NHTSA investigating faulty power windows in Pontiac Vibe, Toyota Matrix and Corolla
02/21/2008, 6:00 PM
By Drew Johnson
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating General Motors’ Pontiac Vibe and Toyota’s Matrix and Corolla for complaints about the vehicles’ power windows. The investigation sprouted from complaints of the vehicles’ windows getting stuck, or even shattering, during operation.
The NHTSA and the automakers have received 503 complaints involving window issues. If the investigation leads to a recall, it would likely affect 676,747 vehicles from 2003 and 2004.
According to The Detroit News, the complaints range from the front power windows getting stuck, making popping noises and even shattering during operations. To date, 36 injuries have been reported.
All vehicles in question were produced at a New United Motor Manufacturing Inc. plant in California, which is jointly run by GM and Toyota. The NUMMI plant has come under fire recently for allegedly allowing defective vehicles to roll-off the production floor.
02/21, 7:06 PM
posted by:
C6Racer
They’re built at NUMMI so, no surprise here.
02/21, 7:19 PM
posted by:
Kaizen
Sigh.
02/21, 7:24 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Dickhead2mm its a Toyota plant.
02/21, 7:57 PM
posted by:
corvette
……..sucks.
02/21, 8:39 PM
posted by:
SS4LIFE
yeah Fairlight and 400horseSS are right. Here’s the facts. Both Toyota and GM own a 50% stake in NUMMI. However the only real involvement GM really has is that they have enough GM representatives serving on the board to represent their half stake of ownership. Other than that pretty much everything else on the plant floor is pretty much run by Toyota. And I believe the workers at NUMMI are UAW. A lot of people inside both GM and Toyota for-see this plant closing, although for years there has been speculation of that. I think Toyota is switching or has switched production of either the Tundra or I think actually the Tocoma there. So the (Tocoma), Carolla and Matrix all come out of NUMMI and then only GM’s Pontiac Vibe.
02/21, 8:55 PM
posted by:
RicardoHead
Sounds to me like Pontiac’s gonna have a recall and Toyota going to offer a Power Window Service Enhancement.
02/21, 10:00 PM
posted by:
autonut
Great news for me – my car different year. First hand can tell you my windows are still intact.
02/21, 10:29 PM
posted by:
Andre Neves
See Toyota, thats what happens when you team up with GM. You inherit their recalls/TSBs/problems. Gongrats!
02/21, 10:52 PM
posted by:
CA36GTP
Andre, the plant is run by TOYOTA. GM just pays to have Toyota slap a Pontiac grille on it and ship it out.
02/21, 11:15 PM
posted by:
400horseSS
Your look like a ass right now Andre
02/21, 11:56 PM
posted by:
RicardoHead
He’s french. He probably smells like ass too.
02/21, 11:57 PM
posted by:
johnnycanuck
How in gawd’s name do you f*ck up a power window in this day and age? And to the point where it causes 36 injuries?
02/22, 12:06 AM
posted by:
sharpie
It is absolutely a Toyota issue, NOT GM because the Corolla is also affected and it is not involved in the joint venture anymore. Not after the Prizm died anyway.
02/22, 2:09 AM
posted by:
Andre Neves
400horseSS, RicardoHead, you both are a bunch of tools. I was joking around you f*cking idiots. And no im not French.
02/22, 3:55 AM
posted by:
mg198242
You are from Canada, right Andre Neves?!?!?! Belgium, then…
02/22, 3:59 AM
posted by:
mg198242
No matter what, we have another case with 2 car.junkies.co! I think they should recall all their junk from the last 50 years and rebuild it from scratch.
02/22, 4:40 AM
posted by:
The Stig
MB and VW have perfected the art of the dysfunctional power window regulator.
02/22, 6:46 AM
posted by:
purdue
Who uses the issue-prone power windows these days? The dependable roll-up windows are used by all us that desire high quality and are not girls that need little buttons to do stuff for us.
02/22, 7:40 AM
posted by:
RicardoHead
Andre, you still smell like ass. By calling you french I was being kind and giving you an excuse.
02/22, 7:57 AM
posted by:
MY Si
Man shattering? Thats extreme! Can you imagine pressing a button to roll down your window and have it shatter?
02/22, 8:53 AM
posted by:
SS4LIFE
lol I think it’d be pretty funny… well if it wasn’t my car and it wasn’t my window…
02/22, 8:54 AM
posted by:
injunraiv
That’s what I love about this site… Fine reporting and witty criticisms!
All we need is 1115 to chime in, and the story is complete.
On a side note, is it just me or is there a conspiracy here with GM getting the top billing on a Toyota recall story?
02/22, 10:14 AM
posted by:
shumpy
Looks great on them. I’d rather take the bus than rock one of those AIDSmobiles.
02/22, 10:45 AM
posted by:
SwerveEarly
I didnt even know you could get power windows on a Corrolla.
02/22, 1:06 PM
posted by:
Mitch Bangowitz
I’m beginning to think you all enjoy not only verbally abusing each other, but getting it as well.
I bet you all leave rags by your keyboards.
Come on flame me… I know you want to.
02/22, 1:54 PM
posted by:
doba1
Our 2004 Matrix has the roll up windows, the glass is all really thin compared to other vehicles I’ve owned, and anything that hits the windshield cracks it. We are constantly having to roll up the windows as they fall down 1/8″ on there own. I can see how the power window motors are breaking the thin glass.
02/23, 2:31 PM
posted by:
jackjimturkey
urinating contest.
it’s NUMMI’s fault
02/25, 10:34 AM
posted by:
injunraiv
Oh no, Ill will! You don’t suppose that GM isn’t really paying LLN for pro GM stories, do you?
LOL – while I think these arguments are generally a crock of sh*t, I do wonder again why we get a pic of the 2009 Vibe instead of the Matrix or Corolla this article is really about. And I’ll say I think this is the state of automotive press in a microcosm…