NHTSA Complaint #10442818 — 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX

PRIOR TO INCIDENT, VEHICLE RAN AND SHIFTED FINE. VEHICLE WAS NEVER USED FOR TOWING OR OTHER EXTREME USE. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS CHANGED AT THESE MILEAGES: 31,669; 61,023; 92,012; AND 105,330. VEHICLE WAS OTHERWISE WELL-MAINTAINED, AND DRIVEN WITH CARE BY EXPERIENCED USERS OF MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS. THE FIRST THREE TRANNY FLUID CHANGES DONE AT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. ON JAN. 1, 2012, TOYOTA MATRIX (2003) , W/MANUAL 5-SPEED TRANSMISSION HAD SUDDEN, SEVERE FAILURE ON TOLLWAY. ROADWAY WAS CLEAR. VEHICLE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING IN THE ROAD TO PRECIPITATE THIS. VEHICLE WAS JUST STARTING TO DECELERATE FOR TOLL BOOTH WHEN SUDDEN, HARSH, GRINDING, METAL-ON-METAL SOUND BEGAN. CAR WAS THEN UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR, AND SHIFTED INTO SECOND WITH DIFFICULTY. VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO SIDE OF ROAD IMMEDIATELY AND TOWED AWAY. AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST REMOVED & DISASSEMBLED TRANNY. DIAGNOSIS IS: EVERYTHING IN 5TH GEAR IS BROKEN. FIFTH GEAR LITERALLY BROKE. PINION SHAFT & EVERYTHING HOUSING RING GEAR IS ALSO BROKEN. APPARENTLY 1ST THROUGH 4TH GEARS LOOK OK. TRANSMISSION RE-BUILD IS ADVISED, USING TOYOTA FACTORY PARTS. ESTIMATED COST $3,100. IN ADDITION, I HAD VEHICLE TOWED 45 MILES FROM RURAL SITE OF FAILURE ($160). AND I HAD TO RENT A CAR TO GET HOME FROM FAILURE SITE ($225+). I STILL MUST RETURN TO FORT WAYNE, IN TO PICK UP REPAIRED VEHICLE WHEN READY. I HAVE NOW READ OF WIDESPREAD TRANNY FAILURES IN MATRIXES. TOYOTA DEALERS AND TOLL-FREE NUMBER PERSONNEL ADMIT NO KNOWLEDGE OF SUCH ISSUES. BUT, EVERY INDEPENDENT SOURCE I'VE CONSULTED ACKNOWLEDGES THESE DRIVETRAIN ISSUES. SINCE THESE FAILURES ARE SO COMMON, TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. A RECALL, OR AT LEAST TOYOTA ADMITTING AND TAKING FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS IS IN ORDER. I LOVED MY 1989 CAMRY, BUT NO LONGER HAVE ANY TRUST IN TOYOTA. NHTSA, PLEASE HELP US. THANK YOU. *TR