Toyota Echo Problems by Year
Toyota Echo years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Echo year: 2000, 2001, 2002. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2000 Echo: 88 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2001 Echo: 50 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2002 Echo: 35 complaints, 2 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2004 Echo: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2005 Echo: 5 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2003 Echo: 17 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Toyota Echo problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 48 | 5 | 41 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 38 | 4 | 12 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 31 | 5 | 8 |
| Power Train | 21 | 5 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 20 | 5 | 4 |
| Electrical System | 14 | 4 | 1 |
| Suspension | 8 | 3 | 2 |
| Equipment | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 7 | 4 | 7 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 6 | 5 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 3 | 3 |
| Tires | 6 | 2 | 0 |
| Engine | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| Structure | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Visibility | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Wheels | 4 | 3 | 2 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Toyota Echo model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Echo | 5 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 2004 Echo | 1 | 0 | — | Seat Belts | |
| 2003 Echo | 17 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 Echo | 35 | 2 | — | Vehicle Speed Control | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 Echo | 50 | 2 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2000 Echo | 88 | 3 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Toyota: all Toyota models · Toyota VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Echo years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2000 (88), 2001 (50), 2002 (35) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Echo year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Toyota Echo?
Air Bags, with 48 complaints across 5 model years.
How many recalls does the Toyota Echo have?
5 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.