31 of the
262 complaints filed about the Toyota Echo
are about the throttle and cruise control —
12% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2000.
31
Complaints
12%
Share of all complaints
8
Crashes
0
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
While entering interstate accelerator was depressed all the way and became stuck on a couple of occasions. I had to use my foot to release it and it popped out. Dealership recommended it was floor mat. I purchased aftermarket ridged floor mats that will not curl up and it is still an issue.
NHTSA complaint #11506400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA ECHO. WHILE DRIVING 40-50 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. THE CONTACT HAD TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO STOP IT FROM MOVING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPMS INCREASED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REFERRED THE CONTACT TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COWBOY TOYOTA (9525 E R L THORNTON FWY, DALLAS, TX 75228, 888-434-4611), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 1811131014. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 260,010.
NHTSA complaint #11151208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA ECHO. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY ON ITS OWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT. THE CONTACT PULLED INTO A DRIVEWAY AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED FITZGERALD TOYOTA GAITHERSBURG AT (301) 921-0300 (LOCATED AT 907 N FREDERICK AVE, GAITHERSBURG, MD 20879), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 80,000. *TT CONSUMER STATED CALLED FITZGERALD TOYOTA BACK AFTER THEY CALLED. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT IT SHOULD NOT HAPPEN, BUT TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC WOULD BE $180/HR. HE SAID THEY COULD LOOK AT IT. IT HAS BEEN SERVICED FOR ENTIRE TIME THAT WE HAVE HAD AND NO PROBLEMS, I WAS NOT GOING TO PAY $180/HR TO HAVE THAT DONE, WHEN REPOTS FROMECHP BURNERS HAVE HAD SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA WON'T FIX. UPDATED 10/16/18
NHTSA complaint #11114791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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?
NHTSA complaint #10817585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A HOUSE GARAGE DOOR AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A WAIST INJURY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED CHEST AND ARM INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
NHTSA complaint #10748086 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA ECHO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A SHED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED A RIGHT SHOULDER AND KNEE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 108,000.
NHTSA complaint #10630015 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10608192 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #10449089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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. I TRIED PUTTING THE CAR IN DRIVE TO TEST THAT FUNCTIONALITY, AND IT SEEMED TO BE UNAFFECTED. I SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AFTER PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, RE-STARTED IT, AND TRIED TO MOVE AGAIN IN REVERSE. THIS RESULTED IN THE AFOREMENTIONED ENGINE SURGE. I DECIDED TO DRIVE THE CAR AROUND THE PARKING LOT TO TEST FOR DRIVEABILITY AND THERE WERE NO ISSUES AT THIS POINT WITH THE CAR MOVING FORWARD.FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9TH, 2001: DROVE THE CAR TO WORK IN THE MORNING AFTER LETTING IT RUN FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES DUE TO COLD OUTDOOR TEMPERATURES. AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT THREE MILES, THE ENGINE BEGAN SURGING ONCE MY SPEED WAS REDUCED TO ABOUT 25 MPH AND CONTINUED TO RUN HARD WHEN THE CAR WAS STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. I HAD TO PRESS VERY HARD ON THE BRAKE TO PREVENT THE CAR FROM MOVING FORWARD AT AN UNCONTROLLED SPEED, WHICH POTENTIALLY COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY OF MYSELF, ANOTHER DRIVER, OR PROPERTY. I WAS ABLE TO CAREFULLY GET THE CAR TO MY WORKPLACE, WHERE I PLACED THE CAR IN PARK. THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN HARD, AS IF THE ACCELERATOR WERE PRESSED DOWN WITH SIGNIFICANT PRESSURE. I DECIDED TO TEST THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE REVERSE GEAR AGAIN; IT PERFORMED EXACTLY AS IT DID ON DECEMBER 8TH, ONLY MORE SO. WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK, THE ENGINE DID NOT RELAX AND I WAS FORCED TO SHUT OFF THE CAR COMPLETELY. BECAUSE OF THESE MALFUNCTIONS, I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME. NOTE: I DO NOT HAVE FACTORY FLOOR MATS.
NHTSA complaint #10439252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 40 MPH WHEN HE TRIED TO SLOW DOWN AND WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. A CRASH OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 75000.
NHTSA complaint #10342742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SPOUSE WAS DRIVING AT APPROX 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. THE DRIVER HAD TO STEER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HIT A SNOWBANK TO AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT NOTICED NO PRIOR EXPERIENCES WITH THE SUDDEN ACCELERATION BEFORE THAT DAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP AND THE DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE AND RAN DIAGNOSTICS TESTS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 63,800. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,536. UPDATED 03/30/10 *BF UPDATED 07/07/10.
NHTSA complaint #10312627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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
NHTSA complaint #10311447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THIS IS AN INCIDENT I EVENTUALLY PUT BEHIND MYSELF, BUT THE RECENT NEWS ABOUT TOYOTA HAS RESURRECTED THE EVENTS THAT TOOK PLACE ON 5/5/02 IN MY 01 TOYOTA ECHO (I CAN PROVIDE THE VIN# AND THE INCIDENT HAPPENED IN BELEWS CREEK, NC). I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVE WAY AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP MY CAR WHEN I APPLIED MY BRAKE AND I ENDED UP GOING INTO THE TREES AND DOWN A HILL BEFORE MY CAR WAS STOPPED BY THE TREE THAT THE TRUNK OF MY CAR HIT. I WAS CONVINCED I HAD HIT THE BRAKE. I EVEN TOOK MY OTHER FOOT AND TRIED TO USE BOTH FEET TO STOP THE CAR (I CRUSHED THE TOP OF MY FOOT WITH MY OTHER SHOE ' THAT IS HOW MUCH PRESSURE I TRIED TO APPLY). I RESEARCHED OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BREAKS STICKING AND REMEMBER SOMETHING BEING SAID ABOUT COOL AMBIENT TEMPERATURES. I CONTACTED TOYOTA USA AND NHTSA AND PROVIDED WEATHER TEMPERATURES AND OTHER DETAILS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. I EVEN REQUESTED REPAIRS NOT BE MADE TO THE CAR UNTIL IT WAS INSPECTED. I WAS TOLD NOTHING WAS FOUND UPON INSPECTION AND I MY CLAIM WAS BASICALLY DISMISSED. THE ACCIDENT WENT ON MY RECORD AS MY FAULT SO OF COURSE MY PREMIUMS WENT UP FOR YEARS. I WAS MOST FRUSTRATED AND I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO EXPLAIN HOW IT FELT TO HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE NOT BELIEVE ME. I FEEL IT AFFECTED MY CONFIDENCE AS A DRIVER AND I WAS SO NERVOUS DRIVING THAT CAR THAT I TRADED IT IN NOT LONG AFTERWARDS. I ALSO TRADED IN THE TOYOTA TUNDRA I HAD RECENTLY PURCHASED. I WROTE TOYOTA AND TOLD THEM IF THIS WAS HOW THEY TREATED THEIR CUSTOMERS, THEN I WOULD NOT REMAIN A CUSTOMER AND WOULD NEVER RETURN. I AM WRITING THIS EMAIL BECAUSE I KNOW THAT THIS WAS BROUGHT TO TOYOTA'S ATTENTION THAT THERE WAS EVIDENCE OF PROBLEMS EVEN EARLIER THAN WHAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY ACKNOWLEDGING. THE FACT THAT IT HAD TO TAKE PEOPLE DYING FOR THEM TO NOTICE IS COMPLETELY APPALLING TO ME! I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE BOUND TO BE PROBLEMS WITH VIRTUALLY EVERY MAKE AND MODEL OF CAR, BUT IGNORING CLAIMS LIKE THIS IS COMPLETE NEGLIGENCE.
NHTSA complaint #10310179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2000 TOYOTA ECHO. ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK. IT HAS ONLY HAPPENED ONCE, AROUND 263,000 MILES. IRONICALLY, THIS HAPPENED A FEW MONTHS AGO, BEFORE NEWS ABOUT THE LATEST RECALL. THIS CAR, AND ITS NEWER MODEL THE YARIS, ARE NOT PART OF THE RECALL. OCCASIONALLY, I WOULD HEAR A QUIET SQUEAKY SOUND WHEN USING THE GAS PEDAL, BUT IT WAS UNCOMMON. I DO ALL MY OWN CAR WORK, BUT WAS NEVER ABLE TO FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE OF THE NOISE... I'M NOT LOOKING TO HAVE ANYONE CONTACT ME - THE VEHICLE IS NO LONGER BEING DRIVEN. I'M JUST REPORTING IT IN CASE ANYONE ELSE WITH AN ECHO REPORTS IT. I DON'T HAVE THE VIN NUMBER HANDY (AT WORK). IF YOU REALLY NEED IT, YOU CAN CONTACT ME, AND I'LL EMAIL IT TO YOU. IT IS THE 4 DOOR SEDAN MODEL. AND IT WAS ONE OF THE EARLY ECHO'S. VIN SERIAL NUMBER WAS IN THE 6XXX RANGE.
NHTSA complaint #10305032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA ECHO. WHILE ENTERING A RAMP AT 50 MPH, THE FLOOR MAT CAUSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO GET STUCK IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION. SHE WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE FLOOR MAT AND AVOID A CRASH. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 67,000.
NHTSA complaint #10285824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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 .
NHTSA complaint #10285697 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP VEHICLE USING FULL BRAKE PEDAL FORCE AND HAND BRAKE THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE CAR AND NEARLY CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. AFTER SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK THE ENGINE CONTINUED OPERATING AT HIGH SPEED. THE GAS PEDAL WAS NOT STUCK OR USED AT ANY TIME DURING THIS TIME. THIS OCCURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS BOTH AT HIGHWAY AND CITY SPEEDS. IT SEEMS THAT THERE ARE OTHER REPORTS OF SIMILAR INCIDENTS WITH THIS CAR. NO PROBLEMS WERE IDENTIFIED BY MECHANIC WHO COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10265000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.