Used 2003 Toyota Matrix Consumer Reviews
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Unreliable, poor quality
jamesimcb, 12/06/2007
2003 Toyota Matrix XR Fwd 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 5 people found this review helpful
I raved about this car when i first got it. But after a transmission failure at 130,000 km's I am very disappointed. Fuel economy has gone down ever since. many rattles in the car. failed caliper. toyota cost over 800 dollars. The premium you pay for a toyota is no longer worth it. Buy north american and save some money as Toyota's quality has gone down hill!
Jill's 5-speed Matrix XRS
jill112, 11/30/2006
2003 Toyota Matrix XRS Fwd 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 6M)
2 of 5 people found this review helpful
As a first-time Toyota owner, I was looking for a surrogate Honda Civic wagon. I'm extemely disappointed in the quality--the transmission has already failed, requiring a $1300 repair. I had required maintenance performed ever since purchasing the car new, primarily by the dealership. While the car has a lot of potential, I will never buy another Toyota; anyone looking for a Matrix may want to avoid a 2003 manual transmission model.
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Loved it Until... The ENGINE FAILED!
H M, 09/06/2009
2003 Toyota Matrix XR AWD 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 4A)
3 of 9 people found this review helpful
I bought the Matrix new and it was the first one I had seen. I have absolutely LOVED this car...UNTIL THE ENGINE FAILED!! I never had one single mechanical problem, did ALL scheduled maintenance, and it ran perfect up to 94K miles. Then within the space of two days, NO WARNING AT ALL - engine problem. Toyota informs me it has sludge in the engine, and from that day on the engine is awful. Car stalls, slugs along, you name it. Completely unreliable now. TOYOTA claims it is MY FAULT, and completely FAILS to acknowledge a longstanding design problem with the engine. Then tells me I have to pay 8-11K to get A NEW ENGINE. Research Toyota Sludge people!!! Never again Toyota...Sorry.
Not your parents Toyota
Last Toyota, 08/06/2010
2003 Toyota Matrix Fwd 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 5M)
2 of 6 people found this review helpful
This was our first new car purchase, and given our extensive Toyota experience (5 previous used Toyotas), we were expecting much. The flexibility of a 64/40 fold-flat rear seat with solid plastic cargo liner was outstanding. So too was the fold-forward passenger seats, which extend the size of possible cargo to 8' in length! Unfortunately the other aspects of the car weren't panning out so well. To summarize, performance, economy, fit-and-finish, trouble free driving, and fun to drive quotients were just not living up to the claims. After repeated problems with MAP sensors and various parts breaking repeatedly, if fell out of love. Now 7 years old, I've seen enough of my last Toyota.
Say goodbye to your SUV
Clarke, 10/26/2007
2003 Toyota Matrix XRS Fwd 4dr Wagon (1.8L 4cyl 6M)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
When I first started looking for a replacement for my SUV, I only looked at sport luxury cars. I was already spoiled with powerful acceleration, leather seats and smooth handling, I just wanted something easier on the gas mileage. One drive in a fiery Matrix XRS changed my perception. It has just as much space as my SUV, as well as the handling, gas mileage and features of a luxury car. Additionally, the XRS model puts out 180hp in a 6 speed manual which provides more than enough power for me. This car looks great inside and out, the gauges are set back into the dash for a very sporty feel. I absolutely love this car.