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Toyota EchoModel year report

2003 Toyota Echo Problems

Complaints
17filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
14,958miles, 9 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
33 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl FWD · 30 city / 38 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Toyota Echo (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2003 Toyota Echo. The part named most often is air bags, with 5 complaints (29% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain (4) and engine cooling (3). 9 of the complaints include a mileage, and 78% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 14,958 miles. Of all complaints, 5 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 79 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 6 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Transmission and drivetrain complaints overlap with 6 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Seat belts (1), Steering (1).

Example complaints

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.”

NHTSA complaint #10136828, filed 2005-09, 29,000 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10574167, filed 2014-03, 25,834 miles

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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10041347, filed 2003-10, 14,958 miles

Electrical system: “2003 Toyota ECHO has problems stalling. 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.”

NHTSA complaint #10082169, filed 2004-07

Mileage when problems were reported

78% of the 9 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 2,000 and 29,000 miles.

33%0–1022%10–2522%25–5011%50–7511%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (9 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 14,958 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

2003200442005420062009201020142018
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2003 Toyota Echo. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Echo · sedan not rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2003 Toyota Echo version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Echo FWD1.5L 4-cyl5-speed manual303833$2,050
Echo FWD1.5L 4-cyl4-speed automatic283631$2,150

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 2003 Toyota Echo in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 79 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 79 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Echo

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
2005510,0000—33—Not enough data
20031714,9580—33—Stable
20023572,3002—32Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20015067,0002—32Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20008883,2663—32Not compared (before 2008)Falling

All Toyota Echo model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2003 Toyota Echo have?

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2003 Toyota Echo as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 Toyota Echo is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 5 complaints (29% of the total), followed by transmission and drivetrain with 4.

Has the 2003 Toyota Echo been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2003 Toyota Echo get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Toyota Echo (Echo, 1.5L 4-cyl) at 33 mpg combined, 30 city and 38 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,050 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Toyota Echo reported?

Among the 9 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 14,958 miles and the middle half falls between 2,000 and 29,000 miles; 78% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.