Toyota Matrix adaptive cruise 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 Oct 23, 2010 · Airbags, Brakes · NC · crash

While driving a 2010 matrix, tuesday oct. 19,2010, approx. 30mphs. The car made a clicking sound as if a cruise control had been set but this car doesn't have cruise control. The car then took off a very high speed like a jet plane at take off. I was unable to control the brakes or steering. The vehicle travel approx. A half of a mile before hitting an embankment and then jumping out of the ditch and back onto the highway where it landed and stopped. The car is suppose to be equipped with six air bags but none of them deployed upon impact.

Filed Jul 13, 2010 · Engine · 9,500 miles · NV

Driving toyota matrix 2010, in 97degree heat, up a hill (6 miles long), in 3rd gear, air conditioning off (as suggested at the bottom of the hill), on cruise control. Speed of approx 60 MPH. The car sputtered and then stalled. I was able to restart it after about 5 min. Nothing was done to correct the failure yet. An appointment with the dealership has been made.

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 29, 2010 · Acceleration · 49,000 miles · CA

I own a toyota matrix, 2006, with 49k miles. The car suddenly decelerates and does not respond to the gas pedal to pick up speed again. So far, I've been able to pull off the road. I stop and then restart the car, and it drives fine. Also, the cruise control suddenly goes into deceleration, which is very dangerous while cruising on the freeway. Both these problems have occurred several times so far. The dealer says my vehicle is not on a recall list, and also claims to know nothing about this problem with the matrix. I know that toyota finally succumbed to pressure recalled about 50,000 sequoia sport utility vehicles for a deceleration problem. Is the same problem with the matrix also being covered up? What should I do?

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 10, 2010 · Brakes · CO · crash

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota matrix. While the vehicle was traveling approximately 25 MPH with the cruise control engaged the contact had applied the brakes and noticed that the vehicle would not stop moving causing the contact to crash into the vehicle in front of him. No one was injured and a police report was filed for the incident. The vehicle was towed to the dealership for body damage repairs. The failure and current mileages were not available.

Filed Mar 10, 2010 · Acceleration · 30,000 miles · VA

My 2008 matrix engine races up, and reaches speeds of 90 with out my foot on the gas. It happened for the first time almost a year ago. I was told that it was nothing, could it have been the mats.... I didn't have mats in my car. I haven't been able to use my cruise control, the engine RPM goes really high, like it is going to race. My husband was driving the car over the weekend and it raced, he was able to stop the vehicle. Went to the side of the road. Every time I have brought my car in they say they can not duplicate the problem. It usually happens after I have been driving my car for 30 or minutes. I'm trying not to worry about it, but I'm sure that there are other people out there who are having problems with their cars, take them to the shop and are being told that they can not duplicate a problem. Any one who knows anything knows anything knows that 9/10 the mechanic can not duplicate the problem.