IllustrationI 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
2003 Toyota Matrix
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Matrix years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Toyota Matrix are substantially higher than the model-year median of 70.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Matrix years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
340–25K
2525–50K
2450–75K
3575–100K
36100–150K
16150K+
170 reports with mileage · 98 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
19 crash reports3 fire reports13 injury reports
What owners actually said
268 reportsMANUAL TRANSMISSION BEARING FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 61,200 MILES. WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 60,000 MILES. TOYOTA WOULD MAKE NO ADJUSTMENT. *TR
WAS TRAVELING FROM ILLINOIS TO COLORADO, TRANSMISSION BEGAN FAILING, GRINDING. MADE IT TO COLORADO, HAD TO HAVE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AROUND ($4300, OUT OF WARRANTY). NO HELP FROM TOYOTA. TOYOTA TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 80,000 MILES? C'MON, WHAT'S UP WITH THAT? *TR
FACTORY DEFECT ON ENGINE PART. HAD TO SPEND OVER $4,000 FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT & REPAIRS. *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
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 HA…
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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
MY HUSBAND, WILLIAM PALMER-TAYLOR, BOUGHT OUR 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX IN THE BOSTON, MA AREA BEFORE JOINING ME IN CALIFORNIA. BECAUSE OF A PROGRAMMING FAILURE, THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX (IZZ-FE ENGINE) CATALYTIC CONVERTER BURNS OUT EARLY EMITTING A NOXIOUS SULFUR DIOXIDE ODOR. THE PROBLEM IS PROBABLY MORE OF FINANCES THAN HEALTH (THE RE…
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MY HUSBAND, WILLIAM PALMER-TAYLOR, BOUGHT OUR 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX IN THE BOSTON, MA AREA BEFORE JOINING ME IN CALIFORNIA. BECAUSE OF A PROGRAMMING FAILURE, THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX (IZZ-FE ENGINE) CATALYTIC CONVERTER BURNS OUT EARLY EMITTING A NOXIOUS SULFUR DIOXIDE ODOR. THE PROBLEM IS PROBABLY MORE OF FINANCES THAN HEALTH (THE REPAIR COST IS $1200 AT LEAST). TOYOTA IS AWARE OF THIS, EVIDENCED BY TSB ISSUED 10/8/04, EGO26-04. HOWEVER, NO RECALL HAS BEEN IN EFFECT AND THE CONSUMER IS AT RISK. THE WARRANTY ON THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER ENDS AT 80,000 MILES. MINE BURNED OUT AT 100,000. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED ANY ACCOUNTABILITY. THEY SHOULD BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR AT LEAST THE PART AND REPROGRAMMING OF THIS. *TR
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 COUNTY (DIVI…
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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 COUNTY (DIVIDED, LIMITED ACCESS HIGHWAY). THE CAR SUDDENLY BEGAN MAKING A LOUD HIGH-PITCHED NOISE, THEN LURCHED TO A SUDDEN STOP. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF THE HIGHWAY BUT IF I HADN'T BEEN RIGHT NEXT TO THE EXIT WHEN THE NOISE STARTED, I WOULD HAVE FROZEN IN A LANE OF TRAFFIC MOVING AT 60 MPH. I HAD LITERALLY 90 SECONDS TO DEAL WITH THE SUDDEN LOSS OF THE DRIVE TRAIN, AND ABSOLUTELY NO ADVANCE WARNING TO ANY IMPENDING MECHANICAL FAILURE. CURRENTLY, TOYOTA IS REVIEWING WHETHER THEY WILL EXTEND THE POWER TRAIN WARRANTY (60K/5YEAR) TO COVER MY CAR. *TR
CLUTCH FAILED WITHIN THE 36 THOUSAND WARRANTY PERIOD. DEALER AND TOYOTA SAY THAT IT IS A WEAR ITEM AND NOT COVERED. MANY OF THE SAME REPORTS OF OWNERS WITH SAME VEHICLE AND SAME ISSUE. *TR
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 THAT CO…
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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 THAT COINCIDED WITH ENGINE RPMS. WITHIN 30 SECONDS THE CAR DIED. AFTER A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP RECEIVED THE TOWED VEHICLE, THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM. THE PINGING"WAS CAUSED BY THE PISTON HITTING THE SPARK PLUG. TRANSLATION, I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. WHEN THIS HAPPENED FOR 30 SECONDS IT CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO SUDDENLY FAIL. THE CAR HAD 82,000 MILES ON IT , AND I HAD BABIED IT SINCE DAY ONE WITH NOTHING BUT SYNTHETIC OIL.*AK
Official recalls
108V162000 · Visibility:glass, Side/rear
Apr 10, 2008
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DOOR GLASS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR, BIND AND SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOWS, CAUSING DRIVER DISTRACTION AND/OR INJURY.
Remedy: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA08004 · Side Front Power Window Shatters
Opened Feb 5, 2008 · Closed May 1, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility; Visibility:glass, Side/rear; Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls
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 CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA COROLLA AND TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR BOLT WITH A BOLT AND WASHER.GM WILL RECALL 122,593 MY 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 16,045 WARRANTY AND GOODWILL CLAIMS, 274 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 23 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 415,341 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 6,601 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 150 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 11 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 124,244 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 2,198 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 113 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 6 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 24,843 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 537 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 40 INJURIES FOR 662,178 MY 2003-2004 VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 08V-162.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Visibility:glass, Side/rear
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 CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA COROLLA AND TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR BOLT WITH A BOLT AND WASHER.GM WILL RECALL 122,593 MY 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 16,045 WARRANTY AND GOODWILL CLAIMS, 274 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 23 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 415,341 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 6,601 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 150 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 11 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 124,244 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 2,198 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 113 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 6 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 24,843 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 537 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 40 INJURIES FOR 662,178 MY 2003-2004 VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 08V-162.
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls
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 CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA COROLLA AND TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR BOLT WITH A BOLT AND WASHER.GM WILL RECALL 122,593 MY 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 16,045 WARRANTY AND GOODWILL CLAIMS, 274 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 23 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 415,341 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 6,601 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 150 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 11 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 124,244 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 2,198 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 113 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 6 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 24,843 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 537 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 40 INJURIES FOR 662,178 MY 2003-2004 VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 08V-162.
Visibility
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 CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA COROLLA AND TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR BOLT WITH A BOLT AND WASHER.GM WILL RECALL 122,593 MY 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 16,045 WARRANTY AND GOODWILL CLAIMS, 274 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 23 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 415,341 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 6,601 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 150 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 11 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 124,244 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 2,198 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 113 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 6 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 24,843 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 537 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 40 INJURIES FOR 662,178 MY 2003-2004 VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 08V-162.