2009 TOYOTA MATRIX Steering Problems

I STARTED MY CAR, AND THE POWER STEERING LIGHT WAS ON. I TRIED TO TUN THE WHEEL, AND NOTED THE POWER STEERING STOPPED WORKING. I GOT THE CAR HOME, AND CALLED FOR SERVICE AT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIPS. THEY WOULDN'T GIVE ME AN APPOINTMENT". RESEARCHED THE WEB, AND NOTED THIS ISSUE WAS A WIDE SPREAD COMPLAINT. I CHECKED THE FUSES (NOTED THEM OKAY), THE STEERING RESUMED.... HOWEVER, THIS IS A REAL CONCERN, BEING THAT THE STEERING APPEARS TO BE AN ISSUE FOR THESE CARS. WHAT CAN I DO TO GET THIS REPAIRED?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.

MY CAR WOULD NOT START AFTER I HAD STOPPED TO GET A HAIR CUT. I CLEANED THE BATTERY TERMINALS AND WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO START. WHEN I TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT WAS VERY HARD TO TURN THE WHEEL. I MANAGED TO DRIVE IT A HALF BLOCK TO A NAPA DEALER SO I COULD REPLACE THE BATTERY AND I WAS GOING TO BUY SOME POWER STEERING FLUID. I WAS SURPRISED I COULD NOT EVEN FIND THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR. AFTER I REPLACED THE BATTERY THE STEERING RETURNED TO NORMAL. REALLY SCARY NOW AFTER I RESEARCHED AND FOUND OUT THAN MANY OTHERS HAVE HAD THE STEERING GO OUT WHEN THEY WERE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS. NOT SURE WHY THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND EXCESSIVE FORCE ON THE STEERING WHEEL WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, DROVE OVER A ROAD RETAINER, AND LANDED IN A DITCH. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT DID NOT SUSTAIN ANY INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

CAR WAS PARKED. WHEN I RETURNED TO THE CAR, THE POWER STEERING HAD CEASED TO FUNCTION AND WARNING LIGHTS WERE LIT FOR THE POWER STEERING, ABS AND BRAKES. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE POWER STEERING UNIT FOR THIS VEHICLE FOR ISSUES RELATED TO THE POWER STEERING LOCKING UP. LUCKILY I WAS NOT DRIVING THE CAR AT THE TIME. *TR

POWER STEERING MALFUNCTION OCCURRED AND WARNING LIGHT (ON THE DASHBOARD) WAS ON. STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO TURN. LUCKILY THIS HAPPENED ON THE PARKING LOT, AND NOT ON MY WAY BACK HOME (TRIP ON THE HIGHWAY) WHICH FOR SURE WOULD RESULTED IN CAR ACCIDENT WITH SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES. I HAVE CONTACT TOYOTA HOWEVER AT THIS POINT THEY ARE NOT CONCERNED IN THIS MATTER AS SAFETY ISSUE AND WILL NOT COVER ANY EXPENSES FOR SUCH REPAIR (POWER STEERING ELECTRICAL UNIT/ RELAY WAS REPLACED_PARTS~ 900$ AND LABOR ~500$). *TR

WARNING LIGHT FOR ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING CAME ON, AND I LOST POWER STEERING. DEALER SAYS CAR TOO HAZARDOUS TO DRIVE AND I NEED A NEW ELECTRIC POWER STEERING MOTOR WITH COST OF INSTALLATION IN EXCESS OF $800 - NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY, OUTRAGEOUS ON A FOUR YEAR OLD,WELL-MAINTAINED VEHICLE. NOW WAITING FOR PARTS. *TR

2009 MATRIX XRS CERTIFIED VEHICLE PURCHASED WITH 33,000 MILES AROUND 2010, CURRENTLY 48,000 MILES AND HAS 5 YR, 100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THIS VEHICLE IS DIFFICULT TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WANDERS INTO THE LEFT OR RIGHT LANES AND DRIVER MUST FIGHT TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN A STRAIGHT LINE. THE LOCAL CHANTILLY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DENIES THE ISSUE AND ANY TSB. THE STEERING ON THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AND WARRANTS FURTHER REVIEW BY NTSB IF TOYOTA CONTINUES TO STONEWALL ITS CUSTOMERS REGARDING SAFETY ISSUES. I WILL FOLLOW UP WITH TOYOTA NATIONAL. *TR

I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX THAT HAS MULTIPLE ISSUES INCLUDING A STEERING ISSUE THAT ALMOST CAUSED MY FAMILY THEIR LIFE, NOW I AM BEING TOLD I NEED NEW BRAKES AT 19,800 MILES. THE REAR BRAKES ARE NOT ADJUSTING AT ALL WHICH MAY BE CAUSING THE STEERING ISSUES. CAR IS HAVING INTERMENT ISSUES GOING INTO 1ST AND REVERSE, REPORTED MULTIPLE TIMES, TOYOTA SAYS THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE. CAR IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. ALSO, ONE TIRE IS WEARING ON ONE SIDE WHICH IS A KNOWN ISSUE. THE STEERING ISSUES HAS BEEN REPORTED ALONG WITH THE ONE TIRE WEARING ISSUE BY OVER 500 PEOPLE BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT RECOGNIZE IT. I AM SCARED TO TAKE MY CAR ON THE INTERSTATE DUE TO THE STEERING ISSUE AND THIS IS A NEW CAR WITH LOW MILES. MY FAMILY IS AT RISK OF BREAK FAILURE, OR WORSE DUE TO THE DEFECTS. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA,M THEY...

STEERING WHEEL PULLS TO THE RIGHT/LEFT. PURCHASED CAR USED FROM TOYOTA DEALER NOTICED THE STEERING PULL DURING TEST DRIVE. DEALER ALIGNED CAR, BUT STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT & LEFT. *TR

ONGOING STEERING PROBLEMS ON 2009 MATRIX CAUSE IT TO OVER STEER WHEN CAR HITS BUMPS OR WHEN THERE IS A WIND OF ANY KIND. THE FASTER THE SPEED, THE WORSE THE PROBLEM. IT IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IN WINDY CONDITIONS. THE CAR BADLY OVER STEERS AND I AM AFRAID IT WILL ROLL IN WINDY CONDITIONS. *TR

WHEN ACCELERATING, THE CAR VEERS SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. IT'S NOT AN ALIGNMENT ISSUE BUT FEELS LIKE THE TORQUE STEERING. I MUST HAVE MY HANDS FIRMLY ON THE WHEEL TO CORRECT IT. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST TWICE WEEKLY. ACCORDING TO MY TOYOTA DEALER THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE A 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH 5000 MILES ON IT. IT WILL BE MOVING DOWN THE ROAD FINE AND START MOVING TO THE LEFT INTO THE NEST LANE ON THE HIGHWAY. UPON TRYING TO CORRECT IT WILL GLIDE TO THE OTHER LANE ON THE RIGHT. IT SEEMS LIKE A REAL STRUGGLE TRYING TO KEEP THE CAR IN THE LANE. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN SEVERAL TIMES AND MY HUSBAND HAS ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS. WE TRIED TO BLAME IT ON THE WIND AND THE SHAPE OF THE CAR, BUT IT HAS NOT BEEN WINDY EVERY TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. WE LIVE IN A SNOW BELT AND ARE CONCERNED IF THIS WOULD HAPPEN ON SNOW OR ICE WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO CORRECT AS NORMAL.

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. *TR

AT 12:30 P.M. I WAS HEADING NORTH ON OH-25 IN BOWLING GREEN, OHIO. MY CAR BEGAN SHAKING, BUT I WAS NOT OVERLY CONCERNED AS WE OFTEN HAVE WINDY DAYS. I TURNED RIGHT ONTO OH-582 AND BECAME SLIGHTLY MORE CONCERNED WHEN THE SHAKING IN THE CABIN DID NOT CEASE. I NOTICED THAT THE CAR DID NOT SHAKE BELOW ABOUT 45 MPH BUT AGAIN ATTRIBUTED THE SHAKING I EXPERIENCED TO MY CAR FIGHTING AGAINST WINDS. I TURNED LEFT ONTO I-75 N AND ACCELERATED TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC. AFTER MERGING SAFELY INTO THE RIGHT-HAND LANE, I CONTINUED ACCELERATING UNTIL I REACHED 55-60 MPH AND MERGED INTO THE LEFT HAND LANE. SHORTLY, I REACHED 65 MPH. WHEN THE SHAKING, WHICH I HAD SUPPOSED TO BE DUE TO STRONG WINDS, DID NOT CEASE, I ATTEMPTED TO DECELERATE. I PRESSED LIGHTLY ON THE BRAKES TO BEGIN A SLOW DECELERATION, WITH THE INTENTION OF MERGING INTO THE...

WHILE DRIVING TO AND FROM WORK I HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING OF MY 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX. THIS GENERALLY HAPPENS WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING OVER 40 MPH. THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY VEER AND I HAVE TO COMPENSATE BY STEERING IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION TO BRING IT BACK ONTO THE ROAD. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE WIND BLOWING MY CAR TO THE SIDE BUT EVEN ON CALM DAYS IT HAS HAPPENED. I HAVE HAD OTHER PEOPLE DRIVE MY CAR WHO HAVE HAD IT HAPPEN TO THEM. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVER DAY BUT AT LEAST ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK I EXPERIENCE THE PROBLEM. *TR

ON SEPT 9 2009, I WAS ON MY WAY TO LAS VEGAS NEVADA IN MY 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX SPORT AND NOTICED WHEN I EXCEEDED ALITTLE OVER THE SPEED OF 65 MY CAR BEGAN TO SWERVE SIDE TO SIDE NEARLY LOOKING LIKE I'M ABOUT TO SIDE SWIPE THE CAR IN THE NEXT LANE OVER..AND THIS IS NOT THE ONLY TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW MORE TIMES ON MY WAY TO WORK. AND I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO TOYOTA AND THEY KEPT ON TRYING TO CONVINCE ME THAT I NEED NEW TIRES AND I NEED ALIGNMENT DONE, SO REALLY THEY DIDN'T TO ANYTHING FOR ME MY CAR IS STILL NEW AND I DIDN'T NEED TIRES AT ALL I STILL HAD ALOT OF TIRE TREAD, AND IF YOU LOOKED AT THE TIRES YOU WOULD NOTICE I WAS BURNING NOTHING BUT SHOULDER WERE GOING SINCE I GOT IT. SO I'VE BEEN VERY...

WHEN YOU'RE DRIVING THE CAR UNEXPECTEDLY PULLS TO THE LEFT OR THE RIGHT THEN WHEN TRYING TO CORRECT THE STEERING OVER CORRECTS THUS JERKING THE CAR IN WHICH EVER DIRECTION YOU ARE TRYING TO CORRECT. THIS ACTION OCCURS EVERY DAY. WE HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENTS, AT ONE WE WERE TOLD THE FRONT TIRES WERE SWAPPED AND AT THE OTHER THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND WE WERE TOLD THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE STEERING AND THAT WITHOUT A RECALL THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD OR WOULD DO TO FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

BOUGHT 2009 TOYOTA MATRIX IN SEPT. 2009... HAVE EXPERIENCED BOTH GAS PEDAL ISSUES AND STEERING ISSUES. GAS PEDAL ISSUE HAS BEEN "FIXED". IN REGARDS TO THE STEERING ISSUE, I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN I WAS DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 35MPH IT DOES PULL TO THE RIGHT AND FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS BEING PUSHED BY WIND, MY DAUGHTER & HUSBAND ALSO EXPERIENCED THIS WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. I DID NOT REPORT THE STEERING ISSUE TO ANYONE BECAUSE I DID NOT KNOW IT WAS A DEFECT, THIS IS THE FIRST TOYOTA I HAVE OWNED AND THOUGHT IT WAS A TOYOTA THING. ALSO, I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN NOV. 2009 IN THE TOYOTA MATRIX, I AM UNSURE OF WHETHER THE GAS PEDAL ISSUE MAY HAVE PLAYED A ROLE IN THAT INCIDENT. I DO NOT OWN THIS CAR NOW, I TRADED IT IN ON ANOTHER VEHICLE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL. THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED, AND THEN THERE WAS A LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT BECAUSE THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE THEY COULD NOT PROVIDE A REMEDY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 72483. UPDATED 12/17/09 *BF THE WARNING LIGHTS REMAINED ON UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER NEVER LEFT ZERO. UPDATED 12/21/09