2003 Toyota ECHO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
14,958 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 9 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 17 complaints (17.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 5 | 29.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 11.8% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 11.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 11.8% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 5.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 2 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
Air Bags: 3; Air Bags:Frontal: 2; Electrical System: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Power Train: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 8 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
2003: 2; 2004: 4; 2005: 4; 2006: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2014: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10015521 · 2004-06-08 (June 8, 2004)
WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *NLM THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEMS MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. *JB *NM WHILE EXITING THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *NLM THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEMS MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. *JB *NM THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015521 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10065760 · 2004-04-08 (April 8, 2004)
I OWNED MY NEW 2003 TOYOTA ECHO LESS THAN A WEEK WHEN IT STARTED STALLING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN DECELERATING--SOMETIMES WHEN SLOWING THROUGH A TOLL BOOTH, OR SLOWING THROUGH A TURN, OR EXITING A HIGHWAY, OR MERGING WITH TRAFFIC, OR COMING TO A STOP. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP I PURCHASED IT FROM ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP REPLICATED THE PROBLEM ONCE AND TRIED TO FIND A SOLUTION (BRINGING IN REGIONAL TOYOTA EXPERTS, AND EVEN KEEPING MY CAR ONCE FOR EIGHT DAYS), BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NEVER BEEN FIXED. ONCE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10065760 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10157550 · 2006-05-15 (May 15, 2006)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10157550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10297234 · 2009-12-28 (December 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 D…
Owner-reported narrative. 13 miles reported. Look up ODI 10297234 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170791 · 2006-10-13 (October 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.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10170791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11114791 · 2018-07-31 (July 31, 2018)
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 [phone removed] (LOCATED AT 907 N FREDERICK AVE, GAITHERSBURG, MD 20879), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11114791 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10082169 · 2004-07-15 (July 15, 2004)
2003 TOYOTA ECHO HAS PROBLEMS STALLING.*MR THE DEALER HAS TRIED NUMEROUS TIMES TO VEHICLE THE VEHICLE, BUT HAS BEEN UNSUCCESSFUL, BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND DIFFICULT TO DUPLICATE. THE CONSUMER DID STATE THAT ONE TIME IN MAY THE DEALER EXPERIENCE THE VEHICLE STALLING, BUT STILL COULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS, BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUED. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE PROBLEM MAY HAVE BEEN ELECTRICAL. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10082169 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10112447 · 2005-03-03 (March 3, 2005)
PURCHASE A TOYOTA ECHO FROM MAROONE DODGE. WINDOW STICK SAID CAR HAD POWER STEERING. EQUIPMENT MISSING FROM CAR.DEALERSHIP WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE. FURTHER MORE CARS WITH RACK AND PINION WITHOUT POWER STEERING ARE A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. ATTORNEY GENERAL WORKING ON CASE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10112447 at NHTSA ↗