2003 Toyota Corolla Matrix problems
NHTSA has received 39 complaints about the 2003 Toyota Corolla Matrix, and 69% of them involve air bags. Next are electrical system (10%) and engine (5%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 39 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 69% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 4 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 118,000 miles 21 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 1 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 0 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 3 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 7 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 6 |
What the data shows
Of the 21 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 118,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 115,000 miles (13 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 4 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 4th most-complained-about out of 7 model years of the Toyota Corolla Matrix with enough data (3 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
2003 toyota corolla matrix. Consumer states numerous accidents due to the accelerator sticking. *tgw the consumer stated due to the accidents, the axle and transmission were damaged. The consumer stated the first accident, she tried to reduce her speed on a curve, but was unable to do so and consequently hit another vehicle. The second accident, she was driving down a residential street and again she was unable to stop the vehicle when she approached a curve.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota corolla matrix. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the front driver and passenger air bags deployed inadvertently and fractured the windshield. The contact suffered injuries to the chest, which required medical attention. The contact also stated that the notice for NHTSA campaign number: 15v286000 (air bags) was received in early 2014; however, the dealer stated that the part was not available for repair. The manufacturer was not notified. A police report was filed.
It's been almost a year since the first time the cil turned on. It stays on for a couple days then stays off for like a month. It has been doing that since 2012. I had my check engine light checked by a tech and he said that he has seen the p0770 code many times for the matrix and corolla. He printed out the TSB ([link removed] and advised me to take it to a toyota service center.
Some toyota matrix's have a recall on the spiral cable, not mine. It has been out for 3 years, I can't get toyota to even research my claim as they state that my car doesn't fit their recall profile.
Tanaka recall. I had all recalls done since the first one in 2013. At my 2016 recall toyota mech said recall was done and that all was good and it was safe now. I left lot convinced it was true and I could now allow riders in front seat without threat of injury /death. N0w 2018 discover was not safe to have passenger. That more recalls coming but parts not produced fully in 2016.