2003 Toyota Matrix

YOUR CRASH TESTING GAVE THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX XR AWD FIVE STARS FOR SIDE IMPACT REGARDING HEAD INJURY POTENTIAL FOR DRIVER. WE USED YOUR RATINGS WHEN SELECTING A USED CAR IN AUGUST 2005. ON APRIL 1, 2006 MY 29 YEAR OLD SON HIT A TREE ON DRIVER DOOR. HE SUFFERED FRACTURED SKULL, BROKEN NECK AND OTHER INJURIES. HE WAS KILLED INSTANTLY. PLEASE SEE WWW.MEM.COM; SEARCH LAST NAME RENFREW. PLEASE GOOGLE BRETT RENFREW AND READ SOME OF THE NEWS REPORTS. BESIDES CRASH WORTHINESS, WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE CAR CAREENED OFF THE ROAD. *NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONT END OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED AN INJURED CHEST AND SHOULDER, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL TREATMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

TAKATA RECALL MY WIFE AND I HAD AN ACCIDENT IN THE FREEWAY ON OUR WAY HOME MORE THAN 7 YEARS AGO. WE WERE TRAVELLING AT AROUND 50-55 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY THE CAR IN FRONT OF US STOPPED. RESULTED IN HITTING THE BACK BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF US. THE CAR SUSTAINED JUST MINOR SCRATCHED BUT OUR CAR WAS REALLY DAMAGED. MY WIFE WAS HURT AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT WHO WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER. THE CAR'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS STILL WONDERING UNTIL NOW, WHY? THE DAMAGED TO THE CAR WAS WORTH MORE THAN $8,000. OUR INSURANCE COMPANY, WHICH WAS STATE FARM DID NOT MENTION ANYTHING ABOUT THE AIR BAG. I JUST FOUND THAT OUT WHEN I RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE LAST WEEK FORM TOYOTA. I CAN'T REALLY RECALL THE DATE IT HAPPENED, BUT I CAN GET SOME INFORMATION FROM STATE FARM INSURANCE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT REQUIRED WHEN THE INCIDENT HAPPENED BUT MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED AFTER A DAY OR 2 AFTER THE ACCIDENT.

TL* 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.

TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON INTERSTATE 15 I CHANGED LANES FROM THE RIGHT HAND LANE INTO THE RIGHT HAND MERGE/EXIT LANE TO FRIAR RD EXIT. I WAS ON MY WAY TO CHURCH ABOVE MISSION VALLEY. I WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MILES PER HOUR, AS I WAS CHANGING LANES THE STEERING WHEEL SUDDENLY NO LONGER CONTROLLED THE WHEELS. I MOVED THE STEERING WHEEL ONLY ENOUGH FOR A LANE CHANGE BUT THE STEERING LOST ALL CONNECTION WITH WHEELS. THE FRONT WHEELS APPEARED TO HAVE LOST CONNECTION WITH THE STEERING, THE CAR LURCHED FIRST LEFT THEN RIGHT, I PUT MY FOOT ON THE CLUTCH TO TRY TO GET IT TO SLOW DOWN. I DIDN'T HIT THE BRAKES WHILE CAR WAS IN UNCONTROLLED MOVEMENT. THEN THE CAR DID AT LEAST ONE COMPLETE 360 SPIN, CAME OUT OF THE SPIN FACING THE CURB AT THE SHOULDER, BOUNCED OVER THE CURB. APPARENTLY IT MAY HAVE GONE AIR BORNE AND SHEARED OFF A SMALL TREE. WENT DOWN THE EMBANKMENT ON ITS WHEELS AND ENDED UP AT THE BOTTOM STILL ON ITS WHEELS. *TR

TL* 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 A TOYOTA MATRIX 2003. ON FEBRUARY 19, 2010 I WAS DRIVING NORTH ON HIGHWAY 101 IN CALIFORNIA. I WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH MY DISTANCE FROM THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WAS ABOUT 1/2 A BLOCK. SUDDENLY THE TRAFFIC SLOWED DOWN AND I IMMEDIATELY STARTED SLOWING DOWN, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS ACCELERATING INSTEAD. I CRASH INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WITH SEVERAL DAMAGES TO MY CAR, TOTAL LOSS OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND WITH BODY INJURIES TO MYSELF. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED ON A TOYOTA MATRIX IN 2006 I HAD ANOTHER ACCIDENT THAT PUT ME OUT OF WORK AND WITH PERMANENT DISABILITY PROBLEMS. BOTH INCIDENTS DUE TO SIMILAR CIRCUMSTANCES. I WILL LIKE TO DO FARTHER INVESTIGATION ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

I WAS INVOLVED IN AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT AND MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY CAUSING ME MORE INJURY TO MY NECK. *TR

I TOOK THE MATRIX IN TWICE SHORTLY AFTER I BOUGHT IT BECAUSE THE CAR WOULD UNEXPECTEDLY LUNGE FORWARD WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP. I ALSO COMPLAINED THAT THE BRAKES FELT "LOOSE" AND DID NOT "CATCH" AS THEY SHOULD. I WAS ADVISED BOTH TIMES BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM AND THAT NOTHING ABNORMAL WAS FOUND WITH CAR. WHILE I WAS BEGINNING TO LOOK INTO "LEMON LAWS", IN SEPTEMBER OF LAST YEAR I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL FULLY ENGAGED. DUE TO MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCES WITH THE CAR LUNGING FORWARD, I WOULD KEEP SEVERAL FEET BETWEEN ME AND THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT. THIS TIME THE CAR NOT ONLY LUNGED FORWARD, BUT IT WAS LIKE THE ACCELERATOR STUCK-I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE BUT COULD NOT STOP THE CAR AFTER IT LUNGED FORWARD AND I HIT A CAR THAT WAS IN FRONT OF ME AT THE LIGHT. MY CAR DID NOT STOP UNTIL I WAS ALMOST PARALLEL WITH THE OTHER CAR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE! I HAVE HAD THE CASE LOOKED AT BY TOYOTA, AND THEIR LEGAL DEPARTMENT HAS ADVISED THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR-THEIR ONLY EXPLANATION IS THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATES TO "NORMAL" SPECIFICATIONS. THEY HAVE ADVISED THAT THE CAR WILL LUNGE FORWARD WHILE THE AIR CONDITIONER IS AS WHEN THE AC COMPRESSOR CYCLES, IT INCREASES THE ENGINE RPM AND THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE FORWARD. MY AIR CONDITIONER WAS NOT ON AT THE TIME OF THIS ACCIDENT, HOWEVER. *LA

THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX I WAS DRIVING HIT THE BACK OF A PICK-UP TRUCK WHEN THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID. THE MATRIX WENT PARTIALLY UNDER THE TRUCK, CAUSING SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE MATRIX. NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX DEPLOYED. THANKS TO THE FACT THAT I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT, I RECEIVED ONLY MINOR INJURIES.*AK

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. *TR

SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY IN A SIDE IMPACT COLLISION WHILE MOVING.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, A TIRE DETACHED FROM A COMMERCIAL VEHICLE, STRUCK THE CONTACTS VEHICLE, AND CAUSED A CRASH. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V285000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V043000 (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 NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

I WAS SLOWLY PULLING INTO MY GARAGE (IN THE BASEMENT OF MY HOUSE), GRADUALLY BRAKING AS I HAD DONE MANY TIMES BEFORE. I WAS STOPPING THE VEHICLE IN ITS USUAL POSITION WHEN THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN RACING AND THE CAR ACCELERATED FORWARD. IT STRUCK SOME SHELVES I HAD AGAINST THE WALL OF THE GARAGE, CRUMPLING BOTH THE SHELVES AND THE FRONT OF THE CAR'S HOOD. EVERYTHING HAPPENED SO FAST AT THAT POINT THAT I AM NOT SURE JUST WHAT HAPPENED, BUT I ENDED UP WITH THE CAR STOPPED UP AGAINST THE GARAGE WALL AND THE CAR IN PARK. I BELIEVE I THREW IT INTO NEUTRAL, THEN APPLIED THE BRAKE SINCE IT WAS STILL MOVING, THEN TRIED TO BACK UP, AND FINALLY PUT IT INTO PARK. THE CAR WAS DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY. I EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM OF SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN STOPPING SEVERAL TIMES PREVIOUSLY, BUT NONE OF THOSE INCIDENTS CAUSED ANY DAMAGE. IN EACH OF THOSE SITUATIONS I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR INTO NEUTRAL, STOP IT WITH THE BRAKE, AND CONTINUE ON MY WAY. IN THIS INSTANCE THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH SPACE AHEAD OF ME TO DO THAT SUCCESSFULLY. I KNOW THAT A NUMBER OF INCIDENTS OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION OF A TOYOTA MATRIX HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPORTED FOR A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT MODEL YEARS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IT WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. IT WAS UNKNOWN IF A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 5/29/15*CN THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS TOO MUCH DAMAGED CAUSED FOR SUCH A LOW SPEED IMPACT ACCIDENT. THE BUMPER, RADIATOR AND ENGINE WERE ALL DAMAGED DURNING THE ACCIDENT. UPDATED 11/6/15 *JS

I WENT TO CHANGE LANES TO THE LEFT, AND BEFORE I COULD SPOTTED A CAR THAT HAD BEEN IN MY BLIND SPOT. I VEERED BACK TO THE RIGHT TO STAY IN MY LANE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT FELT LIKE SOMETHING IN THE STEERING WHEEL CLICKED AND THE CAR SUDDENLY JERKED BACK TO THE LEFT, THE BACK TO THE RIGHT, AND LEFT AGAIN, SWERVING OUT OF MY CONTROL. I TRIED TO COLD ON TO THE WHEEL AND STEADY IT STRAIGHT BUT IT JERKED LEFT HARDER AND SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, FLYING STRAIGHT INTO THE HIGHWAY BARRIER. THE CAR CRASHED INTO THE BARRIER ON THE FRONT BUMPER, BOUNCED OFF SLIGHTLY AND I WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER THE CAR THE REST OF THE WAY OFF THE ROAD. UP UNTIL I CRASHED INTO THE BARRIER I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AT ALL. *TR

I MET WITH AN ACCIDENT ON 8/23/2010 AT 4 45 PPM APPROXIMATELY IN PLEASOANTON CALIFORNIA. THERE WAS A COLLISION BETWEEN TWO CARS AND THERE WAS HEAVY DAMAGE TO FRONT OF MY CAR. I OWNED A MATRIX TOYOTA 2003 MODEL. CAR LICENSE PLATE..[XXX] VIN NUMBER--[XXX] THE AIR BAG DINT OPEN OR RELEASE. MY CAR WAS TOTALED OFAS THERE WAS HEAVY DAMAGE. I COLLIDED AGAINST A MERCEDES .THE OTHER CAR AIRBAGS OPENED BUT NOT MINE. I HAVE FILED A INSURANCE CLAIM WITH FARMERS INSURANCE . THE CLAIM NUMBER-[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED THE CONTACT HAD APPLIED THE BRAKES AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP MOVING CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. NO ONE WAS INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED FOR THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR BODY DAMAGE REPAIRS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

IN 9/02 I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ON WET A ROAD, I APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD AND DID NOT STOP BEFORE HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. THERE WAS ADEQUATE STOPPING DISTANCE & I KNOW THAT OUR SATURN WAGON WOULD HAVE STOPPED ON TIME. ON 11/30/06, MY HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH ON A DRY ROAD HE APPLIED THE BRAKES HARD AND DID NOT STOP BEFORE HITTING THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. HE ALSO HAD ADEQUATE STOPPING DISTANCE AND HE STATES THAT OUR PREVIOUS SATURN WAGON OR OUR SUBARU WAGON WOULD HAVE STOPPED IN TIME. I HAVE NEVER HIT A VEHICLE WHILE BRAKING HARD IN A VEHICLE W/ ABS UNTIL THE TOYOTA MATRIX. WE GOT ONE OF THE EARLY MATRIX'S IN 7/2002. NOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH OF US, WE WONDER IF THE ABS WAS FAULTY ON THE EARLY VERSIONS OF THE MATRIX. *JB

CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKES, STRIKING A TREE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE. UPON IMPACT, FRONTAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER CONTACTED TOYOTA ,AND IT WAS INSPECTED BY A REPRESENTATIVE AND NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND. VEHICLE WAS SOLD FOR PARTS.*AK *TS