I was about to take my car to my trusted local mechanic, when my engine oil light came on well before I was due for my 3,000 mile engine oil change. A letter came in the mail from Toyota telling me they were aware of the possibility of excessive engine oil consumption in my 2009 Toyota Matrix. What serendipity! I failed the oil consumption test, and my Toyota is currently at the dealership for 3 days to fix the problem with new pistons, and they are providing a free rental car. I feel fortunate that I didn't end up spending my own money on the problem, and the timing of Toyota's letter couldn't have been more perfect. My car has been extremely reliable so far, and I hope it continues that way for quite awhile. I will provide follow-up information in the future after driving for awhile after the repairs.

I want to start off by saying that I have my oil changed regularly and have retained all my receipts in a file.

At around 100,000, my car started burning/consuming oil at a high rate. I could smell burning oil whenever I turned off my car and got out. It is not leaking oil, however, because there are no oil spots on my garage floor.

When Toyota sent a letter several months ago to come in and have it tested, I did that, and after driving the 1,200 miles, they found my car was not burning a significant amount of oil to warrant a fix. I, however, do not believe them because when I got home that day, I checked my oil, and it was very low, and I put in a full quart to bring it up to a safe level.

My car just this week passed 200,000 miles. I drive a LOT for work. I have a case of oil on hand at all times and generally add a quart per week. Even one week after a fresh oil change, my dipstick shows burned oil only at the very bottom of the stick.

I have gotten my oil changed every 5k miles, per Toyota. A few years ago, it started burning oil and it's only gotten worse. I've basically replaced all of the oil since my last oil change. Pretty sure the car will not pass any emissions testing when I move which means I will either have to shell out big $ to fix it, or sell it and get a new car. I really like my Matrix, but this is frustrating. I was really hoping to keep it until I'd put 300k or so miles on it, only a little over half way to that. I wanted time to save up to pay cash for my next vehicle but I'm pretty sure that's not going to happen.

My 2009 Matrix was bought new and serviced by Jim Pattison Toyota (every 8000km as recommended in all their literature). I have never had to look under the hood between services, not until the car was at 85,000km and was approx. 4000km halfway through to the next scheduled service. My oil light and every light on my dash board began flashing, at first I thought it might be an electrical problem so I pulled over and checked the dipstick and found there was no oil registering at all on the dipstick. I put 2L of oil in and made an appointment the next day with Toyota to have it checked out.

Feb 10, 2015, I was told by Toyota there was no oil leak but a possible burning of oil and to come back in 2000km.

I drove the car more than I would normally, just to put the 2000km on so it could be tested before my warranty ran out (Toyota is aware that my extended warranty runs out July, 2015).

Mar. 10, 2015 - I brought the car in and was told the oil was down .6 of a litre.

I was told to drive another 2000km (before my warranty runs out).

May 27, 2015 - I brought the car back and ask to be present when they check the dipstick. I was informed, after I sat in my car for over an hour, that I did not have steel toed boots or proper clothing and that customers are not allowed in the garage. They then tell me that there was now a new procedure and that the first two tests (4000km extra kilometers before my warranty runs out) did not count. This time they put tape over the dipstick, oil pan, etc. and I was told that if there was any sign of tampering the test would be null-and-void, and if I went over 1 km the test would be null-and-void. I don't even pump my own gas let alone know how to tamper with the oil.

July 30, 2015 - I took the car back after another 2000km and asked to see the dipstick, once again I was told I wasn't allowed to see it and that I would have to take their word for it. They informed me the oil level was fine and I don't have an oil consumption problem.

I spoke to the parts manager and expressed my concern that Jim Patterson Toyota doesn't trust me, the customer, but I'm supposed to trust them?? I was never told where the oil measured on the dipstick, just that it had passed.

I explained to the women I spoke to on the phone that I would bring my car in and that they could put all the tape they want on it and I will drive it for the recommended 8000km, and if I don't run out of oil I won't say another word but if I do run out of oil Toyota would fix the problem. I was said that they wouldn't do that but to bring the car back in 3 months and that they would run another 2000km test. At the end of our conversation she recommended that I check my oil regularly over the next 3 months so I don't run out!!!

This is when you really find out about a company and how they deal with legitimate problems. So far TOYOTA gets an "F".

Is there anyone else in Victoria having this problem?

A few months ago (April 2015) it was time for my oil change. I took my car to the dealership and ended up spending over four hours in their waiting room while they did a "multi-point inspection." I wasn't aware that this is what they were doing but when they finally came out to talk to me they informed me that I needed new brakes and rotars, that there was a seal to my radiator that would eventually fail and my car would overheat, and a few other things I needed done on my newly paid off car. They never mentioned anything about my car eating oil.

I drove my car until it was nearly time to get my oil changed again when the change oil light came on. I thought that was strange since it wasn't quite time (I hadn't made it 5,000 miles yet.) I had my husband check the oil level and it wasn't even registering on the dipstick! He immediately put 2 quarts of oil in it and drove it straight to get an oil change. He took it Valvoline this time because I felt like the dealership was trying to sabotage my newly paid off car. Ridiculous, maybe. But I was a bit peeved that they tried to get me to agree to an extra $2000 worth of work that was actually not needed yet as my brakes are fine and I've never had any issues with my car overheating or leaking. But I digress.

Fast forward to present day. I'm 400 miles out from my next oil change and the Check Oil light has come on YET AGAIN. I checked my oil and once again, it doesn't even register on the dipstick.

I don't hot rod this little car, people. There are no oil spots in my drive way! It doesn't smell like oil is burning and there is no puff of smoke when I crank up. It otherwise runs fine.

I've called the dealership and they are going to do the excessive consumption test on it beginning tomorrow. They act like if they can find that it's using lots of oil (which I know will be no problem to prove) they will change out the pistons. I had already discovered this was an issue on multiple car forums and yet I didn't even mention "pistons" to the man but he sounded like he was already fully aware of the issue. I'm irritated that Toyota hasn't fixed this problem already because I'm lucky I haven't destroyed my engine. I don't trust this company now. If they don't/won't fix it, I'm buying an Outback and calling it a day.

In the spring of 2015 I took my 2009 Matrix in for a regular oil change. I get the oil changed every 3000-5000 miles, and almost always get it done at the Toyota Dealership. Less than 500 miles later, my oil light came on. My oil light had never come on in the first 6 years I have owned this car. I have already had to come in for recall work 4 other times since I've owned the car.

I checked my oil and the oil tank was almost empty; it had less than a quart in it. I added oil and immediately took it in to the Toyota dealership on 5/16/15, at 68,090 miles. The service technician agreed that the oil level should not have been as low as it was following such a recent oil change. He told me that there was a known issue and recall with excessive engine oil consumption, and I should have the oil changed that day, drive approx. 1100 miles and return so he could re-check the oil levels, so I followed his instructions. When I got home that evening, I had a letter in the mail from Toyota alerting me to this recall.

I returned to World Toyota at 70,038 miles on 6/29/15, and the service technician informed me that although my vehicle used more oil than it should have in that time frame (just over a quart of oil every 1000 miles) it wasn't enough to warrant the recall work to be done. So Toyota managed to weasel out of fixing my car.

My car has obviously started burning excessive engine oil. The oil light never came on in the first 6 years that I have owned this vehicle, approx. 500 miles after an oil change, and all of a sudden at around 70,000 miles my car has started burning more oil than it should. Toyota knows this is happening to thousands of people. I should not have needed any further proof other than the fact that it was lower on oil than it should have been on 5/16/15. I should not have had to come back in after 1100 miles to prove that my car is burning excessive oil, the evidence was already there, and shown to the Toyota dealership, on 5/16/15.

On 6/29/15 I saw the laminated instructions for Toyota employees on the wall of the Service Center at the dealership, detailing which years and models of Toyotas were affected by this issue. I saw the 2009 Matrix (and only 2009, not ANY other years) included in this list. There is obviously an issue with my car burning excessive engine oil. I was sent away on 6/29/15 and he said there was nothing more he could do, and I would have to contact Toyota corporate.

I should not have had to spend hours of my valuable time coming in to the Toyota dealership over and over again for recall work that wouldn't have been necessary had Toyota built a quality vehicle. A 6 year-old car that was purchased brand new from the dealership should not be burning excessive engine oil. I should not have to spend my time writing this letter. I am both disappointed and frustrated with Toyota.

I would not waste my time or energy on this if I did not believe my car was at risk. I did not pay close to $20,000 for a brand new car only to, after only 6 years, end up with a defective vehicle, where the defects are something Toyota refuses to repair. I did not pay close to $20,000 for a brand new car only to have it require recall work over and over again. This is unacceptable. This is not what I have come to expect from Toyota.

I am on the road for my job, the Matrix is great for comfort and space. On the first oil change, from buying the used car, my mechanic noticed there was next to zero oil left. Yet, the sellers assured me they had the oil changed, the sticker was on the window and the car was running fine. He put in the 5W30, and I was off. Within 2 weeks of regular driving, I do approximately 500-1000km each week, again there was no oil!!!!

After 2 weeks I had to add 2L of the synthetic oil. Then another 2L after 3 weeks of driving. There is no leakage and the engine looks clean. I've read these reports, there doesn't seem to be a definitive reason for this, just a lot of angry owners. I would really like a suggestion for my mechanic to attempt to rectify this issue.

I don't see a TSB for this issue with all the web sites complaining about it. Why can't car companies just build a solid car for a decent price and stop fooling around with our livelihood?!!!

2009 Toyota Matrix S - AWD, 175000 miles on car and has been going through 1-2 qts oil every 1,000 miles. It is getting progressively worse as I continue to drive it. Started around 140000 miles. There is such a strong smell of burnt oil that you can't drive in it until you have opened the windows for a while first. (Not fun in the winter months). Also, about every two weeks, a pile of burnt oil rolls out of the exhaust, leaving a big black puddle of sludge behind. I can only hope that this burnt oil doesn't catch fire while driving, as I may flambe the driver behind me. Maybe then, Toyota will wake up and take notice of the issue that they are having with their vehicles. Fix the problem, please.

I did not become aware of the problem until there was more then 2 qts of oil gone and it was only 2000 miles of driving since the last oil change, I had seen a flash of an idiot light on the dash but it went on and off so quick i didnt know what the light was. When i was finally able to see the oil can symbol I check the oil and saw the dip stick showed NONE>> it was a sunday and my only option was to to go to Walmart to get a full oil change. I assumed at that point the oil lube place of my last oil change did not fill the oil up. I was bitching about never going back to them. At this point I had a little more them 50K miles on my car. Well I kept better watch of the oil after that and to my surprise less then 1000 miles and the oil was already showing less on the dip stick. I immediately took it to my dealer to get yet another oil change and tell them my concerns of the lack of oil. My car was not smoking, there was no oil leaks on the floor of my garage, nor on my parking spot at work where i park each and every day. Mike the Service Mgr at Lake Shore Toyota, tells me this is normal and proceeds to show me a toyota book that states the loss of oil after 600 miles is NORMAL.. and within Toyota factory standards. I let him know that was ridiculous, i consider my car newer even they are staying i have an 'OLDER" car. I said I have never heard of anything so ridiculous in my life losing oil after 600 miles.. so I asked him, where is the oil going? He said he couldnt tell me, he didnt know. The only thing he could suggest was to have a oil consumption tests done, which meant coming in every 500 miles. Which i did, after just 1000 miles it showed it donw on the dipstick. but Mike said between the two marks on the dip stick still meant it was in the full range.. I said ok but it is already going down which he said was ok.. I did not get there by 500 miles but got back there after about 800 miles I looked before going to him and saw now it was showing nothing on the stick... of course mike said It was a hair above the last line and he wanted to put a quart of oil in the car, I said NO...according to you it is still in that "full" line area.. why do you want to put oil in it? I said why did i do this test, i assumed it was to prove i was losing oil and you fix it. Mike said he is hands were tied since there is nothing wrong nothing to fix. I got very vocal in the dealership where two gentlemen were sitting waiting for their cars and I asked with a loud voice if they thought it was normal for a car to start burning oil after 600 miles.. that oil was not dripping out, smoking or anything but losing oil. Of course I could see Mike was not too happy with me announcing my displeasure. The men thought that was insane, one guy said I have 100,000 miles on my car and I do not even check oil consumption because there is no reason to think it was disappearing for no reason. And he wondered out loud why if it was warranty (plus I also carry extended warranty coverage) why toyota was not fixing it, I said cause they say this is normal, nothing to fix. Mike the service mgr said his hands were tied and gave me an 800 phone number to call Toyota. Which I did, spoke to a Joel, who promised to get back to me after investigating. Which he did in 2 days, and told me the same thing as Mike. I told him that this was ridiculous, that I am not going down easy, i will call, write, email, text anyone i could until something is done to fix the PROBLEM. That my manual said an oil change every 5000 miles and I cant even drive 1000 without losing oil. He had the same sentiments as Mike I'm sorry per our technicians here there is nothing wrong. His only suggestion was to try another dealer to see if I get a different result!!!!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU TOYOTA..

If you had asked me a year ago what I rated this car I would have given it a 10. This year however, I took it in for the regular maintenance and was told it was very low on oil. After doing an oil consumption report through the dealership they told me I am losing about a 1/2 litre of oil every 2,000 kms. This means I will lose approximately 2 Litres of oil for every time I have my oil changed. This is not an acceptable amount of oil being burned. The car itself has a technical service bulletin out on it for this oil consumption problem. I have contacted Toyota Canada about the warranty repair and they are not willing to do anything because according to them a 1/2 litre per 2,0000 km's is an acceptable amount. They only do the warranty repair once it reaches a full litre per 2,000 kms. I am close to my warranty expiring (4 months, or 3,000 more km's) and then I am SOL. I will never buy Toyota again, and I urge anyone reading this to not buy this year of a Matrix at the very least. I have lost all faith in the durability and reliability of Toyota's and I hope I can help someone else choose a different make of car by spreading the word.