U.S. public vehicle records

2003 Toyota MATRIX problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

268 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

75,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 170 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 56 of 268 complaints (20.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Transmission and shifting	60	22.4%
Braking behavior	32	11.9%
Steering behavior	14	5.2%
Electrical and battery issues	13	4.9%
Engine operation	12	4.5%
Fuel system concerns	2	0.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags

Power Train:Manual Transmission

Power Train:Clutch Assembly

Vehicle Speed Control

Power Train

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Unknown Or Other

Electrical System

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Air Bags	56
Power Train:Manual Transmission	33
Power Train:Clutch Assembly	20
Vehicle Speed Control	20
Power Train	17
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	14
Unknown Or Other	11
Electrical System	10

Air Bags: 56; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 33; Power Train:Clutch Assembly: 20; Vehicle Speed Control: 20; Power Train: 17; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 14; Unknown Or Other: 11; Electrical System: 10

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 34; 25,000 to 49,999: 25; 50,000 to 74,999: 24; 75,000 to 99,999: 35; 100,000 to 149,999: 36; 150,000 and above: 16

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (36). 98 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2002: 14; 2003: 30; 2004: 28; 2005: 14; 2006: 11; 2007: 8; 2008: 21; 2009: 21; 2010: 33; 2011: 15; 2012: 7; 2013: 5; 2014: 12; 2015: 34; 2016: 9; 2017: 2; 2018: 4

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 60 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 32 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10057977 · 2004-02-11 (February 11, 2004)

WHILE SHIFTING GEARS A NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN SHIFT ON ITS OWN. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE NEXT DAY, VEHICLE WOULD START UP BUT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WORN OUT PARTS.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10057977 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10079473 · 2004-06-18 (June 18, 2004)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10079473 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003286 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)

PURCHASED A 2003 MATRIX RS WITH OPTION PK THAT INCLUDED 17" WHEELS, ABS, ALL WEATHER GUARD PACKAGE, AND SPORTS TRIM. FIRST SNOW I FOUND OUT THE PACKAGE WITH A INCLUDES SUMMER ONLY TIRES. MY MISTAKE FOR NOT CHECKING THE TIRES, BUT THE ABS BRAKES AND ALL WEATHER GUARD PACKAGE LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THE CAR WAS READY FOR WINTER. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH CURRENT TIRES.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003286 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10017160 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)

THERE WAS NO DRAG WHEN DRIVING WITH THE PARKING BRAKE FULLY APPLIED. THE CONSUMER WAS AFRAID THE PARKING WILL NOT WORK IN AN EMERGENCY. MR SCC *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017160 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10000334 · 2002-12-21 (December 21, 2002)

AFTER PURCHASE, COMPLAINED OF HAVING STEERING WANDER. AND NOT ONLY DID THE DEALER NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT RETURNED THE CAR WITH THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONING. AFTER SEVERAL MORE TRIPS TO THE DEALER, THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE STEERING RACK ADMITTING PROBLEMS WITH SOME UNITS. UPON BEING INFORMED THAT THIS MADE NO DIFFERENCE, AND WITHOUT FURTHER RETESTING, CARMAX AND TOYOTA REFUSE TO PERFORM ANY MORE ATTEMPTS AT FIXING EITHER PROBLEM. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 27 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000334 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10001302 · 2002-12-20 (December 20, 2002)

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE TURNS AND STEERING WAS VERY HARD. CONSUMER VISUALLY NOTICED A FLUID LEAKING FROM UNDER VEHICLE. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING PUMP HAD FAILED. TS THE NEXT DAY, CONSUMER NOTICED MORE FLUID LEAKING. DEALER REPLACED CRANKSHAFT AND KEYWAY. DOME LIT INOPERATIVE. BULB REPLACED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. DEALER FOUND EVAPORATIVE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 1,130 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001302 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003247 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)

THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS TURN ON MYSTERIOUSLY AT NIGHT WHILE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. SYMPTOMS INCLUDED A DEAD BATTERY AFTER NOT DRIVING THE CAR FOR THREE DAYS, AND THE DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS TURNING OFF WHENEVER THE TURN SIGNAL IS USED. DEALERSHIP DENIED THERE WAS A PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003247 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10087935 · 2004-08-13 (August 13, 2004)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10087935 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10081094 · 2004-07-14 (July 14, 2004)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 19,575 miles reported. Look up ODI 10081094 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10126417 · 2005-06-23 (June 23, 2005)

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 NEED…

Owner-reported narrative. 38,550 miles reported. Look up ODI 10126417 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10133320 · 2005-08-18 (August 18, 2005)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10133320 at NHTSA ↗