CarComplaints.com Notes: The Toyota Matrix is the mechanical twin of the Pontiac Vibe.
Both models were a joint GM-Toyota venture, manufactured together at a NUMMI production facility in Fremont, CA. Only the heating & A/C systems are different.
10.0
really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
10 / 0
Average Mileage:
55,099 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
The recall letter says I'm not just not supposed to have people sit up front until the parts are available to fix the problem. That is not realistic. I need something done sooner please.
We have been trying to resolve this safety issue for the last few years to no avail. This letter is in response to your 1/31/15 report re: The electronic components for the above named car. Toyota has been arguing that this problem is our responsibility and not theirs. But based on your latest report, it seems that we are correct in holding them responsible for repairing it. Over the last few years we have had this car into different Toyota dealers in response to air bag system electronic component recalls. To date our vehicle has not been prepared properly. The air bag warning light remains on, which leads to our concern that the air bag system is defective. The dealers and Toyota corporation indicate that this is not part of the recall, but we believe otherwise. If the recall was due to a faulty electronic component air bag system and the dealers were supposed to have repaired it, then why does it persist?? we believe Toyota is responsible for this problem and would like it repaired once and for all by Toyota, as it is a potentially dangerous safety issue and I do not want my family to become another fatality statistic.
Has been in for repair since Nov 2014 and no sign of getting fixed. Toyota will refuse to provide loaner car after Feb 23, 2015 but refused to give me a letter saying my car was safe to drive. Today I received a letter saying to keep passengers in the back seat - that this their solution. They still try to deny that humidity is not a proven cause since incidents have occurred out of humid areas. I listened to the hearings and the Toyota representative said they don not know the cause but still they are forcing me to begin driving the car again at the end of Feb 2015.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Matrix. The contact received a notification for a manufacturer recall related to the air bags. However, the part needed to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Matrix. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the air bag sensor light illuminated indicating that the air bag system was faulty. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received a notice for NHTSA campaign number 14V312000 (air bags) on January 26, 2015. After contacting the dealer and the manufacturer, the contact was informed that the parts needed to remedy the failure were not available and no estimated time for receiving the parts could be provided. The failure mileage was not available. Updated 3/31/15
- Sonoma, CA, USA
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The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Matrix. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 14V312000 (air bags) however, the part needed to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact had not experience a failure.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Matrix. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign id number: 14V350000 (air bags) however, the parts were unavailable to perform the repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Updated 01/07/14 updated 6/11/2015
I took the car in to the grossinger Toyota service center in Chicago to have the airbags changed as per the NHTSA nationwide recall: www.NHTSA.gov/about+NHTSA/press+releases/dot-calls-for-national-recall-of-takata-driver-air-bags they told me it was in an "interim" stage and couldn't do anything.
I want you to be aware of this email below I just sent to Toyota with a safety complainant. "hello customer service rep, I am contacting you regarding the air system on my Matrix and I had many recalls/ repairs during the last few years first replacing the air harness in March of 2013. Then replacing the passenger air bag inflator in August 2014 and then replacing the driver side bag in early October 2014. Last replacing the center airbag senor assembly in mid October 2014. All these items were covered under safety recalls except the driver side airbag which cost me $1196.69 which I was told it had to be replaced because it was inoperative. I think this should be covered under a safety recall and you give me a refund of $1196.69 so could you tell me why this is not under a safety recall? thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
There has been a recall on the front passenger airbag inflator module. Despite several notices and a federal reminder to have this fixed as a customer, Toyota as a company has no remedy as of yet. All paperwork states "any authorized Toyota dealer can inspect and, if necessary, replace the airbag inflator module...please contact any authorized Toyota dealer dealer to schedule an appointment to have the remedy performed as soon as possible." After making this appointment and leaving my car overnight, I was told there was no remedy available. After calling Toyota, they said that at this time the only solution is to not allow a passenger to ride in your car. This defeats the purpose of a car. If you have notated an issue and want to alert the public and have us all take time off to have the issues fixed, then why wasn't there a "fix" in place. It seems as though they can replace the entire airbag inflator module to fix the problem, but they are not wanting to take on that cost, which puts me and my family/friends in danger. This is ultimately frustrating, inconvenient, and dangerous. This is an extremely libelous situation.
My air bag light won't go off. Toyota says the drivers seat belt is the problem and will be replaced. I believe air bag problems are common in the Toyota Matrix.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Matrix. The contact stated received a notification for recall NHTSA campaign number: 14V312000 (air bags). The contact indicated that after contacting the dealer and the manufacturer on multiple occasions he was informed that the parts needed to repair the vehicle were not available and no estimated time to receiving the parts could be given. The vehicle had not experience the failure.the VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Matrix. While making a left turn at a yellow light, another vehicle crashed into the front passenger side of the contact's vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The driver sustained minor abrasions and the passenger suffered a fractured thumb, which required medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The speed was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 93,000.
Air bag warning light started flashing, received (airbag) recall notice as well from Toyota and made appointment for airbag recall fix. Toyota dealership said they fixed recall, but airbag light came back on shortly after recall fix. Took to dealer second time, dealer said there was a short to drivers side seat belt squib? squib works with air bag deployment and seat belt tensioner deployment. Dealer wanted to replace unit at my expense but I argued that this should be covered under a recall since it is part of a faulty air bag issue. Today I found an article on a consumer recall site that states that Toyota has acknowledged faulty circuits on 2003 -04 corolla and Matrix that are susceptible to shoring in airbag / tensioner wiring harness. The resulting heat could damage the components and cause the airbags and or seat belt pretensioners to malfunction, increasing risk of injury. The seat belt pretensioners are what is causing our airbag warning light according to Toyota dealership diagnostics. In the past I have gotten the run around by Toyota dealerships on this matter as well as our car will not pass upcoming state safety inspection. I am greatly concerned for my families safety concerning possible faulty deployment of the airbags or seat belt pretensioners not working in an accident. Please investigate and hold Toyota accountable to fix this very extremely important airbag / tensioner safety issue. Thank you
I have my Toyota matrix about 5 or 6 years. Had 4 or 5 times recall on the different parts. I don't feel safe any more with this car. How should I trust for another parts are ok. I have a kid with me when I'm driving. They should get the car back and pay for it. I worked so hard to pay for this car. Shame on Toyota.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Matrix. The contact stated that the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where a diagnostic was performed, which located the failure at the air bag spiral cable. The air bag spiral cable was replaced however, the failure was not corrected. The air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to dealer where a second diagnostic was performed. The failure was located at the air bag wiring harness. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,163 and the current mileage was 95,311. Updated 01/09/13 updated 1/22/2013 status update. 01/24/13 updated 01/30/13
The car was parked in the carport. I put my keys and powered on. The air bags exploded for no reason, breaking the windshield and dash. There was not any kind of accident with the car before or during this incident.
While I was sitting at a drive thru window at mcdonald's the teller was reaching me my order and all of a sudden she and I heard a loud popping sound she said what was that, I said I don't know she said it came from your car she said madam it came from inside your car, your car is smoking so I turned my head and noticed the seat belt over my shoulder was smoking and as I turned my head around the seat belt on the passenger side of the car popped open and it started smoking so I said what is going on with this car, and when I turned my head forward the airbag on the passenger side popped out so I said I don't know what is happening with this car but I need to get out of it. I noticed that there were cars behind me in the drive-thru so I pulled the car out from under the window to the middle of the parking lot so that the cars behind me would be able to get out and as I turned the wheel the driver side air bag popped out in from of me and hit me in the chest and bruised my left arm then the car started filling up with smoke so I didn't know if the car was catching on fire or what I just knew that I needed to get out of the car. I turned off the engine in the middle of the parking lot grabbed my purse and jumped out of the car. All the customers and workers at mcdonald's ran out when the car started smoking and no one could believe what was happening because all these things popped out and there was no other car there the manager at mcdonald's came to me and said he was calling the fire department since the car was smoking and we didn't know what was going to happen next. The fire dept. Came and said madam what happened I told them what happened and they asked if I had hit anything and I told them no I was just sitting at the drive-thru when all of these things just started popping out of my car. The windshield also shattered when the airbag hit it. The firemen told me to stand in front of mcdonald's and they opened the hood to check for fire and disabled to battery.
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Matrix. While driving approximately 65 mph, the brakes were applied and the vehicle failed to stop which resulted in a crash. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact sustained unknown injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to by the insurance company. A representative with the manufacturer also inspected the vehicle and was unable to diagnose the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. The failure and current mileages were 88,208.
I have A2003 Matrix since new, the airbag warning light on the dash has remained on for years, because of limited funds can not go to dealership and pay $$$$ for service fee, diagnostic fee, and parts and labor for someone to "work" their way through the problem over several visits. I now however after several years of state inspections, have to spend this money in order to pass inspection. I was informed that airbag warning lights now have to operate properly in order for a vehicle to pass inspection. Upon googling any recall information online I discovered hundreds of postings of similar complaints, as well as two complaints on this website of airbags that did not deploy during crashes. Did they have similar dash lighting malfunctions as mine??
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Chickasha , OK, USA