Eight problems related to engine and engine cooling have been reported for the 2003 Toyota Matrix. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
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.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Matrix. While driving approximately 30 mph, there was a loss of power steering without warning. Additionally, an unusual burning odor emitted inside the vehicle. The steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn. The vehicle was maneuvered to the side of the road for a few moments where the engine was turned off. After restarting the vehicle, the failure persisted. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic from the residence. The mechanic discovered that a bolt fractured and the fragments remained in the engine. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage was 147,000.
I was approaching a stop light and all of a sudden the engine started to accelerate; this has never happened before. I pressed on the brake as hard as I could but the brake wouldn't go all the way down and it was very stiff. Since I was going slow I was able to get the car to stop but the engine was revving as if I had the gas pedal to the floor. I decided to put the car in neutral so it wouldn't accelerate while I was at the stop light (the whole time the engine is revving to its max and the brake was stiff; I also used the hand brake. When the light turned red I placed the car in drive since I had to move and the car wanted to take off so I kept my foot planted on the brake this was at full strength. I was able to get the car into a parking lot and then home an hour later. I was driving the car locally so I was about one mile from home. I have never seen a car do this in my life. I did call Toyota about it and they said it wasn't sudden acceleration and said what do you want from Toyota which I thought was extremely rude. I feel if I was going faster say on the highway I would have lost control of the vehicle.
I was exiting on a ramp from the highway. I stopped the car before coming off the ramp on an incline when the engine suddenly revved up with my foot on the brake. I immediately put the shifter in neutral and it returned to normal rpms. This is the second time that this has happened in three weeks.
I have received several different recall notices from Toyota regarding this vehicle. I have also had several problems with the vehicle since purchasing it. It is currently not running at all and immediately after I paid the vehicle off, things like door handles and interior fixtures began breaking off. I work full time and have a very strict budget which does not allow me to take time off of work to have to take my car to the dealership with every recall notice I have received. I just want my money back. I paid more than three times the vehicle blue book value but I believe it is still possibly worth $3500. 00. Your help would be greatly appreciated in trying to facilitate a deal with Toyota wherein they pay me the $3500 and take the vehicle back. I would be satisfied with that and will not contact an attorney until I get a response regarding this request. Thank you very much and god bless.
2003 Matrix engine quit working while driving. Took to repair shop and they stated the engine has ceased up. Puzzled because clean oil, taken extreme care of, regular oil changes. Frustrating.
Factory defect on engine part. Had to spend over $4,000 for engine replacement & repairs.
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. My car did not stop until I was almost parallel with the other car on the passenger side! I have had the case looked at by Toyota, and their legal department has advised that nothing is wrong with the car-their only explanation is that the vehicle operates to "normal" specifications. They have advised that the car will lunge forward while the air conditioner is as when the ac compressor cycles, it increases the engine rpm and the vehicle will move forward. My air conditioner was not on at the time of this accident, however.