Toyota is recalling 1.13 million Corolla and Matrix cars for a problem may cause stalling “at any speed without warning.” The recall affects vehicles from the 2005-2008 model years in the United States and Canada and follows at least three reported accidents linked to the defect.
The action adds to record recalls in the past year by Toyota, including more than 8 million vehicles worldwide for flaws related to unintended acceleration.  The recall also covers about 200,000 of General Motors’ Pontiac Vibe hatchbacks, according to a statement from GM. Vibes and Matrixes were manufactured in a GM- Toyota joint venture in California.
NHTSA Information
TOYOTA / COROLLA    2005-2008
TOYOTA / MATRIX       2005-2008
Manufacturer: TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION Mfr’s Report Date: AUG 26, 2010
NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 10V384000  PE09054,EA10006
NHTSA Action Number: 2 Investigations found
Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Potential Number of Units Affected: 1290413
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. A SCHEDULE HAS NOT BEEN SET FOR THE FUTURE NOTIFICATIONS. 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 .