Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2003 Toyota Matrix owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
2003 Toyota Matrix manual 5 speed transmission has completely come apart due to being built with bad throw out bearings. Loud rattling noise began 6 months ago even though the transmission and the entire vehicle has been maintained flawlessly. Two weeks ago, on March 9, 2009 my boyfriend was driving on the 15 freeway going north when the car began to make a horrible rattling noise. My boyfriend pulled the car over to safety off the freeway and took a look. He knew it was the tranny, he didn't need to see anything...the first clue was that it would not go into 1st or reverse gear at all. We had to get it to a place that we could park it legally, so he started it in second gear and the car wailed and whined and sounded like metal was breaking apart as the car literally limped it's way the entire short ride. Warranty good for 100,000 miles, but my car is out of warranty at 105,000 miles. …
While driving down the highway one evening, an odd clicking sound was heard from the front end of our 2003 Toyota Matrix (manual transmission with 88,000 miles). The sound was louder with acceleration. After getting off the highway, the sound was noted to be louder in higher gears, and absent when the clutch was pressed down. The vehicle was brought in for service at our local Toyota dealer the next morning. After paying a $95 diagnostic fee, we were told the vehicle needed a new transmission at the estimated cost of $3300, with nothing being covered by any warranty or recall. We brought the car to a transmission specialist for a rebuild. The bearings, rings, and two transfer gears were replaced, along with the clutch, at a cost of $2100. …
ABS, brake, & service engine lights came on. Took it to midas, they replaced speed sensors. When I got car back it shifted gears (automatic) funny & hesitated significantly shifting from 2nd to 3rd. Immediately returned car to midas. They re-diagnosed & suggested I take it to Toyota dealer (john elway's crown Toyota). They said it was speedometer cluster & replaced it which did not resolve my problem so declined to pay & asked them to put back my old speedometer cluster. They didn't & didn't charge me for the new one. Had car towed back to midas. They disconnected speed sensors & told me it was drivable. Got on freeway next day & car wouldn't shift from 3rd to 4th gear, engine revved to 6000 rpms, got off freeway & called midas corporate to complain. They said they would have franchise owner call me. …
I have a 2003 Toyota Matrix auto transmission, that has 58,000 miles on it. A month ago the 1st and reverse gears started to slip and was hard to get into gear. I took it to the Toyota dealer and they said they couldn't find anything wrong. I left the dealer and it started again. 2 days later I was not able to get it in to reverse at all. I took it to a transmission shop since the 'check engine' light came on and they checked the codes and looked at the transmission. The engine needs to be rebuilt now and will cost me $2400. I love this car. I baby it all the time. I change the oil regular and always keep up on the maint. I don't understand how a transmission can go out on a car that is only 5 yrs. And 4 mo. Old and only 58,000 miles on it ! I did call Toyota and they said nothing was reported and all was fine. I asked them to pay for the fix and they said the warranty was only 5yrs. …
The throwout baring in my 2003 Toyota Matrix xr 5-speed transmission went out at approximately 23,000 miles and caused the transmission to fail. Toyota replaced the transmission at the love Lexus Toyota dealership in st. Albans, wv, where the vehicle was purchased brand new with zero miles. This second transmission, at approximately 64,000 miles, failed as well with the same prescribed issue (throwout baring in the transmission). After researching this issue (http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f0d9b0e/497#msg497) this issue has occurred in a plethora of Toyota Matrix' 5 - speed transmissions that Toyota had placed in the 2003 - 2005 Toyota Matrix'. Please, please, please help recall these transmissions and hold Toyota accountable for placing faulty transmissions in these vehicles before another one goes out and I have to fork over another $3200 + for a new transmission. …
Purchased used 2003 Matrix in oct 2005, paid for quality guard plus deluxe through Nissan dealership where I purchased the car to cover mechanical problems. By April 2006 it was missing gears and car just died. Took it to Toyota dealership after calling Nissan because I was pointed there. Toyota had it for 5 days fix it supposedly then November 10th, 2006 transmission gave up on it again needing it to be towed from friends place to home. Noises heard under the car before it stalled. They fixed problem before with remanufactured trans. But problem recurred. Being shuffled back & forth now that I am claiming for what I paid for with quality guard plus. Toyota don't have quality guard, Nissan does but my car is not a Nissan car. Should have called before they will cover anything such as towing and car rental. …
My 2003 Toyota Matrix xr sometimes accelerates uncontrollably. Usually when I am cruising at highway speeds, when I let off of the gas pedal, the car's throttle still feels like it's in the open position, causing the car to speed up instead of slowing down. It almost feels like if the cruise control is turned on and the car is trying to maintain speed. My cruise control was turned off during each of these incidents, and there was no indication that they were turned on at the time of the incidents. This problem occurs once every few months and I usually don't pay attention to them. The car will accelerate for a few seconds then eventually the throttle will close and the car will slow down and then I will apply the brakes gently. I have informed my Toyota dealer of this but they usually just brush the complaint off and say they couldn't find any problems. …
My wife was driving on the interstate in our 2003 Toyota Matrix with two of our three young children in the car when she heard a loud bang and felt what she describes as the car jumping off the ground. She slowed the car down to a crawl, exited the interstate and limped it home. Presently it sits in the yard and will only move forward. In fact, even in neutral the car can't be pushed backward. Upon searching for answers on the internet I found a forum with what appears to be dozens of people who have had transmission failures with 2003 to 2005 matrixes. I am filing this complaint because my wife came close to going off the road when the transmission failed and it appears that Toyota is aware of the issue but won't take any action to remedy it. …
Transmission complaints in other Matrix years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2003 Toyota Matrix?
NHTSA has 83 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2003 Toyota Matrix, 31% of the model year's 268 complaints. The component named most often is manual transmission (33 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2003 Toyota Matrix transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2003 Toyota Matrix, though it has 1 recall for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2003 Toyota Matrix transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles, and 12% before 25,000 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.