There are no safety recalls for the 2003 Toyota Echo, but owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA.
2003 Toyota Echo problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|
| Air Bags | 5 | |
| Power Train | 4 | |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | |
| Electrical System | 2 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | |
| Steering | 1 | |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | |
| Seat Belts | 1 | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | |
| Engine | 1 | |
| Service Brakes | 1 | |
Most reported parts
- Air Bags › Frontal — 2
- Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 2
- Seat Belts › Front — 1
- Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 1
- Power Train › Driveline — 1
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 14,958 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2003 Toyota Echo complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Fuel System, Gasoline · at 25,834 miles · reported Mar 22, 2014
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…
Vehicle Speed Control · at 63,536 miles · reported Feb 22, 2010
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…
Power Train · at 13 miles · reported Dec 28, 2009
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…
Power Train · at 8 miles · reported Nov 23, 2006
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.
Engine and Engine Cooling · at 13,000 miles · reported Oct 13, 2006
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.
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2003 Toyota Echo have any recalls?
No. NHTSA has no safety recalls for the 2003 Toyota Echo as of this update. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the latest status.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Toyota Echo?
Owners report air bags problems most often (5 reports), followed by power train (4). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 14,958 miles.
Are Toyota recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Toyota dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.