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Wagons Toyota Matrix Matrix Transmission Problems
358 messages, Last post on Nov 24, 2009 at 2:16 PM
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Replying to: beyondredline (Dec 07, 2008 8:42 am) I have a 2003 5 speed matrix and the tranny failed at 102,000+/- miles. I am in CA, so rebuilding mine would be pretty hard to do unless I somehow ship it to you...I was wondering...do you sell overhauled trannys for this model car at all? I need to have my mechanic here look at what's left of the tranny before I can safely say that it's shot completely, but I bet money it is. If you have any suggestions, please let me know! Thanks in advance. Sincerely, Sara Keil keilse01  verizon.net
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After going through this expensive experience once, the guy at Mr. Transmission told me that there is a revised kit and that I shouldn't have the problem again. The first time the tranny failed was at 130,000 km's....well I put another 25,000 km's on it and guess what...the sound is slowly creeping back. Not sure if it was fixed properly or not...but beware...once you spend 2500-3000 fixing the POS it may come back. My transmission was fixed at Mr. Transmission in Peterborough...I would highly recommend against using Mr. Transmission!!!! Is this really a Toyota? I could get better reliability out of a chinese engineered look alike! JUNK |
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Replying to: simonotaylor (Mar 19, 2009 1:09 am) The reply from Toyota.ca to my question about their responsability with that transmission problem was as expected: «We are not aware of any common problem with the Matrix transmissions». So I reply to them telling my thoughts about their attitute. And went to have my car fixed. It has finaly been done by an independant mechanic, because my Toyota dealer asked too much and insisted to change the clutch as well (it was finaly only 25% worn). Meanwhile, I received another message from Toyota. They replied to my second message telling me they opened a file for my case. Two weeks later, a phone call from them: they offer me the parts, I pay the labour. I asked how much was the part: $2800CA they said. So I guess it was a new transmission. But when I finaly said I had my car fixed with an independant, they said they can't do anything for me. Bye, file closed. So clearly, they know there is a problem even if they deny it first. To me, it looks like a strategy to wait that long before admiting their fault and compensate for it. I have transmited my whole case to the APA. They were very interested and mentionned they receive many complains regarding those transmissions. And they were not surprised Toyota did their offer by phone. And as they predicted, Toyota did not reply to me by writen, even if I asked for it and even if they said they would. If you hear your transmission start to make a very faint and distant noise, act fast with Toyota so they will have time to answer before you fix everything... And by the way, I have friends that work in different media dedicated to automobile and for sure, I will manage to have that story reported so people know what to do. And who they deal with. One last thing: I have two friends who followed my case closely. Both have old Toyotas, a Tercel and an Echo. One will switch to Hyunday, the other to Honda. That doesn't put a cent in my pocket, but it doesn't put any in Toyota's either! |
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| I know this is a Matrix forum - but I have pertinent information as I have been dealing with the same issues on my 2003 Pontiac Vibe (same lovely Toyota drivetrain). I too had a bearing disintegrate the week after Christmas at 124,000mi that wallowed out my housing to the point of replace rather than fix. Good luck finding a good 5-speed! I have been researching other options, and just yesterday purchased a used 6-speed Matrix tranny. The castings are identical except for the end one that houses 6th gear, and I have found only that my Vibe speedo gear will need to be used - I haven't swapped it yet, and will post if there are any problems. From what I have seen, and what I have been told, the 6-speed is a direct replacement. I am including the website where I found my info and purchased my clutch kit: http://store.monkeywrenchracing.com/ They were very helpful to answer my many questions. I have been watching this forum hoping that someone would post a better solution, or that Toyota would finally issue a recall, and I had read where someone else posted that the castings were different between the 5 and 6 speeds - but so far I don't see any difference, except what I already mentioned. I will post again if I run into any problems installing unless someone gets ticky that mine is not technically a Matrix - but consider, if this goes well, it will be partially a Matrix! I hope this info will be helpful to someone else out there going through the same ordeal I have been. Thanks, April | |
| Just a quick update - no snags at all. Dropped my 5-speed speedo gear into the 6-speed's bell housing, new clutch assembly(ordered for 6-speed), same old axles, a wire loom holder from the old tranny(not necessary, just picky), and buttoned it all back up. Added synthetic gear lube as recommended, and an oil change too from sitting since December. After charging the dead battery, runs and drives great again! | |
Wow! After reading this entire thread, I feel that I've been very lucky. I purchased a 2003 Matrix XR with 5 speed manual transmission in March 2002; so, a very early Matrix. For over 7 years, it had no significant problems other than the windshield cracking immediately when hit by a rock; rocks are sharp around here and the car now has its 5th windshield! I finally had the air conditioner relay problem at about 195,000 miles. Fortunately, that was only about $100 to fix and I had an oil leak fixed for $150 at the same time. There were also two accidents with extensive body panel damage but no mechanical damage. The passenger side was wiped out and cost $9K to repair in December 2004 and the rear was caved in and cost $8K in May 2005. But, neither of those accidents were the fault of the Matrix--and they weren't my fault either. The most annoying thing is that the body shop had trouble getting Matrix parts and I was without my car for 7 weeks in the first accident and 8 weeks in the second. (And, after never being in an accident in over 30 years of driving, two stupid accidents that weren't my fault in less than 5 months began to make me feel like I was driving around with a "Hit me!" sign on the Matrix.  ) There were no transmission problems until at 205,000 miles in May 2009 a rattle developed when the car was moving and in gear. It went away when the clutch was pushed in. Two shops thought that it was the flywheel going bad, so I had the flywheel and clutch replaced for $1K. That didn't stop the rattle and the suggestion was a bad bearing(s). With another 1,000 miles of driving the rattle was getting worse, but the car still drove OK. After reading about the 2003 Matrix manual transmission experiences on this thread and elsewhere, it began it began to look like this could cost about $2-3K more and be time consuming.  I'll be driving a lot this summer and needed a car right away. So, I traded in the 2003 Matrix for a 2009 Honda Fit. (I love the Fit, although its seats aren't as comfortable as the Matrix.) I only got a $2,500 trade in on the Matrix due to its transmission problems and some minor body problems. But, that was about what I expected based on the used car price calculators here at Edmunds. My Matrix was a great car and I got my money's worth from it! I'm sorry that many of you have had transmission problems and feel fortunate that mine didn't happen until high mileage. |
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Hi, I guess I want to add my woes to this thread. I need some advice from people who have had similar experiences with their 2003 5 Speed Toyota Matrix. My car recently broke down about 2 and a half hours from where I live. My car was towed to the dealership where I was informed I would need a brand new transmission. The car has 103,000 miles on it. This isn't supposed to happen. It couldn't come at a worst time financially and I don't know what to do. I JUST decided to sell my car a week ago after I realized the car payments just weren't in my budget. Ironic? Yeah. The dealership is quoting me $2900 for a new transmission. They said they can get a used tranny in there for $1900-2100, but I would like to avoid that if possible. Jasper Engines doesn't have a transmission for that year, so I think I might be stuck with putting in the new transmission. I am waiting on quotes from shops in the area, but it is a very small town and I think that is going to be the standard price. My question is: if this whole thread is dedicated to defective transmissions, what will happen if I put in the same transmission again? Will it just go out again in another 100,000 miles? I still owe $3000 on the car, so selling isn't an option because I will come out at a big loss and I don't want to screw someone else over and I wouldn't have enough money for another car. I would really appreciate any advice or stories of how people resolved their issues. Any tips on contacting Toyota directly to see if I could get a discount on the part? Thank you!
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Replying to: upyourstoyota (Jun 23, 2009 11:34 am)
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Replying to: jamborski (Jun 23, 2009 1:02 pm) A note to other victims of this crackerjack transmission: I just got off the phone with Toyota's national customer service line. The woman I spoke with said that there is no documentation of a similar problem with the 2003 Toyota Matrix 5 speed, so there was nothing they could do to help me. I know that there is an acceptable amount of complaints that they will field before acknowledging the defect or issuing a recall, but she told me that it was confidential how many complaints there have been so far. Because I haven't taken the car to a dealer to be serviced (and pay twice as much), they were unwilling to offer any help through their "goodwill" program. I am in law school and told the woman that in two years I will be an attorney and have nothing better to do with my time than spend the next two years researching this and mounting a case. I was hoping that would have had a more dramatic effect, but she just cheerfully thanked me for calling Toyota. Oh well. I encourage everyone on this site to call Toyota and lodge their complaint. While there will likely not be any immediate relief, at least there will be a record. Maybe one day we can file a class action suit for the defective bearings. I am not imagining anything big or dramatic, but if there are enough people with the same problem, we could at least collect what we have paid on the part and the service. That number is 1-800-331-4331. In the meantime, everyone should keep a copy of all service records and detailed accounts of conversations with any Toyota employees and what they have said. The other consideration is that if the transmissions are giving out at or around 100,000 miles, there may be a lot of Matrix owners who have yet to reach that mileage. So, this could just be the beginning of a huge problem for Toyota. Good luck to everyone.
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Replying to: aa262 (Apr 27, 2009 10:37 pm) |
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