Check engine light came on. took my matrix to dealer the very next day(am).diagnosed as faulty charcoal fuel canister. dealer informed me that the repairs would cost $430.00 and that the problem is caused when the gas tank is "topped-off" when being filled completely.since the vehicle is beyond the 36,000 mile warrantee, i'm expected to pay for the repair. i don't think that it's good or fair customer service. especially,since it's illegal in the state of nj to fuel your own vehicle ,and then becomes a circumstance beyond my control.toyota needs to make people aware of this problem or fix it! from reading on the internet, it's a very common problem in most of toyota's product line.
Toyota matrix 2003 (also applies to pontiac vibe 2003) as instruments are the same. use of all "red" colored instruments, (speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, etc.) makes them difficult to read, reading trip meter requires removing sunglasses to read. can become impossible to read in bright sun. because speedometer is difficult to read, driver can easily be put in position of driving with excessive speed because speedometer is hard to read ot may require sunglasses to be removed to read speedometer. personal experience tells me that by taking a few seconds to read instruments can put a driver in a potientallly dangerous situation when in some traffic situations. could lead to accidents or death. "complaints" about this problem are noted in the reviews entered by individuals on the web site www.edmunds.com, specifically: http://www.edmunds.com/used/2003/toyota/matrix/100074126/ratings_consumersdetail.html?dcr_sid=100074126&dcr_usein=u&tid=edmunds.u.ratings_consumer.content..4.toyota*. please also see also car & driver 6/2002 page 62 in an article titled "comparison test: boxes size small", which states in part: "...the red instruments are hard to read through sunglasses, and the dials seem peculiarly located down in dark tunnels...". please note that both toyota and pontiac corrected this in their 2004 models of the toyota matrix and pontiac. action requested: require both toyota and pontiac to offer owners of the 2003 models the choice of updating their instrument panels to the 2004 model instruments. *ak
While driving, consumer attempted to make turns and steering was very hard. consumer visually noticed a fluid leaking from under vehicle. dealer diagnosed that the power steering pump had failed. ts the next day, consumer noticed more fluid leaking. dealer replaced crankshaft and keyway. dome lit inoperative. bulb replaced. check engine light was on. dealer found evaporative system malfunctioned. *tt