NHTSA Complaint #10809839 — 2004 TOYOTA COROLLA MATRIX

THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW HAS MADE NOISE WHEN LOWERED AND RAISED SINCE SHORTLY AFTER THE TIME OF PURCHASE IN 2004. IN 2008, WE HEARD ABOUT THE RECALL ON 2003-04 MATRIX VEHICLES FOR DEFECTS WITH THE FRONT DOOR GLASS BOLT (WE ALSO HAVE A 2003 COROLLA, AND RECOGNIZED THAT THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL NOTICE RECEIVED FOR THE COROLLA MATCHED THE PROBLEM WE WERE HAVING WITH THE MATRIX). WE TOOK OUR CAR IN 2008 TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DISTRIBUTOR, WHERE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW, BUT WERE TOLD THAT THE RECALL DID NOT APPLY TO OUR MATRIX, BECAUSE THE MATRIX VIN WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE NOISE WHEN USING THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW CONTINUED TO BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED SINCE 2008, AND NOW THE NOISE HAS BECOME SO LOUD THAT WE ARE CONCERNED THE WINDOW WILL BREAK IF LOWERED. I'VE CONTACTED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER, AND THEY SAY THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN/WILL DO, BECAUSE THE CAR'S VIN INDICATES THAT IT WAS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. IF WE WANT TOYOTA TO TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PROBLEM TO DETERMINE WHETHER IT MIGHT BE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE CENTER SAID THAT WE WOULD HAVE TO PAY TOYOTA FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE WINDOW MAKES THE LOUD CLUNKING SOUND AT ALL TIMES WHEN BEING LOWERED, WHETHER THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR STATIONARY. THE WINDOW NOISE HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR AT LEAST 7 YEARS, AND HAS WORSENED OVER TIME. SINCE THE SYMPTOMS MATCH THOSE DESCRIBED IN THE 2008 RECALL NOTICE, IT SEEMS VERY LIKELY THAT THE WINDOW BOLTS ON OUR 2004 MATRIX ARE SUFFERING FROM THE SAME MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AS DESCRIBED IN THAT RECALL.