2005 Toyota Matrix

CLUTCH FAILURE IN 2005 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS W/6 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION. FAILURE OCCURRED AT 21,300 MILES, AND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY BURNING SMELL DETECTABLE IN THE CAR WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TOYOTA REFUSED TO ACCEPT ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FAILURE. TOYOTA DISTRICT MANAGER REFUSED TO CONTACT ME TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE. *NM

CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING JUST BEFORE 30000 MILES. DEALER SAID WITHIN NORMAL OPERATION. CLUTCH NOW AT 33000 MILES AND NEEDS REPLACEMENT. DEALER REFUSES TO REPLACE, STATING NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. I FEEL THE CLUTCH IS DEFECTIVE AND THE DEALER WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE IT. I HAVE 18 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE DRIVING MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS AND I DON'T ABUSE A CLUTCH. *NM

DT: THE CLUTCH WAS DIFFICULT TO DEPRESS/TO ENGAGE THE STARTER. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WHEN TRYING TO WORK THE CLUTCH BECAUSE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH ROOM IN THE FLOOR AREA ,AND THE WHEEL WELL MADE A HUMP IN THIS AREA. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS DESIGNED WITH A FOOT REST THAT THE CONSUMER HAD REMOVED BECAUSE IT MADE IT MORE DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE VEHICLE STALLED. TWICE IT PUT THE CONSUMER IN DANGEROUS SITUATION ALTHOUGH, THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. THE FIRST TIME WAS IN AUGUST 2004. THE SECOND TIME WAS IN SEPTEMBER OR OCTOBER 2004. WHEN THE CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALER THEY BASICALLY TOLD HIM THEY COULD NOT FIND THE STALLING PROBLEM. WHEN HE CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, THEY TOLD HIM BASICALLY THE SAME HING. THE CONSUMER STATED HE BELIEVED THAT THE AREA PROBLEM WAS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK