Most common 2003 Toyota Matrix problems
Share of the 268 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Matrix complaints by model year
Best Matrix years: 2012, 2011, 2008. Years to avoid: 2003, 2009, 2005, 2006. Compare all years →
2003 Toyota Matrix recalls (1)
Visibility › Glass, side/rear
Toyota is recalling 662,178 my 2003-2004 corolla, corolla matrix and Pontiac vibe vehicles equipped with power windows. The driver and front passenger door glass bolts May loosen and come off, causing the door glass to separate from the window regulator.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger door glass bolts with newly designed bolts free of charge. The recall began on April 16, 2008 to Toyota owners. The recall began on May 21, 2008, for Pontiac owners.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2003 Toyota Matrix:
Side front power window shatters
For the subject vehicles, there is a possibility that the retention force of the regulator bolts which attach the front side window glass to the power window regulator May not be sufficient due to an interference of the retention nut and the bolt shoulder radius.in this condition the bolt May become loose, causing a loud noise to be generated when the window is raised or lowered.if the vehicle and the power window…
What 2003 Toyota Matrix owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 83 →
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 was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 110,000.
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 the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 107,000.
Air bags all 57 →
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. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Toyota Matrix. While driving 45 MPH, a tire detached from a commercial vehicle, struck the contacts vehicle, and caused a crash. The contact stated that the air bags failed to deploy. There were no injuries and a police report was not filed. The vehicle was driven to the contact's residence. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 15V285000 (air bags) and 15V043000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was 154,000.
Engine & cooling all 33 →
I took the Matrix in twice shortly after I bought it because the car would unexpectedly lunge forward while at a complete stop. I also complained that the brakes felt "loose" and did not "catch" as they should. I was advised both times by the service manager that they could not duplicate the problem and that nothing abnormal was found with car. While I was beginning to look into "lemon laws", in September of last year I was at a stop light with the brake pedal fully engaged. Due to my previous experiences with the car lunging forward, I would keep several feet between me and the car in front of me to avoid an accident. This time the car not only lunged forward, but it was like the accelerator stuck-I had my foot on the brake but could not stop the car after it lunged forward and I hit a car that was in front of me at the light. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 Toyota Matrix. While driving 15 MPH, the engine stalled and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart on the second attempt; however, the failure recurred. The first time the vehicle was diagnosed the dealer was unable to determine the failure and disengaged the check engine warning sensor. The failure recurred and the vehicle was taken to a second dealer. It was diagnosed that the seal on the fuel cap failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 10V384000 (engine and engine cooling). The failure continued. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 145,000.
2003 Toyota Matrix engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 25 / 33 / 28 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 30 / 27 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 22 / 29 / 25 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 22 / 28 / 24 |
EPA ratings. Class: Wagon.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Toyota Matrix a good car?
Based on 268 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Matrix rates avoid: 2.4× as many complaints as a typical year of the Matrix at the same age. It is one of the Matrix years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Toyota Matrix?
The transmission & drivetrain — 83 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about manual transmission. Next are the air bags (57) and engine & cooling (33).
How many recalls does the 2003 Toyota Matrix have?
There is 1 recall for the 2003 Toyota Matrix, the most recent from April 10, 2008 (glass, side/rear). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Matrix?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2012, 2011 and 2008. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2003, 2009, 2005 and 2006. See the full Toyota Matrix years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Toyota Matrix problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 76,000 miles; 35% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.