KnownCarProblems2003 Toyota Matrix Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 268 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Toyota Matrix, most often about the transmission (31% of complaints, typically around 75,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Matrix model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.
Most common 2003 Toyota Matrix problems
Transmission
83 complaints · 31%Half of these problems showed up before 75,000 miles. Parts named most often: manual transmission, clutch assembly, automatic transmission.
I own a 2003 Toyota Matrix 5-speed with 75k miles on it. Serviced every 5k miles by the dealership until 60k, and has had regular oil changes and all manufacture suggested maintenance. Purchased new by me from Toyota & scion of lake city in seattle. On 6/17/2007, I was driving on state route 520 through east king…
Purchased used 2003 Matrix in oct 2005, paid for quality guard plus deluxe through nissan dealership where I purchased the car to cover mechanical problems. By april 2006 it was missing gears and car just died. Took it to Toyota dealership after calling nissan because I was pointed there. Toyota had it for 5 days fix…
Air bags
57 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 120,000 miles. Parts named most often: frontal.
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…
I want you to be aware of this email below I just sent to Toyota with a safety complainant. "hello customer service rep, I am contacting you regarding the air system on my Matrix and I had many recalls/ repairs during the last few years first replacing the air harness in march of 2013. Then replacing the passenger air…
Engine
33 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 82,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine, exhaust system.
I was driving the vehicle home when the check engine light came on steady. I did not pay much attention to it as I realized that more than likely the problem was an oxygen sensor or something emissions related. 5 more minutes went by and the light started blinking, accompanied by a pinging sound coming from the engine…
2003 Toyota Matrix. Consumer states burned out catalytic converter the consumer stated the engine light illuminated to let her know there was a problem and there was also a sulfur smell at times. Updated 10/08/10
Speed control
21 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 55,500 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Morning of june 22nd, when I drove back from charlotte, nc airport to university area, on highway I-85, my Toyota Matrix 2003 stop acceleration-quickly drop the speed from 70mph to 40mph and still dropping. Doesn't matter how hard I apply the gas pedal, it won't accelerate. I stopped the car in an open area close to…
I was exiting on a ramp from the highway. I stopped the car before coming off the ramp on an incline when the engine suddenly revved up with my foot on the brake. I immediately put the shifter in neutral and it returned to normal rpms. This is the second time that this has happened in three weeks.
Brakes
17 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 41,000 miles. Parts named most often: foundation components, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Front brake caliper / piston locked up under pressure. With 5miles and under highway speeds it created intense and immediate vibration and smoke. Sudden failure.
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.
Body and structure
12 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
I had a vibration in my dashboard for a month and thought it was the plastic in the dash ... Unfortunately, it is a structure defect in the frame that needs to be welded. I have not had my car for 8 days and it is still totally apart at a body shop. I am discussed.
After washing and waxing the vehical I noticed paint the to be blistering in certain spots of the car. The blistering was caused by bird droppings. This is kind of strange that this poor quality paint would be damaged on 2003 Toyota Matrix. I would expect Toyota to have protected it's vehicles with paint that is not…
Electrical
12 complaints · 5%Half of these problems showed up before 53,500 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition.
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…
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.
Other or unspecified
11 complaints · 4%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…
I have a Toyota Matrix 2003. On february 19, 2010 I was driving north on highway 101 in california. I was driving at about 35 MPH my distance from the car in front of me was about 1/2 a block. Suddenly the traffic slowed down and I immediately started slowing down, but the car would not stop and it felt like it was…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2003 Toyota Matrix recalls
Visibility and wipers: glass, side/rear
Risk: The door glass may separate from the window regulator, bind and shatter during operation of the power windows, causing driver distraction and/or injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger door glass bolts with newly designed bolts free of charge. The recall began on april 16, 2008 to toyota owners. The recall began on may 21, 2008, for pontiac owners. Owners may contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371 or pontiac at 1-800-620-7668.
Full defect summary
Toyota is recalling 662,178 my 2003-2004 corolla, corolla matrix and pontiac vibe vehicles equipped with power windows. The driver and front passenger door glass bolts may loosen and come off, causing the door glass to separate from the window regulator. Due to the components becoming loose and possibly rattling, an abnormal noise may be heard from the driver and /or front passenger door when operating the power windows.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Side front power window shatters
Summary
For the subject vehicles, there is a possibility that the retention force of the regulator bolts which attach the front side window glass to the power window regulator may not be sufficient due to an interference of the retention nut and the bolt shoulder radius.in this condition the bolt may become loose, causing a loud noise to be generated when the window is raised or lowered.if the vehicle and the power window are continuously operated in this condition, the bolt may completely separate, causing the glass to become misaligned, and in the worse case, the glass may shatter during operation of the power window.general motors corporation (gm) and toyota north america, inc. (toyota) will cond
Questions about the 2003 Toyota Matrix
- What are the most common problems with the 2003 Toyota Matrix?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (83 complaints, typically around 75,000 miles); air bags (57 complaints, typically around 120,000 miles); engine (33 complaints, typically around 82,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2003 Toyota Matrix have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 10, 2008 (visibility and wipers). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2003 a bad year for the Toyota Matrix?
- It is the most complained-about Matrix model year since 2000, with 268 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.