2000 TOYOTA ECHO Recalls, Complaints & Safety

IT Was a small accident in the rear bumper someone Was backing up and he crashed the Back part of his car

Crash

IT Was a small accident in the rear bumper someone Was backing up and he crashed the Back part of his car

Crash

The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Echo equipped with NEXEN Tire, Tire Line: N PRIZ, Tire Size: 175/65/R14, DOT Number: 8EJH. The contact replaced the original tires on July 1, 2021 and within 2 months the front driver’s side tire experienced a blowout. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 211,774. The VIN was not available.

The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Echo equipped with Nika Tires, Tire Line: Avatar, Tire Size: 175/65/R14, DOT Number: 16-MA-Z134-4919. The contact stated that she replaced the original tires on 6/29/2021 and within a month, the front passenger’s side tire experienced a blowout. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 211,774. The VIN was not available.

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.

DRIVER'S SEAT FAILURE (ORIGINAL AND REPLACEMENT SEAT FROM A COLLISION VEHICLE) ... SEAT BUTT PAN (MIDDLE METAL PANEL OF SEAT BASE/BOTTOM) METAL SPLIT, SPREADING APART TO THE POINT THAT CONNECTION TO THE METAL SEAT SIDE SUPPORTS SEPARATED FROM BUTT PAN ... STATIONARY

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNED A 2000 TOYOTA ECHO. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT FAILED TO YIELD FROM THE LEFT. THE STEERING WHEEL AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND STRUCK THE CONTACT IN THE FACE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND WAS TOWED AWAY BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

Crash 1 injured

TAKATA RECALL AIR BAG DASH LIGHT REMAINS "ON" WHENEVER ENGINE IS RUNNING.

THE SRS WARNING LIGHT (FLASH'S).

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.

Crash 1 injured

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.

Crash 1 injured

WHEN YOU ARE IN THE CAR AND THE MANUAL LOCKS ARE LOCKED YOU CAN NOT OPEN THE DOOR. YOU HAVE TO UNLOCK IT FIRST TO OPEN DOOR. NORMALLY A LOCKED DOOR WILL OPEN WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. THEN WHEN YOU ARE LOCKED IN YOU CAN'T EVEN UNLOCK THE DOOR BY ROLLING THE WINDOW DOWN AND INSERTING THE KEY TO UNLOCK IT. IT WILL NOT WORK. THEREFORE I HAVE TO CRAWL THROUGH THE PASSENGER DOOR AND MESS WITH THE LOCK AND KEY TO GET IT UNLOCKED. I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. I SEE NO RECALLS ON THIS MATTER. I TALKED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP THAT SAYS THIS IS NOT FIXABLE. *TR

ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN, AND MY MOTHER IN LAW WAS UNABLE TO BRAKE FAST ENOUGH AND COLLIDED HEAD ON. THE CAR HAD QUITE A LOT OF DAMAGE, AND HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY (FOR SAFETY REASONS). HOWEVER, THE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY!!!! THE COLLISION WAS ENOUGH TO INCAPACITATE THE RADIATOR AND IT WAS HEAD-ON (NOT SIDE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT). GIVEN THE CIRCUMSTANCES, I WOULD EXPECT THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY, AND THE POLICE WERE AMAZED THAT IT DIDN'T. SHE WAS WEARING A SEATBELT, WHICH SAVED HER FROM THE WORST. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS, AS MANY VEHICLES OF THIS TYPE ARE REGISTERING THE SAME ISSUE! *JS

Crash 1 injured

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. *TR

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.

Crash

CLUNKY CLUTCH ON A BRAND-NEW 2000 ECHO THAT TOYOTA NEVER BELIEVED SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT. *TR

2000 TOYOTA ECHO. CONSUMER STATES CLUNKY CLUTCH *TGW

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. *TR

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

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. *TR

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. *TR

TIRE STARTED TO BUBBLE AND THE TREAD STARTED TO COME APART, I REPLACED 2 TIRES ON 11/13/2008. *TR

I WAS DRIVING ALONG HIGHWAY CHANGING INTO FAST LANE. TRIED TO EASE INTO LANE BY GRADUALLY BRAKING BUT CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE EVEN FASTER. FLOORED THE BRAKES BUT THIS DID NOT WORK. PULLED UP PARKING BRAKE, MOVED OVER TWO LANES AND ONTO EXIT RAMP WHERE IT GRADUALLY CAME TO A STOP. VERY LUCKY FEW CARS AROUND!! NO PROBLEM FOUND WITH BRAKES AT SERVICE STATION ?? *TR

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. *JB

SPEEDOMETER CONTINUOUSLY FLUCTUATES WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN SPEEDS OF 0 - 60 MPH WHEN VEHICLE IS COLD. SPEEDOMETER WOULD READ 35 - 45 MPH HIGHER THAN ACTUAL SPEED AND WOULD DROP LOWER. VEHICLE ALSO DRIVES POORLY AND SHAKES DURING LOWER SPEEDS. VEHICLE WAS PROMPTLY TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS AT WHICH TIME THE DEALERSHIP NOTATED THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM SO THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT THE SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM. CONTINUED DRIVING VEHICLE AS IT DID NOT SEEM TO EFFECT DRIVING. 1 YEAR AND 5 MONTHS LATER, TRANSMISSION STARTED SHIFTING POORLY DURING COLD STARTS FOR AT LEAST 5 MINUTES UNTIL VEHICLE WARMS UP. TRANSMISSION WAS FLUSHED BY PERSONAL MECHANIC BUT PROBLEM CONTINUED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT WHICH TIME VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP. REPORTED OLDER PROBLEM WITH SPEEDOMETER AS WELL AS NEW PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION. DEALERSHIP STATED CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS DUE TO RPM SENSOR MALFUNCTION AND THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND THAT THE SPEEDOMETER PROBLEM WAS CAUSED BY THE BAD SENSOR AND SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED WHEN THE PROBLEM WAS ORIGINALLY DISCOVERED. SAID BAD SENSOR LED TO TRANSMISSION FAILURE. WILL TAKE VEHICLE BACK TO ORIGINAL DEALERSHIP TO HAVE FIXED. *TR

I WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL CRASH YESTERDAY (OCTOBER 12,2006). THE REASON FOR MY COMPLAINT WAS THAT THE CRASH WAS PRETTY BAD, THE WHOLE FRONT OF MY CAR WAS TOTALED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAD MY SEAT BELT, BUT THE IMPACT MADE ME HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE POLICE EVEN ASKED IF I HAD AIRBAGS, ONCE THEY CHECKED THAT IT DID, THEY WERE AMAZED THEY DIDN'T DEPLOY. *NM

Crash 1 injured

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. *NM

TODAY I WRITE TO YOU WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT REPORTED BY JB ON MARCH 9, 2002. LAST YEAR I WAS TOLD THE VERY SAME THING BY A TOYOTA SERVICE MECHANIC WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS EVALUATED. I HAVE A MECHANIC IN MY FAMILY WHO ANALYZED THE ENGINE, SENT IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, AND FOUND THE TRANSMISSION TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. HOWEVER, WHEN I HAVE TO RENEW MY INSPECTION STICKER, THEY INFORMED ME IT WILL AUTOMATICALLY FAIL DUE TO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS! PLEASE INVESTIGATE AS I SUSPECT MANY MORE ECHO OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE JUST NOT REPORTED IT.*JB

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HER CAR HOME FROM WORK AT APPROXIMATELY 1800 WHEN SHE NOTICED A BURNING PLASTIC SMELL IN HER CAR. SHE HAD STOPPED OFF AT A LOCAL STORE AND DIDN'T THINK ANYTHING ABOUT THE SMELL. SHE CAME OUT OF THE STORE AND STARTED DRIVING HOME A FEW MINUTES LATER STILL NOTICING THE SMELL. SHE PROCEEDED HOME AND HER CONSOLE LIGHTS WENT OUT AND NOTICED THE SMELL BECOMING STRONGER...SHE PARKED THE CAR IN OUR GARAGE AND INFORMED ME ABOUT IT...I WENT TO INVESTIGATE AND NOTICED A LITTLE SMOKE AND THE SMELL THAT SHE HAD DESCRIBED...I GRABBED THE CONSOLE DIMMER SWITCH AND IT WAS EXTREMELY HOT AND FELL OFF...I TOOK APART THE PLASTIC HOUSING THAT THE KNOB IS ATTACHED TO AND SAW A SMALL FLAME ON THE DIMMER SWITCH AND THE WIRES THAT ATTACHED TO THE DIMMER SWITCH...I BLEW THE SMALL FLAME OUT, DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND CUT THE DIMMER SWITCH AWAY FROM THE WIRES TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN...ONCE REMOVED I PICKED UP THE DIMMER SWITCH AND IT WAS EXTREMELY HOT AND THE PLASTIC WIRING HARNESS WAS MELTED...I CAN PROVIDE PICTURES OF THE DIMMER SWITCH AND THE MELTED PLASTIC HOUSING IF YOUR AGENCY IS INTERESTED...I WAS ALSO DOING SOME RESEARCH INTO THIS AND FOUND A WEBSITE FROM AUSTRALIA THAT HAS RECALLED THIS PARTICULAR SWITCH IN THEIR COUNTRY... HTTP://WWW.RECALLS.GOV.AU/VIEW_RECALL_DETAIL.PHP?RECALL_ID_AUTO=13721. *JB

Fire

DEAR SIR/MADAM, WHILE ON YOUR WEBSITE, I DISCOVERED THE DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS AND COMPLAINTS. TODAY I WRITE TO YOU WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT REPORTED BY JB ON MARCH 9, 2002,"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". I WAS TOLD THE VERY SAME THING BY A TOYOTA SERVICE MECHANIC WHEN I BROUGHT MY VEHICLE IN TO HAVE MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ANALYZED. MY REGULAR MECHANIC WHO IS A VERY GOOD MECHANIC, ANALYZED THE ENGINE IN FALL OF 2004, HE SENT IT TO A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST, AND FOUND THE TRANSMISSION TO BE IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. THIS IS RIDICULOUS! PLEASE INVESTIGATE AS I SUSPECT MANY MORE ECHO OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE JUST NOT REPORTED IT. *JB

I WAS DRIVING FROM FLORIDA AFTER A VACATION. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 2-3 HOURS OF DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A DECREASE OF AIRFLOW AND COOLNESS FROM MY A/C UNIT. I SHUT IT OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND TRIED DIFFERENT LEVEL OF AIR FLOW AND COOLING AND NO CHANGE. I STOPPED AT A GAS STATION AND FOUND THERE TO BE CONDENSATION ON A TUBE UNDER MY HOOD. AFTER STOPPING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND THEN DRIVING WITHOUT THE A/C FOR 20 MINUTES I TURNED THE A/C BACK ON AND EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL. *JB

CONSUMER OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA ECHO AND HAS RECENTLY MOVED AND WOULD LIKE TO STILL RECEIVE RECALL INFORMATION ON THE VEHICLE.*MR

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. *AK

BRAKE 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. *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 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

Crash

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

Crash

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.

Crash 1 injured

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.

Crash 1 injured

COOLING SYSTEM FAN BELT FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS PART WAS REPAIRED FIVE TIMES, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. *AK