IllustrationCONSUMER STATES: ALL THE TIME THERE WAS A CONSTANT CLANKING NOISE. BRAKES CAUSED A PROBLEM. SCREECHING SOUND WHEN PUSHING ON THE BRAKES, AND WHEN STOPPING MADE A SOUND LIKE A TRUCK. TOOK TO DEALER TWICE THEY SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. *AK
2000 Toyota Echo
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2000 Toyota Echo do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 26.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Echo years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
40–25K
425–50K
650–75K
675–100K
7100–150K
5150K+
32 reports with mileage · 56 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
29 crash reports1 fire reports15 injury reports
What owners actually said
88 reportsBRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CATESTROPHIC FAILURE
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE STOPPED ON ITS OWN. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND STILL HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. …
Read full complaint
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. VEHICLE STOPPED ON ITS OWN. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND STILL HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
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 MECHA…
Read full complaint
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
BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE WHEN APPLIED, AND IT REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK
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 WH…
Read full complaint
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 APPLIED THE BRAKES MY TORSO WAS THROWN FORWARD BY THE SUDDEN DECELERATION (WITH SAFETY BELTS ON) AND NATURALLY THE FORCE WAS TRANSMITTED TO THE STEERING WHEEL THROUGH MY HANDS, WHICH CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN TO THE LEFT AND THE CAR TO OF COURSE SWERVE TO THE LEFT UNINTENDED. FORTUNATELY THE LEFT LANE WAS VACANT AT THAT TIME, OTHERWISE I WOULD HAVE COLLIDED WITH A VEHICLE THAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN ALONGSIDE TO THE LEFT. CONSEQUENTLY I WAS ALERT TO THIS AND HAD NO FURTHER INCIDENTS WHILE AWAITING PARTS TO ARRIVE AND BE INSTALLED BY TOYOTA OF FORT WORTH. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE THE EXACT SAME AS ORIGINAL PARTS, SO IN ABOUT 2-3 YEARS THEY WILL AGAIN BREAK.*AK
SUSPENSION IS VERY SOFT, VEHICLE IS HARD TO CONTROL AT SPEED OVER 60 MPH, EASILY MOVED BY GUSTS OF WIND. *AK
WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN A VEHICLE IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC COLLIDED INTO CONSUMER'S VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL AND CRASH INTO A POLE. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*AK
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.
COOLING SYSTEM FAN BELT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS PART WAS REPAIRED FIVE TIMES, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *AK
Official recalls
304V455000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Sep 17, 2004
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE RECESS RETAINS A RUBBER SEAL RING, WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE END OF THE CYLINDER BODY, AND MAY BE CORRODED DUE TO AN IMPROPER WASHING PROCESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THIS CONDITION, BRAKE FLUID MAY LEAK FROM THE SEAL, OR A SMALL AMOUNT OF AIR MAY ENTER THE MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE OF VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371.
01V326000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
Oct 10, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. DUE TO A UNIQUE COMBINATION OF CONDITIONS WHICH CONSIST OF COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES, LOAD APPLIED FROM AIR CONDITIONER AND OTHER ELECTRICAL DEVICES, AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE VACUUM IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD COULD BE INSUFFICIENT FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED UNDER THIS COMBINATION OF CONDITIONS, VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES WOULD DECREASE, AND THE INCREASED PEDAL PRESSURE REQUIRED COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND FRONT BRAKE PADS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 29, 2001. 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.
00V256000 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline
Sep 7, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF ALASKA, COLORADO, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, IOWA, KANSAS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WYOMING. CONDENSED MOISTURE FROM THE POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) PORT COULD SEEP TOWARD THE BRAKE VACUUM PORT INSIDE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND START TO FREEZE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES WOULD BE DECREASED AND INCREASED PEDAL PRESSURE WOULD BE REQUIRED, INCREASING THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VACUUM PORT. ALSO, OWNERS OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES IN STATES OTHER THAN THE RECALL STATES WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE RECALL. IF THE ECHO OWNER BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE OPERATED IN THESE STATES DURING THE WINTER OR IN CONDITIONS DESCRIBED, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE SERVICED FOR THIS RECALL.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.