Echo rattles and noises makin' me nuts!

[vibecho]

I have a 2005 Echo sedan which I am thinking of trading in on a new Yaris sedan . The main reason to trade the Echo is that the interior rattles and squeaks are driving me NUTS! I have given up on the dealer trying to fix these noises.
There is a clunk on left turns from under the driver's seat, the door panels buzz, the folding rear seats rattle and the dash has a vibration when going over rough roads. The dealer says that my car is quiet and that my expectations are too high for an entry level car. Admittedly it's a quieter car than the previous GM products I have owned even the luxury models which fell apart the fastest. I thought my expectations were too high then I had a ride in my co-worker's 2006 Corolla which has more anoying rattles and buzzes than my Echo. He tells me that his son's 1996 Corolla is far quieter and better assembled than the 2006.
I own a 2006 Vibe built in the Nummi plant and it is solid and quiet but hten again so was the Echo when I first got it 2 years ago. Any ideas what to do??

[ECHOKnight2000]

Originally Posted by vibecho

I have a 2005 Echo sedan which I am thinking of trading in on a new Yaris sedan . The main reason to trade the Echo is that the interior rattles and squeaks are driving me NUTS! I have given up on the dealer trying to fix these noises.
There is a clunk on left turns from under the driver's seat, the door panels buzz, the folding rear seats rattle and the dash has a vibration when going over rough roads. The dealer says that my car is quiet and that my expectations are too high for an entry level car. Admittedly it's a quieter car than the previous GM products I have owned even the luxury models which fell apart the fastest. I thought my expectations were too high then I had a ride in my co-worker's 2006 Corolla which has more anoying rattles and buzzes than my Echo. He tells me that his son's 1996 Corolla is far quieter and better assembled than the 2006.
I own a 2006 Vibe built in the Nummi plant and it is solid and quiet but hten again so was the Echo when I first got it 2 years ago. Any ideas what to do??

So the rattles and squeaks really loud? What kind of roads are you driving? Off road? But seriously I have an 03 which was a carry over to 05, anyway the only noise I hear (if the music isn't playing) is tire and road noise, but I've come to except that cause its an economy car, I guess I could spend $$$ to alter that or get different tires but not anytime soon. Either your really sensitive or the worst you might have a lemon? So the dealer couldn't find anything? humm, I'm just as stumped as you are. Have you been in any accidents with it minor or major? Well good luck and hopefully you figure it out...I know the Yaris sedan is a step up, have you test drove one? It might be hard cause its a hot item now but I'm sure some dealer might have a demo and you can test drive the Yaris sedan and let us know what you think? Like you said these are econo cars so don't expect too much. I test drove the Yaris sedan and I found it quite nice...certainly better built and quality than my ECHO but I still love my baby. Sick I know Keep us posted.!

[bgrieger]

Very little noise here...there is an annoying buzz in the door panel and the dash speaker cover when the stereo is on and anything resembling bass plays, but outside of that there is little to speak of...

It is an econobox though, and some fit and finish issues over time are somewhat expected...If I wanted great interiors I'd have bought a Lexus...

[Skuz]

Well, your car is still on the basic Toyota warranty, if your dealer can't fix it, maybe another could ?

[vibecho]

I have thrown in the towel with the 2 dealers in my area. One tells me it's not warranty work and the other returned the car to me with grease on the back seat and carpet with nothing fixed. I find the dealer experience less than satisfactory. You should have seen the condition of the Echo when delivered. Nothing had been done to clean it up since the test drive a week before and their rustproofing guys had forgotten to put back the body plugs. I should have asked for another car then and there. Bryan W.

[chester08]

Yep you should just ask for another car instead. The Yaris sedan is quite better especially in terms of smoothness of ride quality. Good luck!

[05_Echo]

Originally Posted by chester08

Yep you should just ask for another car instead. The Yaris sedan is quite better especially in terms of smoothness of ride quality. Good luck!

I just don't understand this, I have drivin the Yaris 5 door and the sedan and I couldn't tell the difference between those and the wifes Echo. They all feel the same with the exception that the Echo rides a little higher in the seat which makes it easier for my wife to get in and out of (she has four bulged disc's in her lower back), but power, ride and handling feel the same to me. Mind you I only drove the Yaris's a few times and I didn't like how low you feel in the Yaris sedan compared to the wifes Echo or even my Corolla.


But as for Rattles the wife has put on 65,000 kms in Ten months and she has never had a interior noise at all..

[fullvision]

I rented an echo for a month a few years ago and the interior was rattling all over the place...

IMHO there is no comparison between an echo and a Yaris sedan...the Yaris is a much better car when it comes to fit and finish, noise barrier etc...it actually has an interior. Road and engine noise was terrible in the echo, and the rattling/buzzing of the interior drove me nuts...I am amazed they could produce the Yaris at roughly the same price as the echo....if the Echo is worth 17K CDN the Yaris would still be a bargain at 22K.

[ECHOKnight2000]

I have an ECHO as well and I love it to death! Sick I know!

Anyway awhile ago I got a chance to test drive the Yaris sedan and I personally felt it was better than my ECHO as far as interior and quality...as far as road noise, I know its there (ECHO), do I hear it? Not with my music blasting I personally don't recall rattles with the ECHO but I guess that's subjective to what you or I consider a "rattle" or too much there of.
We can get into a debate on which one is "better" until we're blue but that's a different thread and plus as mentioned before there is no real comparison besides the Yaris is the "improvement" of the ECHO, I think they're both great cars and each has its merits and downsides, lets leave it at that!

[Blueberry]

My 2001 echo sedan rattled like crazy and had alot of road noise. I've never driven the hatchback so i cant compare. But my yaris 5dr thus far has been like night and day compared to the echo. Mind you it is still new so the rattles in yaris could still appear over time. The rattle that drove me bananas in the echo was the windows when not rolled down fully. But i think there might have been something fishy with that car from the start.

Im guessing the yahis sedan you sit lower in as i have not really noticed a difference in seating position in my hatchback.

[alltracman78]

Originally Posted by vibecho

I have thrown in the towel with the 2 dealers in my area. One tells me it's not warranty work and the other returned the car to me with grease on the back seat and carpet with nothing fixed. I find the dealer experience less than satisfactory. You should have seen the condition of the Echo when delivered. Nothing had been done to clean it up since the test drive a week before and their rustproofing guys had forgotten to put back the body plugs. I should have asked for another car then and there. Bryan W.

What was the problem?
Other than brakes/fluids/filters as long as you're under 3/36 it's still under warrenty.... *As long as it's a manufacturers defect... If you bend a suspension arm, it's not a manufacturers defect....*
If they screw something up, bring it back. If they screw it up again, bring it back again.
You could always contact Toyota USA also...
They take this stuff VERY seriously.