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Wagons Toyota Matrix Matrix Transmission Problems
363 messages, Last post on Dec 07, 2009 at 2:29 PM
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| I have 2003 5 speed Matrix XR bought in May of 2002. At a little over 95,000 I requested they check everything thoroughly just in case something looked questionable and I could get it covered before the warranty expired. I was told everything was great. (90% of my miles are highway miles, so clutch and everything else appeared to be in great shape.) Yesterday at 108,000 miles they informed me my transmission was bad due to a bad bearing. My options: by a used transmission, new transmission or dump the car for a trade in value of $5,000. I was told they could only put a 2003 transmission in the car because they made changes to the 2004 and newer transmissions making them incompatible with the 2003 Matrix. Consumer report shows the transmissions for the 2003 Matrix rated in the middle (newer models were rated high-but maybe that's because they don't have that many miles on them yet). This is the first Toyota I ever bought because of the stellar reputation for longevity i.e. I was told I could count on it without major problems for 200,000 miles if I did the required maintenance. I'm wondering what's the point of paying $2,300 to install a new transmission (that already has 50,000 miles on it - it's all they could find) and have the same problem? Or what's the point of paying almost $3,500 and having the same problem. If they're defective then the problem will be there again. Is this only an issue for manual transmissions? Is it primarily an issue for 2003s? I love the car otherwise and would like another, but don't trust the tran problem. Nobody from Toyota will acknowledge it's a defect and stand behind it. | |
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Replying to: pattih (Apr 20, 2007 9:57 am)
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Replying to: robins0910 (May 16, 2007 7:00 pm) |
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I just had the bearings go bad on my matrix 5-speed tranny as well. What were the symptoms for you guys? mine was a grinding sound when in gear and letting off the gas....I am wondering, is this gonna happen every 60,000miles or so? it is being fixed under warranty this time, but if it did this every 60,000 miles, whats the point in owning this car? I love it but....
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Replying to: canonlaw (Jun 17, 2007 7:15 pm)
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Replying to: joebeets (Jun 19, 2007 2:16 pm) |
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Replying to: frustrated13 (Apr 16, 2007 3:09 pm) Although, it happened over a year and half ago now it still makes me so mad. I have the culprit 'Made in Japan' bearing handy as a reminder. I battled with Toyota Canada and lost. If any one wants to continue with the battle, I will gladly join in. The following was my contact who I would encourage all of you to send a letter to detailing your experiences: Donna Gervais Consultant, Customer Interaction Center One Toyota Place, Scarborough, Ontario M1H-1H9 1-888-Toyota-8 Please refer to my file: Stephen Harding Case #773648 Just to be thorough, you may also want to send a copy to this guy: Mr. Kazunori Harada General Manager Overseas Operations Department Customer Relations Division Toyota Motor Corporation DAI-NI Toyota Building 10-27 MEIEKI 4-CHOME, NAKAMURA-KU NAGOYA 450-0002, JAPAN Please refer to my file: NCR-0031125-01-N I also can give you further information through standard email, including my correspondence with Toyota and the lab report on the defective bearing. Good luck. I recently replaced our family van. I had a choice. It's a Honda. |
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My impression is that the automatics do not have this problem, is that correct? I hope so because I just bought an 03 Matrix AWD automatic with over 100,000 miles. Need to get the transmission serviced but at this point, it seems to be fine. Certainly is disappointing to hear that Toyota is dodging the problem this way!
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Replying to: visionstar (Jun 20, 2007 3:00 pm) Here are the common transmission problems with the Matrix  2003-2006 XRS 6-speed manual clutch failures at around 50,000km 2003 5-speed manual - bearing failure at around 105,000km Like I posted earlier, My 2003 XR 5-speed failed at 108k km (about 68k miles) The output shaft bearing blew up killing some other parts in the tranny costing $2400 to fix.  Summary of reported bearing failures right after the warranty ran out: 1) mjustice - 2003 tranmission replaced at 62K miles 2) crimson_steve - Exact same failure as mine at the exact same mileage (>1k km apart) 3) jim19a - Not sure if 2003, but failed within 5k miles of mine, also bearings 4) tuxristo - Mine, 2003 XR bearings failed at 68K miles 5) ron99 - Not sure if bearings were the problem, but 2003 and failed within 5k miles of mine 6) frustrated13 - 102,000 kms on a 2003 matrix 5sp and the tranny bearing exploded taking out the works. I.E. exactly the same failure as mine. 7) pattih - Also bad bearings, but from the sounds of it it failed at 108k miles not km? She also had it checked just before warranty expired like I did. If the bearing was making a subtle whine like it was on mine, then why did the mechanic not notice it!?  I noticed the whine after letting go of the clutch pedal and slowing down "with the gears", but thought it was coming from the engine or something  8) madatmatrix - 2003 transmission trashed at 85K (miles or km? - guessing miles) 9) canonlaw - Exact same symptoms as mine, at roughly the same mileage. WOW, You can't help but wonder how many more people are out there that don't use this forum!  Will this happen to us again at another 60K miles? Since the new bearings are presumably not bad, it might not happen again at another 60K miles, but as pattih noted, the transmission design was changed for 2004, so maybe the transmission was flawed in the 2003 and it WILL keep happening! i.e. maybe there is some design flaw in the tranny that is CAUSING the bearings to fail. Then again, maybe it was a bad batch of bearings. Toyota really needs to stand up and own up to this problem and at the very least give us all some answers! - Will we be compensated for this design flaw/batch of defective parts? - How will this affect Toyota's Reliability reputation? - What can Toyota do to make sure we don't go around telling everyone to avoid Toyota based on our experience? It is interesting to see that people are starting to ask about 6-speeds, automatics and even the Corolla in this thread. To me these questions show that the 2003 Matrix 5-speed manual transmission problem is already starting to cast a shadow on Toyota's reliability reputation, and I think it would be in Toyota Motor Corporation's best interests to reassure people that the problem is isolated to a certain batch of 2003 Matrix 5-speeds, if in fact that is the case!
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Replying to: tuxristo (Jun 20, 2007 4:36 pm) I don't like posting my email address, so can you contact me through my website? Just fill out the contact form. Thanks. www.zebwainwright.com |
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