Model year record
2005 Toyota Echo recalls & problems
The 2005 Toyota Echo has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 5 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is air bags (3 complaints).

Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 2005 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
2005 Toyota Echo 4-DR.
| 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
| 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
| 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 | 3 | 10,000 mi |
| SuspensionFront › Shock absorber | 2 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc | 2 | — |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 1 | — |
| Latches/locks/linkagesDoors › Latch | 1 | — |
| Power trainAutomatic transmission | 1 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine | 1 | — |
| Structure | 1 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- Air bagsCrash1 injury
TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH WHERE THE VEHICLE WENT AIRBORNE AND FLIPPED OVER TWICE. IN ADDITION, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A MINOR CONTUSION AND INJURIES TO THE CHEST BONE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
- Vehicle speed controlCrash
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN HE TRIED TO SLOW DOWN AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. A CRASH OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75000.
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNAL, THE BRAKES MADE THE VEHICLE PULL VIOLENT TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE DISC WHERE BENT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN AND THE DEALERSHIP O MACHINED THEM TO EVEN THE SURFACES. FIVE MONTHS LATER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND THE DEALERSHIP MACHINED THE DISCS AGAIN. AFTER THE FORTH FAILURE OF THE BRAKES, THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO A LOCAL CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY RELATING TO THE LEMON LAW, BUT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THEY PROVIDED A REFERRAL TO THE OFFICE IN PUERTO RICO. THE…
- Suspension › Front › Shock absorberCrash1 injury
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA ECHO. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON JULY 14, 2004. THE CONSUMER FELT VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END, THE SHOCK ABSORBERS LEAKED AND THE DOOR LATCHES WERE BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FIXED THE LEAKING SHOCK ABSORBERS AND BROKEN DOOR LATCHES . THE WINDOW STICKER STATED THAT IT WOULD GET 39 MILES PER GALLON OF GAS WHEN IT ONLY GOT 24 TO 27 MILES PER GALLON OF GAS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY IN OVERDRIVE. A WEEK AGO THE VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, LEFT SHOULDER AND A RIGHT KNEE INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN.…
- Fuel system, gasoline1 injury
YOU DO NOT INCLUDE THE 2005 TOYOTA ECHO CAR IN ANY OF YOUR LISTS AND I OWN ONE. THE CAR WAS MADE IN JAPAN BUT SOLD IN THE U.S. TO US SPECS. I BOUGHT ONE IN 2005 AND IT SMELLS AWFUL LIKE RAW GASOLINE INSIDE (NO ONE CAN FIGURE IT OUT). PLEASE INCLUDE THE 2005 TOYOTA ECHO (AND PRIOR YEARS, TOO). *NM
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.