Recalls
Toyota Matrix: 10V384000
RepairPal Expert Overview
Summary:
Toyota is recalling certain 2005-2008 Corolla and Matrix models because a crack may develop on a circuit board inside the engine control module (ECM). Consequences associated with this defect include: illumination of the Check Engine Light and harsh transmission shifting. The engine may not start or it could stall while driving, which can increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will inspect the ECM and replace as necessary.
Model Year(s): 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Mfr's Report Date:
December 21, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V384000
NHTSA Action Number: N/A
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Potential Number of Units Affected: 1128659
Summary: TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2008 COROLLA AND COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES. THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE (ECM) FOR THE SUBJECT MODELS EQUIPPED WITH THE 1ZZ-FE ENGINE AND TWO-WHEEL DRIVE MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A CRACK MAY DEVELOP AT CERTAIN SOLDER POINTS OR ON VARISTORS ON THE CIRCUIT BOARD.
Consequence: THERE ARE A VARIETY OF WARNINGS AND CONSEQUENCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFECT. THE ENGINE WARNING LAMP COULD BE ILLUMINATED, HARSH SHIFTING COULD RESULT, THE ENGINE MAY NOT START, OR THE ENGINE COULD SHUT OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN. AN ENGINE SHUTOFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS BEING DRIVEN INCREASES THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE PRODUCTION NUMBER OF THE ECM AND REPLACE THE ECM IF NECESSARY. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. TOYOTA WILL MAIL AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION THE MIDDLE OF SEPTEMBER 2010 TO ADVISE OWNERS OF THIS DEFECT AND RECALL. THIS INTERIM NOTIFICATION WILL INFORM OWNERS THAT THEY WILL RECEIVE A FUTURE NOTIFICATION WHEN PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE TO HAVE THE FREE REMEDY PERFORMED ON THEIR VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Notes: OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .
Recall data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
Had to replace this PCB due to a no-start condition. Toyota dealership replaced and recoded free of charge
I have been complaining and notifying Toyota about this problem since 2007, (1 year after purchase), up until today, March 2012, and barely this last week, they finally diagnosed my vehicle as having a defect. I've taken my vehicle in three times for this very same issue, and Toyota not once figured out the problem during that time. In fact, I was told, my clutch was going out. I paid over a thousand dollars to replace it in hopes that would fix the problem. It did not. My vehicle continued to alert me, via the engine light, my engine on multiple occasions would not start, and the turning off while driving increased. Although I immediately informed Toyota of this problem once again, their answer to it was that I must be doing something wrong, since some idiot at Toyota didn't bother to properly diagnose the vehicle. Honestly, I don't think anyone really took my vehicle for a real test drive to notice the problem, or maybe they knew the problem, but just didn't want to put up the money, since my vehicle's warranty was soon coming to an end. To my dismay (NOT), now that it's out of warranty, they have magically and conveniently diagnosed it properly and informed me of a $100.00 diagnostic fee as well as a $1300.00 estimate in which to repair the problem due to it being out of warranty. Of course, I did not agree to pay the measling hundred bucks by refusing to sign the statement, and have since ranted and raved over the ridiculous amount of $1300.00 that I WILL NOT PAY, out of warranty or not. The warranty expiration is absolutely irrelevant regardless of a recall. The fact that I have taken it in three prior times during my warranty, (not to mention the 5 additional times I've called regarding the problem)and as a result nothing was done to protect the consumer's safety until after my warranty had expired. I have been in so many close-call accidents alone and with my son in the vehicle for the past five years, and not one person at Toyota put all efforts in helping me while the vehicle was under warranty until after expiration. How convenient! It's obvious that Toyota is only interested in making a dollar than keeping their consumers safe. Only after all of my rants and raves and efforts and mention of my promise to including legal counsel intervention to convincing Toyota to solve this problem, did they actually budge. They finally loaned me a vehicle for free, gas paid, waived the $100 diagnostic fee, and offered to cover the costs of the $900.00 part (a throttle body), then had the odasity and nerve to tell me that I would have to pay the labor costs of $270.00, CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT!!!!! Of course, I lent my deepest depreciation to the matter. And can you believe that they will be getting back to me on their decision on Monday! Come Monday, if I'm yet not satisfied with their decision, which I hope they will do the rightful thing and not ask me for a dime, I will continue this rightful and reasonable fight to getting my vehicle repaired as it should have been five years ago. I am even more greatly appalled by the fact of now just finding out that this was in fact a recall as of August 10, 2010, that I was never notified nor informed by anyone at Toyota. I'm even more heated up by the fact that I even mentioned a possible recall on my vehicle to one of the idiots, of which name I won't mention, and he completely blew me off and told me yet again I do not know what I'm talking about and that those recalls I've been hearing on TV had nothing to do with my vehicle. Monday will be INTERESTING. I only hope for good news. Now that I know about the recall, I will be sure to mention the proper terms and parts as mentioned in the recall, like Engine Control Module, which I hope is the same as a Throttle Body.
BTW, (continued dialogue from March 11, 2012 comment) Toyota admitted to my vehicle shutting off the first time they took it for a test drive. Now that idiot, whose name again I will not mention, can shut his mouth on his rude comment from a couple years ago that I did not know how to drive my 6 speed Toyota Corolla XRS. For his information, at the age of 14, I began training on only manual vehicles and have extensive years of experience driving them (over 25 years to be exact). I can assure you, I know what the hell I'm doing when it comes to driving a stick.
I am not laughing as my 2007 Corolla's water pump went out in 2009,(was still under warranty) now the A/C is not working! This is not a clutch car, but had a 1985 Mercury Topaz bought brand new back then, 5 speed, clutch, drove that car for 11 years never had a clutch replaced or a problem. Then had a 1997 Ford Taurus up till I bought the Corolla, a friend said there a real good car, but are they??????