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2002 Toyota ECHO problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

35 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

72,300 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 22 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 35 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior1131.4%
Steering behavior514.3%
Transmission and shifting38.6%
Engine operation12.9%
Fuel system concerns12.9%

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.

Vehicle Speed Control
7
Air Bags
6
Electrical System
3
Engine And Engine Cooling
3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3
Steering
3
Power Train
2
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
2
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Vehicle Speed Control7
Air Bags6
Electrical System3
Engine And Engine Cooling3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Steering3
Power Train2
Power Train:Automatic Transmission2

Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Air Bags: 6; Electrical System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 3; Steering: 3; Power Train: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
8
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
5
100,000 to 149,999
3
150,000 and above
2
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0008
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9995
100,000 to 149,9993
150,000 and above2

Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 2

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 13 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.

2002
5
2003
3
2004
6
2005
4
2007
1
2008
1
2009
1
2010
4
2011
1
2012
2
2014
2
2015
2
2016
1
2017
1
2018
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20025
20033
20046
20054
20071
20081
20091
20104
20111
20122
20142
20152
20161
20171
20181

2002: 5; 2003: 3; 2004: 6; 2005: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 4; 2011: 1; 2012: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1

Pattern summary

Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3 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 10050198 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL DOWN A CLIFF. AS A RESULT OF SEVERE DAMAGE THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK AT AN EARLIER DATE, THE CONSUMER TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE BUT SPUN AROUND ON THE FRONT TIRES. TOYOTA INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THEY DID NOT COVER THE TIRES. THE CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND SWERVED TO MISS AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. RECALL #02V268000 WAS ISSUED AFTER THE OCCURRENCE. ON THE SECOND OCCASION, THE VEHICLE HAD GONE OVER A CLIFF AND HIT A TREE. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED COMPENSATION…

Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10050198 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10137772 · 2005-09-22 (September 22, 2005)

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

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10137772 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10027190 · 2003-07-10 (July 10, 2003)

WHEN THE CONSUMER BECAME TO MOVE FROM A STOPPED POSITION THE STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO OSCILLATE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT WHICH CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND HIT A CURB. ONCE THE VEHICLE HIT THE CURB IT TIPPED OVER ONTO IT'S SIDE. NONE OF THE OCCUPANTS WERE INJURED. *PH *CB *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. 8,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10027190 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10069354 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN ON A STRAIGHT, DRY ROAD AT 35 MPH. THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED OSCILLATING FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ON ITS OWN OUT OF CONTROL OF THE DRIVER. THE CAR HIT THE CURB AND TIPPED OVER ON ITS SIDE.

Owner-reported narrative. 8,188 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069354 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10311447 · 2010-02-17 (February 17, 2010)

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 TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10311447 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10324394 · 2010-04-07 (April 7, 2010)

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

Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10324394 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10330760 · 2010-05-17 (May 17, 2010)

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 B…

Owner-reported narrative. 85,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10330760 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10088269 · 2004-08-20 (August 20, 2004)

MY BOY FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA ECHO 2-DOOR COUPE. WE WERE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE ON THE OUTERLOOP OF 495 (MARYLAND), RIGHT PAST THE CONNECTICUT/KENSINGTON EXIT WHEN TRAFFIC BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN (50MPH). THE MAZDA 626 IN FRONT OF US SUDDENLY SLAMMED ON HIS BREAKS SO MY BOYFRIEND SLAMMED ON HIS BREAKS WHEN HE NOTICED A CHEVY MALIBU COMING FULL SPEED BEHIND US WITH THE DRIVER UNCONSCIOUS AT THE STEERING WHEEL. HE GLANCED TO THE SIDE AND SAW NO ONE COMING ON HIS LEFT SO HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO CHANGE LANES. THE TOYOTA ECHO…

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088269 at NHTSA ↗