2003 Toyota Matrix Interior & seats Problems

FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE SHATTERED ON OPENING, DOOR WAS UNLOCKED, THIS WAS THE SECOND ONE ON THIS CAR TO SHATTER, THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE BROKE IN THE SAME WAY ABOUT 1 YEAR AGO. DOORS ARE UNABLE TO OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE, BESIDES NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN DOORS NORMALLY, THIS OCCURRENCE COULD HAMPER RESCUE MEASURES IF DOOR/HANDLE BREAKS WHEN RESCUERS ARE TRYING TO GET VICTIMS OF AN ACCIDENT OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN AN ACCIDENT PRIOR TO THE PROPER RESCUE EQUIPMENT ARRIVING ON SCENE. MILEAGE CURRENT FAILURE - 110,100 PREVIOUS MILEAGE FAILURE - @90,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10379988

Incident

Feb 2, 2011

Mileage

110,102 mi

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 ID

10268512

Incident

May 6, 2009

Mileage

10,541 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10166465

Incident

Aug 22, 2006

Mileage

81,700 mi

INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING IS VERY POOR, OBSTRUCTING THE CONSUMER'S ABILITY TO SEE SPEEDOMETER, GAS GAUGE, AND OIL PRESSURE. *AK *LA

NHTSA ID

10065143

Incident

Mar 29, 2004

THE GAUGE CLUSTER IN THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX IS IN RED. IN BRIGHT SUNLIGHT, IT CAN BE IMPOSSIBLE TO READ THE GAUGES. I HAVE TRIED VARIOUS MAKES OF SUNGLASSES AND SOME SEEM TO HELP SOMEWHAT. BUT IT IS STILL A HAZARD.

NHTSA ID

10056868

Incident

Feb 9, 2004

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE SPEEDOMETER. THE SPEEDOMETER HAS A RED BACK LIGHT AND AS A RESULT THE DRIVER CANNOT SEE THE VEHICLES SPEED WHILE DRIVING DURING THE DAY LIGHT. THE DRIVER HAS NO PROBLEMS WHILE DRIVING DURING NIGHT TIME. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THIS WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE FOR THEM. *AK *TS *NLM

NHTSA ID

10039816

Mileage

11,000 mi

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTING IS INADEQUATE. MOST OF THE TIME I SIMPLY CANNOT READY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, INCLUDING THE SPEEDOMETER. WHILE I HAVEN'T HAD ANY ACCIDENTS OR TICKETS, I BELIEVE THIS IS AN UNSAFE SITUATION. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WORKS AS DESIGNED. *LA

NHTSA ID

10041026

Incident

Oct 1, 2003

CONSUMER STATED THAT THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS SEEING THE FUNCTIONS IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DUE TO THE LIGHTS. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK THE INSTRUMENT AND RADIO LIGHT FADED OUT WHEN DRIVING IN SUN LIGHT. IN SHADE OR AT NIGHT, THIS HAPPENED A LOT. *PH

NHTSA ID

10031613

Incident

Jul 27, 2003

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE HOOD JUST POPPED UP AND SMASHED THE WINDSHIELD AND ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ID

10031399

Incident

Jul 26, 2003

Mileage

16,100 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10005407

Incident

May 21, 2002

Mileage

130 mi

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 ID

10001302

Incident

Dec 29, 2002

Mileage

1,130 mi