5thGenJenn
New member
Has anyone had to deal with Toyota arbitration before?
Arbitration
- Thread starter 5thGenJenn
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
SkylineGTRracer
New member
I have but it was more with the service department and not the manufacturer. I will say this do not settle for anything unless you think its a fair effort. What is the problem if you dont mind me asking?
5thGenJenn
New member
We have an 09 Matrix that we bought new Feb 09. It's been in the shop 5 times for steering issues. When you're driving it the car pulls to the right or left and when you go to correct it, the steering over corrects jerking the car into curbs, the other lane, other cars, whatever is next to you. Thankfully it hasn't caused any damage or injury yet but I know it's coming eventually. We have been told by Toyota after their regional reps came out and inspected it that there was nothing that they could do to fix the problem so we are either going to go straight to arbitration or try to lemon law it which eventually leads to arbitration either way. Basically we're screwed IMO. Not to mention our "case manager" is being an a$$ about all of it and treating us like it's our fault that we're not happy with a defective car. I think he just kind of expects us to say "oh well Toyota is just having some problems right now" and let it slide but now it's a safety issue and it's getting worse.
SkylineGTRracer
New member
Sorry to hear about that. have you tried other dealers? If I remember your car has an electric steering system. I really can't help you there as I have never seen one. I have however heard and read about and at low speeds it gives to much assistance and higher speeds I have heard it "sways" both left and right. sadly though as far as I understand this is "normal" for the car but as a driver it would ruin your confidence in the car. I guess you can check the grounding system and see if their is any problem or upgrade it.
5thGenJenn
New member
Awz
New member
Electric power steering normally has issues like this. But I recall a couple of my buddies at the local Toyota dealer talking about a new recall that's upcoming to correct this issue on the corolla. Could be mistaken though, it was over a month ago. I think the matrix uses the same parts though. I don't know what happened to Toyota, but they really need to step up and keep things like this from leaving the production line.
Mike
Mike
SkylineGTRracer
New member
5thGenJenn
New member
004Gunner
New member
Sorry to hear about that. I lost my faith in Toyota about 4 years ago and their decline was beginning to become apparent then.
Your issue is a serious safety concern and it's pretty ret*rded that a company getting fined for safety failures is giving you such grief. Imo that electronic feel is obvious and the delay is scary in transmission shifting, throttle response, and steering.
Kmvreter
New member
Make sure to file a complaint with NHTSA regardless of the outcome. That way your issue gets logged and if there are enough complaints Toyota will be forced to act. Go to their website www.NHTSA.com.
Scoobs
Member
We have a 2009 Matrix XR AWD with Goodyear Eagle RS-A P215/45R17 tires, purchased June 2008, and no steering issues here. Sorry to hear about your problems. What brand and size of tire do you have, maybe it's the tires that are the problem. If not, there must be something wrong with the power steering on your car. If you haven't done so already can you take out another Matrix with the same size wheels/ tires etc and see how its steering reacts?
Last edited:
96743runner
New member
Sorry to hear about the problems with your Matrix!
It's so depressing to see Toyota's reputation sink deeper and deeper...
It's so depressing to see Toyota's reputation sink deeper and deeper...
5thGenJenn
New member
Well we actually have good news about this! We took our Matrix in for the final repair attempt before legally demanding a refund. Now, one piece of info I didn't realize I had left out was the fact that our Matrix had dealer installed aftermarket wheels and tires. 18's to be exact. After the second Regional Toyota Tech coming to Little Rock to look at the vehicle they finally decided that it's the wheels and tires causing all the steering problems. (If they would have put stock wheels back on it in December like I asked them to Toyota would have saved themselves 2 trips here but nooooooo I was crazy for even asking and guess what the Tech ended up doing yesterday...yep that's right he put stock wheels back on it from another Matrix on the lot!) The Tech told us that after all this there was nothing that Toyota would do as a manufacturer and that we needed to take our complaint up with the dealer we purchased the vehicle from which happend to be the dealer we were sitting at. They kept telling us that there was nothing they would do since we bought the car the with the aftermarket wheels knowing that they weren't genuine Toyota parts. After 2 hours of arguing with them (and having the Toyota Tech on our side saying that the only real fix for the problem was to put the stock wheels back on) we walked out stock wheels, and larbor to put the NEW stock size tires on, balanced and everything for FREE! I can't say that I am happy with this decision simply because we bought the car because of how it looked with the aftermarket wheels
we wouldn't have really even considered it otherwise. The only good thing about all this is now we have a car that's safe to drive again even if we hate how it looks. We also have a 99 Honda Civic SI that my husband is driving daily now. I think we're just going to sell the Matrix. (I have a 2010 SR5) The major down side to all of this though is that I don't think either of us will ever buy a Toyota again. We have had so many problems with not only the car but the customer service too. Hopefully no one else will have any problems like us. If you do start to have problems and start getting treated badly, do whatever it takes to MAKE your dealership listen to you up front. It will save you a lot of time if you do!!!