RoadVitals

2003 Toyota Matrix Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest Aug 16, 2014
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 268 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Toyota Matrix submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Visibility
Filed Aug 16, 2014

RECALL RELAPSE: DRIVER SIDE WINDOW OFF TRACK. NEEDS DRIVER GLASS BOLTS 2ND TIME. TOYOTA RECALL #: 80A GM RECALL #: 07273. *TR

NHTSA ID
10625707
Incident
Aug 16, 2014
Seat beltsVisibility
Filed Jul 27, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT EXPLODED AND FRACTURED INTO PIECES. THE SEAT BELT WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AND COULD NOT BE TURNED OFF. IN ADDITION, THE POWER WINDOWS WOULD OPEN INDEPENDENTLY AND COULD NOT BE OPERATED MANUALLY. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED WHO DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE AS THE INSIDE CYLINDER OF THE SEAT BELT CONTROL BEING DEFECTIVE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 98,514. UPDATED 09/11/12*LJ UPDATED 09/13/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID
10467911
Incident
Jul 25, 2012
Mileage
98,514 mi
Visibility
Filed May 18, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RIGHT REAR DOOR GLASS SEPARATED FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE RECALL NUMBER: 08V162000 (VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR) ONLY PERTAINED TO THE FRONT WINDOW. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 134,868 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 134,800.

NHTSA ID
10401452
Incident
May 15, 2011
Mileage
134,800 mi
Visibility
Filed Jan 15, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOWS WERE ACTIVATED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD SQUEAKING AND RATTLING NOISE. IN ADDITION, THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT CLOSE COMPLETELY WHEN ACTIVATED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 08V162000 (VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE RECALL REMEDY HAS NOT CORRECTED THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 140,000. UPDATED 3/3/09 *CN UPDATED 03/04/09*JB

NHTSA ID
10255223
Incident
Oct 5, 2007
Body & structureVisibility
Filed May 15, 2008

THE SIDE OF THE CAR THAT HOLDS THE WINDSHIELD TOGETHER IS A BLIND SPOT. WHEN PEOPLE ARE CROSSING THE STREET YOU CAN'T SEE THEM. I ALMOST HIT SOME ABOUT THREE TIMES BECAUSE OF HOW THE WINDOW IS MADE. THE SUN VISOR IS NOT LONG ENOUGH TO BLOCK THE SUN MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THEY TO MAKE BETTER VISORS THAT ACTUALLY BLOCKS THE SUN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10227924
Incident
May 6, 2008
Visibility
Filed Mar 9, 2008

2003 TOYOTA MATRIX SIDE-FRONT POWER WINDOWS GETTING STUCK AND MAKING POPPING NOISES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10220515
Incident
Sep 1, 2007
Visibility
Filed Feb 25, 2008

I NOTICE AN OCCASIONAL POPPING NOISE WHEN ROLLING UP AND DOWN THE WINDOWS ON MY 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THIS CONCERNS ME, AS I BELIEVE THAT THE GLASS COULD ULTIMATELY SHATTER IF THIS PERSISTS OR GETS ANY WORSE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10219074
Incident
Feb 20, 2008
Visibility
Filed Feb 22, 2008

THE FRONT PASSENGER WINDOW DEVELOPED AN ISSUE WHERE IT WOULD BECOME STUCK AND PROMPTLY MAKE A LOUD POP AS IT BECAME UNSTUCK WHILE RETRACTING THE WINDOW DOWN. THE FINAL FAILURE CAME WHEN IT MADE VERY LOUD POP AND THE WINDOW WOULD NOT MOVE AFTER THAT. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10218832
Incident
Apr 15, 2007
Visibility
Filed Dec 14, 2005

THIS MORNING I DISCOVERED A CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD SPANNING 3/4 OF THE LENGTH OF THE WINDSHIELD, ACROSS THE BOTTOM ABOVE THE WIPERS, IN AN INVERTED U-SHAPE. THE CRACK DOES NOT GO ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE GLASS. IT WAS NOT PRESENT LAST NIGHT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR THE NIGHT. THERE IS NO OTHER SIGN OF DAMAGE TO THE WINDSHIELD OR TO THE REST OF THE VEHICLE. THERE IS NO IMPACT POINT ANYWHERE ON THE WINDSHIELD GLASS TO INDICATE THAT AN OBJECT HIT THE WINDSHIELD TO CAUSE THE CRACK. IT APPEARS TO BE A SPONTANEOUS CRACK IN THE GLASS THAT SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE MANUFACTURER AT NO COST TO ME. THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE AND MUST BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. THE WINDSHIELD WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10145173
Incident
Dec 14, 2005
Mileage
65,236 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Feb 19, 2004

WHEN THE SUN VISOR WAS PULLED DOWN IT ONLY CAME DOWN HALF WAY. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER WAS BLINDED BY THE SUN. THE DASHBOARD HAS CHROME TRIM SO WHEN BRIGHT LIGHT HITS THE CHROME IT BLINDS THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER FEELS ITS A POOR DESIGN. *NM

NHTSA ID
10059363

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .