IllustrationI 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
2003 Toyota Echo
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →17Owner complaints
Model-year median: 26
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
2003 Toyota Echo
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 17 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Air Bags: 5 reports
- Power Train: 4 reports
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 3 reports
- Electrical System: 2 reports
- Vehicle Speed Control: 2 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Echo years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 9 of 17 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
5 reportsTHIS 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. *JB
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
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
THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER MOTORIST, AND NONE OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *JB
Recall campaigns
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.