2007 Toyota Matrix

THERE HAVE BEEN TWO INSTANCES OF THIS PROBLEM. THE FIRST TIME, I WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED JUST BACK OF AN INTERSECTION, AFTER COMING OUT OF MY EMPLOYER'S PARKING LOT, PREPARING TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN ON A TWO LANE URBAN THOROUGHFARE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I FELT THE ENGINE REV AND MY CAR SURGE FORWARD, ALTHOUGH MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. I PRESSED HARD ON THE BRAKE TO NO AVAIL; I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO BE PROPELLED INTO THE INTERSECTION INTO TRAFFIC. AT THE LAST MOMENT, I MANAGED TO STOP, I'M NOT SURE NOW, IF I APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE OR WHAT, BECAUSE ALTHOUGH I RELAYED THIS INCIDENT TO SEVERAL PEOPLE, INCLUDING MY BROTHER-IN-LAW, MY AUNT, AND SOME COWORKERS, I LATER DISMISSED THE INCIDENT AS, OTHER THAN WHAT IT WAS, POSSIBLY DUE TO ROAD CONDITIONS (A LARGE BUILDING WAS BEING BUILT ALONGSIDE THE ROAD AT THE TIME). TODAY, HOWEVER, WHILE COMPLETELY STOPPED WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE IN FRONT OF THE EXIT FROM THE LOWER PARKING LOT THIS TIME, THE SAME EXACT THING HAPPENED AGAIN: THE ENGINE SUDDLENLY REVVED, AND THE CAR SURGED FORWARD. I INSTINCTIVELY PRESSED ON THE BRAKES AS HARD AS I COULD, BUT THE CAR WOULDN'T STOP UNTIL GRABBED THE GEAR SHIFTER AND PUT IT IN NEUTRAL.

I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT, ON A FLAT STREET IN THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY. THE VEHICLE (2007 TOYOTA MATRIX) WAS COMPLETELY AT REST. "ALL OF A SUDDEN" THE CAR STARTED INCHING FORWARD. MY FOOT WAS FIRMLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE ENGINE DID NOT REV. IT STARTED GAINING SPEED. THE LIGHT CHANGED AND WE WENT THROUGH THE LIGHT WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE ACCELERATION, BRAKE OR STEERING. I SAID TO MY FRIEND, "THAT WAS WEIRD." I THOUGHT IT WAS A FLUX BUT THEN WHEN I STARTED READING ABOUT ALL OF THE PROBLEMS WITH TOYOTA I BECAME CONCERNED. I CALLED OUR LOCAL DEALER AND HE SAID THAT 2007 MATRIX WERE NOT PART OF THE RECALL. HE OFFERED TO DRIVE THE CAR AROUND TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY PROBLEMS. I HAVE NOT HAD ANY FURTHER PROBLEMS AND DID NOT TAKE IT IN FOR HIM TO DRIVE AROUND. (I HAD THEM DO A REGULAR MAINTENANCE CHECK WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY DID FAR MORE "MAINTENANCE" THAN WAS RECOMMENDED IN THE MANUAL AND I THINK TOOK ADVANTAGE OF MY IGNORANCE ABOUT CAR MAINTENANCE. IT MADE ME SUSPICIOUS SO I DON'T REALLY TRUST THE DEALER. ) *TR