Most common 2003 Toyota Echo problems
Share of the 17 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Echo complaints by model year
Best Echo years: 2005, 2003. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001. Compare all years →
What 2003 Toyota Echo owners say
Air bags
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.
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.
Engine & cooling
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 cover oil baffle -damage prevention. In their oil filling procedure they state "please take measures to ensure that the baffle is not damaged during the oil fill process" I have records of all the oil changes 3 total, the vehicle. Only has 14,958. I have spoke with the oil change service men they have investigated the vehicle. …
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 time, the car had 28,606 miles on it and was still under factory warranty. The technician could not duplicate the problem. …
Transmission & drivetrain
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.
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.
2003 Toyota Echo engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 30 / 38 / 33 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 28 / 36 / 31 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Toyota Echo a good car?
Based on 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2003 Echo rates better than average: 53% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Echo at the same age. It is one of the best Echo years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Toyota Echo?
The air bags — 5 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the engine & cooling (4) and transmission & drivetrain (4).
How many recalls does the 2003 Toyota Echo have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 Toyota Echo. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Echo?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000 and 2001. See the full Toyota Echo years comparison.
At what mileage do 2003 Toyota Echo problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 15,000 miles; 78% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.