Toyota Matrix Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 173 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Toyota Matrix across 9 model years. The 2003 model year has the most (83). The words owners use most often: “manual transmission” (20% of reports).
- 173power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $3,650typical repair cost reported by owners
- 47%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 34 of 173 complaints (20%)
- Grinding noise: mentioned in 9 of 173 complaints (5%)
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 Toyota Matrix at $3,650, and half of them between $2,550 and $4,700.
Based on 36 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2003–2013), 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 160 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 173 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 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.
On several occasions while city driving in july 2016 my 2010 toyota matrix vcs light began blinking, both the skid light and the engine light came on and the acceleration had little to no response.though it has not resolved the cause of the problem, i was able to reset the system so the lights are…
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…
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 toyota matrix. While driving at approximately 30 mph, the throttle hesitated to respond. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was informed that there was a recall related to the failure and recommended the vehicle to be diagnosed by a dealer. The…
Car moves forward smoothly but doesn't move in reverse gear.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Toyota Matrixs have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 173 owner complaints about power train for the Toyota Matrix. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Toyota Matrix power train?
No recall currently lists power train for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Toyota Matrix?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,650 (half paid between $2,550 and $4,700), from 36 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the Toyota Matrix?
The most frequent phrase is “manual transmission”, in 34 of 173 complaints, followed by “grinding noise” (9).
Other Toyota Matrix problems
- Air Bags problems (406)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (145)
See all Toyota Matrix problems.