Toyota's Matrix wagon, Corolla sedan and its mechanical twin the Pontiac Vibe sport wagon are all in hot water after motorists have begun to issue complaints about their power side-front windows. Reports indicate the windows are getting stuck, making popping noises, and in some cases shattering and injuring passengers. To date, more than 503 complaints have been received by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which is currently looking into the issue. Ultimately, the investigation may trigger a recall affecting 676,747 vehicles manufactured during the 2003 and 2004 model years at NUMMI, the GM-Toyota joint-venture plant that found itself in a pot of hot water after an employee accused her superiors last November of letting defective vehicles leave the facility.
Interesting to note: This may become the first windows recall that doesn't require PC owners to download a patch. (Hardy har har.)
[Source: Detroit News]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Shakatar @ Feb 21st 2008 5:02PM
"This may become the first windows recall that doesn't require PC owners to download a patch. (Hardy har har.)"
Be sure to tip your waitress.
Seoultrain @ Feb 21st 2008 5:15PM
with jokes like that, no wonder the windows are cracking up.
phoenexius @ Feb 21st 2008 5:07PM
Harley Har Har
fizzandpop @ Feb 21st 2008 5:08PM
It appears that because the Matrix, Vibe, and Corrolla have windows, people have been able to see into the cars and can then easily laugh at the occupants for driving such crapbuckets. The NHTSA fear that this mockery may cause accidents.
Thedevil @ Feb 21st 2008 5:15PM
@fizzandpop..Are you trying to ridicule the best selling car in the "WORLD"? NOT SMART!.
Steven @ Feb 21st 2008 5:18PM
Soon the Tata Nano will hold that designation...doesn't make it any less crappy.
gschon @ Feb 21st 2008 5:35PM
Vaunted Toyota quality yet again! Oh what a feeling!
Franz @ Feb 21st 2008 5:16PM
After 503 complaints, I'm surprised Toyota hasn't issued the recall already.
caddy dave @ Feb 21st 2008 5:50PM
After 3 complaints it's a surprise Toyota's legal department has'nt found an excuse to blame the car owners.
Perhaps they deferred it to TMCDOE. (toyota motor co. department of excuses.)
And if it landed on their desk they would defer it to TMCDSM. (Toyota department of Smoke and Mirrors.)
Nah. They'll issue a TSB and fix it when doing an oil change and the owner needs never know. (What they don't know, they can't report.)
Then we'll all have to hear from the Toy nuts how Toyoda's are so great they fix themselves.
AndyMF @ Feb 22nd 2008 3:04AM
How many complaints would the NHTSA need before looking into it/issuing a recall? Does it go by a percentage of cars sold?
djSyndrome @ Feb 21st 2008 5:19PM
Something doesn't add up - the Matrix isn't built at Nummi; it's assembled in Canada. Most (if not all) Corollas come from Japan. Besides, there's no way that little factory could turn out 300,000 cars a year.
Matt @ Feb 21st 2008 5:22PM
It used to be built at NUMMI...
Max @ Feb 21st 2008 5:36PM
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NUMMI
Joe @ Feb 21st 2008 6:26PM
Many Corollas are built at Nummi and Canada. I have had one built at each plant. The minority of Corollas come from Japan.
Mike @ Feb 21st 2008 6:35PM
With absolute certainty, Matrix has never been NUMMI built.
And "that little factory" is the second-largest Toyota facility in the US, and churns out almost 1100 Corollas/Vibes per day.
C.W. @ Feb 21st 2008 5:31PM
¡JESUS CHRISTO!
You mean to tell me that the Toyota I bought solely on the basis of Toyota's impecable reliability could possibly have a problem? Say it isn't so!
YourNameHere @ Feb 21st 2008 5:37PM
somebody give the VWs number. they know all about power window recalls! as a VW driver/enthusiasts im happy to see this because the window regulator thing is the 1st thing ppl bring up when they talk about VW reliability...oc ant wait to say...well toyota did it to!
seriously though...its a machine, a very complicated machine at that, and machines break. deal with it.
Atomicbri @ Feb 21st 2008 5:52PM
Yeah all those people that constantly down VW for faults, Toyota is no better!!!
psarhjinian @ Feb 21st 2008 6:17PM
Toyota is no better than VW? Ok, step back from the crack pipe...
The problem with VW isn't just the recall, it's that VWoA stonewalls warranty claims. Yes, Toyota did something similar with sludging, but warranty performance is still very much a strong point with the Asians (and Ford) and very much a weak point with the Europeans.
Yes, Toyota quality has slipped a bit. No, they're still one of the best. No, VW still righteously sucks by comparison. Good cars, yes, but also cars that I'd lease, not buy.
DKB_SATX @ Feb 21st 2008 7:05PM
At least the Mk.IV VW windows just fell into the doors and sometimes shattered inside, where the flying glass wouldn't injure anyone...