Joint manufacturing ventures allow both automakers to share resources and platforms, but unfortunately, it also means they share problems. Such is the case with GM and Toyota, whose NUMMI plant in Fremont, California, put out 540,000 Toyota Matrixes, Corollas and 123,00 Pontiac Vibes with faulty bolts that hold in the glass on the two front doors. The 660,000 2003-2004 vehicles equipped with power windows are being recalled after 500 complaints, 36 claimed injuries and one crash (?!) were reported. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is calling for both automakers to recall the affected vehicles and replace the faulty bolts at no charge.
[Source: Automotive News – Sub. Req.]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Allan @ Apr 9th 2008 5:41PM
How the hell did someone crash because of it? Did it fall out and break all over the driver or something?
AC @ Apr 9th 2008 6:00PM
pretty much anything that can distract the driver's attention can cause an accident/crash.. talking on cellphone, setting up your GPS NAV/radio, looking at your kids, talking to your passenger.... in this case.. it's the malfunction window.
tankd0g @ Apr 9th 2008 6:32PM
It's as good an excuse for wrecking your car as any.
Matt @ Apr 9th 2008 11:04PM
"It's as good an excuse for wrecking your car as any."
It's as good an excuse as any for wrecking your Corolla.
Ugly pile of crap.
Matt @ Apr 9th 2008 11:04PM
"It's as good an excuse for wrecking your car as any."
It's as good an excuse as any for wrecking your Corolla.
Ugly pile of crap.
Thedevil @ Apr 9th 2008 6:06PM
Sounds like Toyota's fault to me.
thedude3389 @ Apr 9th 2008 6:42PM
I'm SURE it is.......(i hope you sensed the sarcasm....)
Matt @ Apr 9th 2008 11:04PM
It IS based off of Toyota technology. And 85% of the units involved are Toyota.
Kyle Swift @ Apr 9th 2008 7:14PM
Man, I haven't heard anything good about the things coming from this joint company plant.
So what are the odds that GM gets more bad press on this than Toyota?
geo.stewart @ Apr 9th 2008 11:31PM
too bad GM hitched its wagon to a poor quality co. like Toyota. its loke a freaky friday thing happened with GM quality going up and toyota sinking like a rock
tanooki2003 @ Apr 10th 2008 10:44AM
HAHAHAH Oh goodness geo.stewart. My My how one is so severely deluded. GM going up in quality is a joke. Almost as bad as you saying Toyota is going downhill.
KT @ Apr 9th 2008 7:33PM
I guess that lady that sued Toyota because she was fired for blowing the whistle was credible. Since that story there have been at least 2 recalls/investigations for vehicles built there.
Doubt this will be the last...
joe @ Apr 9th 2008 7:46PM
they don't make Matrix in the NUMMI plant; Matrix are made in Canada.
Matrix XRS AWD @ Apr 9th 2008 8:47PM
No, U.S. Matrix was build in the U.S.. Here in Canada, we don't have any recall for the Matrix or Corolla. Sorry!
psarhjinian @ Apr 9th 2008 9:40PM
That's an interesting point. People are quick to blame the make or the worker, but rarely think about the role that the plant it's satellite supplier have.
Canadian Corollas and Matrixes are made in Cambridge, ON and don't seem to have been as problematic. It's a little like how, of all the W-Bodies, the pre-03 Grand Prix (built in Kansas, moved to Oshawa, ON in 2003) was always rated lower in durability than the Oshawa-assembled Regal, Century and Impala. When the moved the GP to Oshawa, it's ratings went up considerably. Same for the Fusion (Hermosillo, which is a good plant) versus the Mazda6 (AutoAlliance, which is less so).
People: pay attention to the _plant_ you car is made at. Not only does the plant's location have more effect on the economy (it pays the wages of a lot of people), it also determines, more than anything else, how reliable a vehicle will be.
Megs @ Apr 10th 2008 10:04AM
No-the Corolla and Vibe are made at NUMMI. The Matrix is made in Canada and Japan.
djSyndrome @ Apr 10th 2008 10:31AM
That's funny, because my 2003 Matrix *clearly* states on the door jamb it was made in Canada. First number of the VIN is '2' as well.
djSyndrome @ Apr 10th 2008 10:34AM
Also, Martix XRS AWD: your username is absolutely hilarious, because there has never been such a thing as an all-wheel drive XRS.
MKIV @ Apr 10th 2008 10:39AM
Quality work from this Union morons.
Mauricio @ Apr 10th 2008 12:25AM
As the things are going for Toyota, it is a good idea to speak about the big four instead of the big three, all they are doing the same crap of cars.