IllustrationCLUTCH ON THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX XRS SMOKES AND SLIPS AND HAS SINCE 3500 MILES. *AK
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
What owners actually said
268 reportsIN 9/02 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON WET A ROAD, I APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD AND DID NOT STOP BEFORE HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS ADEQUATE STOPPING DISTANCE & I KNOW THAT OUR SATURN WAGON WOULD HAVE STOPPED ON TIME. ON 11/30/06, MY HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVIN…
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IN 9/02 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON WET A ROAD, I APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD AND DID NOT STOP BEFORE HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS ADEQUATE STOPPING DISTANCE & I KNOW THAT OUR SATURN WAGON WOULD HAVE STOPPED ON TIME. ON 11/30/06, MY HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A DRY ROAD HE APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD AND DID NOT STOP BEFORE HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. HE ALSO HAD ADEQUATE STOPPING DISTANCE AND HE STATES THAT OUR PREVIOUS SATURN WAGON OR OUR SUBARU WAGON WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN TIME. I HAVE NEVER HIT A VEHICLE WHILE BRAKING HARD IN A VEHICLE W/ ABS UNTIL THE TOYOTA MATRIX. WE GOT ONE OF THE EARLY MATRIX'S IN 7/2002. NOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH OF US, WE WONDER IF THE ABS WAS FAULTY ON THE EARLY VERSIONS OF THE MATRIX. *JB
I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF MT TOYOTA XR AND BROUGHT THE CAR FOR THE EXCELLENT REPUTATION TOYOTA HAS AS I KNEW I WOULD BE DRIVING IT A LOT AS A REGULAR COMMUTER. I HAVE HAD THE OIL REPLACED FREQUENTLY AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR ITS SERVICES IN THE HOPE THAT THIS WOULD MEAN IT WOULD LAST WELL. ONE WEEK AFTER MY 90…
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I AM THE SECOND OWNER OF MT TOYOTA XR AND BROUGHT THE CAR FOR THE EXCELLENT REPUTATION TOYOTA HAS AS I KNEW I WOULD BE DRIVING IT A LOT AS A REGULAR COMMUTER. I HAVE HAD THE OIL REPLACED FREQUENTLY AND TOOK THE CAR TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR ITS SERVICES IN THE HOPE THAT THIS WOULD MEAN IT WOULD LAST WELL. ONE WEEK AFTER MY 90,000 SERVICE ($700) THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. I HAVE DRIVEN A MANUAL CAR ALL MY LIFE AND KNOW IT WAS NO DUE TO BAD DRIVER HABITS. ACCORDING TO THE GARAGE A BALL BEARING DROPPED INTO THE TRANSMISSION AND "SHREDDED IT" WE HAVE SPENT $3000 HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND FEEL LET DOWN BY TOYOTA, A CAR THAT WAS MEANT TO LAST A LIFETIME HAS MALFUNCTIONED DESPITE OUR BEST EFFORTS AT CARE. AFTER HAVING THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED AND THE CLUTCH TO BE SAFE WE NOW HAVE AN ERROR CODE P0121 INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE THROTTLE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. FEELING VERY FRUSTRATED WITH TOYOTAS RESPONSE THAT THIS HAS JUST BEEN BAD LUCK. *NM
PURCHASED USED 2003 MATRIX IN OCT 2005, PAID FOR QUALITY GUARD PLUS DELUXE THROUGH NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TO COVER MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. BY APRIL 2006 IT WAS MISSING GEARS AND CAR JUST DIED. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AFTER CALLING NISSAN BECAUSE I WAS POINTED THERE. TOYOTA HAD IT FOR 5 DAYS FIX IT SUPPOSED…
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PURCHASED USED 2003 MATRIX IN OCT 2005, PAID FOR QUALITY GUARD PLUS DELUXE THROUGH NISSAN DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR TO COVER MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. BY APRIL 2006 IT WAS MISSING GEARS AND CAR JUST DIED. TOOK IT TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AFTER CALLING NISSAN BECAUSE I WAS POINTED THERE. TOYOTA HAD IT FOR 5 DAYS FIX IT SUPPOSEDLY THEN NOVEMBER 10TH, 2006 TRANSMISSION GAVE UP ON IT AGAIN NEEDING IT TO BE TOWED FROM FRIENDS PLACE TO HOME. NOISES HEARD UNDER THE CAR BEFORE IT STALLED. THEY FIXED PROBLEM BEFORE WITH REMANUFACTURED TRANS. BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. BEING SHUFFLED BACK & FORTH NOW THAT I AM CLAIMING FOR WHAT I PAID FOR WITH QUALITY GUARD PLUS. TOYOTA DON'T HAVE QUALITY GUARD, NISSAN DOES BUT MY CAR IS NOT A NISSAN CAR. SHOULD HAVE CALLED BEFORE THEY WILL COVER ANYTHING SUCH AS TOWING AND CAR RENTAL. TOO MUCH RED TAPE AND HASSLES IN ASKING TO PROVIDE COVERAGE I PAID FOR AND ONLY ONE PHONE LINE 1-800-888-5245 THAT PLACES YOU ON HOLD FOR 30-50 MINUTES, TALKS TO YOU BRIEFLY THEN PLACE YOU ON HOLD AGAIN. *JB
THE PLASTIC COVERING ON THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT INTERIOR DOOR OPENING LEVER HAS SPLIT. THIS HAS CAUSED DEVELOPMENT OF A SHARP EDGE WHICH CAUSED ME TO CUT MY FINGER WHEN OPENING THE DOOR. *NM
WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY ESPECIALLY, VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD AND ACCELERATES QUITE NOTICEABLY. IT DOES THIS AT LEAST ONCE DAILY WHEN ACCELERATING OR BRAKING OVER 30 MPH. PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THIS ISSUE. *JB
FRONT WHEEL BEARING REPLACED & BOTH REAR WHEEL BEARING (HUB)ASSEMBLIES REPLACED WITH ONLY 103,000 KILOMETERS ON 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. IS MY CASE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT OR IS THIS A THING TO LOOK FOR , FOR MATRIX OWNERS? IT IS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR OVER 1200 CDN. *NM
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THERE IS A THIN METAL COVERING ON THE DOOR HANDLE. THE METAL HAS SEPARATED FROM THE PLASTIC BASE. IT IS LIKE A RAZOR BLADE, SO WHEN YOU GO TO OPEN THE DOOR YOUR FINGERS GET SLICED. *JB
BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH MY CLUTCH - ON HILLS, YOU CAN SMELL IT BURNING. THE BREAKING POINT HAS GRADUALLY BEEN GETTING FURTHER AND FURTHER OUT. I LEARNED HOW TO DRIVE ON A CLUTCH AND HAVE BEEN DRIVING ONE FOR ALMOST 20 YEARS. THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING AT 30K MILES. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED SINCE PURCHASE THERE WAS AN INTERMITTENT DRIP UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED. THE CONTACT DETERMINED THE CONDENSATION FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER HAD BEEN DRIPPING ON THE POWER STEERING SUPPORT CAUSING RUST. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY A MECHANIC. *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.