CarComplaints.com Notes: The Toyota Matrix is the mechanical twin of the Pontiac Vibe.
Both models were a joint GM-Toyota venture, manufactured together at a NUMMI production facility in Fremont, CA. Only the heating & A/C systems are different.
10.0
really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,200
Average Mileage:
36,000 miles
Total Complaints:
1 complaints
Most Common Solutions:
replace clutch disc, pressure plate, and flywheel (1 reports)
Other owners with same model experienced same problem, look it up on Google. It's NOT the driver, it's the car. Only way to get a heavier clutch is to buy after market, and they are called "Racing" clutches. Don't let repair shops intimidate you, they will say the slipping and ultimate failure is caused from the driver bad driving habits. Put a train on the tracks with this stock clutch and you'll see its just too heavy and too much engine torque to grab it. It will slip, burning the clutch disc and eventually causing failure. Flywheel is "disposable", not meant to be turned at a machine shop, new must be installed at same time as clutch.
Update from Jun 11, 2014: clutch total failure at 39,000. Every car I have owned have been manual transmissions, but a stock clutch with a heavy car and letting people who haven't driven a clutch with a difficult shift pattern was the downfall.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
Other owners with same model experienced same problem, look it up on Google. It's NOT the driver, it's the car. Only way to get a heavier clutch is to buy after market, and they are called "Racing" clutches. Don't let repair shops intimidate you, they will say the slipping and ultimate failure is caused from the driver bad driving habits. Put a train on the tracks with this stock clutch and you'll see its just too heavy and too much engine torque to grab it. It will slip, burning the clutch disc and eventually causing failure. Flywheel is "disposable", not meant to be turned at a machine shop, new must be installed at same time as clutch.
Update from Jun 11, 2014: clutch total failure at 39,000. Every car I have owned have been manual transmissions, but a stock clutch with a heavy car and letting people who haven't driven a clutch with a difficult shift pattern was the downfall.
- Charlene K., Severna Park, MD, Afghanistan