. When that car had passed, I released the break to pass the truck ahead of me after having had the break applied for 5 or 6 seconds (far longer than necessary for the cruise control to have shut off.). When I released the break, the cruise control re-initiated itself and the vehicle returned to 65 MPH without my touching any further pedals. My feet were on the floor and there were no floor mats near the pedals. The cruise control alone was accelerating the car.

Filed Mar 17, 2011 · Acceleration · 19,000 miles · KS

Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota matrix. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH with the cruise control engaged, she came upon a large road grader. She braked to slow down, disengaging the cruise control. When she could safely pass, she accelerated quickly to get around another vehicle. After she passed the vehicle, the vehicle continued to accelerate very fast, after she removed her foot from the accelerator and applied the brakes to slow the vehicle down, it accelerated out of control. She responded by continuously pressing the brake pedal very hard and she also pressed the button to turn off the cruise control. Although the engine was fighting the brakes, she managed to slow the vehicle down and pulled to the side, put the vehicle in neutral, but the engine continued to roar. The contact was able to turn the vehicle off. The contact inspected the mat and it was not in any position to hold the accelerator down. The next day, the vehicle was inspected, but nothing was found. The failure and current mileage was 19,000. Updated 04/15/11*lj updated 11/28/11

Filed May 17, 2010 · Acceleration · 13,800 miles · PA

Tl*the contact owns a 2009 toyota matrix. The contact was driving approximately 65 MPH with the cruise control activated, suddenly the vehicle accelerated to 80 MPH or greater. The cruise .control was deactivated and the vehicle continued at the increased speed rate. There was pressure applied to the brake pedal twice before the vehicle slowed down. The vehicle was able to continue normal operation. An authorized dealer was notified, the technician stated that the failure was driver error and that the black box would determine the cause of failure. The vehicle had not been repaired at the time of the complaint. The failure mileage was 13,800.

Filed Apr 18, 2010 · Acceleration · 37,000 miles · GA · crash · 1 injury

I was attempting a left turn and had begun to accelerate but then decided to not turn, I took my foot off the gas pedal and it continued to accelerate, I'm not sure if I was able to apply the brake and get any results or not because I was hit by oncoming traffic suddenly. I was very confused by the incident, because it was not my intent to drive forward and yet it did so. I was assuming that since I had the car serviced for the recall issues last month, the car was safe. We have also had issues with the gas pedal being non responsive when in cruise control mode. It had happened once when I had used it and once when my husband had used it, but we had no incidents from it and discontinued using cruise control. The car was towed to the cherokee county (ga) toyota collision center where I told them of the non intended acceleration. They assured me they would look into it, but only after repairing the body. After they had done so, they called me and told me to generate a case and gave me the number to toyota. I did so on friday, april 16th. I have not yet heard from the case manager, but am concerned and frightened of the vehicle at this point. I have a head injury; a concussion and a wrist injury as a result of the accident. The recall service work was done at cherokee county toyota in georgia where I purchased the car. My insurance company was also informed of the issue and have assured me that they will look into the issue and seek repayment from toyota if they are liable for the accident. The service manager and collision center guy who is handling my vehicle have told me that it is more likely that I would be "hit by lightening and mauled by a bear on the same day" than it is that my accident was caused by a problematic or unintentional acceleration that is a result of an issue with the car. They also told me that a computerized "test" was done and that my car is ok, but then told me to initiate a case with toyota.

Filed Mar 7, 2010 · Electrical, Steering · 20,000 miles · CA

Bought 2009 toyota matrix s new. I commute approximately 45 miles one way to work on freeway, normally with cruise control on. I have experienced several occasions of acceleration "surge"(relatively minor increases in acceleration without touching accelerator). My wife also experienced unintended acceleration while taking our son to school under normal street speed. I would also experience several situations of difficult vehicle control on freeway due to steering issues. I thought at the time it was just wind pushing against the car until I read other drivers experiencing the same thing.