FaultScore

Toyota Echo brake problems

44 of the 262 complaints filed about the Toyota Echo are about the braking system — 17% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2000.

44

Complaints

17%

Share of all complaints

12

Crashes

0

Fires

Brakes complaints by model year

2000 Echo 30 68.2%

Median failure at 73,000 miles

2001 Echo 7 15.9%
2002 Echo 4 9.1%

Median failure at 25,000 miles

2003 Echo 1 2.3%

Median failure at 80,000 miles

2005 Echo 2 4.5%

Median failure at 5,637 miles

What owners said

2000 Toyota Echo at 260,010 miles Scurry, TX

SERVICE BRAKES

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.

2003 Toyota Echo at 80,000 miles Rockville, MD

SERVICE BRAKES

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.

2000 Toyota Echo at 213,000 miles Gaithersburg, MD Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA ECHO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THEY LOCKED UP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE IN FRONT. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SHATTERED THE WINDSHIELD UPON CONTACT. NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ONCE BEFORE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL 04V455000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: MASTER CYLINDER) BUT THE REPAIR WORK HAD NEVER BEEN PERFORMED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 213,000.

NHTSA complaint #10382569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Toyota Echo at 120,000 miles Phoenixville, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

THIS IS NOT RELATED TO A SPECIFIC INCIDENT, BUT I FEEL I SHOULD REGISTER A COMPLAINT ABOUT THE BRAKES ON THE 2000 TOYOTA ECHO. THE STOPPING DISTANCE REQUIRED SEEMS EXCESSIVE TO ME, AND I FEEL THAT IT WOULD BE NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE TO EVER CAUSE THE CAR TO SKID (LOCK UP THE WHEELS) USING THE BREAKS IF YOU SLAMMED THEM ON IN AN EMERGENCY DESPITE THE CAR NOT HAVING ANTI-LOCK BREAKS. ALL RECALLS HAVE BEEN DONE ON MY CAR AS FAR AS I KNOW. THERE WAS ONE RECALL WHICH INVOLVED THEM REPLACING THE BREAK BOOSTER - I NOTICED DRAMATICALLY IMPROVED BREAKING PERFORMANCE IMMEDIATELY AFTER THIS RECALL - HOWEVER AFTER ABOUT A YEAR MAYBE, THE CAR RETURNED TO ITS POOR BREAKING PERFORMANCE. NEW BREAK PADS AND SHOES, AND A BRAKE FLUID CHANGE DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. I CALLED TOYOTA A WHILE AGO TO ASK ABOUT THIS, AND ALL THEY COULD TELL ME WAS THAT MY CAR ALREADY HAD THE BREAK RECALL DONE MANY YEARS AGO AND THAT THERE WAS NO NEW RECALL. IT MAY BE WORTH MENTIONING THAT I ALSO HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA ECHO WHICH DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM - SO I DEFINITELY CAN TELL THE DIFFERENCE AND I KNOW THAT STOPPING DISTANCE IS MUCH WORSE ON MY 2000 VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10318836 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Toyota Echo at 59,000 miles RIO Grande, PR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA ON MAY 2, 2008 PERTAINING TO THE BRAKES. SHE IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WOULD CALL HER WHEN THE PART ARRIVED. THE CONTACT BELIEVES THAT WAITING THREE WEEKS IS UNACCEPTABLE BECAUSE THE BRAKES ARE PRESENTLY FAILING. SHE IS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE A CRASH COULD OCCUR. THE VIN AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 09/15/08 *BF UPDATED 09/18/08.

NHTSA complaint #10232292 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Toyota Echo at 10,000 miles Rincon, PR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNAL, THE BRAKES MADE THE VEHICLE PULL VIOLENT TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THE DISC WHERE BENT AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AFTER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN AND THE DEALERSHIP O MACHINED THEM TO EVEN THE SURFACES. FIVE MONTHS LATER, THE PROBLEM PERSISTED AND THE DEALERSHIP MACHINED THE DISCS AGAIN. AFTER THE FORTH FAILURE OF THE BRAKES, THE PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO A LOCAL CONSUMER PROTECTION AGENCY RELATING TO THE LEMON LAW, BUT WAS REFERRED TO NHTSA. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT THEY PROVIDED A REFERRAL TO THE OFFICE IN PUERTO RICO. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED CONCERN BECAUSE DRIVING ON A HILLY AREA WITH DEFECTIVES BRAKES WOULD BE HIGHLY RISKY.

NHTSA complaint #10168545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Toyota Echo at 86,000 miles Goshen, KY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA ECHO. I RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL DESIGNATED: "SSC 40K - 2000 MODEL YEAR CELICA AND ECHO BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER INSPECTION SAFETY RECALL NOTICE". I TOOK THE CAR TO OXMOOR TOYOTA IN LOUISVILLE, KY BUT I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL NOTICE WOULD NOT BE HONORED UNLESS I AGREED TO GIVE UP MY RIGHTS TO JUDICIAL REMEDIES IN FAVOR OF ARBITRATION. I REFUSED TO DO SO AND OXMOOR TOYOTA REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL NOTICE. OXMOOR TOYOTA IS LOCATED AT 8107 SHELBYVILLE ROAD, LOUISVILLE, KY 40222. I BELIEVE THAT THIS REFUSAL VIOLATES THE SPIRIT OF THE RECALL PROGRAM AND EFFECTIVELY DENIES ME THE RIGHT TO HAVE THE RECALL PERFORMED. PLEASE ADVISE ME REGARDING NHTSA'S POSITION ON THIS MATTER. I APPRECIATE YOU HELP. BENJAMIN L. GARDNER, 1402 BRUSH JUMP LANE, GOSHEN, KY 40026 (502)585-3100.

NHTSA complaint #10154589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Toyota Echo at 1,275 miles Sedona, AZ Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA ECHO. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED ON JULY 14, 2004. THE CONSUMER FELT VIBRATION IN THE FRONT END, THE SHOCK ABSORBERS LEAKED AND THE DOOR LATCHES WERE BROKEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FIXED THE LEAKING SHOCK ABSORBERS AND BROKEN DOOR LATCHES . THE WINDOW STICKER STATED THAT IT WOULD GET 39 MILES PER GALLON OF GAS WHEN IT ONLY GOT 24 TO 27 MILES PER GALLON OF GAS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STAY IN OVERDRIVE. A WEEK AGO THE VEHICLE WAS IN A FRONT END COLLISION AND UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED BACK, NECK, LEFT SHOULDER AND A RIGHT KNEE INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WERE NO FIRES. *AK (11/30/05) OTHER PROBLEMS: TRANSMISSION SHIFTED HARD, ENGINE NOISE (TICKING/RATTLEING), THE BRAKES SQUEAKED, THERE WERE LOUD INTERIOR SQUEAKS, PULLING TO THE RIGHT AND ROUGH IDLE.

NHTSA complaint #10138526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Toyota Echo E Stroudsburg, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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.

NHTSA complaint #10137772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Toyota Echo at 60,000 miles West Palm Beach, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CONSUMER 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.

NHTSA complaint #10120543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Toyota Echo at 90,000 miles Estill Springs, TN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER CATESTROPHIC FAILURE

NHTSA complaint #10118598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Toyota Echo EL Segundo, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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.

NHTSA complaint #10111337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Toyota Echo Neptune, NJ Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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.

NHTSA complaint #10105366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Toyota Echo Waipahu, HI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM

VERY UNSATISFACTORY SERVICE REGARDING WAIPAHU AUTO SERVICE. *MR THERE WAS A FAILURE TO CORRECT THE BRAKE BOOSTER SAFETY RECALL WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. *SCC

NHTSA complaint #10050494 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Toyota Echo at 25,000 miles Oroville, CA Crash 1 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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.

NHTSA complaint #10050198 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Toyota Echo at 3,000 miles Mandeville, LA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

THE CONSUMER RECEIVED 2 RECALL 02V268000 LETTERS FOR BRAKE LINE FAILURE. DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE SINCE JAN 03, 2003.

NHTSA complaint #10050115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Toyota Echo at 10,992 miles Chicago, IL Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

VEHICLE BRAKE EQUIPMENT STOPPED WORKING WHICH RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*MR *PH *JB

NHTSA complaint #10034520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Toyota Echo at 45,250 miles Piscataway, NJ Crash 5 injured

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

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.

NHTSA complaint #10023667 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Toyota Echo Haslet, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

CONSUMER HAD ATTEMPTED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT ON 5 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE, 02V268000 ONLY TO BE TOLD THE DEALER DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO PERFORM THE WORK, AND ON ONE OCCASION, CONSUMER WAS TOLD THERE WERE NO PARTS.

NHTSA complaint #10011316 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Toyota Echo Denmark, SC

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 02-V-268-000, CONSUMER THEN MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE FOLLOWING WEEK, CONSUMER THEN RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE DEALER STATING NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #10003826 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Toyota Echo problems