Toyota Matrix jerking problems

Filed Mar 26, 2017 · Acceleration · 81,000 miles · FL · crash

My matrix 2009 has had intermittent sudden acceleration problems. I mention it at my regular maintenance check ups, but receive non-committal replies. I figure I must be losing it. Over the last 8 months or so, it got extreme: the car will lurch forward at different times: when I start up the car, idling at a light, or slowing to a stop. Today, sunday morning, as I was pulling into a parking spot at walmart, I began to brake slowly when the trans roared and lurched forward. It jumped the curb and plowed into the front end of the car facing me. At first, I thought I must have hit the gas - but no. My foot was still on the brake - all the way to the floor. I still owe money on this car. I ruined the front end of another car. I am a single mom of 2 and a teacher. I don't know how I am going to be able to handle this. I do not intend to repair this car. It is not safe. Thank god the other car was empty. This car could have killed someone. And, no: no tickets/accidents/ageism. Just a regular middle-age lady who bought a used car 4.5 years ago, took good care of it, and am now seriously stuck and stressed. So, thank you toyota. I saw on other blogs today that this is not an isolated incident, but a recurring problem. You have known about this for years, and have done nothing. Your company will cause innocent people to kill someone or themselves.

Filed Mar 22, 2013 · Steering · 146,864 miles · TN · crash

I went to change lanes to the left, and before I could spotted a car that had been in my blind spot. I veered back to the right to stay in my lane and all of a sudden it felt like something in the steering wheel clicked and the car suddenly jerked back to the left, the back to the right, and left again, swerving out of my control. I tried to cold on to the wheel and steady it straight but it jerked left harder and spun out of control, flying straight into the highway barrier. The car crashed into the barrier on the front bumper, bounced off slightly and I was able to maneuver the car the rest of the way off the road. Up until I crashed into the barrier I had absolutely no control over the steering at all.

Filed Sep 25, 2011 · Steering · 134,000 miles · OR · crash · 1 injury

Traveling southbound on interstate 15 I changed lanes from the right hand lane into the right hand merge/exit lane to friar rd exit. I was on my way to church above mission valley. I was traveling at approximately 60 miles per hour, as I was changing lanes the steering wheel suddenly no longer controlled the wheels. I moved the steering wheel only enough for a lane change but the steering lost all connection with wheels. The front wheels appeared to have lost connection with the steering, the car lurched first left then right, I put my foot on the clutch to try to get it to slow down. I didn't hit the brakes while car was in uncontrolled movement. Then the car did at least one complete 360 spin, came out of the spin facing the curb at the shoulder, bounced over the curb. Apparently it may have gone air borne and sheared off a small tree. Went down the embankment on its wheels and ended up at the bottom still on its wheels.

Filed Jul 29, 2010 · Driver assistance · 42,000 miles · 00

Toyota matrix 2005 model purchased on oct 2004 and exported to canada on feb 2009, about 42k miles. Ecm problem. While the car is in motion, the engine check light turned on and kept on after then. The car "jerks" from time to time while moving. Sent to dealer, diagnosed as ECM problem, which is a manufacture defect.

Filed May 23, 2010 · 22,700 miles · DE

My husband and I were on interstate 495 of the washington beltway sitting in a 3 mile backup where 5 lanes were merging into one. My foot was firmly on the brake leaving plenty of room from the car in front of me. All of a sudden I realized that the car was inching forward and the brake would not stop the acceleration. My husband realized what was happening and looked down and knew that my foot was firmly on the brake. All of a sudden, it just stopped as fast as it started. We came within inches of hitting the car in front of us. As I sat in that mess of a traffic jam and saw the amount of cell phones being used, it hit me. Did all these phones start that car to move? This matrix 2009 only has 22,700 miles on it but I will be taking it to the toyota dealership and toyota will be receiving a letter from me with the details. The recall work on the accelerator was done 2 months ago. I have also made a complaint to the dealership that the car seems to do something between 20 and 40 miles per hour when you are decelerating. I can't tell exactly what it is doing because it seems to jerk. The dealership put it on the computer and said nothing was wrong. It may be unrelated to the other problem but it is one more thing that I have noticed about this car. As a note, my husband and I have had toyotas forever and currently have a 2004 corolla and traded in the 2006 corolla for this matrix. We have never had any trouble whatsoever with our toyotas until now.

Filed Apr 4, 2010 · Acceleration · 27,500 miles · OH

After purchasing gas at 6:30 a.m., I started my 2008 toyota matrix and was rolling slowly out a slight incline to the street. The car lurched forward and I jammed first one foot then both feet on the brake while pulling up the emergency brake. It felt like holding back a horse at the starting gate. I put the car in park and the engine began racing like it does during an auto emissions test. I turned the car off and it stopped. I finally got the nerve to start the car again and it performed normally as it has since. I took the car to performance toyota in fairfield ohio on april 3rd as instructed by the service department so they could try to recreate the situation and have it on record that I experienced this incident.

Filed Mar 29, 2010 · Electrical · 37,000 miles · MA

Computer failure, quite suddenly the car stopped working, jerked and slowed down. All the service lights on the dash board came on. After a couple minutes the car could be turned on but after about 1.5 miles the same thing would happen. The highway was avoided but it occurred on a local road with lots of cars. The hazards were turned on but it was a frightening and concerning incident. Aaa was called to tow the car to the dealer. At the dealer a computer part was replaced. The car has been working for 48hrs. The car was only four years old.

Filed Mar 26, 2010 · Acceleration · 91,000 miles · OH

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota matrix. The contact stated the rpms suddenly increased while the vehicle was in park and would move forward even when the brakes are being appied. The contact took the vehicle to a dealership to have it inspected and the dealer informed the contact that the idle was low. In 2007, the sales dealer told the contact they would lower the idle but she is not sure if that repair was performed. Her concern was that the vehicle could possibly lunge forward and cause a crash. The failure mileage was approximately 91,000. Updated 5/10/10 *cn the consumer stated since the vehicle was purchased, it has lurched forward about once a week or more. Occassionally, when the vehicle was started, the engine would rev extremely high. Updated 06/11/10.

Filed Mar 5, 2010 · Electrical, Transmission · 126,220 miles · MD

Engine code p2610: ECM / PCM internal engine off timer performance experienced issues: - abrupt jerking to left during acceleration - harsh shift of transmission during cruising speed - intermittent non-start condition action taken: dealer replaced engine control computer (part no. 89661-02k41).

Filed Mar 5, 2010 · Electrical · 56,500 miles · SC

I was stopped at a busy intersection during morning rush hour when my car stalled. I tried unsuccessfully several times to restart the engine. After allowing it to sit for several minutes, the car finally restarted. I moved the car into a parking lot and allowed it to sit, idling, for several minutes. When I put the car back into drive, it lurched forward. Despite pressing on the gas, it would not accelerate past 10 MPH. I had the car towed to the dealership, where they said the engine control module had failed. It was under warranty but, had it not been, would have cost me $900. I purchased this car new in 2006, and it has been serviced regularly.