Problems · NHTSA complaints
2001 Toyota Echo problems
Owners filed 55 complaints about the 2001 Toyota Echo with NHTSA between Nov 2000 and Feb 2023. The most-cited component is air bags (13).
Complaints
55
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
6
Reported by owners
Injuries
16
People reported injured
Deaths
4
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Air bags13
- Engine and engine cooling9
- Vehicle speed control7
- Service brakes, hydraulic7
- Power train4
- Tires4
- Electrical system3
- Seat belts3
- Visibility3
- Fuel system, gasoline2
- Wheels1
- Engine1
- Equipment adaptive/mobility1
- Fuel system, other1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
7
9
8
5
4
2
1
1
5
2
1
0
0
1
2
1
0
1
0
1
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 3 |
| 2001 | 7 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 8 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
13 reports12 crashes2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA ECHO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN CHANGING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS RESET, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.”
Engine and engine cooling
9 reports3 crashes4 fires1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ABOVE 5 MPH AND OPERATING THE HEADLIGHTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER A JUMP AND WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 225,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Vehicle speed control
7 reports2 crashes
“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.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
7 reports1 crash1 related recall
“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. *JB”
Power train
4 reports
“DT: THE CONTACT STATES VEHICLE HAD A DEFECTIVE CLUTCH. THE CLUTCH HAS REPEATEDLY MALFUNCTIONED. HE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE CLUTCH TWICE WITHIN THREE YEARS. ALSO, CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO FURTHER CORRECTIONS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK”
Tires
4 reports
“THE CONSUMER STATED BUYING FOUR TIRES FOR VEHICLE, ONE FAILED A MONTH AFTER THE PURCHASE. CONSUMER'S SON HAD AN ACCIDENT AND NOBODY CHECKED THE TIRES, SINCE THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY PUNCTURE MARKS. TWO WEEKS LATER, HUSBAND HAD A FLAT TIRE. THE RUBBER DISINTEGRATED FROM THE INSIDE AND IT PEELED OFF. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOOK OFF BOTH TIRES. *AK THREE OUT OF THE FOUR TIRES FAILED WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF PURCHASE, 2 WERE FOUND TO BE BULDGING AND PEELING ON THE INSIDE. *SB”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.