Toyota Echo Complaints

196 consumer complaints on file.

#10324394April 7, 2010
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1. APPROACHING A LEFT TURN AT 15 TO 25 MPH, GAP IN ON-COMING TRAFFIC, PRESS ACCELERATOR AND TURN LEFT. 2. THE CAR DECELERATES AS THE TRANSMISSION TAKES OVER AND LETHARGICALLY DOWNSHIFTS, 98% OF THE TIME, CAUSING NEAR MISSES. 3. I DOUBT ANYONE CARES TO CONSIDER IT A PROBLEM. SO, HOW MANY MORE BROADSIDES OCCUR WITH ECHOES THAN THE AVERAGE FOR OTHER CARS, OR HAS NO ONE EVER CHECKED? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10318836March 11, 2010
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. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10315128March 1, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ACCELERATOR STICKS WHEN DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY TO FLOOR IN TOYOTA ECHO 2001. HAPPENED IN NOVEMBER 2009 TOO. I TRY NOT TO PUSH IT ALL THE WAY DOWN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10312627February 22, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10311447February 17, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10310179February 13, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10307391February 8, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305032February 4, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10297234December 28, 2009
POWER TRAIN
2003 TOYOTA ECHO WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION SHUTS OFF WHEN SLOWING OR STOPPING, ESPECIALLY ON DOWNGRADES WHEN CLUTCH IS DEPRESSED. I HAVE LEARNED TO LESSEN THESE OCCURRENCES BY NOT PUSHING IN THE CLUTCH UNTIL THE CAR IS ALMOST STOPPED, BY NEVER COASTING WITH THE CLUTCH IN, AND BY MAKING TURNS WITH THE CAR IN GEAR. BECAUSE IT DOESN'T ALWAYS HAPPEN, IT NEVER HAS HAPPENED FOR THE DEALER OR OTHER MECHANICS, SO THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIX IT. OR THEY TELL ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2005. THE DATE I AM USING FOR THE INCIDENT IS THE MOST RECENT TIME IT HAPPENED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285824September 30, 2009
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285678September 29, 2009
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
FLOOR MAT SLIPPAGE CAUSED CAR TO GET STUCK IN NEUTRAL, ONCE AT A HIGH SPEED ON A MAJOR INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND ONCE AT A DOWNTOWN INTERSECTION. I REMOVED THE FLOOR MAT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND THE PROBLEM STOPPED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10285697September 29, 2009
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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 . *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10274890June 24, 2009
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
I HAVE A TOYOTA ECHO 2001. THE CAR SUDDENLY QUIT AFTER I STOPPED AT STOP SIGN AND DID NOT START. I TOOK MY CAR TO GARAGE TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT FUEL INJECTOR FUSES KEEPS BLOWING EVERY TIME THEY REPLACE NEW FUSES, AND THEY COULD NOT FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE. I TOOK MY CAR TO TOYOTA DEALER 2 WEEKS LATER AND THEY HAD TO REPLACE FUSE BOX, WIRE HARNESS THAT SHORT IN FUSE BOX, AND DUE TO FAULT IN WIRE HARNESS, THEY HAD TO REPLACE ONE WIRE THAT RUNS ENTIRE CAR. IT COULD HAVE CAUSE ANY ACCIDENTS IF THE CAR HAVE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRAFFIC. IT COST ME ABOUT $1800 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10265000April 11, 2009
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10256641January 28, 2009
TIRES, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE STARTED TO BUBBLE AND THE TREAD STARTED TO COME APART, I REPLACED 2 TIRES ON 11/13/2008. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254773January 12, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START, EVEN AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS. A MECHANIC INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND CONCLUDED THAT THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE COMPONENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V266000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); THEREFORE, THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 109,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10254434January 9, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MY 2001 TOYOTA ECHO OIL LIGHT CAME ON SO I CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS FULL. I DROVE TO THE PLACE WHERE MY OIL WAS CHANGED LAST AND MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE LIGHT STAYED ON UNTIL I TURNED OFF MY ENGINE AND WOULD REAPPEAR FROM TIME TO TIME. WHEN MY CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD CLANKING NOISE, I GOT CONCERNED AND WAS READY TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER WHEN IT COMPLETELY LOST POWER AND I HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER. THERE THEY TELL ME THAT BECAUSE I DID NOT MAINTAIN MY VEHICLE PROPERLY, ENGINE OIL SLUDGE OCCURRED. I PROVED TO THEM MY VEHICLE WAS VERY WELL MAINTAINED FOR OVER 5 YEARS SO WHY THE SLUDGE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT BECAUSE I BOUGHT MY CAR USED, THE PREVIOUS OWNER DID NOT MAINTAIN THE CAR PROPERLY. IT WAS A LEASED CAR THAT I BOUGHT USED IN 2003. THE DEALER IS TELLING ME IT WILL COST ABOUT $3000 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10236735August 2, 2008
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I AM REPORTING VERBAL THREATS OF A CARRIER COMPANY THAT SHIPPED MY CAR FROM CA TO NY: UI EXPRESS (18 SHORT HILLS BLVD. JACKSON, NEW JERSEY, 08527; [email protected]; 732-513-3636). VLADYMIR BOTIUK (HIS OWN COMPANY: UI EXPRESS) IS A CARRIER/DRIVER WITH CONTRACT WITH A CAR-SHIPPING COMPANY, AMERIFREIGHT, TO BRING MY CAR FROM SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, TO MANHATTAN, NEW YORK. AFTER MOVING MY CAR TO NEW YORK, VLADYMIR BOTIUK FORCED MY CAR TO BE KEPT IN BROOKLYN FROM 11:29 AM ON 7/26/2008 TO 3:50PM ON 7/28/2008 BY REJECTING TO TELL ME THE BROOKLYN ADDRESS AND PREVENTING ME FROM ACCESSING MY CAR. HE PARKED MY CAR IN THE FREE ON-STREET PARKING SPACE IN FRONT OF HIS OWN APARTMENT BUILDING (2387 OCEAN AVENUE, BROOKLYN, NEW YORK) AND PAID NOTHING TO THE CITY GOVERNMENT; HOWEVER, HE FORCED ME TO PAY HIM THE SO-CALLED STORAGE/GARAGE FEE? OF TWO HUNDRED FIFTY DOLLARS BY VERBALLY THREATENING TO SELL MY CAR IN AUTO-AUCTIONS AND CONTINUE CHARGING THE STORAGE/GARAGE FEE OF SEVENTY-FIVE DOLLARS PER DAY BEFORE MY CAR IS SOLD OUT IF I REFUSE TO SIGN MY NAME ON HIS CONTRACT AND GIVE HIM SIXTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS IN LESS THAN FIFTEEN MINUTES AFTER MY ARRIVAL AT HIS ADDRESS AT 11:20 AM ON 7/29/2008. AMERIFREIGHT (MANAGER: AMY WOODS; [email protected]; 1-877-719-0916) KNOWS VLADYMIR BOTIUK?S THREATS AND IS A WITNESS (CONSTANT PHONE COMMUNICATION DURING THE WHOLE PROCESS) OF HOW VLADYMIR BOTIUK ORALLY THREATENED ME AND COMPELLED ME TO GIVE HIM SIXTEEN HUNDRED DOLLARS AND SIGN MY NAME ON HIS UNREASONABLE CONTRACT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10234312July 14, 2008
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10232292June 25, 2008
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. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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