Toyota MATRIX transmission problems
137 complaint narratives mention transmission terms.
Key facts
1,177 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
51,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 to 2013 model years. Data snapshot: . 729 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Transmission and shifting evidence
137 of 1,177 complaints match this topic (11.6%). The keyword filter can include complaints that mention a transmission without reporting its failure. View matching rules.
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 10082257 · 2004-07-20 (July 20, 2004)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10082257 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112140 · 2005-02-24 (February 24, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 32,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10112140 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10118862 · 2005-05-02 (May 2, 2005)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10118862 at NHTSA ↗