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BrakesPart report

2003 Toyota Matrix Brakes Problems

Complaints
17about this part
Share
6%of 268 total for the year
Median mileage
41,230miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 17 complaints about the brakes of the 2003 Toyota Matrix, 6% of the 268 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 41,230 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“I was slowly pulling into my garage (in the basement of my house), gradually braking as I had done many times before. I was stopping the vehicle in its usual position when the engine suddenly began racing and the car accelerated forward. It struck some shelves I had against the wall of the garage, crumpling both the shelves and the front of the car's hood. Everything happened so fast at that point that I am not sure just what happened, but I ended up with the car stopped up against the garage wall and the car in park. …”

NHTSA complaint #10745479, filed 2015-07, 300,000 miles

“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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10640815, filed 2014-10, 182,000 miles

“I have replaced the master cylinder on my 2003 Toyota Matrix twice already and it's bad again. The brakes slip when I try to stop short and it's very dangerous. This car only has 60,000 miles on it.”

NHTSA complaint #10362422, filed 2010-10, 60,000 miles

“I own a 2003 Matrix xr000 with 53000 miles. I had the front pads and rotors turned at 33000 miles by Toyota. Last month I felt the steering wheel shaking when applying my brakes at speeds between 40-70 MPH. I was told last week by the local Toyota mechanic that both my drums needed replacement. They said that blue specs were identified indicating wear on my drums. I asked what would cause the drums to wear so fast and their reply was normal wear or emergency brake being applied by driver. I asked if anything like this has ever been reported by other drivers and the answer was never. …”

NHTSA complaint #10116809, filed 2005-04, 33,000 miles

“Parking brake doesn't hold vehicle on slope. Mechanic has fixed twice, but problem re-occurs in about two years. This is a safety issue since this is also the emergency brake and there is no warning when brake will start slipping again after repairs.”

NHTSA complaint #10466608, filed 2012-07, 30,000 miles

Related service bulletins

Brakes: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
2010613%
20091910%
2008513%
200733%
200674%
200573%
200443%
2003176%

Other parts of the 2003 Toyota Matrix

Transmission and drivetrain
83 complaintsAir bags
57 complaintsEngine cooling
25 complaintsVehicle speed control
21 complaintsElectrical system
12 complaintsBody and structure
12 complaintsOther or unknown
11 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
10 complaintsEngine
8 complaintsSteering
8 complaintsFuel system
7 complaintsSeat belts
6 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2003 Toyota Matrix

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology