2003 Toyota Echo recalls & problems
The 2003 Toyota Echo has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 17 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is air bags (5 complaints).
Recalls0safety recalls
Complaints17filed by owners
Crashes · fires5 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2003 Toyota Echo.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
2003 Toyota Echo 4-DR.
| Overall | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
2003 Toyota Echo 2-DR.
| Overall | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Echo
33mpg combined
| City / highway | 30 / 38 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,050/year to fuel
Echo
31mpg combined
| City / highway | 28 / 36 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,150/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags Frontal | 5 | — |
| Power train Automatic transmission; Driveline | 4 | 13 mi |
| Engine and engine cooling Engine | 3 | — |
| Electrical system | 2 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | — |
| Steering | 1 | — |
| Unknown or other | 1 | — |
| Interior lighting | 1 | — |
| Seat belts Front | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 1 | — |
| Engine | 1 | — |
| Service brakes | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Jul 18, 2018 · 80,000 milesService brakes
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA ECHO. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY ON ITS OWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A DRIVEWAY AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED FITZGERALD TOYOTA GAITHERSBURG AT (301) 921-0300 (LOCATED AT 907 N FREDERICK AVE, GAITHERSBURG, MD 20879), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED CALLED FITZGERALD TOYOTA BACK AFTER THEY CALLED. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD… - Mar 17, 2005 · 25,834 milesFuel system, gasoline
ON MARCH 17, 2005 I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA ECHO FROM TOYOTA OF NASHUA IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. AFTER PURCHASING THE CAR AND LEAVING TOYOTA OF NASHUA TO DRIVE HOME, THE ENGINE STOPPED AS I APPROACHED A STOPLIGHT AT THE END OF THE HIGHWAY EXIT NEAR MY HOUSE. I HAD SIMPLY DEPRESSED THE CLUTCH TO COAST TOWARD THE RED LIGHT. I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT AT THE TIME, ASSUMING THAT IT STALLED DUE TO STALE GAS. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO QUIT PERIODICALLY. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WOULD QUIT SEVERAL TIMES IN A WEEK AND THEN GO SEVERAL MONTHS WITH NO PROBLEM. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE OIL CHANGED ON JUNE 2, 2005 I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AND ASKED THAT IT BE FIXED. AT THAT… - Feb 13, 2010 · 63,536 miles · crashVehicle speed control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SPOUSE WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. THE DRIVER HAD TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HIT A SNOWBANK TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT NOTICED NO PRIOR EXPERIENCES WITH THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION BEFORE THAT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND RAN DIAGNOSTICS TESTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,800. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,536. UPDATED 03/30/10 *BF UPDATED 07/07/10.*JB - Dec 13, 2009 · 13 milesPower train
2003 TOYOTA ECHO WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION SHUTS OFF WHEN SLOWING OR STOPPING, ESPECIALLY ON DOWNGRADES WHEN CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. I HAVE LEARNED TO LESSEN THESE OCCURRENCES BY NOT PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH UNTIL THE CAR IS ALMOST STOPPED, BY NEVER COASTING WITH THE CLUTCH IN, AND BY MAKING TURNS WITH THE CAR IN GEAR. BECAUSE IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN, IT NEVER HAS HAPPENED FOR THE DEALER OR OTHER MECHANICS, SO THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIX IT. OR THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2005. THE DATE I AM USING FOR THE INCIDENT IS THE MOST RECENT TIME IT HAPPENED. *TR - Feb 28, 2003 · 8 milesPower train › Driveline
FROM THE DATE OF PURCHASE OF THIS VEHICLE I HEAR A HIGH PITCHED WHINE COMING FROM THE CAR. FROM DOING RESEARCH ON FORUM SITES DEDICATED TO THE ECHO IT SEEMS TO BE COMMON ON ALL CARS. THE WHINE IS LOUDEST ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN 45 - 65 MPH. I CONTACTED TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND I WAS TOLD TO REMOVE MY STOCK HUB CAPS / THIS DOES NOT WORK. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT LOOK INTO THE ISSUE DUE TO THE CAR BEING DISCONTINUED. *JB - Apr 1, 2005 · 13,000 milesEngine and engine cooling
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE COMMONLY SHUTS OFF WHILE BRAKING OR DECELERATING TO 20 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO A SERVICE DEALER TWICE BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. - May 15, 2006 · crash · 1 injuryPower train › Automatic transmission
I OWN A 2004 ECHO. THERE ARE 3 MAIN PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE. ONE; THE TRANSMISSION HESITATES WHEN ITS SWITCHING GEARS. THIS IS AN AUTOMATIC. TWO; I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON DECEMBER 2, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THREE; A LOT OF TIMES WHEN I TRY TO START THE CAR, IT STALLS. *NM - Sep 7, 2005 · 29,000 miles · crash · 1 injuryAir bags › Frontal
THIS INVOLVES MY UNCLE THOMAS BARRETT'S TOYOTA ECHO. THE VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT TENSION. THE PASSENGER OCCUPANT WAS INJURED. *JB
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.