2003 Toyota ECHO: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10015225 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER MOTORIST, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10015225 at NHTSA ↗
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 10041347 · 2003-10-06 (October 6, 2003)
RE: VALVE COVER OIL BAFFLE WE RECENTLY PURCHASED A NEW TOYOTA ECHO ON 3-23 03. ON 9-14-03 WE EXPERIENCED ENGINE TROUBLE. LEAVING US STRANDED ON A DESOLATE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO FRONTIER TOYOTA IN SANTA CLARITA. UPON THEIR INSPECTION THEY STATED THAT WHO EVER LAST CHANGED THE OIL HAD BENT THE OIL BAFFLE CAUSING IT TO LODGE INTO THE TIMING CHAIN. REVIEWING OUR RECORDS OUR LAST OIL CHANGE WAS ONE MONTH EARLIER AND 2,200 MILES EARLIER. RESEARCHING FURTHER THERE IS A TSB DATED ON 3-02-02 UNDER THE HEADING EGOO7-02 VALVE CO…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,958 miles reported. Look up ODI 10041347 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063559 · 2004-03-19 (March 19, 2004)
CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH HER HUSBAND WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DRIVER WAS SLIGHTLY INJURED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063559 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 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 ↗
Owner report 10117514 · 2005-03-28 (March 28, 2005)
2003 TOYOTA ECHO WINDOW SIGN STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD POWER EQUIPMENT, THIS TURNED OUT TO BE FALSE.*MR *JB THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF HIS VEHICLE IS ON THE AIR BAG RECALL LIST. UPDATED 06/03/15. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10117514 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.