2003 Toyota Matrix: complete transmission failure

Filed Aug 26, 2013 · Transmission · 115,000 miles · GA

My son was shifting from 1st to 2nd gear when there was a loud popping metal sound; he took the car out of gear, coasted out of harms way and then got the car towed. My son said that it was dangerous and unexpected. We had just had our mechanic change the oil and test drive the car last week after putting on new tires. The car was diagnosed with needing a new transmission. This is the 2nd transmission that has been replaced as defective on this car. Am a single mom with multiple jobs and cannot afford to pay for a billion dollar company's' mistakes..(when providing a service or product to the public that costs money, if I make a mistake I admit it, correct it, am sorry and make it right at my expense).

Filed Feb 26, 2012 · Transmission · 132,000 miles · NJ

My transmission had been racing off and on for a couple of weeks. The car just didn't feel right. I went to make a left turn out of my street and my car just stopped moving. I was in the middle of the road and nothing would happen when I stepped on the gas pedal. It turns out my transmission died and I had to spend several thousands dollars to have it replaced. After 8 months my check engine light is still on and everything I try doesn't work. I've replaced oxygen sensors, speed censors, etc. I've put more money into this car in the last year than I should have. I see that other people have transmission problems, too. I can't imagine whey this hasn't been addressed by toyota yet.

Filed Oct 31, 2011 · Transmission · 89,000 miles · CA

The transmission failed. Has been serviced regularly. This seems like it is a common problem with this make and model car. I believe this should be a manufacture recall issue. The transmission could have locked up while driving and caused an accident. Looks like it will cost between $2000 and $3000 to repair. This is a problem that should not have happened.

Filed Oct 7, 2011 · Transmission · 23,000 miles · WV

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. I have receipts to prove all of these claims and will be glad to share any information I need to in order to help a recall come to light.

Filed Nov 19, 2010 · Transmission · 93,000 miles · OH

Manual transmission failure in a 2003 toyota matrix. Mostly highway miles, maintained regularly at the dealer. Noticed a noise and took it to the dealer and they said everything was fine. A few thousand miles later, there was a high pitched whine out of fifth gear. Upon stopping and restarting, pretty much all the forward gears were grinding, popping, squealing. Repair at the dealer was quoted $2500 for a used transmission and $3200 for a new! About half the value of the car.

Filed Feb 12, 2010 · Transmission · 175,000 miles · IN

A rattling noise started under the car. It would disappear when the clutch pedal was pushed down. Over a 2 day period, the noise became very loud and became more like a clacking noise, but not constant. We took the car to a transmission specialist. The transmission is shot and we've ordered a new transmission. I told the technician there were lots of reports about the '03 and '04 transmissions. When the service technician spoke to toyota about any frequency of this happening with the '03 matrix, toyota said they hadn't had any reports on it. (I understand they fixed problems by '05) this is the 3rd toyota we have had. Never had transmission problems. I hope the replacement transmission does not have the same problems.

Filed Jan 18, 2010 · Transmission · 130,000 miles · WI

Grinding noise began, shortly thereafter the transmission failed. I've replaced the transmission twice already and cannot afford to replace it again. The car now sits as I continue to make payments on it.

Filed Jan 17, 2010 · Transmission · 88,000 miles · MA

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. It is noted that the mechanic had a delay in getting the parts due to a manufacturer back order, reportedly from a high demand due to many others with the same problem with this make/model car! This is our first toyota, which we bought due to their good reputation. It has been regularly maintained and subjected to only normal driving conditions. We have never had a vehicle with transmission problems and are shocked that this expensive repair was needed on such a young car. Toyota should be held responsible for covering the cost of what appears to be widespread transmission failure due to defective/inferior parts used on this vehicle!

Filed Dec 15, 2009 · Transmission · 138,000 miles · CA

I heard a scraping and grating noise as I exited the freeway that I thought was some trapped debris under the front end or in the wheel well. I pulled into a gas station to investigate, finding a loose plastic plate ( a recurring problem with the cheap plastic screws and fasteners used) I rigged something to hold it up and get home. After a few more blocks the sound intensified and the car began to shudder and shake and I heard a pop. I pulled over, got towed home, and the next morning had it towed to a shop. The mechanic informed me that my transmission was shot and would need to be replaced. The car only has 140,000 miles on it, and I do not drive it like some crazed maniac. An internet chat room has recorded lots of matrix owners with the same transmission issues...I am going to need a new transmission and a new clutch.

Filed Oct 7, 2009 · Transmission · 175,160 miles · ME

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. They had a recall on the windows because it was a safety issue but I can't imagine that a broken window would have scared my wife as much as the bang she described and the jerking of the car it caused. Thank you.

Filed Jun 15, 2009 · Transmission · 130,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota matrix. The contact stated that the transmission bearings were faulty. While driving at an unknown speed, she heard an odd sound coming from the engine compartment. The dealer found failure with the transmission and verified that the bearings needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not willing to assist with the repairs. Through online research, the contact discovered that the manual transmission failures were common for her year, make, and model vehicle. The failure and current mileages were less than 130,000.

Filed Feb 28, 2009 · Transmission · 98,000 miles · VA

Own a toyota matrix 2003 xr have been hearing odd sounds for about 6 months. Had mechanic do a check and couldn't find anything. Never stopped to think it could be the transmission on a manual transmission with less than 100k miles. A week later, driving on highway in the middle of the night, heard a loud explosion type sound and swerved off the road. Mechanic said its a bad bearing in the transmission. Toyota has yet to respond to my complaint. The entire transmission needs to be replaced.