2003 Toyota MATRIX: complaints, problems and recalls

AFTER PURCHASE, COMPLAINED OF HAVING STEERING WANDER. AND NOT ONLY DID THE DEALER NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT RETURNED THE CAR WITH THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONING. AFTER SEVERAL MORE TRIPS TO THE DEALER, THEY FINALLY REPLACED THE STEERING RACK ADMITTING PROBLEMS WITH SOME UNITS. UPON BEING INFORMED THAT THIS MADE NO DIFFERENCE, AND WITHOUT FURTHER RETESTING, CARMAX AND TOYOTA REFUSE TO PERFORM ANY MORE ATTEMPTS AT FIXING EITHER PROBLEM. TS

Owner-reported narrative. 27 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000334 at NHTSA ↗

THE AUTO HEADLIGHT SYSTEM THAT TURNS THE HEADLIGHTS ON AND OFF DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. IT TURNS THE HEADLIGHTS ON AT ALL TIMES OF THE DAY, MORE OFTEN ON BRIGHT SUNNY DAYS WHEN DRIVING THROUGH SHADOWS. THIS MAKE IT VERY DIFFICULT TO READ GUAGES, SPEEDOMETER ETC.

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10000746 at NHTSA ↗

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

Owner-reported narrative. 1,130 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001302 at NHTSA ↗

CONSUMER VISUALLY NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM VEHICLE. DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE CRANK SHAFT KEY HAD FAILED AND REPLACED. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001305 at NHTSA ↗

THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS TURN ON MYSTERIOUSLY AT NIGHT WHILE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF. SYMPTOMS INCLUDED A DEAD BATTERY AFTER NOT DRIVING THE CAR FOR THREE DAYS, AND THE DASHBOARD PANEL LIGHTS TURNING OFF WHENEVER THE TURN SIGNAL IS USED. DEALERSHIP DENIED THERE WAS A PROBLEM.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003247 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED A 2003 MATRIX RS WITH OPTION PK THAT INCLUDED 17" WHEELS, ABS, ALL WEATHER GUARD PACKAGE, AND SPORTS TRIM. FIRST SNOW I FOUND OUT THE PACKAGE WITH A INCLUDES SUMMER ONLY TIRES. MY MISTAKE FOR NOT CHECKING THE TIRES, BUT THE ABS BRAKES AND ALL WEATHER GUARD PACKAGE LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THE CAR WAS READY FOR WINTER. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH CURRENT TIRES.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003286 at NHTSA ↗

WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED ON AND UPGRADE, CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE ROLLS BACKWARDS. THE VEHICLE IS AN AUTOMATIC. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004200 at NHTSA ↗

THE CAR SEATS HAVE A WHITE LINT AND BALLING FRONT AND BACK. THE PROBLEM IS ONLY GETTING WORSE. THE MATERIAL LOOKS LIKE IT IS WEARING OUT.

Owner-reported narrative. 130 miles reported. Look up ODI 10005407 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-04-10 (April 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: 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.