NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
268 reports63,000 miles · Jul 21, 2009
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARS A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. PRIOR TO THE NOISE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP GEARS OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MIL…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARS A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION. PRIOR TO THE NOISE, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD SLIP GEARS OCCASIONALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 63,000.
NHTSA ODI #10277589
130,000 miles · Jun 15, 2009
Power Train
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BEARINGS WERE FAULTY. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE HEARD AN ODD SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER FOUND FAILURE WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND VERIFIED THAT THE BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT W…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION BEARINGS WERE FAULTY. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, SHE HEARD AN ODD SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER FOUND FAILURE WITH THE TRANSMISSION AND VERIFIED THAT THE BEARINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST WITH THE REPAIRS. THROUGH ONLINE RESEARCH, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILURES WERE COMMON FOR HER YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL VEHICLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 130,000.
NHTSA ODI #10273830
10,541 miles · May 12, 2009
Latches/locks/linkages
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE SHATTERED INTO PIECES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HANDLES WERE BEING DRIED OUT BY THE SUN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $111. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,541 AND CURR…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHEN THE CONTACT ENTERED THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR HANDLE SHATTERED INTO PIECES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE HANDLES WERE BEING DRIED OUT BY THE SUN. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AT THE COST OF $111. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,541 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,559. UPDATED 6/8/09 *CN THE CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS THE SECOND HANDLE THAT HAD CRACKED ON THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 06/11/09.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10268512
41,230 miles · Apr 7, 2009
Service Brakes, HydraulicFire
FRONT BRAKE CALIPER / PISTON LOCKED UP UNDER PRESSURE. WITH 5MILES AND UNDER HIGHWAY SPEEDS IT CREATED INTENSE AND IMMEDIATE VIBRATION AND SMOKE. SUDDEN FAILURE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10264367
105,000 miles · Mar 24, 2009
Power Train
2003 TOYOTA MATRIX MANUAL 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY COME APART DUE TO BEING BUILT WITH BAD THROW OUT BEARINGS. LOUD RATTLING NOISE BEGAN 6 MONTHS AGO EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED FLAWLESSLY. TWO WEEKS AGO, ON MARCH 9, 2009 MY BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING ON THE 15 FREEWAY GOING NOR…
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2003 TOYOTA MATRIX MANUAL 5 SPEED TRANSMISSION HAS COMPLETELY COME APART DUE TO BEING BUILT WITH BAD THROW OUT BEARINGS. LOUD RATTLING NOISE BEGAN 6 MONTHS AGO EVEN THOUGH THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED FLAWLESSLY. TWO WEEKS AGO, ON MARCH 9, 2009 MY BOYFRIEND WAS DRIVING ON THE 15 FREEWAY GOING NORTH WHEN THE CAR BEGAN TO MAKE A HORRIBLE RATTLING NOISE. MY BOYFRIEND PULLED THE CAR OVER TO SAFETY OFF THE FREEWAY AND TOOK A LOOK. HE KNEW IT WAS THE TRANNY, HE DIDN'T NEED TO SEE ANYTHING...THE FIRST CLUE WAS THAT IT WOULD NOT GO INTO 1ST OR REVERSE GEAR AT ALL. WE HAD TO GET IT TO A PLACE THAT WE COULD PARK IT LEGALLY, SO HE STARTED IT IN SECOND GEAR AND THE CAR WAILED AND WHINED AND SOUNDED LIKE METAL WAS BREAKING APART AS THE CAR LITERALLY LIMPED IT'S WAY THE ENTIRE SHORT RIDE. WARRANTY GOOD FOR 100,000 MILES, BUT MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AT 105,000 MILES. TOYOTA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THE FACT THAT THE ENTIRE 2003 MATRIX LINE IS EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE, AND WILL NOT EVEN DO ANYTHING AS A GOODWILL GESTURE. A BRAND NEW TRANNY FROM TOYOTA IS $4000+/-, AND THE PROBLEM WILL MOST CERTAINLY HAPPEN AGAIN - AS I HAVE SEEN MANY, MANY PEOPLE ATTEST TO. A REBUILT TRANSMISSION IS LESS $...TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS. MY CAR COULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS FAILURE ON THE FREEWAY, TO SAY NOTHING OF THE FACT THAT IT'S VERY SCARY AND UNSAFE TO LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AS WELL AS BREAKING DOWN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10262874
98,000 miles · Feb 28, 2009
Power Train
OWN A TOYOTA MATRIX 2003 XR HAVE BEEN HEARING ODD SOUNDS FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. HAD MECHANIC DO A CHECK AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. NEVER STOPPED TO THINK IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION ON A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH LESS THAN 100K MILES. A WEEK LATER, DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION TYPE SOUND…
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OWN A TOYOTA MATRIX 2003 XR HAVE BEEN HEARING ODD SOUNDS FOR ABOUT 6 MONTHS. HAD MECHANIC DO A CHECK AND COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING. NEVER STOPPED TO THINK IT COULD BE THE TRANSMISSION ON A MANUAL TRANSMISSION WITH LESS THAN 100K MILES. A WEEK LATER, DRIVING ON HIGHWAY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION TYPE SOUND AND SWERVED OFF THE ROAD. MECHANIC SAID ITS A BAD BEARING IN THE TRANSMISSION. TOYOTA HAS YET TO RESPOND TO MY COMPLAINT. THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10260274
44,000 miles · Feb 21, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
DRIVING CAR AND IT HAD UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, 2 TIMES. FIRST TIME IT DID NOT STOP WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. SECOND TIME BRAKES WERE HIT AND CAR QUITE ACCELERATING. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10259512
94,000 miles · Feb 17, 2009
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME ABOUT $50 TO TELL ME MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF OVER $1,000 FOR MY 2003 MATRIX WITH ABOUT 92,000 MILES. SEEMED UNLIKELY, SO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL NON-TOYOTA REPAIR SHOP, HIS COMPUTER ALSO SHOWED CATALYTIC CONVERTER, BUT HE SAID …
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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME ABOUT $50 TO TELL ME MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF OVER $1,000 FOR MY 2003 MATRIX WITH ABOUT 92,000 MILES. SEEMED UNLIKELY, SO I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL NON-TOYOTA REPAIR SHOP, HIS COMPUTER ALSO SHOWED CATALYTIC CONVERTER, BUT HE SAID THE WAY THE CAR WAS PERFORMING, IT MIGHT BE THE OXYGEN SENSORS. HE REPLACED BOTH, AND THE CAR HAS BEEN GREAT EVER SINCE. TOO BAD MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WANTED TO GAUGE ME. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10259148
93,000 miles · Feb 16, 2009
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING ME MORE INJURY TO MY NECK. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10258823
60,000 miles · Jan 18, 2009
Electrical System
2003 TOYOTA MATRIX, IN EXTREME COLD WEATHER THE RUNNING LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THE CAR IS OFF, DRAINING THE BATTERY. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10255470
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.
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