2003 Toyota Matrix

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 268 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags. It has been recalled 3 times.

When it fails
020k40k60k90k120k200k
76,000 milesMedian miles at failure

170 complaints record an odometer reading. Failures cluster around 90,000105,000 miles.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags54
817
Power Train › Manual Transmission31
000
Vehicle Speed Control18
009
Power Train › Clutch Assembly18
000
Power Train15
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission12
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine9
000
Unknown or Other8
101
Engine and Engine Cooling8
101
Tires6
000

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear08V162000
Filed Apr 10, 2008662,178 vehiclesToyota Motor North America, Inc.

Defect. TOYOTA IS RECALLING 662,178 MY 2003-2004 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF, CAUSING THE DOOR GLASS TO SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR. DUE TO THE COMPONENTS BECOMING LOOSE AND POSSIBLY RATTLING, AN ABNORMAL NOISE MAY BE HEARD FROM THE DRIVER AND /OR FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WHEN OPERATING THE POWER WINDOWS.

Risk. THE DOOR GLASS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR, BIND AND SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOWS, CAUSING DRIVER DISTRACTION AND/OR INJURY.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS WITH NEWLY DESIGNED BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 16, 2008 TO TOYOTA OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2008, FOR PONTIAC OWNERS. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371 OR PONTIAC AT 1-800-620-7668.

Exterior Lighting › Headlights06E023000
Filed Mar 13, 2006292,000 vehiclesAnzo Usa, Inc.

Defect. CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk. WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Dec 7, 2018190,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN INJURED CHEST AND SHOULDER, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

Air Bags
Filed Sep 14, 2018CA

I HAVE GOTTEN THE "TAKATA RECALL" LETTER AND TOOK MY CAR ON MARCH 18, 2018, WITH MIKE BRISENO FROM TOYOTA HERE NEAR MY PLACE 1901 S FIGUEROA ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90007. THEY OFFERED ME AN UBER RIDE HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP WITH MY HUSBAND AND SAID IT WILL TAKE 2-3 HOURS. GOT THE CALL FROM MIKE BRISENO AND SAID THAT MY CAR IS READY. I GOT THERE AND HE SAID THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING AND HAD TO ORDER THE PARTS. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ON MAY 16, 2018, TALKED TO MIKE SAID HE WILL CALL ME TO SEE BACK ORDER AND NEVER RESPONDED IF THE PARTS EVER ARRIVED SINCE MAY 2018. CAR WAS NEVER FIXED.

Air Bags
Filed Sep 11, 2018200,000 milesPA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, THE SEAT BELT AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED AND FORCEFULLY SECURED THE DRIVER INTO THE SEAT. DURING THE INCIDENT, NO CRASH HAD OCCURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (BAIERL TOYOTA, 19045 PERRY HWY, MARS, PA), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND AN INVESTIGATOR WAS SENT TO EXAMINE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 18, 201895,000 milesWA

TAKATA RECALL MY WIFE AND I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THE FREEWAY ON OUR WAY HOME MORE THAN 7 YEARS AGO. WE WERE TRAVELLING AT AROUND 50-55 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR IN FRONT OF US STOPPED. RESULTED IN HITTING THE BACK BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. THE CAR SUSTAINED JUST MINOR SCRATCHED BUT OUR CAR WAS REALLY DAMAGED. MY WIFE WAS HURT AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT WHO WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER. THE CAR'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS STILL WONDERING UNTIL NOW, WHY? THE DAMAGED TO THE CAR WAS WORTH MORE THAN $8,000. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY, WHICH WAS STATE FARM DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THE AIR BAG. I JUST FOUND THAT OUT WHEN I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE LAST WEEK FORM TOYOTA. I CAN'T REALLY RECALL THE DATE IT HAPPENED, BUT I CAN GET SOME INFORMATION FROM STATE FARM INSURANCE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED AFTER A DAY OR 2 AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 22, 2017188,000 milesCA

THE AIRBAG INDICATOR ON MY CAR LIT UP. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH TOYOTA TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED, AND THEY SAID THAT I NEEDED A NEW SPIRAL CLOCK SPRING CABLE, WHICH IS PART NUMBER 84306-02110. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE PART, OVER $300. AFTER DOING SOME SEARCHING, I FOUND OUT THAT 1) MANY OTHER TOYOTA MATRIX AND COROLLA OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS ISSUE AND 2) THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PART FOR TOYOTAS OF A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT MAKE, MODEL, AND YEAR. I BELIEVE THAT THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE, AND THAT TOYOTA SHOULD COVER THE REPLACEMENT COST, INCLUDING LABOR.

Air Bags
Filed Apr 14, 2017MA

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V285000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Engine
Filed Nov 29, 2016145,000 milesNJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE FIRST TIME THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE AND DISENGAGED THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING SENSOR. THE FAILURE RECURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SECOND DEALER. IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SEAL ON THE FUEL CAP FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V384000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 145,000.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 3, 2016275,000 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAGS AND WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED A CASE REGARDING THE FAILURE. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 275,000.

Engine
Filed Sep 13, 2016107,000 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING, THE CHECK ENGINE SENSOR INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED HARD SHIFTING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM WAS FAULTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000.

Power Train
Filed May 16, 2016110,000 milesMD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE THIRD AND FOURTH GEARS WERE NOT GETTING ANY OIL AND TEARING THE BEARING AND TRANSMISSION APART. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

Electrical System
Filed Apr 25, 2016171,580 milesIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, AN ABNORMAL KNOCKING SOUND EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,580.

Air Bags
Filed Apr 11, 2016IN

TAKATA RECALL: MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST 2 1/2 YEARS WE HAVE CALLED TOYOTA OF TERRE HAUTE ABOUT PERFORMING THIS RECALL. EACH TIME WE GET AN EXCUSE; THE LAST TIME THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE ONE OF THE PARTS NECESSARY BUT NOT THE OTHER. THEY PROMISED TO CALL US BACK WITH AND UPDATE AND SOLUTION. THAT WAS LAST FALL. (APPROX )

Air Bags
Filed Mar 8, 2016KS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V285000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Air Bags
Filed Feb 24, 2016WI

2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO INSTALLATION OF AIRBAG PART ISSUES. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED EVEN THOUGH THE DEALER HAD THE PART, THE COULDN'T INSTALL IT. THE CONSUMER DID NOT GO ANY FURTHER IN DETAIL. *JB

Air Bags
Filed Jan 3, 201695,000 milesMA

TAKATA RECALL IS TAKING WAY TOO LONG TO COMPLETE. IT HAS BEEN ALMOST ONE YEAR, AND MY TOYOTA DEALER STILL DOES NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS TO COMPLETE THIS RECALL. SOMETHING IS WRONG. IT SHOULD NOT TAKE THIS LONG. I THINK THEY ARE STALLING AND HOPING THAT EVERYONE WITH A 2003 MODEL YEAR CAR, SELLS IT. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. THEY SHOULD BE MADE TO PRODUCE THESE PARTS, EVEN IF IT MEANS WORKING 24 HOUR SHIFTS UNTIL THEY HAVE SUFFICIENT PARTS.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 30, 2015GA

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 25, 2015AZ

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 13V209000 (AIR BAGS), 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Nov 5, 2015130,000 milesMN

SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION WHILE MOVING.

Air Bags
Filed Nov 4, 2015MD

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V043000 (AIR BAGS). AFTER CONTACTING THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE WERE STILL NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ESTIMATED TIME FOR RECEIVING THE PARTS COULD BE GIVEN. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

Air BagsCrash
Filed Oct 21, 2015154,000 milesIN

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, A TIRE DETACHED FROM A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE, STRUCK THE CONTACTS VEHICLE, AND CAUSED A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

20 of 268 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2003
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20130100Routine
20125100Routine
201110200Routine
201045400Routine
2009192310Routine
200838200Routine
200796220Routine
2006170400Routine
2005213221Fatalities reported
2004138320Routine
2003 — this page268331Fatalities reported
20022010Routine

Compare every Matrix year →

Reading this record

1 death reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 7, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.