2000 Toyota Echo Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2000 Toyota Echo most often describe brake concerns — reduced stopping ability, noise, and loss of brake assist — plus airbags that did not deploy in frontal collisions. A smaller but recurring group describes unintended engine revving or lurching, and some report transmission or speedometer trouble. Complaints arrive across a wide mileage range, from near-new cars to well past 200,000 miles.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Brakes feel weak or fail to stop the car

   • 20 complaints (23%)
   • median 86,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • 10 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2018

   Complaints describe excessive stopping distance, a brake pedal that feels normal while the car keeps rolling, and in some cases noise such as screeching or a clanking sound. Several owners say the car rear-ended another vehicle after the brakes did not respond. Owners frequently mention recall notices for the brake master cylinder and brake booster, and some report dealers could not perform the repair because parts were unavailable, or could not reproduce the problem. Reported from a few thousand miles up to over 200,000 miles, with many around 45,000-110,000 miles; some describe the problem in rain or snow.

   Recall 04V455000Recall 01V3260003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the brake master cylinder and brake booster recall work was completed and get documentation. Have a mechanic check pedal feel, pad and rotor condition, and brake fluid before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This is not related to a specific incident, but I feel I should register a complaint about the brakes on the 2000 Toyota ECHO. The stopping distance required seems excessive to me, and I feel that it would be nearly impossible to ever cause the car to skid (lock up the wheels) using the breaks if you slammed them on in an emergency despite the car not having anti-lock breaks. All recalls have been done on my car as far as I know. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10318836, filed 2010-03, 120,000 miles

   “2 accidents due to brakes not working. Stepping on brakes, pumping brakes and the vehicle continues to accelerate. 1 accident occurred during a blizzard and the second one occurred in the rain. I believe there is a defect in the master cylinder.”

   NHTSA complaint #10023667, filed 2003-06, 45,250 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbags did not deploy in a collision

   • 18 complaints (20%)
   • median 96,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 18 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2018

   Owners describe frontal and side impacts at speeds from roughly 25 to 55 mph where the airbags did not inflate, sometimes with occupants striking the steering wheel. In a few accounts the driver airbag deployed late, after the occupant had already hit the wheel, and one owner described an airbag deploying and striking the driver in the face. Dealers were generally not able to explain the non-deployment. Reported in collisions across all mileages; owners frequently mention the car was well used, but several cases involve low-mileage vehicles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any open Takata-related airbag recall applies to this vehicle and confirm it was completed. Check that the airbag warning light comes on with the key and then goes out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was involved in a frontal crash yesterday (october 12,2006). The reason for my complaint was that the crash was pretty bad, the whole front of my car was totaled and the air bags did not deploy. I had my seat belt, but the impact made me hit the steering wheel. The police even asked if I had airbags, once they checked that it did, they were amazed they didn't deploy.”

   NHTSA complaint #10170719, filed 2006-10, 115,000 miles

   “Another vehicle ran a stop sign, and my mother in law was unable to brake fast enough and collided head on. The car had quite a lot of damage, and had to be towed away (for safety reasons). However, the airbag failed to deploy!!!! The collision was enough to incapacitate the radiator and it was head-on (not side or anything like that). Given the circumstances, I would expect the airbag to deploy, and the police were amazed that it didn't. She was wearing a seatbelt, which saved her from the worst. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10458298, filed 2012-05, 92,000 miles
3. 3
   Vehicle speed control

   Engine revs or accelerates unexpectedly

   • 15 complaints (17%)
   • median 95,315 mi at 9.7 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2018

   Complaints describe the engine surging or revving without the accelerator being pressed, sometimes while braking, reversing, or shifting between gears, and occasionally with the car lurching or hard to stop. Owners report the accelerator pedal sticking in a few cases. Several say dealers could not find or reproduce the problem, and the car was not part of later unintended-acceleration recalls. Reported from very low mileage up to about 263,000 miles; several cases occur at highway speed or when cold.

   What to check: Test the throttle response at low speed and in reverse, and check that the pedal moves freely with no binding or squeak. Ask whether any throttle-related repairs or diagnostics were done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As I began to accellerate onto highway the gas pedal stuck, I did not panic, place the car in neutral, and pull up on the gas pedal which released the gas pedal, brought the 2000 ECHO into the Toyota service center from 2002 through 2008 only to here Toyota say there is nothing wrong or they could not find anything, the problem is there with all models and years”

   NHTSA complaint #10307391, filed 2010-02, 18,000 miles

   “The vehicle displayed problems twice in a 24-hour period as follows:thursday, december 8th, 2011: while attempting to leave a parking lot in reverse (without my foot on the accelerator), the car engine surged as if the accelerator were pressed down to the floor. I immediately pressed hard on the brakes to prevent the car from moving backward uncontrollably at a high speed. I then put the car in park and the engine was still running hard, but it quieted a little. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10439252, filed 2011-12, 74,000 miles
4. 4
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shifting and gear-holding problems

   • 9 complaints (10%)
   • median 84,631 mi at 7.2 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2000–2010

   Owners describe the car not holding gear in heavy rain, needing a transmission replacement at moderate mileage, and poor running or shaking at low speeds that a dealer linked to the transmission. One owner reported the car rolling on a slight incline with a manual transmission. Dealers often said they found nothing wrong. Mostly reported between roughly 60,000 and 90,000 miles, with some cases described in wet weather.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Test-drive through several upshifts and downshifts when cold and warm, and check for delayed or harsh engagement. Ask for transmission service records and whether the fluid was changed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I am the original owner of this vehicle. I have Toyota ECHO 2000. Recently when going to the mechanic I was informed the car needs a new transmission. How? After purchasing this vehicle can it need a new transmission with only 81000 miles. Back in mar 2002 the shift and brakes in the car was giving myself problems when the mechanic saw it they felt nothing was wrong. On my own expense I put new brakes and tires to be certain.”

   NHTSA complaint #10106317, filed 2005-01

   “Today I write to you with the same complaint reported by jb on march 9, 2002. Last year I was told the very same thing by a Toyota service mechanic when my check engine light was evaluated. I have a mechanic in my family who analyzed the engine, sent it to a transmission specialist, and found the transmission to be in good working order. However, when I have to renew my inspection sticker, they informed me it will automatically fail due to the check engine light. This is outrageous! …”

   NHTSA complaint #10151845, filed 2006-03
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Speedometer reads wrong when cold

   • 16 complaints (18%)
   • median 95,315 mi at 7.1 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2018

   Complaints describe the speedometer fluctuating or reading 35-45 mph higher than actual speed while driving at low speeds when the vehicle is cold, along with shaking and poor running. One owner says the dealer could not duplicate the problem and did nothing. Reported around 84,000 miles, with the symptom appearing when the vehicle is cold.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: On a cold start, compare the speedometer against a GPS reading at low speed. Check for other electrical oddities such as warning lights or a burning smell.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Speedometer continuously fluctuates when driving between speeds of 0 - 60 MPH when vehicle is cold. Speedometer would read 35 - 45 MPH higher than actual speed and would drop lower. Vehicle also drives poorly and shakes during lower speeds. Vehicle was promptly taken to dealership for repairs at which time the dealership notated that they were unable to duplicate the problem so they said there was nothing they could do about the speedometer problem. Continued driving vehicle as it did not seem to effect driving. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10227511, filed 2008-05, 84,631 miles

   “My wife was driving her car home from work at approximately 1800 when she noticed a burning plastic smell in her car. She had stopped off at a local store and didn't think anything about the smell. She came out of the store and started driving home a few minutes later still noticing the smell. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10145428, filed 2005-12

Buying note. This model year draws repeated brake and airbag complaints, so confirm the outstanding recalls were actually completed rather than just mailed. A pre-purchase inspection focused on brake function and a cold-start test drive will show more than service records alone.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.