Total Complaints
39 filings
TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX · model year
39 NHTSA complaints, 2 crash reports, and 5 active recalls for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2003TOYOTACOROLLA MATRIX carries 39 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 2 crashes, 0 fires, 4 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2003 COROLLA MATRIX is air bags with 27 filings, followed by electrical system (4) and vehicle speed control:accelerator pedal (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 5 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.
NHTSA currently has 1 investigation file overlapping the 2003 COROLLA MATRIX. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
Total Complaints
39 filings
Crashes Reported
2 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS | 27 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
AIR BAGS
Toyota is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles and 2003-2004 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. The supplemental restraint system (SRS) circuits are susceptible to internal shorting. The electrical short may create an abnormal current flow and increased heat which can dam
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla vehicles manufactured December 28, 2001, to May 2, 2004, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix vehicles manufactured January 6, 2002, to April 29, 2004, 2003-2004 Avalon vehicles manufactured June 5,
AIR BAGS
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004. On June 16, 2015, T
AIR BAGS
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
On January 9, 2018, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified NHTSA that they are recalling 14,585 model year 2010-2012 Yaris vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, K
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Corolla Matrix. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V285000 (Air Bags) however, the notification advised not to drive the vehicle and to contact the local dealer for retrieval of the vehicle. After contacting the local dealer, the vehicle had not yet been retrieved. The contact stated that the manufacturer had 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. Parts distribution disconnect.
AFTER TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED THE AIRBAG, THE CAR AUDIO STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WHEN I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER, THEY SAID THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME AND HANG UP ON THE PHONE. MY EMAIL TO TOYOTA COMPANY WAS NOT RETURNED.
AFTER TOYOTA DEALER REPLACED THE AIRBAG, THE CAR AUDIO STOPPED FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. WHEN I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER, THEY SAID THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING FOR ME AND HANG UP ON THE PHONE. MY EMAIL TO TOYOTA COMPANY WAS NOT RETURNED.
I CONTINUE TO RECEIVE NOTICES FOR AN AIRBAG RECALL ON A VEHICLE I HAVEN'T OWNED IN TWO YEARS. PLEASE STOP EMAILING ME RECALL NOTICES. I HAVE ATTACHED A RECEIPT I RECEIVED WHEN I HAD THE CAR SCRAPPED. *TR
I HAVE OWNED THIS CAR FOR ONLY A FEW MONTHS. I RECIVED THE RECALL FOR PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. TOOK TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON DIXIE . I ALSO ASKED FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE THE SRS LIGHT BEING ON ON THE DASH. I WAS TOLD BY DEALERSHIP I NEEDED A NEW FRONT DRIVER AIRBAG DUE TO A SHORT. I LOOKED BACK AT THE MATRIX RECALLS . AND THERE IS A RECALL ON THE STEERING WHEEL CABLE SSUE THAT IS RELATED TO THE AIRBAG AND THE CIRCUIT OVER HEARING THAT IS RELATED TO AN AIRBAG RECALL ISSUE. I CALLED THE PERVIOUS OWNER AND SHE SAID SHE HAD AN ACCIDENT AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SHE ALSO TOOK THE CAR TO DEALERSHIP FOR A RECALL IN 2016 AND WAS TOLD SHE NEEDED A NEW FRONT DRIVER AIRBAG. THIS CAR SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE CURRENT RECALLS FOR THE ABOVE ISSUE. THIS ISSUE HAS PLACED MY FAMILY AND MYSELF IN AN UNSAFE SITUATION DUE TO THE UNSAFE ,SAFETY EQUIPTMENT. THE SRS LIGHTS COMES ON WHEN THE CAR IS STARTED AND DOES NOT GO OFF. THIS IS THE REASON FOR THE DIAGNOSIS. TOYOTA SHOULD STAND BEHIND THEIR PRODUCT
Mileage: 220,636
THE GLASS SUNROOF ON MY VEHICLE SHATTERED. THE IS NO EVIDENCE OF IMPACT INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. I HAD NOT USED THE CAR FOR ABOUT A WEEK.
Mileage: 126,000
CAR IS ROTTEN IN THE SPARE TIRE AREA, THOUGHT MINE WAS THE ONLY ONE BUT SEEN A LOT OF CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. FLORIDA AREA
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. AIRBAG WAS REPLACED BY SAME DEFECTIVE AIRBAG AS TAKEN OUT,ONLY DIFFERENCE BEING THAT IT WAS ONLY OUT OF BOX NOT SAFE REDESIGNED TYPE!!WHY WAS I NOT INFORMED THAT THIS WAS THE CASE WHEN I GOT THE LAST RECALL INSTALLED??NOW HAVE ANOTHER NOTICE THAT THE REAL SAFE ONE HAS FINISHED PRODUCTION AND I CAN HAVE ONE INSTALLED NOW. MEANTIME MY FAMILY INCLUDING GRANDCHILDREN HAVE BEEN IN SERIOUS DANGER OF SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH BY RIDING IN THE FRONT SEAT!! CONTACTED VARIOUS TOYOTA OFFICIALS BUT NO ATTEMPT AT EXPLAINING PROBLEM. IN FACT PASSED TO "GENERIC: UNTRAINED EMPLOYEE WHO, OR COURSE, WAS TOTALLY UNPREPARED TO OFF
Mileage: 74,000
ROLL OVER AND AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.
Mileage: 296,000
"TAKATA RECALL" MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER DSB NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 15VO43 RECALL STATUS RECALL INCOMPLETE SUMMARY THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU) FOR THE SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS) IN THESE VEHICLES COULD HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH INTEGRATED CIRCUITS THAT ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUITING WHEN EXPOSED TO CERTAIN ELECTRICAL NOISE FROM VARIOUS VEHICAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. IF INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUITING OCCURS, THE FRONT AIRBAG(S) AND/OR SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS COULD INADVERTENTLY DEPLOY. AN AIRBAG THAT DEPLOYS INADVERTENTLY CAN, UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, INCREASE THE RISK OF MINOR INJURY AND THE POSSIBILITY OF A CRASH.
Mileage: 36,000
2003 TOYOTA COROLLA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO AIR BAG RECALL. *LD THE CONSUMER WAS FIRST ADVISED THAT THE RECALL REPAIR COULD NOT BE COMPLETED BECAUSE THERE WAS A WIRE THAT NEED TO REPAIRED BEFORE THE AIR BAG COULD BE REPLACED. A YEAR LATER THE CONSUMER WAS ADVISED THAT THE AIR BAG HAD ALREADY BEEN DEPLOYED. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT WAS NOT TRUE, THE AIRBAGS HAD NEVER DEPLOYED. UPDATED 05/19/2017 *JS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V043000 AND 15V285000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER,THE PART 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. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
RECALL INCOMPLETE. PARTS ARE NEVER AVAILABLE. DEALERS ALWAYS HAVE THEM BACK-ORDERED.
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. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,000.
Mileage: 200,000
DEAR NHTSA FOLKS, ? THE SAFETY RECALL IS DATED JANUARY 27, OF THIS YEAR (2015) . ? I HAVE WAITED FIVE MONTHS, SO FAR, FOR A REMEDY TO THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT. ? GOING INTO THE SIXTH MONTH, WE CONTINUE TO BE CONCERNED FOR OUR SAFETY EACH TIME WE DRIVE OUR MATRIX. PLEASE HELP, FOR GOODNESS SAKE, WITHOUT FURTHER DELAY! YOURS, [XXX] INDIANAPOLIS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB
Mileage: 115,123
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO PROVIDE THE PART FOR THE REPAIR. MA 10/19/2015 *CN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V286000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. MA 10/1 UPDATED 12/28/2015*JS
LAST MAY 5 MELODY TOYOTA SAN BRUNO TOLD ME THEY HAVE TO DO A RECALL ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR. AND IT WAS FINE FOR 3 MONTHS. THEN ON AUG. 9 WHEN I WAS TAKING MY COUSIN TO THE AIRPORT (SFO) THE SRS WARNING LIGHT JUST CAME ON ALL THE WAY STRAIGHT HOME. AND I DROVE BACK TO MELODY TOYOTA LAST TUESDAY SINCE THEY TOLD ME THEY CAN'T ATTEND TO ME LAST MONDAY BECAUSE TECHNICIAN SHORTAGE. AFTER THEY MADE THE DIAGNOSIS ON MY CAR THEY SAID THERE'S A SHORT CIRCUIT ON MY AIRBAG SPIRAL CABLE CLOCK SPRING W/C IS LOCATED INSIDE THE STEERING WHEEL. THEY SAID IF THIS SPIRAL CABLE IS DEFECTIVE ALL THE AIRBAGS IN MY CAR IS DISABLED AND WILL NOT DEPLOY IF I HIT ANOTHER CAR OR A TREE W/C IS REALLY LIFE THREATENING. MY QUESTION IS WHY DO I HAVE TO PAY $550.00 TO GET THAT SPIRAL CABLE REPLACED. AND ON THE OTHER HAND MY CAR DOESN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEM NOT UNTIL WHEN THEY REPLACE THAT FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG INFLATOR LAST MAY 5. THEY EVEN ASK ME IF I HAD AN ACCIDENT RECENTLY. I THINK THEY SHOULD KNOW T
Mileage: 92,146
THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAME ON DASH AND I WAS TOLD THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG HAD TO BE REPLACED. I HAD TO PAY $1196.69 BECAUSE IT WAS NOT UNDER A RECALL EVEN THOUGH I HAD 3 OTHER RECALLS WHICH INCLUDED THE PASSENGER AIR BAG INFLATOR, AIR BAG WIRE HARNESS AND THE CENTER AIR BAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY. SO WITH ALL THE SAFETY RECALLS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE DRIVER AIR BAG IS NOT COVERED ON ANY SAFETY RECALL? I REALLY THINK THIS SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A SAFETY RECALL SINCE I WAS TOLD BY THE REP AT THE TOYOTA DEALER THE AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK WHEN THIS AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON.
Mileage: 119,107
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT DETERMINED A SOLUTION TO DETER THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL SINCE JANUARY 27, 2015. THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE.
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.