2003 Toyota Echo problems

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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 (301) 921-0300 (LOCATED AT 907 N FREDERICK AVE, GAITHERSBURG, MD 20879), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED CALLED FITZGERALD TOYOTA BACK AFTER THEY CALLED. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN, BUT TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC WOULD BE $180/HR. HE SAID THEY COULD LOOK AT IT. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR ENTIRE TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD AND NO PROBLEMS, I WAS NOT GOING TO PAY $180/HR TO HAVE THAT DONE, WHEN REPOTS FROMECHP BURNERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA WON'T FIX. UPDATED 10/16/18

NHTSA complaint #11114791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SERVICE BRAKES

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 (301) 921-0300 (LOCATED AT 907 N FREDERICK AVE, GAITHERSBURG, MD 20879), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED CALLED FITZGERALD TOYOTA BACK AFTER THEY CALLED. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN, BUT TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC WOULD BE $180/HR. HE SAID THEY COULD LOOK AT IT. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR ENTIRE TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD AND NO PROBLEMS, I WAS NOT GOING TO PAY $180/HR TO HAVE THAT DONE, WHEN REPOTS FROMECHP BURNERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA WON'T FIX. UPDATED 10/16/18

NHTSA complaint #11114791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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. (SERVICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE) THE PROBLEM PERSISTED THROUGHOUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR SO WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO BE INSPECTED ON JUNE 29, 2006, I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO HAVE A TECHNICIAN USE THE CAR TO COMMUTE TO WORK UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AND FIXED. ON JULY 19, 2006, THE DEALER CALLED AND ASKED ME TO PICK UP THE CAR. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN 787 MILES, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. I REFUSED BECAUSE THE DEFECT HAD NOT BEEN FIXED AND THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION WITH ANOTHER MANAGER, THEY AGREED NOT TO CHARGE ME, BUT TOLD ME THAT IF I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AGAIN FOR THIS PROBLEM I WOULD BE CHARGED. (SERVICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE) THE PROBLEM PERSISTS TO THIS DAY. I DRIVE THE CAR ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY AND COMPENSATE FOR THE PROBLEM BY DOWNSHIFTING WHEN COASTING OR COMING TO A STOP TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING. RECENTLY, THE ENGINE QUIT WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING NEARLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10574167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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. (SERVICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE) THE PROBLEM PERSISTED THROUGHOUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR SO WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO BE INSPECTED ON JUNE 29, 2006, I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO HAVE A TECHNICIAN USE THE CAR TO COMMUTE TO WORK UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AND FIXED. ON JULY 19, 2006, THE DEALER CALLED AND ASKED ME TO PICK UP THE CAR. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN 787 MILES, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. I REFUSED BECAUSE THE DEFECT HAD NOT BEEN FIXED AND THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION WITH ANOTHER MANAGER, THEY AGREED NOT TO CHARGE ME, BUT TOLD ME THAT IF I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AGAIN FOR THIS PROBLEM I WOULD BE CHARGED. (SERVICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE) THE PROBLEM PERSISTS TO THIS DAY. I DRIVE THE CAR ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY AND COMPENSATE FOR THE PROBLEM BY DOWNSHIFTING WHEN COASTING OR COMING TO A STOP TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING. RECENTLY, THE ENGINE QUIT WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING NEARLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10574167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

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. (SERVICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE) THE PROBLEM PERSISTED THROUGHOUT THE FOLLOWING YEAR SO WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO BE INSPECTED ON JUNE 29, 2006, I ASKED THE SERVICE MANAGER TO HAVE A TECHNICIAN USE THE CAR TO COMMUTE TO WORK UNTIL THE PROBLEM WAS DIAGNOSED AND FIXED. ON JULY 19, 2006, THE DEALER CALLED AND ASKED ME TO PICK UP THE CAR. THE CAR HAD BEEN DRIVEN 787 MILES, BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP THE CAR THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO PAY FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC. I REFUSED BECAUSE THE DEFECT HAD NOT BEEN FIXED AND THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. AFTER SOME DISCUSSION WITH ANOTHER MANAGER, THEY AGREED NOT TO CHARGE ME, BUT TOLD ME THAT IF I BROUGHT THE CAR IN AGAIN FOR THIS PROBLEM I WOULD BE CHARGED. (SERVICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE) THE PROBLEM PERSISTS TO THIS DAY. I DRIVE THE CAR ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY AND COMPENSATE FOR THE PROBLEM BY DOWNSHIFTING WHEN COASTING OR COMING TO A STOP TO KEEP THE ENGINE RUNNING. RECENTLY, THE ENGINE QUIT WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING NEARLY RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10574167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10297234 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10174137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10170791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

INTERIOR LIGHTING

DT: CALLER SAID THE DASH BOARD LIGHT IS NOT BRIGHT ENOUGH. CALLER CAN NOT SEE GAS GAUGE AND OTHER GAUGES DURING THE DAY TIME. DEALER SAID THE LIGHTS ARE NORMAL AND THEY SAID THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED YET BECAUSE HE CANT GET THROUGH ON THE PHONE NUMBER HE HAS. NO AIR CONDITIONING FILTER IN THE VEHICLE WHEN IT WAS PURCHASED.

NHTSA complaint #10133354 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

AIR BAGS

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.

NHTSA complaint #10117514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10117514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

STEERING

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.

NHTSA complaint #10112447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

NHTSA complaint #10082169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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 I WENT SIX WEEKS WITHOUT A STALL, BUT IT CAN ALSO STALL MULTIPLE TIMES IN ONE DAY--AT TIMES AND IN WAYS THAT ARE LIFE THREATENING. WHEN TOYOTA TOOK ADVANTAGE OF ITS FINAL OPPORTUNITY TO REPAIR (BEFORE I PURSUE REMEDY THROUGH MAINE'S LEMON LAW), I WAS TOLD THEY FOUND NOTHING WRONG, NOTHING TO FIX.

NHTSA complaint #10065760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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. THEY WERE NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE TSB. NOWHERE IN THE SERVICE MANUAL IS THERE NOTICE OF THIS OIL BAFFLE WARNING,OR ANY KIND OF WARNING ON THE OIL FILL CAP OR ON THE VALVE COVER. IN FACT AS FAR AS I CAN SEE THERE WERE NO MEASURES TAKEN OTHER THAN THE TSB WHICH WAS NOT PRESENTED TO US UPON PURCHASING THE VEHICLE ALMOST 1 YEAR AFTER THE TSB WAS ISSUED THE DEALERSHIP FRONTIER TOYOTA WILL NOT HONOR THE FACTORY WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THE VALVE COVER IS COVERED UNDER THEIR WARRANTY MANUAL.

NHTSA complaint #10041347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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 TO FIXED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AGAIN AFTER A RECENT ATTEMPT TO REPAIR. (THE CONSUMER REQUESTED ODI TO PLEASE REFERNCE TO ODI#10065760 WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.) *SC

NHTSA complaint #10015521 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.