2003 Toyota Matrix Complaint Log

AFTER NORMAL DRIVING AND WEAR AND TEAR (103,000 MILES), MANUAL TRANSMISSION ON 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX HAS GONE BAD, RESULTING IN A NEEDED REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION, CLUTCH, AND CLUTCH PLATE. *TR

THE TRANSMISSION ON MY 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX DIED AFTER 100,000 MILES AND IT'S A MANUAL. I PURCHASED THE CAR USED AND IT HAD ABOUT 70K MILES ON IT. I HAD A TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH AT ABOUT 80K. THE CAR STARTED MAKING NOISES AND THEN I COULDN'T SHIFT IT INTO GEAR AND THEN IT COMPLETELY DIED. I HAD TO HAVE A NEW/REBUILT TRANSMISSION PUT INTO THE CAR FOR ABOUT $2,500. APPARENTLY THIS IS FAIRLY COMMON WITH THE MATRIX AND I DON'T THINK IT'S SPECIFIC TO THE 2003 CAR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. A REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,208.

I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT AT AN APT. COMPLEX; I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE SO AS NOT TO HIT THE CURB; THE CAR BECAME AIRBORNE, JUMPED THE CURB AND LANDED ONTO A CHILDREN'S PLAYGROUND STOPPING JUST SHORT OF HITTING A TREE. I STILL HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, NOW PRESSED TO THE FLOOR. I ASKED MY PASSENGER TO GET OUT OF THE CAR, I THEN BACKED UP OVER THE CURB AND BACK ONTO THE MACADAM. *TR

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE IN OUR 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH TWO OF OUR THREE YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE CAR WHEN SHE HEARD A LOUD BANG AND FELT WHAT SHE DESCRIBES AS THE CAR JUMPING OFF THE GROUND. SHE SLOWED THE CAR DOWN TO A CRAWL, EXITED THE INTERSTATE AND LIMPED IT HOME. PRESENTLY IT SITS IN THE YARD AND WILL ONLY MOVE FORWARD. IN FACT, EVEN IN NEUTRAL THE CAR CAN'T BE PUSHED BACKWARD. UPON SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS ON THE INTERNET I FOUND A FORUM WITH WHAT APPEARS TO BE DOZENS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD TRANSMISSION FAILURES WITH 2003 TO 2005 MATRIXES. I AM FILING THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE MY WIFE CAME CLOSE TO GOING OFF THE ROAD WHEN THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AND IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THE ISSUE BUT WON'T TAKE ANY ACTION TO REMEDY IT. THEY HAD A RECALL ON THE WINDOWS BECAUSE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE BUT I CAN'T IMAGINE THAT A BROKEN WINDOW WOULD HAVE SCARED MY WIFE AS MUCH AS THE BANG SHE DESCRIBED AND THE JERKING OF THE CAR IT CAUSED. THANK YOU. *TR

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE CAR ONLY HAS 92,000 MILES AND THE TRANNY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A BAD BEARING. FROM MY RESEARCH ON THE WEB I HAVE SEEN THIS HAPPEN TO MANY OTHERS. I SPOKE TO A REPAIR SHOP THAT DOES REBUILDS AND HE INFORMED ME THAT TOYOTA HAD GOTTEN BAD BEARINGS AND USED THEM ON A SERIES OF TRANSMISSIONS AND THEY TEND TO GO BAD AROUND 80K TO 120K MILES. HE HIMSELF HAS REBUILT MANY. *TR

I HAVE A2003 MATRIX SINCE NEW, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS REMAINED ON FOR YEARS, BECAUSE OF LIMITED FUNDS CAN NOT GO TO DEALERSHIP AND PAY $$$$ FOR SERVICE FEE, DIAGNOSTIC FEE, AND PARTS AND LABOR FOR SOMEONE TO "WORK" THEIR WAY THROUGH THE PROBLEM OVER SEVERAL VISITS. I NOW HOWEVER AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF STATE INSPECTIONS, HAVE TO SPEND THIS MONEY IN ORDER TO PASS INSPECTION. I WAS INFORMED THAT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS NOW HAVE TO OPERATE PROPERLY IN ORDER FOR A VEHICLE TO PASS INSPECTION. UPON GOOGLING ANY RECALL INFORMATION ONLINE I DISCOVERED HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, AS WELL AS TWO COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE OF AIRBAGS THAT DID NOT DEPLOY DURING CRASHES. DID THEY HAVE SIMILAR DASH LIGHTING MALFUNCTIONS AS MINE?? *TR

MY 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX COMPLETELY BROKE DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF A HIGHWAY. THE TRANSMISSION IS DEAD AT 94,542 MILES. TOYOTA REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. *TR

MY 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. A BEARING IN THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO FAIL (NOISE) AT 80,000 MILES. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE IS COMMON FOR BOTH THE MATRIX AND THE PONTIAC VIBE (IDENTICAL CAR). LUCKILY I HAD IT CHANGED BEFORE ANY ACCIDENT OCCURRED. NEITHER TOYOTA NOR GM ARE PROVIDING ANY CUSTOMER SUPPORT DESPITE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE 2003 MANUAL TRANSMISSION. *TR

I HAVE HAD FOUR INSTANCES OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION IN A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS OVER A PERIOD OF 8 YEARS. IN EACH INSTANCE, I WAS PULLING INTO A CARPORT AT A SLOW SPEED WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE, NOT THE GAS PEDAL. IN ALL INSTANCES, I WAS ABLE TO PRESS HARD ON THE BRAKE AND COME TO A STOP. AFTER THE SECOND INCIDENT, I TOOK THE CAR INTO MY TOYOTA DEALER AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED TWICE. THEY CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I HAVE HAD TWO OTHER INCIDENTS SINCE THEN. I LIVE IN A RETIREMENT COMMUNITY AND HAVE TOLD THE AUTHORITIES HERE THAT IF I EVER DRIVE THE CAR THROUGH THE CARPORT WALL IT WILL BE DUE TO SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF MY MATRIX. THE INCIDENTS ARE WIDE-SPREAD -- PERHAPS EVERY TWO YEARS. SO IT IS A LITTLE HARD TO GET TOYOTA TO PAY ANY ATTENTION TO THE COMPLAINT. PLEASE CHECK THE ELECTRONICS -- IT IS OBVIOUSLY NOT MECHANICAL. I HAVE GIVEN THE DATE OF THE LAST INCIDENT BELOW. *TR

AFTER 200 MILE ROUND TRIP, NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. TOOK MATRIX TO DEALER, WHO TOLD US THE BEARINGS IN THE TRANSMISSION WERE BAD, AND NEEDED REPLACED. 2003 MATRIX, 115,000 MILES (MOSTLY HIGHWAY, WE HAVE A LONG COMMUTE TO WORK) BEARINGS REPLACED AND CLUTCH WORK DONE FOR $2063. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THIS, WAS TOLD "SOMETIMES THINGS BREAK". *TR

GRINDING NOISE BEGAN, SHORTLY THEREAFTER THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. I'VE REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION TWICE ALREADY AND CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. THE CAR NOW SITS AS I CONTINUE TO MAKE PAYMENTS ON IT. *TR

ACCELERATOR IN 2003 MATRIX TOYOTA STUCK WHILE DRIVING ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS WHILE DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING. *TR

NOTICED AND INCREASING GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED ALSO HAVING THE MECHANIC LOOK FOR METAL SHAVING WITH NONE FOUND. TOOK TO TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO CONFIRMED THE "DIFFERENTIAL" WAS GOING TO FAIL SOON AND ADVISED TO NOT DRIVE THE CAR UNTIL REPAIRED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARS A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. PRIOR TO THE NOISE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP GEARS OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BEARINGS WERE FAULTY. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE HEARD AN ODD SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER FOUND FAILURE WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND VERIFIED THAT THE BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURES WERE COMMON FOR HER YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 130,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE SHATTERED INTO PIECES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HANDLES WERE BEING DRIED OUT BY THE SUN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $111. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,541 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,559. UPDATED 6/8/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS THE SECOND HANDLE THAT HAD CRACKED ON THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/11/09.*JB

FRONT BRAKE CALIPER / PISTON LOCKED UP UNDER PRESSURE. WITH 5MILES AND UNDER HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT CREATED INTENSE AND IMMEDIATE VIBRATION AND SMOKE. SUDDEN FAILURE. *TR

2003 TOYOTA MATRIX MANUAL 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY COME APART DUE TO BEING BUILT WITH BAD THROW OUT BEARINGS. LOUD RATTLING NOISE BEGAN 6 MONTHS AGO EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED FLAWLESSLY. TWO WEEKS AGO, ON MARCH 9, 2009 MY BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING ON THE 15 FREEWAY GOING NORTH WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A HORRIBLE RATTLING NOISE. MY BOYFRIEND PULLED THE CAR OVER TO SAFETY OFF THE FREEWAY AND TOOK A LOOK. HE KNEW IT WAS THE TRANNY, HE DIDN'T NEED TO SEE ANYTHING...THE FIRST CLUE WAS THAT IT WOULD NOT GO INTO 1ST OR REVERSE GEAR AT ALL. WE HAD TO GET IT TO A PLACE THAT WE COULD PARK IT LEGALLY, SO HE STARTED IT IN SECOND GEAR AND THE CAR WAILED AND WHINED AND SOUNDED LIKE METAL WAS BREAKING APART AS THE CAR LITERALLY LIMPED IT'S WAY THE ENTIRE SHORT RIDE. WARRANTY GOOD FOR 100,000 MILES, BUT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AT 105,000 MILES. TOYOTA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THE ENTIRE 2003 MATRIX LINE IS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE, AND WILL NOT EVEN DO ANYTHING AS A GOODWILL GESTURE. A BRAND NEW TRANNY FROM TOYOTA IS $4000+/-, AND THE PROBLEM WILL MOST CERTAINLY HAPPEN AGAIN - AS I HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY PEOPLE ATTEST TO. A REBUILT TRANSMISSION IS LESS $...TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. MY CAR COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS FAILURE ON THE FREEWAY, TO SAY NOTHING OF THE FACT THAT IT'S VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE TO LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS WELL AS BREAKING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. *TR

WHEN I START MY CAR IT REVS UP VERY HIGH MAKING IT SOUND LIKE IT IS GOING TO TAKE OFF BY ITSELF. IT HAS BEEN DOING IT SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2004, AND I MENTIONED IT TO THE DEALER AND HE SAID THOSE KIND OF CARS DO THAT. *TR

OWN A TOYOTA MATRIX 2003 XR HAVE BEEN HEARING ODD SOUNDS FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. HAD MECHANIC DO A CHECK AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. NEVER STOPPED TO THINK IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION ON A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH LESS THAN 100K MILES. A WEEK LATER, DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION TYPE SOUND AND SWERVED OFF THE ROAD. MECHANIC SAID ITS A BAD BEARING IN THE TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA HAS YET TO RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR

DRIVING CAR AND IT HAD UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, 2 TIMES. FIRST TIME IT DID NOT STOP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. SECOND TIME BRAKES WERE HIT AND CAR QUITE ACCELERATING. *TR

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING ME MORE INJURY TO MY NECK. *TR

2003 TOYOTA MATRIX, IN EXTREME COLD WEATHER THE RUNNING LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS OFF, DRAINING THE BATTERY. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. *TR

WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO RESOLVE THIS SAFETY ISSUE FOR THE LAST FEW YEARS TO NO AVAIL. THIS LETTER IS IN RESPONSE TO YOUR 1/31/15 REPORT RE: THE ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS FOR THE ABOVE NAMED CAR. TOYOTA HAS BEEN ARGUING THAT THIS PROBLEM IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND NOT THEIRS. BUT BASED ON YOUR LATEST REPORT, IT SEEMS THAT WE ARE CORRECT IN HOLDING THEM RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRING IT. OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS WE HAVE HAD THIS CAR INTO DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALERS IN RESPONSE TO AIR BAG SYSTEM ELECTRONIC COMPONENT RECALLS. TO DATE OUR VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN PREPARED PROPERLY. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT REMAINS ON, WHICH LEADS TO OUR CONCERN THAT THE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. THE DEALERS AND TOYOTA CORPORATION INDICATE THAT THIS IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL, BUT WE BELIEVE OTHERWISE. IF THE RECALL WAS DUE TO A FAULTY ELECTRONIC COMPONENT AIR BAG SYSTEM AND THE DEALERS WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE REPAIRED IT, THEN WHY DOES IT PERSIST?? WE BELIEVE TOYOTA IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WOULD LIKE IT REPAIRED ONCE AND FOR ALL BY TOYOTA, AS IT IS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SAFETY ISSUE AND I DO NOT WANT MY FAMILY TO BECOME ANOTHER FATALITY STATISTIC. *TR

RE: ? TOYOTA USA CASE #?S 20812220115, 200812310223, ETC.. ON NOVEMBER 29, 2008 I BOUGHT A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH 44,598 MILES ON IT. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, IT WAS OVER A QUART LOW ON OIL. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN WHICH TOYOTA HAS A LETTER FROM ME. AFTER THIS, I DROVE THE CAR 50 MILES AND IT USED AROUND 2/3 A QUART OF OIL. I CALLED THE TOYOTA EXPERIENCE CENTER AND TOLD THEM THE PROBLEMS I WAS HAVING AND THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED. THE PERSON I TALKED TO, LOOKED UP THE VIN # AND TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINE ON THIS CAR HAD BEEN REBUILT AT 41,459 MILES, IN NOVEMBER 2007 AT HEADQUARTERS TOYOTA, IN MIAMI, FLORIDA. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA WOULD PROBABLY PICK UP THE REPAIR SINCE IT HAD LESS THAN 4,000 MILES ON A REBUILT ENGINE (CURRENTLY THE CAR HAS 45,398 MILE ON IT). I TOOK THE CAR TO MY LOCAL DEALER L&S TOYOTA, IN BECKLEY, WV ON DECEMBER 23, 2008. THEY DID A COMPRESSION TEST ON THE ENGINE AND IT FAILED. THE SERVICE MANAGER AT L&S TOYOTA TOLD ME THE ENGINE BLOCK SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED WHEN HEADQUARTERS TOYOTA REBUILT THE ENGINE, BUT HADN'T BEEN. AFTER ABOUT 10 CALLS TO TOYOTA CORPORATE AND NUMEROUS CASE NUMBERS THE VERDICT WAS IN. TERR, THE SERVICE MANAGER AT L&S TOYOTA SAID THEY WILL NOT FIX THE ENGINE UNLESS I PAY FOR THE REPAIR MYSELF. JOHN LINO FROM HEADQUARTERS TOYOTA, MIAMI TOLD ME THEY WOULD TAKE CARE OF THE REPAIR BUT I WOULD HAVE TO BRING THE CAR THERE, WHICH IS 950 MILES AWAY. THE MATRIX ENGINE HAS BLOWN TWICE WITHIN 45,398 MILES AND TOYOTA IS OFFERING NO ASSISTANCE. BOTH OF THESE DEALERSHIPS ARE GOVERNED BY TOYOTA MOTOR SALES, USA, SO HOW CAN THE ONE GET AUTHORIZATION TO DO THE REPAIR BUT THE OTHER ONE CAN?T? THE 2003 MATRIX THAT I AM REFERRING TO IS THE 8TH TOYOTA THAT I HAVE OWNED, BECAUSE OF THEIR RELIABILITY. *TR

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME ABOUT $50 TO TELL ME MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF OVER $1,000 FOR MY 2003 MATRIX WITH ABOUT 92,000 MILES. SEEMED UNLIKELY, SO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL NON-TOYOTA REPAIR SHOP, HIS COMPUTER ALSO SHOWED CATALYTIC CONVERTER, BUT HE SAID THE WAY THE CAR WAS PERFORMING, IT MIGHT BE THE OXYGEN SENSORS. HE REPLACED BOTH, AND THE CAR HAS BEEN GREAT EVER SINCE. TOO BAD MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WANTED TO GAUGE ME. *TR

TOYOTA DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AT 100K. ACCORDING TO THE MECHANIC, THE PROBLEMS MUST HAVE BEEN EXISTENT FOR A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ENGINE FAILED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE NOT A FACTOR. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC AT THE TIME; THEREFORE, HE WAS ACCELERATING AND DECELERATING BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PUSHED THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY AND IT WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED FOR TWO DAYS AND ENGINE SLUDGE WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE DUE TO IMPROPER LUBRICATION, ALTHOUGH THERE WAS OIL PRESENT IN THE ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE ENGINE FAILURE WAS NOT COVERED FOR THE MATRIX; HOWEVER, THE CAMRY WAS COVERED. THE CAMRY AND MATRIX HAVE THE SAME EXACT ENGINE AND THE CONTACT FEELS THAT IT SHOULD ALSO BE COVERED. HE WAS PROVIDED WITH REFERENCE NUMBER 200810070867. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 111,000.

I HAD MY '03 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS SERVICED ON 08/08/08 AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN BERKELEY, CA. THEY TOLD ME EVERYTHING WAS FINE, AND I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR. THE NEXT DAY (TODAY, AS I WRITE) I WAS DRIVING ON I-80 EASTBOUND PAST RENO, NV AND MY SPEED DROPPED 20MPH FOR NO REASON. MY CAR THEN BEGAN TO SMOKE, AND I PULLED OVER TO FIND A TRAIL OF TRANSMISSION FLUID BEHIND MY CAR AND MY ENGINE SERVICE LIGHT ON. AFTER THE TOW BACK TO RENO, THE TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE STATION TOLD ME THEY WEREN'T RECEIVING ANY RESPONSE FROM MY TRANSMISSION AND THAT IT WOULD BE UPWARDS OF $6,000 TO REPAIR. I HAVE NEVER HAD ONE, SINGLE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND HAVE HAD IT SERVICED REGULARLY. IT HAS 66,000 MILES AND WAS SERVICED YESTERDAY. I FIND THIS OUTRAGEOUS, UNSAFE, AND DECEPTIVE. *TR

OUR SON'S 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX HAD IT'S TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAIL 2 NIGHTS AGO. HE HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY ( 100,000 MILES). UNBELIEVABLY HE WAS 1600 MILES OVER HIS WARRANTY. I LOOKED ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND DOZENS AND DOZENS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT 2003 AND 2004 MATRIX TRANSMISSIONS. OUR SON IS A RATHER POOR COLLEGE GRADUATE WHO CAN'T AFFORD THE $3300 IT WILL TAKE TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH. I WOULD LIKE SOME ADVISE ON HOW TO PURSUE SOME ACTION AGAINST TOYOTA. THERE SHOULD BE A WAY TO PURSUE "CONSIDERATION" FOR THIS TYPE OF SITUATION SOMETHING IS WRONG HERE! PLEASE RESPOND IF YOU CAN... *TR

THE DATES AND VEHICLE MILEAGE STATED ABOVE ARE ONLY ESTIMATES. ABOUT 5-6 YEARS AGO THE SEAT BELT RETRACTORS STOPPED WORKING. I CHECKED WITH 2 DEALERS THAT TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY AROUND $500 TO HAVE THEM REPAIRED. I WROTE TOYOTA IN TORRANCE CALIFORNIA AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM. THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THE SEAT BELTS WERE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. CONSIDERING THE ONGOING PROBLEMS THAT TOYOTA HAS HAD WITH SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES ON ALL OF THEIR CARS, I WOULD THINK THAT THEY WOULD ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY IN MY CASE, BUT NO SUCH LUCK. *TR

PARKING BRAKE DOESN'T HOLD VEHICLE ON SLOPE. MECHANIC HAS FIXED TWICE, BUT PROBLEM RE-OCCURS IN ABOUT TWO YEARS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THIS IS ALSO THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND THERE IS NO WARNING WHEN BRAKE WILL START SLIPPING AGAIN AFTER REPAIRS. *TR

2003 TOYOTA MATRIX TRANSMISSION FAILURE AFTER 57,000 MILES. EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY REPLACED IT WITH A USED REBUILT TRANSMISSION. I'VE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS SAME THING HAPPENING ON THE MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS OF THE 2003/2004 MODELS. *TR

WHILST DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GRIND AND THEN LOCKED UP. AT 66,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT. READING ON EDMUNDS THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. HERE IS THE LINK. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX/.F0D9B0E I HAD TO PUT A USED TRANSMISSION IN AT A COST OF $2,000 AND SUSPECT THE SAME FAILURE WILL HAPPEN WITH THIS ONE. I'M FILING A COMPLAINT NOW DUE TO THE AMOUNT OF OTHER MATRIX DRIVERS THIS IS HAPPENING TOO. *TR

THE SIDE OF THE CAR THAT HOLDS THE WINDSHIELD TOGETHER IS A BLIND SPOT. WHEN PEOPLE ARE CROSSING THE STREET YOU CAN'T SEE THEM. I ALMOST HIT SOME ABOUT THREE TIMES BECAUSE OF HOW THE WINDOW IS MADE. THE SUN VISOR IS NOT LONG ENOUGH TO BLOCK THE SUN MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THEY TO MAKE BETTER VISORS THAT ACTUALLY BLOCKS THE SUN. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX AUTO TRANSMISSION, THAT HAS 58,000 MILES ON IT. A MONTH AGO THE 1ST AND REVERSE GEARS STARTED TO SLIP AND WAS HARD TO GET INTO GEAR. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I LEFT THE DEALER AND IT STARTED AGAIN. 2 DAYS LATER I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT IN TO REVERSE AT ALL. I TOOK IT TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP SINCE THE 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT CAME ON AND THEY CHECKED THE CODES AND LOOKED AT THE TRANSMISSION. THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REBUILT NOW AND WILL COST ME $2400. I LOVE THIS CAR. I BABY IT ALL THE TIME. I CHANGE THE OIL REGULAR AND ALWAYS KEEP UP ON THE MAINT. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW A TRANSMISSION CAN GO OUT ON A CAR THAT IS ONLY 5 YRS. AND 4 MO. OLD AND ONLY 58,000 MILES ON IT ! I DID CALL TOYOTA AND THEY SAID NOTHING WAS REPORTED AND ALL WAS FINE. I ASKED THEM TO PAY FOR THE FIX AND THEY SAID THE WARRANTY WAS ONLY 5YRS. 60,000 MILES. I'M OVER BY 4 MO. I FOUND A WEBSITE THAT HAS ABOUT 10 OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME YR AND MAKE CAR THAT HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES. *TR

ORIGINAL '03 TOY. MATRIX XRS MFG. CLUTCH BURNT OUT @ 37K MI OF NORMAL (NOT RACING) DRIVING. CLUTCH ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED. NO BURNING SMELL - JUST HIGHER REVVING, NO POWER. I HAVE BEEN DRIVING STICKS FOR 18+ YRS (MOSTLY TOYOTAS - THIS IS NOT NORMAL)! *TR

2003 TOYOTA MATRIX, 64000 MILES AND THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, BOUGHT IT USED 10/2007 CERTIFIED TOYOTA AND THANK GOODNESS WE BOUGHT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. JUST TOOK IT INTO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS DIRTY AND HAD METAL SHAVINGS IN PAN ALSO HYDRAULIC WENT OUT AND HAD A FAULTY SENSOR IN TRANS AXLE. DEALER WILL REPLACE IT BUT THANK GOODNESS WE HAD THE EXTENDED WARRANTY AND WILL WE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THE REPLACEMENT???? WE PURCHASED THIS CAR FOR OUR DAUGHTER BECAUSE TOYOTA IS SUPPOSE TO BE RELIABLE, BUT WE HAVE NEVER HAD A TRANSMISSION GO OUT IN ANY OF OUR OTHER CARS AND WE USUALLY KEEP THEM FOR 10 YEARS..... *TR

TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY RUINED AT 72,000 MILES 5 SPEED MANUAL TOYOTA MATRIX 2003. *TR

I BOUGHT A USED 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX IN MAY OF 2007. BECAUSE IT HAD THE TOYOTA NAME ON IT, I ASSUMED IT WOULD BE A QUALITY CAR - WRONG! NOW IT IS MARCH 2008, LESS THAN ONE YEAR AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR. I HAVE ALREADY HAD TO SPEND ALMOST $1000 TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH (AN ITEM I HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE IN ANY CAR I'VE OWNED). NOW THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS BURNING UP. I WENT TO THE DEALER & THEY SAID THE REPAIR WOULD BE $1700, BUT THEY WOULD BE WILLING TO PAY FOR HALF OF IT - STILL LEAVING ME TO PAY $850 FOR A PART THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPLACING AT 90K MILES. AFTER GOING HOME & DOING SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER FAILS IN VIRTUALLY EVERY 2003 & 2004 MATRIX, BUT TOYOTA DOES NOT WANT TO DO THE RESPECTABLE THING - ISSUE A RECALL!!! I DID NOT EXPECT TO BE SPENDING $2700/YEAR IN REPAIRS (OUTSIDE OF REGULAR MAINTENANCE) FOR A TOYOTA - THE REPUTATION IS REALLY UNDESERVED. *TR

I NOTICE AN OCCASIONAL POPPING NOISE WHEN ROLLING UP AND DOWN THE WINDOWS ON MY 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THIS CONCERNS ME, AS I BELIEVE THAT THE GLASS COULD ULTIMATELY SHATTER IF THIS PERSISTS OR GETS ANY WORSE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT HAS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN HAVING PERIODIC ACCELELRATION PROBLEMS SINCE 2008. THE CONTACT STATED THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION HAS ONLY HAPPENED WHEN THE CONTACT IS TRYING TO SLOW DOWN., WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. THIS FAILURE HAD BEEN HAPPENING MORE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 86504.

I HAVE A 2002/03 TOYOTA MATRIX THAT HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AT 70K MILES. IT WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE CAR HAS 130K MILES NOW AND I AM BEING TOLD THE BEARING IN THE TRANSMISSION IS BAD. *TR

MY 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX XR WITH A 5 SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAD A COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. I WAS TRAVELING ON INTERSTATE I-565 IN LIGHT TRAFFIC. THE CAR WAS IN FIFTH GEAR AND CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET AT ABOUT 70 MPH. AFTER BEING ON THE INTERSTATE FOR ABOUT 3-4 MINUTES, THE CAR STARTED DECELERATING. SO I RESPONDED BY CANCELING CRUISE CONTROL AND PRESSING THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR WITH NO EFFECT. THE CAR CONTINUED TO DECELERATE. SO I DOWNSHIFTED TO FOURTH GEAR AND PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR. AGAIN THE CAR CONTINUED TO DECELERATE. SO I PULLED OVER AND STOPPED THE CAR ON THE SHOULDER OF THE INTERSTATE. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND STARTED IT BACK ON. THE ENGINE STARTED NORMALLY, BUT I COULD NOT PUT THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO ANY GEAR. I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO REV THE ENGINE UP AND THE ENGINE MADE A HIGH PITCHED, WEANING SOUND. SO I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND TRIED TO PUSH THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO GEAR WITH THE CAR OFF AND WAS NOT ABLE TO GET IT INTO ANY GEAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP AND THEY INSPECTED IT AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION HAD COMPLETELY FAILED. THE ODOMETER READING ON THE CAR WHEN THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,050 MILES. TOYOTA'S POWERTRAIN WARRANTY ON THIS CAR IS 60,000 MILES. I CONTACTED TOYOTA TO ASK FOR GOODWILL ASSISTANCE BECAUSE IT IS SO UNUSUAL FOR A MANUAL TRANSMISSION IN A TOYOTA TO COMPLETELY FAIL AT SUCH A LOW MILEAGE. HOWEVER TOYOTA WAS UNWILLING TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. I PURCHASED A NEW TRANSMISSION FROM THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND HAD IT INSTALLED BY AN INDEPENDENT TRANSMISSION SHOP. THE COST OF THE TRANSMISSION WAS $2,343.17 (INCLUDING TAX) AND INSTALLATION COSTS WERE $450. SO THIS FAILURE COST ME A TOTAL OF $2,793.17. *TR

2003 TOYOTA MATRIX THE VEHICLE ODOMETER CURRENTLY SHOWS 57,108 MILES. ON JANUARY 24TH, THE CLUTCH WENT OUT AND WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO GEAR. THE CAR WAS TOWED ($45) TO OUR MECHANIC AT POLLY'S SHELL IN NASHVILLE AND WE PAID THE FOLLOWING AMOUNT TO HAVE THE CLUTCH REPLACED: CLUTCH SET: $268 ADDITIONAL PARTS: 42 TOW: 45 LABOR: 455 OIL: 38 THE TOTAL BILL WITH OTHER ITEMS CAME TO MORE THAN $900.00. A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL RECEIPT IS ENCLOSED. WHEN WE EXAMINED THE CLUTCH, THE PRESSURE PLATE DISC HAD BROKEN INTO FOUR EQUAL PARTS. IN ADDITION TO OUR REGULAR MECHANIC, OTHER MECHANICS AT POLLY'S COMMENTED THAT THE FACT THE MECHANISM BROKE EQUALLY INTO FOUR PARTS IS OBVIOUSLY THE RESULT OF A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT SINCE THIS TYPE FRACTURE HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE WAY THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN. *TR

I BOUGHT A USED 2003 MATRIX IN MAY OF 2007. IN NOVEMBER (90K MILES), I STARTED NOTICING THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SLIPPING. WHEN I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT, THEY SAID THAT I NEEDED A NEW CLUTCH ($1200). I WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE I HAVE DRIVEN STICK SHIFTS FOR OVER 15 YEARS NOW & HAVE NEVER HAD TO REPLACE A CLUTCH. FOUND ANOTHER MECHANIC TO INSTALL THE NEW CLUTCH FOR $800. HE INFORMED ME THAT THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE CLUTCH HAD BEEN REPLACED IN THIS CAR. APPARENTLY THE CLUTCH IN THE 2003 MATRIX IS MADE TO BURN OUT EVERY 50K MILES! TOYOTAS ARE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A BETTER REPUTATION THAN THIS !@#$%! *TR

MAIN BEARING IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED. NEEDED NEW TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH. TOYOTA CANADA AND MY DEALER COVERED 60% OF COST 5MTH PAST WARRANTY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOWS WERE ACTIVATED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING AND RATTLING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY WHEN ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V162000 (VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY HAS NOT CORRECTED THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 140,000. UPDATED 3/3/09 *CN UPDATED 03/04/09*JB

ON 6 SEPTEMBER 2007,MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE 2003 MATRIX, WHEN WITHOUT WARNING THE MOTOR STARTED TO MAKE AN EXCESSIVE NOISE IN THE ENGINE, SHE PULLED OVER A CALLED ME, I MET HER WHERE SHE WAS AND VERIFIED THE NOISE SOUNDED TERMINAL, CALLED FOR A WRECKER, HAD CAR TOWED TO THE DEALER, 2 DAYS LATER, I WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE HAD THROWN 3 RODS, MILEAGE ON THE CAR WAS 60,886, JUST OUT OF WARRANTY, SPENT THE NEXT WEEK IN TOYOTA USA ARBITRATION,THEY DEEM LACK OF LUBRICATION CAUSED THE DAMAGE AND WASHED THEIR HANDS OF THE ENGINE REPAIR. ON 21 SEPTEMBER, I PAID ALMOST $4500, FOR WHAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A NEW SHORT BLOCK. WELL, THE NEW SHORT BLOCK HAS AS MUCH ROAD GRIME AS THE TRANSMISSION, AND 52 MILES LATER THE ENGINE WAS "WHISTLING", OPENED THE HOOD TO CHECK THE ENGINE, THE COOLANT WAS 1/2 GALLON LOW, THE OIL IS 1/2 QUART LOW AND A COUPLE OF LOOSE BOLTS, ONE OF WHICH MOUNTS THE ACCELERATOR CABLE/BRACKET TO THE ENGINE. CALLED THE DEALER, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS CLOSED, BUT THE RECEPTIONIST RECOMMENDED I GO BUY ANTIFREEZE AND OIL AT THE LOCAL SUPERMARKET. I ONCE AGAIN, CALLED TOYOTA USA, CREATED ANOTHER TICKET WITH THEM.. CURRENTLY IMPATIENTLY WAITING FOR MONDAY MORNING WHEN I CAN GO TO THE DEALER/SERVICE DEPARTMENT.. *JB