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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 →
268Owner complaints

Model-year median: 70.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
2
2002268
2003138
2004213
2005170
2006
Compare all Matrix years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
83Air Bags
57Engine And Engine Cooling
25Vehicle Speed Control
21Service Brakes, Hydraulic
13
All reported categories
Electrical System
12Structure
12Unknown Or Other
11Visibility
9Engine
8Steering
8Seat Belts
6Tires
6Interior Lighting
5Latches/locks/linkages
4Equipment
3Fuel System, Other
3Service Brakes
3Suspension
3Electronic Stability Control (esc)
2Exterior Lighting
2Fuel System, Gasoline
2Fuel/propulsion System
2Parking Brake
2Seats
1Visibility/wiper
1Wheels
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

Fuel System, Other complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
38,550 miles · Jun 23, 2005
Fuel System, Other

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 EXP…

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10126417

Mileage unknown · Jan 21, 2004
Fuel System, OtherVehicle Speed Control

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 DIFFICUL…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10054559

1,130 miles · Dec 20, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, OtherInterior Lighting

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…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10001302

Official recalls

1

08V162000 · 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

1

EA08004 · 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.