RoadVitals

2003 Toyota Matrix Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
11
Latest Apr 25, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 268 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Toyota Matrix submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 25, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,580.

NHTSA ID
10861329
Incident
Apr 12, 2016
Mileage
171,580 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jun 9, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V013000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 14V312000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10724385
Incident
Jun 10, 2014
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jun 9, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND 14V312000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); HOWEVER, THE PARTS NEEDED TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
10724364
Incident
Dec 25, 2014
Driver assistanceElectricalTransmission
Filed Aug 27, 2010

ABS, BRAKE, & SERVICE ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. TOOK IT TO MIDAS, THEY REPLACED SPEED SENSORS. WHEN I GOT CAR BACK IT SHIFTED GEARS (AUTOMATIC) FUNNY & HESITATED SIGNIFICANTLY SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD. IMMEDIATELY RETURNED CAR TO MIDAS. THEY RE-DIAGNOSED & SUGGESTED I TAKE IT TO TOYOTA DEALER (JOHN ELWAY'S CROWN TOYOTA). THEY SAID IT WAS SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER & REPLACED IT WHICH DID NOT RESOLVE MY PROBLEM SO DECLINED TO PAY & ASKED THEM TO PUT BACK MY OLD SPEEDOMETER CLUSTER. THEY DIDN'T & DIDN'T CHARGE ME FOR THE NEW ONE. HAD CAR TOWED BACK TO MIDAS. THEY DISCONNECTED SPEED SENSORS & TOLD ME IT WAS DRIVABLE. GOT ON FREEWAY NEXT DAY & CAR WOULDN'T SHIFT FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR, ENGINE REVVED TO 6000 RPMS, GOT OFF FREEWAY & CALLED MIDAS CORPORATE TO COMPLAIN. THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE FRANCHISE OWNER CALL ME. HE CALLED BUT DID NOT IDENTIFY HIMSELF AS THE PERSON I ORIGINATED DEALT WITH AT MIDAS SHOP, I KNOW THIS BECAUSE I CALLED THE NUMBER THEY CALLED FROM & IT WAS THE MIDAS SHOP. WENT TO MIDAS, TODAY (8/27/10), THEY ASKED ME TO BRING CAR IN TOMORROW & THEY WOULD PUT BACK OLD SPEED SENSORS & SEE WHAT HAPPENS. THEY THINK IT'S THE CAR'S COMPUTER BUT IN THE MEANTIME I'M OUT A THOUSAND DOLLARS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10352435
Incident
Jul 29, 2010
Mileage
135,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 3, 2010

CONSUMER BELIEVES HE HAS THE SOLUTION TO THE TOYOTA ACCELERATION PROBLEM. *GR THE CONSUMER STATED HIS DAUGHTER DRIVES A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX AND SHE HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING RANDOM DASHBOARD LIGHT ACTIVITY. THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS REVIEWED THE WIRING DIAGRAMS AND HER DASHBOARD LIGHTS ARE CONTROLLED BY THE INTEGRATION RELAY OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE BODY CONTROL MODULE. IT APPEARS THAT THE LACK OF RELAY OVER-VOLTAGE SUPPRESSION ON ANY OF THE RELAYS IN THE VEHICLE HAS CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE INTEGRATION RELAY AND THERE WAS NO WAY TO TELL HOW MUCH DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE TO THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10328506
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Driver assistanceElectricalTransmission
Filed Mar 2, 2010

MY 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX XR SOMETIMES ACCELERATES UNCONTROLLABLY. USUALLY WHEN I AM CRUISING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, WHEN I LET OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR'S THROTTLE STILL FEELS LIKE IT'S IN THE OPEN POSITION, CAUSING THE CAR TO SPEED UP INSTEAD OF SLOWING DOWN. IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE IF THE CRUISE CONTROL IS TURNED ON AND THE CAR IS TRYING TO MAINTAIN SPEED. MY CRUISE CONTROL WAS TURNED OFF DURING EACH OF THESE INCIDENTS, AND THERE WAS NO INDICATION THAT THEY WERE TURNED ON AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENTS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS ONCE EVERY FEW MONTHS AND I USUALLY DON'T PAY ATTENTION TO THEM. THE CAR WILL ACCELERATE FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN EVENTUALLY THE THROTTLE WILL CLOSE AND THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN AND THEN I WILL APPLY THE BRAKES GENTLY. I HAVE INFORMED MY TOYOTA DEALER OF THIS BUT THEY USUALLY JUST BRUSH THE COMPLAINT OFF AND SAY THEY COULDN'T FIND ANY PROBLEMS. I PERSONALLY THINK IT'S AN ELECTRONICS ISSUE WHERE THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM OVERRIDE THE MANUAL SYSTEM WITHOUT THE INPUT OF THE DRIVER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10315598
Incident
Feb 5, 2010
Mileage
80,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 18, 2009

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

NHTSA ID
10255470
Incident
Jan 17, 2009
Mileage
60,000 mi
ElectricalEngineTransmission
Filed Jun 4, 2005

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR, IT WILL START TO MISS OUT AND THEN STALL. UPON RESTARTING, THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY REPLACED THE COMPUTER. THAT HELPED FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS AND THEN PROBLEM RECURRED. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND WE THEN REPLACED THE IGNITORS. ONCE THAT WAS COMPLETE THE CAR RAN FINE FOR 2 MONTHS. NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN, AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. IT HAPPENED TO ME TODAY FOR INSTANCE WHILE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSTECTION MAKING A A TURN. WHEN THE CAR STALLS, I HAVE LIMITED STEERING. THIS ALSO HAPPENS TO ME WHILE I'M ON THE INTERSTATE. CLEARLY THERE IS A SEVERE PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR THAT GOES BEYOND THE COMPUTER AND IGNITORS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE, BUT I HAVE NO CHOICE SINCE IT IS THE ONLY CAR THAT I HAVE.

NHTSA ID
10124201
Incident
Jun 4, 2005
Mileage
47,079 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 13, 2004
Fire reported

LTR ON BEHALF OF MRS. LOLA BETANCOURT (VA)RE A ELECTRICAL FIRE IN HER 2003 TOYOTA MATRIC( VIN: 2R1K32E13CO48258) ORIGINATING AT THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR NEAR THE POWER WINDOW AND LOCKS AREA, REPLY TO THE ALEXANDRIA DISTRICT OFC, DOT/I#2004-5249. *NM

NHTSA ID
10087935
Incident
May 11, 2004
Mileage
26,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 27, 2004

CLUTCH SWITCH WHICH COMPLETES CIRCUIT FOR IGNITION SWITCH IS HARD TO ENGAGE, ESPECIALLY FOR MY WIFE WHEN WEARING SHOES WITH HEELS. IF CAR IS INADVERTANTLY KILLED WHILE STARTING FROM A STOP ON A HILL, IT MAKES FOR A HAZARDOUS SITUATION SINCE IT REQUIRES EXCESSIVE FORCE TO PRESS ON THE CLUTCH SO AS TO ENGAGE STARTER MOTOR. TOYOTA CLAIMS NO DEFECT EXISTS. *JB

NHTSA ID
10078884
Incident
Oct 1, 2003
Mileage
10 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 17, 2003

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHT WAS DIM, WHICH CAUSED IMPAIRED VISION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10016053
Incident
Apr 1, 2003
Mileage
100 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .