2003 Toyota Matrix Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 83 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2003 Toyota Matrix, 31% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 75,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “manual transmission” (22% of reports).
- 83power train complaints
- 75,000median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $3,800typical repair cost reported by owners
- 50%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Manual transmission: mentioned in 18 of 83 complaints (22%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2003 Toyota Matrix at $3,800, and half of them between $2,950 and $4,950.
Based on 20 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2011), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 74 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 83 complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Toyota Matrix power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Matrix | 1 | 2% | 78,851 |
| 2009 Matrix | 3 | 2% | 76,660 |
| 2008 Matrix | 3 | 8% | 46,000 |
| 2007 Matrix | 4 | 4% | 76,000 |
| 2006 Matrix | 18 | 11% | 72,500 |
| 2005 Matrix | 23 | 11% | 81,250 |
| 2004 Matrix | 37 | 27% | 88,250 |
| 2003 Matrix | 83 | 31% | 75,000 |
| 2002 Matrix | 1 | 50% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists power train for the 2003 Toyota Matrix. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota matrix. While driving, the check engine sensor indicator illuminated and the vehicle experienced hard shifting. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ecm was faulty. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of…
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota matrix. While driving various speeds, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the third and fourth gears were not getting any oil and tearing the bearing and transmission apart. The vehicle…
It seems to be nearly a class action lawsuit over the 5 speed manual transmissions used in the matrix< corolla< vibe and a few other models as the lay shaft bearings fail after so many miles! Is there a recall or recourse to get factory assistance for this issue! Si there any financail help for…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2003 Toyota Matrixs have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 83 owner complaints about power train for the 2003 Toyota Matrix (31% of the 268 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2003 Toyota Matrix power train?
No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 75,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2003 Toyota Matrix?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,800 (half paid between $2,950 and $4,950), from 20 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2003 Toyota Matrix?
The most frequent phrase is “manual transmission”, in 18 of 83 complaints.
Other 2003 Toyota Matrix problems
- Air Bags problems (57)
See all 2003 Toyota Matrix problems or power train problems across all Matrix years.