2000 Toyota ECHO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
88 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
83,266 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 32 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 88 complaints (15.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 34 | 38.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 7 | 8.0% |
| Steering behavior | 6 | 6.8% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 1.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder | 4 |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 3 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 3 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 14; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 6; Air Bags: 5; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 4; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 4; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 3; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 6 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 6; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 5
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 56 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 11 |
| 2001 | 22 |
| 2002 | 8 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2006 | 3 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2000: 11; 2001: 22; 2002: 8; 2003: 7; 2004: 6; 2005: 8; 2006: 3; 2008: 3; 2009: 2; 2010: 5; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2016: 2; 2018: 3; 2021: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10012233 · 2003-03-21 (March 21, 2003)
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES VEHICLE ACCELERATED FORWARD. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012233 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023667 · 2003-06-24 (June 24, 2003)
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. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 45,250 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023667 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10106317 · 2005-01-14 (January 14, 2005)
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. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10106317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10134652 · 2005-08-29 (August 29, 2005)
DEAR SIR/MADAM, WHILE ON YOUR WEBSITE, I DISCOVERED THE DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS AND COMPLAINTS. TODAY I WRITE TO YOU WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT REPORTED BY JB ON MARCH 9, 2002,"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 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10134652 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066083 · 2004-04-13 (April 13, 2004)
HAD A 2000 TOYOTA ECHO HIT SOME ON IN THE SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AND SHOULDER STRAP DID NOT HOLD .HAD SEAT BELT ON.HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND HOSPITAL SAID BUCKELD BREAST BONE AND A HAIR LINE CRACK.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10066083 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104474 · 2004-12-25 (December 25, 2004)
IN MARCH 2002 THE STEERING COLUMN TILT LOCK MECHANISM BROKE PERMITTING THE COLUMN TO FREELY MOVE UP AND DOWN. TOYOTA OF FORT WORTH (THEN MCKINNEY TOYOTA) REPLACED THE BROKEN PARTS AND INSTALLED A REINFORCEMENT KIT. IN DECEMBER 2004 THE REPLACEMENT PARTS BROKE AND TOYOTA OF FORT WORTH AGAIN REPLACED THE PARTS. IN DECEMBER 2004 WHILE AWAITING REPLACEMENT PARTS TO ARRIVE AT TOYOTA OF FORT WORTH, WHILE DRIVING ON AN EXPRESSWAY IT WAS NECCESSARY FOR ME TO PERFORM VERY HARD BRAKING TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE WHICH CUT ME OFF VERY CLOSE. WHEN I APPLIE…
Owner-reported narrative. 68,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10104474 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 766789 · 2002-09-06 (September 6, 2002)
CAR STALLED OR SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY ON ROAD 7/6, 7/8, 7/15, 7/28, 8/21, 8/26, 9/5 - 3 OCCASIONS IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC VERY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE. TOOK TO DEALERS 7/18 R&H AND COMPLAINED SOMETHING WAS WRONG W/CAR, THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO WANT TO LOOK THE CAR OVER TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON AS A SERVICE CENTER THEY COULD NOT FIGURE THE PROBLEM OUT (SALES MGR. HAS A NO CARE ATTITUDE - MR. ATTWOOD) , 7/28 CAR COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN, HIT CURB AND YIELD SIGN GOING DOWN RAMP, 8/21 TOOK CAR TO JERRY'S TOYOTA, PICKED UP 8/26 GUAGE NEVER MOVED WHEN FILLED W…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 766789 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10145428 · 2005-12-16 (December 16, 2005)
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. SHE PROCEEDED HOME AND HER CONSOLE LIGHTS WENT OUT AND NOTICED THE SMELL BECOMING STRONGER...SHE PARKED THE CAR IN OUR GARAGE AND INFORMED ME ABOUT IT...I WENT TO INVESTIGATE AND NOTICED A LITTLE SMOKE AND THE SMELL THAT SHE HAD DESCRIBED...I GRABBED THE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10145428 at NHTSA ↗