2002 Toyota Echo

Routine

Owners filed 35 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the vehicle speed control. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags6
405
Vehicle Speed Control5
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
101
Wheels2
201
Steering2
201
Power Train2
101
Engine and Engine Cooling2
000
Electrical System2
000
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear1
000
Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Engine and Engine Cooling06V266000
Filed Jul 19, 200634,771 vehiclesToyota Motor North America, Inc.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, DUE TO IMPROPER MOLDING OF THE RESIN BODY OF THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENOR INSTALLED ON THE ENGINE BLOCK, ENGINE OIL MAY PENETRATE THE SEAL AND ENTER THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR. THE WIRE HARNESS CONNECTOR MAY NOT BE SUFFICIENTLY ATTACHED TO THE LOCKING TAB OF THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR.

Risk. ENGINE OIL INSIDE THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE EXPANSION DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE AND COULD DEFORM THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR. THE CONNECTOR MAY BECOME DISCONNECTED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AND NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 26, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings02V268000
Filed Oct 1, 200259,394 vehiclesToyota Motor North America, Inc.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, IF THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN UNDER REPEATED START AND STOP OPERATION IN LOW AMBIENT TEMPERATURES AND IN DEEP SNOW, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT SNOW COULD ACCUMULATE IN LARGE QUANTITIES INSIDE THE REAR WHEEL AND FREEZE. THE SNOW FROZEN INSIDE THE WHEEL COULD CONTACT THE REAR BRAKE LINE DURING WHEEL ROTATION.

Risk. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS FREQUENTLY, THE REAR BRAKE LINE COULD BE DAMAGED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF BRAKE FLUID, CAUSING A DECREASE IN BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR BRAKE LINES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 9, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Apr 25, 2018TX

AIR BAG FRONT PASSENGER LOOKS THAT IS NOT WORKING, ALARM IN RED SHOWS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG

Air Bags
Filed Aug 9, 2017PA

TAKATA RECALL.NOTHING HAS HAPPENED SO FAR. I WANT TO KNOW IF THIS IS ONE OF THE MODELS OF CARS AFFECTED BY THE TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL? PLEASE LET ME KNOW,SO I CAN GET IT REPAIRED, IF NECESSARY. THANK YOU!

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Jan 4, 201666,292 milesCA

OUR TOYOTA EXCELS TO TOP SPEED ON ITS OWN FULL SPEED. THIS ALMOST HAD US IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BUT THIS HAPPENED TWICE LAST WEEK 12/30/15 TOYOTA GAVE US A CASE # NI50883640 HOWEVER, THEY HAVE NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT, WHAT CAN WE DO?

Engine
Filed Nov 9, 2015NJ

2002 TOYOTA ECHO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO GASOLINE BURNING TOO MUCH IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *SMD CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. *SMD *JS

Unknown or OtherCrashFire1 injured
Filed Jan 2, 2015150,000 milesGA

ANOTHER VEHICLE TRAVELING NORTH, CROSSED CENTER LINE AND HIT DAUGHTER IN 2002 TOYOTA ECHO HEAD ON. AS A RESULT OF IMPACT TOYOTA ECHO CAUGHT ON FIRE RESULTING IN DAUGHTER RECEIVING 3RD DEGREE BURNS ON RIGHT ARM, HEAD AND LEG. THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AS NOTED BY -STANDER THAT REMOVED DAUGHTER FROM VEHICLE AND HELPED EXTINGUISH FLAMES ON DAUGHTER. DAUGHTER WAS UNCONSCIOUS AFTER IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY CONSUMED BY FIRE AND DAUGHTER AIRLIFTED TO BURN CENTER FOR TREATMENT.

Power TrainCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 4, 2014151,000 milesCA

I SHIFTED INTO REVERSE TO BACK OUT OF A DRIVEWAY WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. IT CROSSED THE STREET AND RAN OVER A BRICK PLANTER BOX, KNOCKED DOWN A CRAPE MYRTLE TREE AND FINALLY HIT THE NEIGHBOR'S SUV. I APPLIED THE BRAKES TO NO AVAIL AND HAD NO TIME TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL OR TURN OFF THE IGNITION. AFTER THE ACCIDENT, I CHECKED THE GAS PEDAL TO SEE IF IT WAS AGAINST THE FLOOR OR IF THE FLOOR MAT WAS INTERFERING WITH IT, BUT FOUND NOTHING WRONG. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND MY BACK WAS INJURED. *TR

Exterior LightingFire
Filed Mar 27, 201470,000 milesHI

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A BURNING ODOR WAS PRESENT INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT SOON DISCOVERED SMOKE COMING FROM THE REAR WINDOW BRAKE LIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR WINDOW BRAKE LIGHT SOCKET AND HOUSING, WHICH WERE MADE OF PLASTIC, HAD BOTH MELTED FROM THE HEAT OF THE LIGHT BULB. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE LIGHT BULB FROM THE SOCKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 06/10/14 MA THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE PARTS AND VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED. *TR

Electrical System
Filed Mar 4, 201274,600 milesMN

LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS WERE ENGAGED USING THE DIMMER SWITCH LOCATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN PER NORMAL OPERATIONS. THE LOW BEAMS SWITCHED TO HIGH BEAMS DISPLAY. UNABLE TO DISENGAGE WITHOUT TOTALLY SWITCHING OFF THE LIGHTS. THE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY AS WELL. THIS EVENT OCCURRED WHEN THE TEMPERATURES WERE AT OR BELOW 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 8 HOURS (IN A PARK AND RIDE LOT). ONCE THE INTERIOR CABIN WARMED UP AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO "JIGGLE" THE LIGHTS BACK TO LOW BEAMS.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 23, 201298,000 milesCO

STUCK THROTTLE ON JAN 19TH, 2012 WHEN ACCELERATOR PRESSED TO FLOOR. RECOVERED BY PULLING UP WITH FOOT. TRIED TO REPRODUCE THE SAME DAY AND WAS ABLE TO. TOOK TO DEALER (BOULDER TOYOTA) ON JAN 30TH. THEY CLAIMED THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPRODUCE BUT THOUGHT CARPET MIGHT BE INTERFERING WITH FOOT PEDAL AND RECOMMENDED I CHANGE ALL OF CARPET IN CAR AT A COST OF $1200. I ASKED THEM TO JUST TRIM THE CARD AROUND THE PEDAL, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T DO THAT. TRIED TO REPRODUCE AFTER DEALER VISIT AND WAS UNABLE. INSPECTED ON FEB 3RD, AND IT APPEARED LIKE CARPET MIGHT HAVE BEEN PULLED BACK AROUND HOLE IN FLOOR. I PUSHED IT BACK INTO POSITION, AND THEN TRIED TO REPRODUCE THE STUCK THROTTLE AND WAS ABLE. *TR

Power Train
Filed Jan 9, 2011137,242 milesCA

MY 2002 TOYOTA ECHO ON NOV. 16TH 2010 WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES CA. WENT INTO REVERSE WHILE STILL IN DRIVE. THERE WAS TRAFFIC AHEAD OF ME SO I WAS ONLY DRIVING ABOUT 2 MPH WHEN IT WENT INTO REVERSE WHILE THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT WAS STILL IN DRIVE. I WENT TO PUT ON THE BRAKE BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND PUT ON THE HAZARDS. TWO MINUTES WENT BY WHEN I TURNED ON THE CAR AND IT WENT INTO DRIVE. I THEN TOOK IT TO THE KEYES TOYOTA IN VAN NUYS CA, AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE FROM ANY TOYOTA CARS AND THAT IF THEY WERE EVEN TO LOOK IT WOULD BE COMPLETELY AT MY EXPENSE. I SOLD THE CAR FOR PARTS ON 11/18/10. *TR

Suspension › Front › Stabilizer Bar
Filed Jun 17, 2010127,220 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH AND UP, THE TRACTION WOULD FEEL AS IF SHE WAS DRIVING ON ICE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIDE BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE SWAY BAR WAS WORN. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SWAY BAR, A REAR SHOCK THAT WAS LEAKING AND ALL FOUR TIRES. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,220 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,443.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 17, 201085,000 milesOH

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) NHTSA RECALL 06V266000 RECALLED 02 TOYOTA ECHO FOR CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILURES WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLES TO STALL AND NOT RESTART, RISKING A CRASH. TOYOTA ONLY RECALLED VEHICLES UP TO SERIAL NUMBERS ENDING IN 212671. MY 02 ECHO JUST HAD THE EXACT CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. MY VIN NUMBER IS[XXX]. SO I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT BY VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE EXACT FAILURE. THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO HIGHER VEHICLE NUMBERS. *TR

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Apr 7, 201014,000 milesPA

1. APPROACHING A LEFT TURN AT 15 TO 25 MPH, GAP IN ON-COMING TRAFFIC, PRESS ACCELERATOR AND TURN LEFT. 2. THE CAR DECELERATES AS THE TRANSMISSION TAKES OVER AND LETHARGICALLY DOWNSHIFTS, 98% OF THE TIME, CAUSING NEAR MISSES. 3. I DOUBT ANYONE CARES TO CONSIDER IT A PROBLEM. SO, HOW MANY MORE BROADSIDES OCCUR WITH ECHOES THAN THE AVERAGE FOR OTHER CARS, OR HAS NO ONE EVER CHECKED? *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 17, 201080,000 milesPA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH HIS FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE ENGINE IDLED AND ACCELERATED TO A HIGHER SPEED. HE HAD TO PUT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKES AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM IDLING. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED WHICH CONFIRMED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THE HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 03/12/10. *LJ WHEN THE BEGINNING ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE WOULD REV AT A HIGH IDLE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD PICK UP SPEED AND SEVERE BRAKE PRESSURE WAS NEED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/14/10

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Filed Sep 29, 2009IL

TOYOTA FLOOR MAT OVER ACCELERATOR- THIS HAPPENED TO ME! MORE THAN ONCE! I DISCOVERED WHAT IT WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED. I PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL BOTH TIMES. TOYOTA ECHO, 2002 . *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jan 25, 200897,500 milesFL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA ECHO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED A STARTER AND THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A LIFT AND A HOLE WAS DISCOVERED IN THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN RECURRING FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. WHEN SHE DRIVES OVER 80 MILES, THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE'S MAINTENANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CURRENT. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V266000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. CURRENTLY, THE ENGINE IS BEING REPLACED WITH A USED ENGINE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE REPLACEMENT WILL COST OVER $3,000. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,500.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Feb 12, 2007101,000 milesVA

I WAS DRIVING DOWN A 4 LANE HIGHWAY (US 29 S), WHEN A CAR TRIED TO TURN INTO THE MEDIAN THREE CARS AHEAD OF ME. ONE CAR SWERVED TO AVOID THE FRONT TWO VEHICLES. WHEN THEY DID I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE CARS TRYING TO STOP. I SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES, BY THE TIME I DID IT WAS TOO LATE. SO GOING ABOUT 65 WITH ABOUT 50 FEET OF STOPPING DISTANCE I GUESS I WAS GOING 40 - 50 MPH. I COULD NOT MOVE TO THE OTHER LANE SINCE THERE WAS TRACTOR TRAILER IN THE OTHER LANE. SO I REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. IMPACTING ON THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT CORNER. MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE FOLLOWING DAY INSPECTING THE DAMAGE, THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS RIGHT NEXT TO THE DAMAGED AREA AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PICK UP THE IMPACT. *JB

Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear
Filed Oct 18, 2005FL

DT: 2002 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN CLOSING THE PASSENGER DOOR THE REAR WINDOW COLLAPSED AND SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT IT WAS AT A LOCAL AUTO GLASS REPAIR SHOP. TOYOTA STATED THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, AND ASKED THE REPAIR SHOP TO FILE A LETTER OF CAUSE, CONDITION, AND REMEDY. THIS OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 14, 2005. THERE HAD BEEN NO TROUBLE WITH THAT WINDOW PRIOR TO THIS. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic
Filed Sep 22, 2005PA

2002 TOYOTA ECHO EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE BRAKE INDICATOR DID NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED TO LET THE CONSUMER KNOW WHEN THE BRAKES HAD WORN OUT. *JB

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 22, 200580,000 milesCA

DT: AS OF AUGUST 17, 2005 THERE WAS SINGLE CAR ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE CAR ROLLED 3 TIMES, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE SPEED WAS 45 MPH WHEN THIS HAPPENED, THERE WAS A BLOWN TIRE THAT CAUSED THE CAR TO STRIKE AN EMBANKMENT., AND WHEN CONSUMER TRIED TO CORRECT THE VEHICLE IT ROLLED. CAR WAS TOWED TO CONSUMER'S RESIDENCE WHERE AN INSURANCE ADJUSTOR WAS GOING TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT ON THIS ACCIDENT. NO REPAIRS OR NO DEALER. DIDN'T KNOW WHY AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. HAD NOT CONTACTED TOYOTA AT THIS TIME. *AK

20 of 35 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20055000Routine
20041000Routine
200317000Routine
2002 — this page35220Routine
200150261Fatalities reported
200088310Routine

Compare every Echo year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Jul 19, 2006. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.