2003 Toyota Matrix Complaint Log

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

2003 TOYOTA MATRIX SIDE-FRONT POWER WINDOWS GETTING STUCK AND MAKING POPPING NOISES. *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 (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

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX THAT ON JULY 30, 2007, HAD A LITTLE OVER 105,000 MILES ON IT. DRIVING EITHER IN TOWN OR ON THE HIGHWAY A CLINKIING SOUND WAS NOTICED BY DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS ALONG WITH AN INTERMITTENT INCREASED DIFFICULTY IN SHIFTING GEARS. ON JULY 30, 2007, DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE CLINKING NOISE BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED. I PARKED MY VEHICLE TO DO SOME ERRANDS AND CAME BACK THE CAR WOULD START, BUT WOULD NOT ENTER INTO ANY GEAR. THE CAR WAS LOCKED IN A GEAR THAT WAS NOT NEUTRAL. I WAS STRANDED ABOUT 30 MILES FROM MY HOME AND HAD TO CALL A TOWING COMPANY TO COME AND TOW THE VEHICLE TO THE IOWA CITY TOYOTA COMPANY. FROM THERE, TOYOTA INSPECTED MY 2003 TOYOTA MATIX AND FOUND THAT THE GEAR TEETH IN THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY ERODED AND BROKE OFF. TOYOTA HAD TO REPLACE THE FULL TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH COSTING CLOSE TO $3000. *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

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

MY 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX HAD A FAILURE IN THE REAR MAIN BEARING OF THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE COST WAS $1800 TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION WITH NEW BEARINGS. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN, AT 133,000 MILES, DUE TO DESIGN DEFECT. THE TRANSMISSION OIL DOES NOT PROPERLY REACH THE REAR MAIN BEARING, WHICH CAUSES FAILURE. *TR

THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW DEVELOPED AN ISSUE WHERE IT WOULD BECOME STUCK AND PROMPTLY MAKE A LOUD POP AS IT BECAME UNSTUCK WHILE RETRACTING THE WINDOW DOWN. THE FINAL FAILURE CAME WHEN IT MADE VERY LOUD POP AND THE WINDOW WOULD NOT MOVE AFTER THAT. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE. *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 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

MANUAL TRANSMISSION BEARING FAILURE AT APPROXIMATELY 61,200 MILES. WARRANTY EXPIRED AT 60,000 MILES. TOYOTA WOULD MAKE NO ADJUSTMENT. *TR

IN 9/02 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON WET A ROAD, I APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD AND DID NOT STOP BEFORE HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS ADEQUATE STOPPING DISTANCE & I KNOW THAT OUR SATURN WAGON WOULD HAVE STOPPED ON TIME. ON 11/30/06, MY HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A DRY ROAD HE APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD AND DID NOT STOP BEFORE HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. HE ALSO HAD ADEQUATE STOPPING DISTANCE AND HE STATES THAT OUR PREVIOUS SATURN WAGON OR OUR SUBARU WAGON WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN TIME. I HAVE NEVER HIT A VEHICLE WHILE BRAKING HARD IN A VEHICLE W/ ABS UNTIL THE TOYOTA MATRIX. WE GOT ONE OF THE EARLY MATRIX'S IN 7/2002. NOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH OF US, WE WONDER IF THE ABS WAS FAULTY ON THE EARLY VERSIONS OF THE MATRIX. *JB

THE PLASTIC COVERING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT INTERIOR DOOR OPENING LEVER HAS SPLIT. THIS HAS CAUSED DEVELOPMENT OF A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAUSED ME TO CUT MY FINGER WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. *NM

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 IT SUPPOSEDLY THEN NOVEMBER 10TH, 2006 TRANSMISSION GAVE UP ON IT AGAIN NEEDING IT TO BE TOWED FROM FRIENDS PLACE TO HOME. NOISES HEARD UNDER THE CAR BEFORE IT STALLED. THEY FIXED PROBLEM BEFORE WITH REMANUFACTURED TRANS. BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. BEING SHUFFLED BACK & FORTH NOW THAT I AM CLAIMING FOR WHAT I PAID FOR WITH QUALITY GUARD PLUS. TOYOTA DON'T HAVE QUALITY GUARD, NISSAN DOES BUT MY CAR IS NOT A NISSAN CAR. SHOULD HAVE CALLED BEFORE THEY WILL COVER ANYTHING SUCH AS TOWING AND CAR RENTAL. TOO MUCH RED TAPE AND HASSLES IN ASKING TO PROVIDE COVERAGE I PAID FOR AND ONLY ONE PHONE LINE 1-800-888-5245 THAT PLACES YOU ON HOLD FOR 30-50 MINUTES, TALKS TO YOU BRIEFLY THEN PLACE YOU ON HOLD AGAIN. *JB

I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF MT TOYOTA XR AND BROUGHT THE CAR FOR THE EXCELLENT REPUTATION TOYOTA HAS AS I KNEW I WOULD BE DRIVING IT A LOT AS A REGULAR COMMUTER. I HAVE HAD THE OIL REPLACED FREQUENTLY AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR ITS SERVICES IN THE HOPE THAT THIS WOULD MEAN IT WOULD LAST WELL. ONE WEEK AFTER MY 90,000 SERVICE ($700) THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I HAVE DRIVEN A MANUAL CAR ALL MY LIFE AND KNOW IT WAS NO DUE TO BAD DRIVER HABITS. ACCORDING TO THE GARAGE A BALL BEARING DROPPED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND "SHREDDED IT" WE HAVE SPENT $3000 HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND FEEL LET DOWN BY TOYOTA, A CAR THAT WAS MEANT TO LAST A LIFETIME HAS MALFUNCTIONED DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS AT CARE. AFTER HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND THE CLUTCH TO BE SAFE WE NOW HAVE AN ERROR CODE P0121 INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. FEELING VERY FRUSTRATED WITH TOYOTAS RESPONSE THAT THIS HAS JUST BEEN BAD LUCK. *NM

WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY ESPECIALLY, VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD AND ACCELERATES QUITE NOTICEABLY. IT DOES THIS AT LEAST ONCE DAILY WHEN ACCELERATING OR BRAKING OVER 30 MPH. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED THE CONTACT HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP MOVING CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR BODY DAMAGE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

TAKATA RECALL MY WIFE AND I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THE FREEWAY ON OUR WAY HOME MORE THAN 7 YEARS AGO. WE WERE TRAVELLING AT AROUND 50-55 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR IN FRONT OF US STOPPED. RESULTED IN HITTING THE BACK BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. THE CAR SUSTAINED JUST MINOR SCRATCHED BUT OUR CAR WAS REALLY DAMAGED. MY WIFE WAS HURT AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT WHO WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER. THE CAR'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS STILL WONDERING UNTIL NOW, WHY? THE DAMAGED TO THE CAR WAS WORTH MORE THAN $8,000. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY, WHICH WAS STATE FARM DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THE AIR BAG. I JUST FOUND THAT OUT WHEN I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE LAST WEEK FORM TOYOTA. I CAN'T REALLY RECALL THE DATE IT HAPPENED, BUT I CAN GET SOME INFORMATION FROM STATE FARM INSURANCE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED AFTER A DAY OR 2 AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

FRONT WHEEL BEARING REPLACED & BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARING (HUB)ASSEMBLIES REPLACED WITH ONLY 103,000 KILOMETERS ON 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. IS MY CASE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT OR IS THIS A THING TO LOOK FOR , FOR MATRIX OWNERS? IT IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR OVER 1200 CDN. *NM

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THERE IS A THIN METAL COVERING ON THE DOOR HANDLE. THE METAL HAS SEPARATED FROM THE PLASTIC BASE. IT IS LIKE A RAZOR BLADE, SO WHEN YOU GO TO OPEN THE DOOR YOUR FINGERS GET SLICED. *JB

BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CLUTCH - ON HILLS, YOU CAN SMELL IT BURNING. THE BREAKING POINT HAS GRADUALLY BEEN GETTING FURTHER AND FURTHER OUT. I LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE ON A CLUTCH AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING ONE FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT 30K MILES. *JB

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

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SINCE PURCHASE THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT DRIP UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE CONDENSATION FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER HAD BEEN DRIPPING ON THE POWER STEERING SUPPORT CAUSING RUST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. *AK

FACTORY DEFECT ON ENGINE PART. HAD TO SPEND OVER $4,000 FOR ENGINE REPLACEMENT & REPAIRS. *TR

YOUR CRASH TESTING GAVE THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX XR AWD FIVE STARS FOR SIDE IMPACT REGARDING HEAD INJURY POTENTIAL FOR DRIVER. WE USED YOUR RATINGS WHEN SELECTING A USED CAR IN AUGUST 2005. ON APRIL 1, 2006 MY 29 YEAR OLD SON HIT A TREE ON DRIVER DOOR. HE SUFFERED FRACTURED SKULL, BROKEN NECK AND OTHER INJURIES. HE WAS KILLED INSTANTLY. PLEASE SEE WWW.MEM.COM; SEARCH LAST NAME RENFREW. PLEASE GOOGLE BRETT RENFREW AND READ SOME OF THE NEWS REPORTS. BESIDES CRASH WORTHINESS, WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE CAR CAREENED OFF THE ROAD. *NM

2003 TOYOTA MATRIX - CLUTCH BURNS TOO EASILY. I LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE ON A STD, HAVE DRIVEN THEM FOR 15 YEAR AND NEVER HAD THIS BURNING PROBLEM. THIS IS ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA. *NM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THE RPMS SUDDENLY INCREASED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND WOULD MOVE FORWARD EVEN WHEN THE BRAKES ARE BEING APPIED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT INSPECTED AND THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE IDLE WAS LOW. IN 2007, THE SALES DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THEY WOULD LOWER THE IDLE BUT SHE IS NOT SURE IF THAT REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. HER CONCERN WAS THAT THE VEHICLE COULD POSSIBLY LUNGE FORWARD AND CAUSE A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 91,000. UPDATED 5/10/10 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED, IT HAS LURCHED FORWARD ABOUT ONCE A WEEK OR MORE. OCCASSIONALLY, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE ENGINE WOULD REV EXTREMELY HIGH. UPDATED 06/11/10.*JB

THIS MORNING I DISCOVERED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD SPANNING 3/4 OF THE LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD, ACROSS THE BOTTOM ABOVE THE WIPERS, IN AN INVERTED U-SHAPE. THE CRACK DOES NOT GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE GLASS. IT WAS NOT PRESENT LAST NIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR THE NIGHT. THERE IS NO OTHER SIGN OF DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD OR TO THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO IMPACT POINT ANYWHERE ON THE WINDSHIELD GLASS TO INDICATE THAT AN OBJECT HIT THE WINDSHIELD TO CAUSE THE CRACK. IT APPEARS TO BE A SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN THE GLASS THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO ME. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND MUST BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THE WINDSHIELD WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *JB

PURCHASED AFFINITY LH 30 TIRES FOR 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. TIRES WEARING EVEN BUT ALL ARE STARTING TO DEVELOP CRACKS NEAR EDGE OF TREAD. TIRES ONLY HAVE 25000 MILES ON THEM AND TREAD DEPTH AVERAGE IS 8/32. *NM

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON CONSTANTLY. THIS STARTED 3-4 MONTHS AGO. THE DEALER HAS HAD TO RESET THE CODES SEVERAL TIMES. THE LIGHT WILL STAYED OFF FOR ONLY A COUPLE OF DAYS AND THEN THE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. SHE SAID THE CAR DIED O 4 TIMES, AND SHE HAS HAD TO REBOOT IT. THE BATTERY WAS GOOD. NO ONE WAS ABLE TO TELL HER WHY THE CAR WOULD NOT START. SHE SAID THE CAR WAS RUNNING GOOD. *AK

DT: 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING GAS FROM THE FUEL TANK DUE TO INTERNAL FLAPPER BREAKING. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN FIXED, IT WILL COST $688. WHEN PUMPING GAS IT WOULD TAKE A LONG TIME, AND THE MILEAGE WAS REAL BAD. WHEN THEY LOOKED THEY FOUND GAS WAS LEAKING.*AK

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK MY MATRIX TO DEALER THE VERY NEXT DAY(AM).DIAGNOSED AS FAULTY CHARCOAL FUEL CANISTER. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE REPAIRS WOULD COST $430.00 AND THAT THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED WHEN THE GAS TANK IS "TOPPED-OFF" WHEN BEING FILLED COMPLETELY.SINCE THE VEHICLE IS BEYOND THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTEE, I'M EXPECTED TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I DON'T THINK THAT IT'S GOOD OR FAIR CUSTOMER SERVICE. ESPECIALLY,SINCE IT'S ILLEGAL IN THE STATE OF NJ TO FUEL YOUR OWN VEHICLE ,AND THEN BECOMES A CIRCUMSTANCE BEYOND MY CONTROL.TOYOTA NEEDS TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM OR FIX IT! FROM READING ON THE INTERNET, IT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM IN MOST OF TOYOTA'S PRODUCT LINE.

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.

I HAVE AN 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS. CLUTCH STARTED SLIPPING AND YOU CAN SMELL IT MOST OF THE TIME. HAS 53,000 MILES. I HAVE DRIVEN MANY STANDARDS OVER THE YEARS AND NEVER HAD THIS MUCH TROUBLE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. THE LAST CLUTCH I HAD TO REPLACE WAS ON A 1991 SUZUKI SWIFT THAT HAD OVER 220,000 MILES. TOYOTA USED TO BE A GOOD VEHICLE. THEY REALLY NEED TO FIX THIS ISSUE. HAVE READ LOTS OF PROBLEMS FROM OTHER PEOPLE ON HTTP://WWW. MATRIXOWNERS.COM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WOULD BECOME UNREADABLE DUE TO GLARE FROM THE SUN AT ANY TIME. THIS CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. *AK

I OWN A 2003 MATRIX XR000 WITH 53000 MILES. I HAD THE FRONT PADS AND ROTORS TURNED AT 33000 MILES BY TOYOTA. LAST MONTH I FELT THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKING WHEN APPLYING MY BRAKES AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 40-70 MPH. *AK I WAS TOLD LAST WEEK BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA MECHANIC THAT BOTH MY DRUMS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THEY SAID THAT BLUE SPECS WERE IDENTIFIED INDICATING WEAR ON MY DRUMS. I ASKED WHAT WOULD CAUSE THE DRUMS TO WEAR SO FAST AND THEIR REPLY WAS NORMAL WEAR OR EMERGENCY BRAKE BEING APPLIED BY DRIVER. I ASKED IF ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAS EVER BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER DRIVERS AND THE ANSWER WAS NEVER. THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANY REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE DRUMS BECAUSE IT WAS NOT SOMETHING THEY HAVE SEEN BEFORE. I SPOKE TO THE CORPORATE CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE REPRESENTATIVE AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS NOT A DEFECT AND WAS FROM NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR BASED ON THE TOYOTA MECHANIC ANALYSIS. I CALLED ANOTHER BRAKE SPECIALIST AND PROVIDED HIM THE SAME INFORMATION THAT TOYOTA DIAGNOSED AND THEY SAID THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF SUCH A THING THAT THE DRUMS NEEDED REPLACED AT 53K MILES IN THE 15 YEARS HE HAS DONE BUSINESS IN BRAKES. THE FAILURE AND CONSEQUENCES BY TOYOTA NOT IDENTIFYING THIS AS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTORY CAUSES ME TO DISH OUT ADDITIONAL FUNDS TO FIX THE DEFECT ENDURED BY THEIR PRODUCT. MY QUESTION TO TOYOTA: THIS IS 1 IN A MILLION ODDS OF HAPPENING, ISN'T IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS INDEED IS A MANUFACTORY DEFECT AND NOT CUSTOMER RELATED? WHY DIDN'T TOYOTA IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM EARLIER AT THE BRAKE INSPECTION SERVICED AT 33K MILES? I ADVISED OTHERS NOT TO PURCHASE A TOYOTA VEHICLE, THE COST PAID FOR TOYOTA VEHICLES AND POOR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION WARRANTS A "F" IN MY BOOK.

PREMATURELY THE VEHICLE WILL GET OUT OF ALIGNMENT. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE STEERING WHEEL TO PULL TO THE LEFT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

THE CLUTCH ON MY 2003 MATRIX FAILED AT 32,000 MILES. I'VE OWNED MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS ALL MY LIFE AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS HAPPEN UNTIL AT LEAST 65,000 TO 85,000 MILES WERE PUT ON THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA REFUSES TO REPLACE THE CLUTCH BLAMING ME FOR IMPROPER DRIVING TECHNIQUE AND OR ABUSE. IT'S NICE TO SEE THAT IM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. HOPEFULLY IN THE NEAR FUTURE TOYOTA WILL BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEFECTIVE CLUTCH. *NM

WHEN STEPPING ON THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO MOVE. THE CONSUMER HAD TO HIT THE BRAKES REAL HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE.*AK

WHILE DRIVING. CLUTCH FAILED AT 38,000 MILES. CONTACTED THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

I'M AN OWNER OF A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX AND MY ENGINE HAS THE FAMOUS SLUDGE ISSUE RELATED TO PAST TOYOTA AUTOS OF RECENT YEARS. I DON'T HAVE ALL MY RECEIPTS (I REALLY ALMOST NEVER SAVE THEM) FOR MAINTENANCE BUT I HAVE A FEW... WELL, TOYOTA IS REFUSING THE WARRANTY AND I'M STARTING TO SEE MORE COMPLAINTS ABOUT POSSIBLE ENGINE PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR! MY CAR HAS 36,000 MILES ON IT AND IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY AND JUST TODAY I'VE BEEN TOLD THE ENGINE CAN'T BE SAVED! I'M LIVID AND FEEL THAT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE WRONG CAUSING THESE ISSUES BUT TOYOTA ISN'T SAYING EITHER WAY. I'M RETAINING A LAWYER AND POSSIBLY DROPPING THE CAR IF THIS ISSUE ISN'T ADDRESSED! THERE ARE 4 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE NHTSA SITE ALREADY AND I BE WE SEE MORE AS THESE MODELS CROSS THE 24K MILE MARKER! *JB

TAIL PIPE ASSEMBLY (CATALYTIC CONVERTER INSIDE OF MUFFLER) IS BAD . *AKI

CLUTCH BEGAN SLIPPING AT 35000 MILES WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. DEALER CLAIMED THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND NO ADJUSTMENT REQUIRED. CLUTCH CONTINUED TO GET WORSE. ON SUBSEQUENT TRIPS TO THE DEALER, THEY REPEATED THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM AND THAT THE CLUTCH WAS NORMAL. AN INDEPENDENT SHOP TOLD ME OTHERWISE. THE SLIPPING CONTINUED TO GET WORSE UNTIL BY 75000 MILES IT WAS UNDRIVABLE. THEN THE DEALER SAID IT NEEDED A CLUTCH AND THAT THE WEAR WAS NORMAL. I HAVE DRIVEN MANUAL TRANSMISSION CARS FOR 40 YEARS AND NEVER ENCOUNTERED SUCH A SHORT LIFESPAN ON A CLUTCH OR A MORE UNRESPONSIVE DEALER. I HAVE SERVICE RECORDS INDICATING THAT THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD AND ON MORE THAN ONE OTHER OCCASION AND THAT THEY DID NOT ADEQUATELY INSPECT FOR THIS ISSUE. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX WITH APPROXIMATELY 38,000 MILES ON IT. VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FOR ABOUT 6 OR MORE HOURS WHEN IT BEGAN A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND, AND STARTED TO LOSE POWER. THEN THERE WAS A LOUD BANG. AS IT TURNED OUT, THE CAR HAD THROWN A ROD THROUGH THE FRONT OF THE BLOCK, AS WELL AS BLEW THE STARTER FROM THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING. IN ADDITION THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE BACK OF THE OIL PAN ABOUT 3 INCHES IN DIAMETER. FROM THE SPOT WHERE THE ENGINE BLEW UP I TOOK MEASUREMENTS. THE INITIAL OIL SPOT WAS 121" LONG BY 18" WIDE. FROM THERE THE CAR SPRAYED OIL 1104' AVERAGING 15" TO 18" WIDE AS IT COASTED DOWNHILL TO A STOP WHERE IT MADE ANOTHER OIL SPOT ABOUT 15" WIDE BY 24" LONG. THE DEALERSHIP (NEWARK TOYOTA 1344 MARROWS RD.. NEWARK, DE 19711) IS ALLEGING THAT THE CARE HAD NO OIL IN IT ALTHOUGH I PROVIDED MAINTENANCE RECORDS AND A VIDEO OF THE OIL SPILL FROM THE START OF THE BREAKDOWN TO THE FINISH. THEY SAID THEY WERE DENYING THE WARRANTY WORK FOR LACK OF MAINTENANCE. *LA

I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 4 HOURS PRIOR TO PROBLEM. VEHICLE STARTING MAKING A TAPPING NOISE AS IF THE VALVES WERE KNOCKING. OIL STARTED LEAKING OUT FROM UNDER VEHICLE, AND THEN THE ENGINE THREW A CONNECTING ROD THROUGH THE ENGINE BLOCK AND LOWER OIL PAN DESTROYING THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP IS FIGHTING ME AND CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE ENGINE WHEN ALL THE OIL CAME OUT WHEN THE ROD STRUCK THE HOLE IN MY PAN.*AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE CONSUMER HAD TO DODGE A VEHICLE AND DROVE INTO A CORN FIELD. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

I WISH TO QUESTION THE SAFETY OF SEAT BELT DESIGN, AS MY SON HAS NOW--3 TIMES--GOTTEN SO TANGLED IN HIS REAR-SEAT BELT THAT IT HAD TO BE CUT TO GET HIM LOOSE. WE HAVE A TOYOTA MATRIX, BUT I DON'T THINK THIS PROBLEM IS SPECIFIC TO THAT MODEL CAR. IT HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE IN A RENTAL CAR WHOSE MAKE I DON'T RECALL. NO QUESTION OUR YOUNG, SQUIRMY SON DID SOMETHING WEIRD; WE THINK HE PUT THE SHOULDER STRAP BEHIND HIM AND THEN TURNED IN SOME ODD WAY. BUT AFTER THAT, THE DESIGN IS SUCH THAT THE LAP BELT JUST KEPT GETTING TIGHTER AND TIGHTER THE MORE HE TRIED TO GET FREE. UNFASTENING THE BELT DID NO GOOD. AND IT SEEMS QUITE DANGEROUS FOR THERE TO BE NO WAY TO RELEASE IT. THERE SHOULD BE SOME KIND OF MANUAL OVERRIDE MECHANISM FOR SUCH CASES. OR AT THE VERY LEAST A WARNING IN THE CAR'S MANUAL THAT EXPLAINS THAT IF A PASSENGER ALLOWS THE SHOULDER STRAP TIGHTEN BEHIND THE BODY, THERE WILL BE NO WAY TO LOOSEN THE LAP BELT. THE TOYOTA DEALER DID REPLACE THE BELTS AT NO COST. THEY SAID THEY WERE AWARE OF THIS HAPPENING BEOFRE, AND THAT THEY'D MENTION THE PROBLEM TO THEIR DESIGN/SAFETY DEPARTMENT. BUT ASSUMING THAT THE SEAT BELT DESIGN IN MOST CARS IS SIMILAR, WE THOUGHT IT WAS A PROBLEM TO BRING TO YOUR ATTENTION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

I HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY CLUTCH SINCE I BOUGHT MY CAR NEW IN AUG 2002. IT IS HARD TO GET IT TO GO INTO REVERSE AND FIRST GEAR AT TIMES. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY CANT MAKE IT HAPPEN SO THEY CANT FIX IT. THE CLUTCH PEDAL HAD DEVELOPED A SQUEAK THAT THEY WERE ABLE TO CORRECT. THE CLUTCH IN THIS CAR IS NOT RIGHT. IT SOMETIMES SMELLS HORRIBLY AS WELL. I HAVE READ SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER PEOPLE AT WWW.MATRIXOWNERS.COM . *AK

NUMEROUS TIMES I HAVE BEEN UNABLE START THE VEHICLE DUE TO BEING UNABLE TO PUSH THE CLUTCH IN FAR ENOUGH. I HAVE HAD TO REMOVE MY SHOES TO BE ABLE TO PUSH THE CLUTCH IN FAR ENOUGH FOR THE SWITCH TO ACTIVATE AND START THE VEHICLE. I ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS WHEN IN TRAFFIC AND THE 'SELF-ADJUSTING' CLUTCH FAILS AND STALLS THE VEHICLE.*AK

MY CAR HAS 30,000 MILES AND THE CLUTCH HAS BURNED OUT. THE DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE TO ME. THEY WANT $1084. MY CAR IS ONLY 2 YEARS AND I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER.