2003 Toyota Matrix Transmission Problems

OWN A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX-1ST OWNER OF THIS CAR. THIS CAR WAS PURCHASED WITH 9 MILES IN IT. WHEN IT WAS FIRST PURCHASED WITHIN 2 DAYS THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION BEARINGS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE TOYOTA DEALER WHERE PURCHASED AND THE TECHNICIANS SAID THERE WAS NO NOISE. THE NOISE NEVER WENT AWAY AND THE DEALER JUST IGNORED IT-NEVER FIXED IT. ALSO, THE BACK SEAT BELT WOULD GET STUCK FOR NO REASON, THIS WAS ALSO BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALER TECHS, BUT ALSO "NOTHING WAS WRONG" UP TO THIS DATE, THE SEAT BELTS KEEP GETTING STUCK AND MY KIDS USE IT THAT WAY. ANOTHER DEFECTIVE THING ABOUT THIS CAR WERE THE SENSOR DAYLIGHTS, ONCE THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF, THE LIGHTS AUTOMATICALLY WOULD GO ON AND OF COURSE THE NEXT DAY THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. THIS WAS BROUGHT TO THE ATTENTION ON THE DEALER AND FINALLY, THEY DECIDED TO FIX SOMETHING OF THIS CAR. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS A DEFECT FROM THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10386250

Incident

May 1, 2002

Mileage

10 mi

MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES, MAINTAINED REGULARLY AT THE DEALER. NOTICED A NOISE AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID EVERYTHING WAS FINE. A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER, THERE WAS A HIGH PITCHED WHINE OUT OF FIFTH GEAR. UPON STOPPING AND RESTARTING, PRETTY MUCH ALL THE FORWARD GEARS WERE GRINDING, POPPING, SQUEALING. REPAIR AT THE DEALER WAS QUOTED $2500 FOR A USED TRANSMISSION AND $3200 FOR A NEW! ABOUT HALF THE VALUE OF THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10366920

Incident

Nov 14, 2010

Mileage

93,000 mi

I RECENTLY NOTICED A STRANGE EXTRA NOISE IN MY TRANSMISSION, NOISE IS A LOW PURRING SOUND AND AT LOWER SPEEDS IN LOWER GEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10353847

Incident

Jul 1, 2010

Mileage

76,000 mi

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

2003 TOYOTA MATRIX XR MANUAL TRANSMISSION - 70,000. THE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. SUBTLE ENGINE KNOCKING, MORE NOTICEABLE WHEN LIFT FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR. SUDDEN ONSET WHILE EXITING FREEWAY- RPMS HOVERED WHEN SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL, DIFFICULT TO PUT IN 1ST ON START, THEN HORRIBLE NOISE WHEN STARTED MOVING FORWARD THEN COMPLETELY SEIZED IN PLACE. WHOLE PROCESS IN LESS THAN 60 MILES. ASSESSED AT PRIVATE SHOP AND THEN DEALERSHIP WHICH QUOTED OVER $4,000. CORPORATE/REGIONAL DISTRICT OFFICE OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE, COMPENSATION, OR ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF ISSUE. THIS IS A FREQUENT PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED IN NUMEROUS CASES IN THE 5-SPEED MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332708

Incident

May 14, 2010

Mileage

70,268 mi

2003 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS, SLIPPING GEARS OR CLUTCH WHILE UNDER LOAD, RECURRING PROBLEM FOR THE DURATION OF OWNING THE CAR. IT IS VERY UNSAFE ON THE HIGHWAY AS IT DOES NOT GET UP TO OR MAINTAIN SPEEDS. FILED A COMPLAINT WITH TOYOTA WITH NO RESPONSE. TOYOTA SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH IT WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO GET LOOKED AT, BUT IT WAS SLIPPING THE WHOLE DRIVE HOME AND SINCE THEN. I BELIEVE THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT BELIEVES THIS, HOW MANY PEOPLE MUST COMPLAIN OR DOES SOMEONE HAVE TO DIE FOR THEM TO TAKE SOME ACTION? *TR

NHTSA ID

10318714

Incident

May 31, 2006

Mileage

60,000 mi

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

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

NHTSA ID

10311711

Incident

Jun 1, 2008

Mileage

66,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10311191

Incident

Oct 11, 2009

Mileage

42,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10310472

Incident

Aug 26, 2009

Mileage

81,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10310207

Incident

Jul 1, 2009

Mileage

90,000 mi

A RATTLING NOISE STARTED UNDER THE CAR. IT WOULD DISAPPEAR WHEN THE CLUTCH PEDAL WAS PUSHED DOWN. OVER A 2 DAY PERIOD, THE NOISE BECAME VERY LOUD AND BECAME MORE LIKE A CLACKING NOISE, BUT NOT CONSTANT. WE TOOK THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. THE TRANSMISSION IS SHOT AND WE'VE ORDERED A NEW TRANSMISSION. I TOLD THE TECHNICIAN THERE WERE LOTS OF REPORTS ABOUT THE '03 AND '04 TRANSMISSIONS. WHEN THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SPOKE TO TOYOTA ABOUT ANY FREQUENCY OF THIS HAPPENING WITH THE '03 MATRIX, TOYOTA SAID THEY HADN'T HAD ANY REPORTS ON IT. (I UNDERSTAND THEY FIXED PROBLEMS BY '05) THIS IS THE 3RD TOYOTA WE HAVE HAD. NEVER HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. I HOPE THE REPLACEMENT TRANSMISSION DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310101

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

Mileage

175,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OUR (03 TOYOTA MATRIX, MANUAL TRANS), (NORTH BOUND I-45 CONROE, TEXAS) THE CAR ABRUPTLY STARTED A THUMPING SLAPPING SOUND. FROM THE FROUNT END. ASAP! PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, STOPPED AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. MY HUSBAND ARRIVED, TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. HE HAD ME TURN THE CAR ON WITHOUT STARTING AND PUSHED THE VEHICLE. THE THUMPING, SLAPPING SOUND IS COMING FROM UNDER THE ENGINE. TO BE CONTINUED. *CN

NHTSA ID

10306887

Incident

Feb 5, 2010

Mileage

130,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10303248

Incident

Nov 29, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10300127

Incident

Aug 1, 2009

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY ONE EVENING, AN ODD CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE FRONT END OF OUR 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX (MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH 88,000 MILES). THE SOUND WAS LOUDER WITH ACCELERATION. AFTER GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY, THE SOUND WAS NOTED TO BE LOUDER IN HIGHER GEARS, AND ABSENT WHEN THE CLUTCH WAS PRESSED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE AT OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER THE NEXT MORNING. AFTER PAYING A $95 DIAGNOSTIC FEE, WE WERE TOLD THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AT THE ESTIMATED COST OF $3300, WITH NOTHING BEING COVERED BY ANY WARRANTY OR RECALL. WE BROUGHT THE CAR TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST FOR A REBUILD. THE BEARINGS, RINGS, AND TWO TRANSFER GEARS WERE REPLACED, ALONG WITH THE CLUTCH, AT A COST OF $2100. IT IS NOTED THAT THE MECHANIC HAD A DELAY IN GETTING THE PARTS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER BACK ORDER, REPORTEDLY FROM A HIGH DEMAND DUE TO MANY OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL CAR! THIS IS OUR FIRST TOYOTA, WHICH WE BOUGHT DUE TO THEIR GOOD REPUTATION. IT HAS BEEN REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND SUBJECTED TO ONLY NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. WE HAVE NEVER HAD A VEHICLE WITH TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS AND ARE SHOCKED THAT THIS EXPENSIVE REPAIR WAS NEEDED ON SUCH A YOUNG CAR. TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR COVERING THE COST OF WHAT APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO DEFECTIVE/INFERIOR PARTS USED ON THIS VEHICLE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10300081

Incident

Dec 27, 2009

Mileage

88,000 mi

TRANSMISSION WENT BAD BEFORE 100,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10296974

Incident

Dec 18, 2009

Mileage

99,960 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10296362

Incident

Dec 12, 2009

Mileage

103,000 mi

I HEARD A SCRAPING AND GRATING NOISE AS I EXITED THE FREEWAY THAT I THOUGHT WAS SOME TRAPPED DEBRIS UNDER THE FRONT END OR IN THE WHEEL WELL. I PULLED INTO A GAS STATION TO INVESTIGATE, FINDING A LOOSE PLASTIC PLATE ( A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE CHEAP PLASTIC SCREWS AND FASTENERS USED) I RIGGED SOMETHING TO HOLD IT UP AND GET HOME. AFTER A FEW MORE BLOCKS THE SOUND INTENSIFIED AND THE CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDER AND SHAKE AND I HEARD A POP. I PULLED OVER, GOT TOWED HOME, AND THE NEXT MORNING HAD IT TOWED TO A SHOP. THE MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT MY TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CAR ONLY HAS 140,000 MILES ON IT, AND I DO NOT DRIVE IT LIKE SOME CRAZED MANIAC. AN INTERNET CHAT ROOM HAS RECORDED LOTS OF MATRIX OWNERS WITH THE SAME TRANSMISSION ISSUES...I AM GOING TO NEED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND A NEW CLUTCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10295865

Incident

Dec 14, 2009

Mileage

138,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10286703

Incident

Oct 6, 2009

Mileage

175,160 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10286266

Incident

Oct 3, 2009

Mileage

92,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10282267

Incident

Aug 29, 2009

Mileage

94,542 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10281143

Incident

Aug 10, 2009

Mileage

115,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10277589

Incident

Jun 3, 2009

Mileage

63,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10273830

Incident

Jun 1, 2009

Mileage

130,000 mi