He jerry-rigged a repair that prevents rear alignment from being adjusted. Car had to be towed to Toyota dealer for replacement. It Might Be a Bad Idler Pulley, P0420 and P0430 codes: Diagnose and fix like a mechanic [how-to guide + videos], Gas Cap Throwing a Check Engine Light? A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag. It is the old Corolla engine - mostly good, and later corrected I think", "engine replacement due to sludge build-up on cam shaft gears due to not changing oil on a proper schedule". Once again, the Matrix earned another Beware of the Clunker award from Car Complaints with its 2009 iteration - it also happens to be the worst model year, according to the website. As far as reliability issues go, the main concern is the transmission problem, which only affects manual transmissions. The very first Toyota Matrix is a model year wed rather skip. Excessive vibrations indicate there is probably a problem with the motor mounts. Shocks or struts, ball joints, tie rods, wheel bearings, alignment, steering linkage (includes rack and pinion), power steering (pumps and hoses, leaks), wheel balance, springs or torsion bars, bushings, electronic or air suspension. Required fields are marked *. brought it in for service and had technician look and "adjust" but problem persists, very annoying when window is partially down, rattles way too much", "The outside door handles break off. coating failure obvious from poor metal preparation", "Early on, there were areas of paint that had chipped off my car body", "paint has faded and clear coat in departing", "Paint on roof, hood have worn thru to the metal and faded on any sun exposed surface. Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag assemblies with an alternate inflator, free of charge. TOYOTA IS RECALLING 662,178 MY 2003-2004 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS. The cost would be more than $300. Not borken or damaged, but come off every year", "There is a black rubber trim piece that runs along the roof on the right and left sides. Today, were rounding up the Toyota Matrix years to avoid along with model years you can safely buy. Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa. If youre looking to buy a used Toyota Matrix, one of the main concerns is its reliability. connector for screws is broken". But some Matrix years are less reliable than the others. on how 2000 through 2021 vehicles are holding up in 17 potential trouble spots, ranging from the No problems since", "The transmission started making a rattling noise and would not go into reverse. Reliability indicates how models have performed in the past, providing the basis for predicting how the vehicles will hold up in the year ahead. NOTE: This recall supersedes recall 14V-312 in its entirety. ", "I'm actually not sure it's the starter; I took it to my mechanic who fixed something that was wrong, but the noise on start-up is still there. Reactivate now ", "Timing chain cover was leaking oil. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Top 5 Common Toyota Matrix Problems - 1st Gen (2003-2008) - 1A Auto. It offers a stable and comfortable, versatile cargo area, roomy backseat, and excellent fuel economy. Was told by our mechanic it would need total replacement again. This dreaded engine failure reportedly happens at around 103,300 miles and costs $3,400 to repair. We looked into price, reliability, features, and more to create this list of the best used SUVs under $10k on the market today. "rear could not be aligned because mechanic broke rusty bolt, replacement part expensive and hard to find. first diagnosed as front brake problem. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. Safe Summer Activities for Kids During the Pandemic, What You Need to Know About Bug Spray for Kids, Best Cooling Mattress Toppers From Consumer Reports' Tests. "Internal backlight on radio/clock malfunctioned. Address: 833 W. Jackson Blvd., Suite 800Chicago, IL 60607, Here Are The Toyota Matrix Years To Avoid, CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars, 8 Underrated Cars Worth Checking Out in 2022, 2012 Ford Fusion Problems: The Most Common Reliability Issues Reported By Owners. to get the information you were looking for! Based on information received from our latest ", "Oil is disappearing, we are still tracking down the cause", "Drip from engine. The electrical short may create an abnormal current flow and increased heat which can damage the circuits. There is also rust an the sill at the entrance to the drivers side". They had to replace the starter", "Difficulty engaging gears on one occasion. The problem is well documented on the internet, but takes a while to find. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. NA indicates that we did not receive a large enough sample size to provide Dealers previously installed a supplemental harness containing an electrical filter between the airbag control module and its wire harness, free of charge. Remove any trim panel covers, screws, clips, and switches from the door panel, and then loosen and remove the door panel to access the window. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. Reliability indicates how models have performed in the past, providing the basis for predicting Only see cars five years or newer with low mileage CoPilot Compare is the best way to find off-lease, early trade-in, and CPO cars. Usually don't need to add oil between changes -so far. Accessory belts and pulleys, engine computer, engine mounts, engine knock or ping, oil leaks. GM issued an interim notification to owners on March 27, 2015. Reverse these steps to reinstall the canister. The recall began on March 13, 2013. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589. Excellent service and value", "While having Multiple mechanics troubleshoot the AC system, most thought it was the compressor. Might need to remove engine to access leak-to cost prohibitive. ", "Original clutch was replaced after about 250K miles. Once replaced and systems charged the AC has been working well.". Also, I have since learned from the car guys on NPR to never touch the clutch except to shift. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF, CAUSING THE DOOR GLASS TO SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR. CoPilot Compare is the search engine for nearly-new cars. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. This compact car offers sporty styling, decent performance, interior comfort, and excellent mpg ratings - all for an affordable pre-owned price. The Matrix offered a lot of room and many of the virtues of an SUV, such as a little higher driving position, easy access, and optional AWD. Heres Everything You Need To Know. The supplemental restraint system (SRS) circuits are susceptible to internal shorting. Isn't bad enough to take it in for repair. Gear selector or linkage, leaks, transmission computer, transmission sensor or solenoid, clutch adjustment, rough shifting, slipping transmission. Another area of concern is the cars transmission system thats also prone to fail. Summarizing, I later determined the sunroof was leaking and had to pay several hundred dollars to fix it. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. It was a compact car that tried to do several things at once - unfortunately, it was discontinued in 2013. Correction required replacement of entire axle", "ABS sensors are bad. Researching the catalytic converter was a challenge, as there are many parts online and it's hard to tell which goes with your car. How to Remove a Lower Ball Joint on an S10 Truck, Before replacing the MAF sensor, check the hoses for rips or tears, Listen for air leaks at the intake gasket, Clean the MAF sensor with MAF sensor cleaner, Pull the gas cap back and straight out, checking for looseness, Check the gas cap gasket for torn or broken pieces, Tighten the gas cap and check its ratcheting ability, Clunking noise when shifting in and out of different gears, Excessive vibrations when in gear, like when sitting at a stop sign. Plus cover gasket wore out and was leaking and oil was coming out of it", "Has no current effect on driveability, this old Corolla engine performs better than the new rental I recently used. The catalytic convertors tend to fail on the 2003 to 2008 Toyota Matrix, causing a check engine light or engine performance problems. ", "The sun roof started leaking and continues in heavy rains", "The tailgate struts stopped holding the tailgate up when it was open, first in cold weather and then anytime we opened it. Replacing the engine mounts is not an easy job for inexperienced mechanics. A recall on the problem didn't fix it", "windows come off track on front passenger side", "passenger side window came off tracks. According to RepairPal, this issue may have to do with a faulty oxygen sensor that lights up the check engine light. data for a specific year. Can't figure out why", "Front of hood bad from lovebugs and my fault for not cleaning them off sooner", "The paint is peeling down to the metal. THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES PRODUCED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER.IN ORDER TO DETERMINE IF YOUR AFTERMARKET LAMP ASSEMBLY IS AFFECTED BY THIS NONCOMPLIANCE, PLEASE REVIEW THE LIST OF MODEL NUMBERS PROVIDED TO US BY SABERSPORT.THE LIST CAN BE FOUND UNDER "DOCUMENT SEARCH" LOCATED AT THE BOTTOM OF YOUR SCREEN.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV . account information here. to help you make better choices for lifes big moments and the everyday ones in between. The original one was replaced around 2012 when the car was 9 years old. Had to be replaced. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Only looking for newer models? (2003 Toyota Matrix Standard 1.8-L 4 Cyl), Paint (fading, chalking, cracking, or peeling), External music device interface (e.g., smart phone, MP3 player). That concludes our roundup of the Matrix years to avoid, so lets get to the model years that you can buy with confidence. DUE TO THE COMPONENTS BECOMING LOOSE AND POSSIBLY RATTLING, AN ABNORMAL NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM THE DRIVER AND /OR FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WHEN OPERATING THE POWER WINDOWS. of 2003 Toyota Matrix owners. ", "car has been leaking around driver's side door seal for past several years, and passenger side just began leaking as well", "after rain at a joint for front door water comes into the passenger seat", "We have had an ongoing issue with water leaking from the windows and sunroof of our Matrix. The best part? Like the previous year, the transmission issue seems only to affect manual models, which have symptoms like loud grinding noises, hesitation while shifting, and no fifth gear. It turned out to be the electrical relay to the Compressor that had failed. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag. Despite my bringing it back 3 times no fix. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 16, 2008 TO TOYOTA OWNERS. 07273.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV. It has been going on for some time now, but I don't want to spend hundreds of dollars to fix it, so I have been using a damp-rid bag in my car. These engines tend to vibrate in general, which can loosen the engine mounts over time. It has always been a daily driver. If youre in the market for a newer Matrix model, its hard to go wrong with the 2012 Matrix. Toyota will notify their owners. "snow dislodges plastic bumpers and side covers from bottom of car", "Plastic liner of wheel well kept coming loose, popping out of position and rubbing against tire", "My wife and I had two mishaps with the car years ago, and the repairs are starting to come undone. ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. Note: This recall supersedes recalls 13V-029 and 14V-147. The problem was caused by inadequate oil flow due a reduction in the size and number of bypass holes in the connecting rod. ", "After a heavy rain, I found puddles of water in the right front and rear passenger floorboard areas. Inadvertent deployment of the air bags or the seat belt pretensioners increases the risk of an injury or crash. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2008, FOR PONTIAC OWNERS. ", "Starter failed completely. To help prevent catalytic convertor failure, change the spark plugs, air filter, and oil regularly according to the recommended intervals in the owners manual. To replace the EVAP canister, steps include disconnecting the electrical connector, removing the bolts, and removing the canister. "The clutch wore out. The standard fix is replacing or overhauling the transmission, which may cost about $2,290 on average. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS WITH NEWLY DESIGNED BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. Toyota began the recall on July 13, 2015. Earning the Seal of Awesome award by Car Complaints, the 2007 Toyota Matrix is a satisfying compact car choice for many people. Your email address will not be published. In some cases, the noise turned to rattle after the gas pedal was engaged, eventually followed by the engine dying. Although to a lesser degree, a few owners have reported engine problems with their Matrix. "Valves stuck hard open. The manufacturer has not yet provided a schedule for second notices. We had the struts replaced and now it works fine. "The moonroof has a slow leak. Very disconcerting and uncomfortable", "The heat shield rusted through and had to be reattached", "axle seals rusted in lace, could not be easily fixed. Dealers will replace the air bag control module, free of charge. It was replaced", "Transmission failed. CoPilot Compare breaks down pricing and feature differences between Toyota Matrix years so you can find the sweet spot between value AND reliability. An X indicates that the vehicle was not manufactured for a specific year. It looks like freckles. Also included in this recall filing is 98,194 model year 2003-2008 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles, located throughout the U.S., that previously received a like-for-like interim air bag inflator replacement. My wife hit a deer and I backed into a tree. After talking to trusted mechanic, decided not to fix -- ABS seems to work okay", "They are seizing up and need to be replaced", "Caliper froze to rotor. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." Mechanics first said it was the ignition switch, but car was still starting intermittently. ", "Clutch failed and needed to replace entire clutch - doe seem reasonable on the car with 164000 plus miles", "It felt like the clutch was "slipping" intermittently, so I took it to AAMCO and had them do the repair. This issue rears its head at around 103,300 miles, and it costs $3,400 to fix. ", "Drivers side front door rusted through; replaced with door from auto wrecker", "under body rust under doors and wheel wells", "Not surprisingly, after 15 years and nearly 200,000 miles in a state that salts roads in the winter, the car is showing some rust. The 2003 Matrix has 209 NHTSA complaints and eight recalls, according to Car Complaints. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. Its not exactly a cavernous hatchback, but if you have two kids, the 2007 Matrix is an impressive family vehicle. replace). Based on data by Car Complaints, the 2006 Matrix has 285 NHTSA complaints and eight recalls. Inadvertent deployment of the airbags or the seat belt pretensioners may increase the risk of injury and the possibility of a vehicle crash. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. "car would not start. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.". Unbelievable!!! Banged on it with hammer and it released. "After a few years of coolant leaks during the winter, that we could resolve and refill in spring, it finally leaked fully out and during Defrost cycles killed the compressor", "There was a small, slow leak in the A/C system. Mechanic was unable to fix", "one headlight routinely comes loose from its housing, causing the bulb to rattle and become inoperative", "Both 'apparently' extinguished simultaneously. Which Brands Make the Most Reliable Appliances? Leaves warning light on dash. The 2012 Toyota Matrix is a great reliable car that offers great bang for your buck. On examination by the repair shop, it was determined that the entire clutch needed to be replaced. So, it didn't seem as though I should have needed a second replacement only 5 years later. We've decided to unload soon". 80A/GM RECALL NO. "Had work done by local mechanic (ex-Toyota). Everything You Need To Know, What Is A PCM On A Car? The inflators in the front passenger air bags are susceptible to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the front passenger air bag. Matrix owners have reported knocking noises coming from the transmission. A Washington State Vehicle Bill of Sale: Everything You Need To Know, What Is A Crossover Car? Had it repaired by AAMCO", "Worn-out flex joint between manifold and the converter", "replaced exhaust manifold due to cracks. "Catalytic converter needed replacement.". ", "The roof drains were blocked by debris and gallons of water poured into the interior", "I have a cooling system leak, which needs attention", "Unexplainable water leak onto front & rear passenger carpets when parked in rain", "Since I get Krown rust prevention applied every year, it seems to shrink the rubber and cause wind noise around the door seals. The engine mount is located at the front of the vehicle and at the front of the engine. Compared to the 2003 Matrix, the version has fared better in terms of reliability. How Much Does It Cost To Fix a Bumper That Is Falling Off? The recall began on January 29, 2018. Need transmission involvement to take apart", "Wear and tear Fairly common in a car this old! Toyota will notify their owners. Worn-out flex joint, converter efficiency fault codes, fairly new O2 sensors, plan to keep the car", "It went out but there is no way to tell if it was the converter or the computer", "Toyota dealer quoted to replace entire exhaust system including O2 sensors. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688. engine, transmission, and brakes to power equipment and the electrical system. Alternator, starter, hybrid battery and related systems, regular battery, battery cables, engine harness, coil, ignition switch, electronic ignition, distributor or rotor failure, spark plugs and wires failure. Transmission rebuild or replacement, torque converter, clutch replacement. Squeaks, rattles, wind noises, loose or cracked seals and/or weather-stripping, air and water leaks. Tried to warn others". NOTE: This recacll supersedes recall 14V-655 in its entirety. Tie Rod Repair Cost: Everything You Need To Know, What Are The Cheapest Sports Cars on the Market? This has now happened to three different doors. TOYOTA RECALL NO. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Described as sudden RPM increase/vehicle acceleration due to accelerator pedal sticking, Toyota had to settle in court with a cool $1.2 billion. Power or manual windows, locks and latches, tailgate, hatch or trunk, doors or sliding doors, mirrors, seat controls, safety belts, sunroof, convertible top. Getting new paint job ASAP", "Paint is badly abraded and faded on roof, hood. window controls have to be replaced. When it comes to hauling a lot of people and cargo, the minivan is hard to beat.