2004 Toyota Matrix Engine cooling Problems

“The engine had sludged at about 70,000 miles (2004 Toyota Matrix). The Toyota dealership had done the oil changes routinely since I purchased the car certified. The engine was rebuilt using an extended warranty I had purchased from a private company (not Toyota). The car was knocking when I was driving home from michigan to florida. I checked the oil, it was dry, so I bought more oil and filled it (2 quarts). By the time I got home, the oil stick again read empty, so I again filled it. I did not see any oil burning (the smoke cloud). …”

“I have never had mechanical issues with my 2004 Toyota Matrix. Last weekend while trying to merge onto interstate highway 10 in az for a weekend camping trip without warning my engine seized while I was trying to merge onto the highway. The engine stopped and thankfully I was able to drive off onto the shoulder before the semi behind me rear ended me. I am thankful to be alive as well as the infant I had with me in the car. When we towed the car to a mechanic he accused me of driving the car without oil because the engine was full of sludge. …”

“My 2004 Toyota Matrix xr with manual transmission has suddenly displayed severe mechanical noise from the engine/transmission area. Smog technicians wouldn't take liability to run engine for smog tests to register for the coming year, so is now registered as planned non-operation until I can get the car fixed. Googling Toyota Matrix transmission noise or Toyota Matrix engine noise leads to several sites in which too many owners are either experiencing complete engine loss due to oil sludge problem or total transmission loss due to admitted transmission bearing design flaw . …”

“My 2004 Toyota Matrix at 87,000 now needs a new catalytic converter. The check engine light came on and I took it in to be diagnosed. P0420 was the code. Warranty for this part is for 80,000 miles. The cost to replace this part is 1300.00 by the dealer. A new Toyota replacement catalytic converter is being installed today. My mechanic states that this is a known problem with toytoa matrixes and that Toyota should be replacing these. I keep my cars for a really long time (last car 310,000 miles) and have never had to replace a catalytic converter. …”

“The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Matrix. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate and the check engine warning light illuminated. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The contact was informed that the catalytic converter needed to be replaced and the computer needed to be reset. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.”