Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 269 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Toyota Matrix, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 77 | 29% |
| Air bags | 50 | 19% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 21 | 8% |
| Vehicle speed control | 14 | 5% |
| Service brakes | 11 | 4% |
| Structure | 7 | 3% |
| Unknown or other | 6 | 2% |
| Visibility | 6 | 2% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 2% |
| Tires | 6 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
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 DR
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
I HAVE GOTTEN THE "TAKATA RECALL" LETTER AND TOOK MY CAR ON MARCH 18, 2018, WITH MIKE BRISENO FROM TOYOTA HERE NEAR MY PLACE 1901 S FIGUEROA ST, LOS ANGELES, CA 90007. THEY OFFERED ME AN UBER RIDE HOME FROM THE DEALERSH
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS IDLING AT A RED LIGHT, THE SEAT BELT AIR BAG RESTRAINT SYSTEM ERRONEOUSLY ACTIVATED AND FORCEFULLY SECURED THE DRIVER INTO THE SEAT. DURING THE INCIDENT, N
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
THE AIRBAG INDICATOR ON MY CAR LIT UP. I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH TOYOTA TO HAVE IT DIAGNOSED, AND THEY SAID THAT I NEEDED A NEW SPIRAL CLOCK SPRING CABLE, WHICH IS PART NUMBER 84306-02110. THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE PART
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 15V043000 (AIR BAGS) AND 15V285000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIRS WERE UNAVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRE
NHTSA complaint: Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA MATRIX. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A RECALL FOR THE AIR BAGS AND WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER WAS
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2003 Toyota Matrix. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
TOYOTA IS RECALLING 662,178 MY 2003-2004 COROLLA, COROLLA MATRIX AND PONTIAC VIBE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER WINDOWS. THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS MAY LOOSEN AND COME OFF, CAUSING THE DOOR GLASS TO SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR. DUE TO THE COMPONENTS BECOMING LOOSE AND PO
Risk: THE DOOR GLASS MAY SEPARATE FROM THE WINDOW REGULATOR, BIND AND SHATTER DURING OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOWS, CAUSING DRIVER DISTRACTION AND/OR INJURY.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER DOOR GLASS BOLTS WITH NEWLY DESIGNED BOLTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 16, 2008 TO TOYOTA OWNERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 21, 2008,
SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES
Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
CERTAIN ANZO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS WHICH FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPME
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: ANZO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE HEADLAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 9, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ANZO USA AT 909-468-3688.
| Reliability raw | 68 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 78 | good |
| Maintenance | 89 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 43 | below average |
| Efficiency | 49 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other wagons in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 269 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and power train is the most reported area with 77 of them (29%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 68/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2003 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.