IllustrationTHE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE CARPORT. I PUT MY KEYS AND POWERED ON. THE AIR BAGS EXPLODED FOR NO REASON, BREAKING THE WINDSHIELD AND DASH. THERE WAS NOT ANY KIND OF ACCIDENT WITH THE CAR BEFORE OR DURING THIS INCIDENT. *TR
2003 Toyota Matrix
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Matrix years
Owner complaints for the 2003 Toyota Matrix are substantially higher than the model-year median of 70.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Matrix years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
340–25K
2525–50K
2450–75K
3575–100K
36100–150K
16150K+
170 reports with mileage · 98 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 83 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 57 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
19 crash reports3 fire reports13 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
57 reportsI MET WITH AN ACCIDENT ON 8/23/2010 AT 4 45 PPM APPROXIMATELY IN PLEASOANTON CALIFORNIA. THERE WAS A COLLISION BETWEEN TWO CARS AND THERE WAS HEAVY DAMAGE TO FRONT OF MY CAR. I OWNED A MATRIX TOYOTA 2003 MODEL. CAR LICENSE PLATE..[XXX] VIN NUMBER--[XXX] THE AIR BAG DINT OPEN OR RELEASE. MY CAR WAS TOTALED OFAS THERE WAS HE…
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I MET WITH AN ACCIDENT ON 8/23/2010 AT 4 45 PPM APPROXIMATELY IN PLEASOANTON CALIFORNIA. THERE WAS A COLLISION BETWEEN TWO CARS AND THERE WAS HEAVY DAMAGE TO FRONT OF MY CAR. I OWNED A MATRIX TOYOTA 2003 MODEL. CAR LICENSE PLATE..[XXX] VIN NUMBER--[XXX] THE AIR BAG DINT OPEN OR RELEASE. MY CAR WAS TOTALED OFAS THERE WAS HEAVY DAMAGE. I COLLIDED AGAINST A MERCEDES .THE OTHER CAR AIRBAGS OPENED BUT NOT MINE. I HAVE FILED A INSURANCE CLAIM WITH FARMERS INSURANCE . THE CLAIM NUMBER-[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
WHILE I WAS SITTING AT A DRIVE THRU WINDOW AT MCDONALD'S THE TELLER WAS REACHING ME MY ORDER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE AND I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND SHE SAID WHAT WAS THAT, I SAID I DON'T KNOW SHE SAID IT CAME FROM YOUR CAR SHE SAID MADAM IT CAME FROM INSIDE YOUR CAR, YOUR CAR IS SMOKING SO I TURNED MY HEAD AND NOTICED THE SEAT…
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WHILE I WAS SITTING AT A DRIVE THRU WINDOW AT MCDONALD'S THE TELLER WAS REACHING ME MY ORDER AND ALL OF A SUDDEN SHE AND I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND SHE SAID WHAT WAS THAT, I SAID I DON'T KNOW SHE SAID IT CAME FROM YOUR CAR SHE SAID MADAM IT CAME FROM INSIDE YOUR CAR, YOUR CAR IS SMOKING SO I TURNED MY HEAD AND NOTICED THE SEAT BELT OVER MY SHOULDER WAS SMOKING AND AS I TURNED MY HEAD AROUND THE SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR POPPED OPEN AND IT STARTED SMOKING SO I SAID WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THIS CAR, AND WHEN I TURNED MY HEAD FORWARD THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE POPPED OUT SO I SAID I DON'T KNOW WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH THIS CAR BUT I NEED TO GET OUT OF IT. I NOTICED THAT THERE WERE CARS BEHIND ME IN THE DRIVE-THRU SO I PULLED THE CAR OUT FROM UNDER THE WINDOW TO THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT SO THAT THE CARS BEHIND ME WOULD BE ABLE TO GET OUT AND AS I TURNED THE WHEEL THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG POPPED OUT IN FROM OF ME AND HIT ME IN THE CHEST AND BRUISED MY LEFT ARM THEN THE CAR STARTED FILLING UP WITH SMOKE SO I DIDN'T KNOW IF THE CAR WAS CATCHING ON FIRE OR WHAT I JUST KNEW THAT I NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THE CAR. I TURNED OFF THE ENGINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE PARKING LOT GRABBED MY PURSE AND JUMPED OUT OF THE CAR. ALL THE CUSTOMERS AND WORKERS AT MCDONALD'S RAN OUT WHEN THE CAR STARTED SMOKING AND NO ONE COULD BELIEVE WHAT WAS HAPPENING BECAUSE ALL THESE THINGS POPPED OUT AND THERE WAS NO OTHER CAR THERE THE MANAGER AT MCDONALD'S CAME TO ME AND SAID HE WAS CALLING THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SINCE THE CAR WAS SMOKING AND WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT. THE FIRE DEPT. CAME AND SAID MADAM WHAT HAPPENED I TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY ASKED IF I HAD HIT ANYTHING AND I TOLD THEM NO I WAS JUST SITTING AT THE DRIVE-THRU WHEN ALL OF THESE THINGS JUST STARTED POPPING OUT OF MY CAR. THE WINDSHIELD ALSO SHATTERED WHEN THE AIRBAG HIT IT. THE FIREMEN TOLD ME TO STAND IN FRONT OF MCDONALD'S AND THEY OPENED THE HOOD TO CHECK FOR FIRE AND DISABLED TO BATTERY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. A REPRES…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHICH RESULTED IN A CRASH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED UNKNOWN INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. A REPRESENTATIVE WITH THE MANUFACTURER ALSO INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 88,208.
I HAVE A2003 MATRIX SINCE NEW, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS REMAINED ON FOR YEARS, BECAUSE OF LIMITED FUNDS CAN NOT GO TO DEALERSHIP AND PAY $$$$ FOR SERVICE FEE, DIAGNOSTIC FEE, AND PARTS AND LABOR FOR SOMEONE TO "WORK" THEIR WAY THROUGH THE PROBLEM OVER SEVERAL VISITS. I NOW HOWEVER AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF STATE IN…
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I HAVE A2003 MATRIX SINCE NEW, THE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS REMAINED ON FOR YEARS, BECAUSE OF LIMITED FUNDS CAN NOT GO TO DEALERSHIP AND PAY $$$$ FOR SERVICE FEE, DIAGNOSTIC FEE, AND PARTS AND LABOR FOR SOMEONE TO "WORK" THEIR WAY THROUGH THE PROBLEM OVER SEVERAL VISITS. I NOW HOWEVER AFTER SEVERAL YEARS OF STATE INSPECTIONS, HAVE TO SPEND THIS MONEY IN ORDER TO PASS INSPECTION. I WAS INFORMED THAT AIRBAG WARNING LIGHTS NOW HAVE TO OPERATE PROPERLY IN ORDER FOR A VEHICLE TO PASS INSPECTION. UPON GOOGLING ANY RECALL INFORMATION ONLINE I DISCOVERED HUNDREDS OF POSTINGS OF SIMILAR COMPLAINTS, AS WELL AS TWO COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE OF AIRBAGS THAT DID NOT DEPLOY DURING CRASHES. DID THEY HAVE SIMILAR DASH LIGHTING MALFUNCTIONS AS MINE?? *TR
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING ME MORE INJURY TO MY NECK. *TR
THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX I WAS DRIVING HIT THE BACK OF A PICK-UP TRUCK WHEN THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID. THE MATRIX WENT PARTIALLY UNDER THE TRUCK, CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE MATRIX. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX DEPLOYED. THANKS TO THE FACT THAT I WAS WEARING MY SEATBEL…
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THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX I WAS DRIVING HIT THE BACK OF A PICK-UP TRUCK WHEN THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID. THE MATRIX WENT PARTIALLY UNDER THE TRUCK, CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE MATRIX. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX DEPLOYED. THANKS TO THE FACT THAT I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT, I RECEIVED ONLY MINOR INJURIES.*AK
Official recalls
108V162000 · Visibility:glass, Side/rear
Apr 10, 2008
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA08004 · Side Front Power Window Shatters
Opened Feb 5, 2008 · Closed May 1, 2008
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility; Visibility:glass, Side/rear; Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls
FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE RETENTION FORCE OF THE REGULATOR BOLTS WHICH ATTACH THE FRONT SIDE WINDOW GLASS TO THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT DUE TO AN INTERFERENCE OF THE RETENTION NUT AND THE BOLT SHOULDER RADIUS.IN THIS CONDITION THE BOLT MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE TO BE GENERATED WHEN THE WINDOW IS RAISED OR LOWERED.IF THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER WINDOW ARE CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE BOLT MAY COMPLETELY SEPARATE, CAUSING THE GLASS TO BECOME MISALIGNED, AND IN THE WORSE CASE, THE GLASS MAY SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOW.GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (GM) AND TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA, INC. (TOYOTA) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA COROLLA AND TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR BOLT WITH A BOLT AND WASHER.GM WILL RECALL 122,593 MY 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 16,045 WARRANTY AND GOODWILL CLAIMS, 274 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 23 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 415,341 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 6,601 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 150 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 11 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 124,244 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 2,198 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 113 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 6 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 24,843 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 537 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 40 INJURIES FOR 662,178 MY 2003-2004 VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 08V-162.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Visibility:glass, Side/rear
FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE RETENTION FORCE OF THE REGULATOR BOLTS WHICH ATTACH THE FRONT SIDE WINDOW GLASS TO THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT DUE TO AN INTERFERENCE OF THE RETENTION NUT AND THE BOLT SHOULDER RADIUS.IN THIS CONDITION THE BOLT MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE TO BE GENERATED WHEN THE WINDOW IS RAISED OR LOWERED.IF THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER WINDOW ARE CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE BOLT MAY COMPLETELY SEPARATE, CAUSING THE GLASS TO BECOME MISALIGNED, AND IN THE WORSE CASE, THE GLASS MAY SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOW.GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (GM) AND TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA, INC. (TOYOTA) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA COROLLA AND TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR BOLT WITH A BOLT AND WASHER.GM WILL RECALL 122,593 MY 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 16,045 WARRANTY AND GOODWILL CLAIMS, 274 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 23 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 415,341 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 6,601 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 150 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 11 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 124,244 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 2,198 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 113 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 6 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 24,843 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 537 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 40 INJURIES FOR 662,178 MY 2003-2004 VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 08V-162.
Visibility:power Window Devices And Controls
FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE RETENTION FORCE OF THE REGULATOR BOLTS WHICH ATTACH THE FRONT SIDE WINDOW GLASS TO THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT DUE TO AN INTERFERENCE OF THE RETENTION NUT AND THE BOLT SHOULDER RADIUS.IN THIS CONDITION THE BOLT MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE TO BE GENERATED WHEN THE WINDOW IS RAISED OR LOWERED.IF THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER WINDOW ARE CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE BOLT MAY COMPLETELY SEPARATE, CAUSING THE GLASS TO BECOME MISALIGNED, AND IN THE WORSE CASE, THE GLASS MAY SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOW.GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (GM) AND TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA, INC. (TOYOTA) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA COROLLA AND TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR BOLT WITH A BOLT AND WASHER.GM WILL RECALL 122,593 MY 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 16,045 WARRANTY AND GOODWILL CLAIMS, 274 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 23 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 415,341 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 6,601 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 150 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 11 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 124,244 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 2,198 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 113 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 6 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 24,843 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 537 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 40 INJURIES FOR 662,178 MY 2003-2004 VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 08V-162.
Visibility
FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE RETENTION FORCE OF THE REGULATOR BOLTS WHICH ATTACH THE FRONT SIDE WINDOW GLASS TO THE POWER WINDOW REGULATOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENT DUE TO AN INTERFERENCE OF THE RETENTION NUT AND THE BOLT SHOULDER RADIUS.IN THIS CONDITION THE BOLT MAY BECOME LOOSE, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE TO BE GENERATED WHEN THE WINDOW IS RAISED OR LOWERED.IF THE VEHICLE AND THE POWER WINDOW ARE CONTINUOUSLY OPERATED IN THIS CONDITION, THE BOLT MAY COMPLETELY SEPARATE, CAUSING THE GLASS TO BECOME MISALIGNED, AND IN THE WORSE CASE, THE GLASS MAY SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOW.GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (GM) AND TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA, INC. (TOYOTA) WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL ON THE PONTIAC VIBE, TOYOTA COROLLA AND TOYOTA MATRIX VEHICLES TO REPLACE THE REGULATOR BOLT WITH A BOLT AND WASHER.GM WILL RECALL 122,593 MY 2003-2004 PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 16,045 WARRANTY AND GOODWILL CLAIMS, 274 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 23 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 415,341 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA VEHICLES. ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 6,601 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 150 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 11 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.TOYOTA WILL RECALL 124,244 MY 2003-2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 2,198 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 113 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 6 INJURIES FOR THESE VEHICLES.ODI IS AWARE OF A TOTAL OF 24,843 WARRANTY CLAIMS, 537 FIELD AND CONSUMER REPORTS, AND 40 INJURIES FOR 662,178 MY 2003-2004 VEHICLES.THE RECALL IS IDENTIFIED BY NHTSA NUMBER 08V-162.