Most common 2000 Toyota Echo problems
Share of the 88 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Echo complaints by model year
Best Echo years: 2005, 2003. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001. Compare all years →
2000 Toyota Echo recalls (3)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
Certain passenger vehicles have the possibility that the recess retains a rubber seal ring, which is located at the end of the cylinder body, and May be corroded due to an improper washing process.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder and, if necessary, replace the brake master cylinder and booster. The recall began on November 29, 2004. Owners should contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with an automatic transmission. Due to a unique combination of conditions which consist of cold ambient temperatures, load applied from air conditioner and other electrical devices, and immediately after starting the engine, there is a possibility that the vacuum in the intake…
Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake booster and front brake pads. Owner notification began October 29, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of alaska, colorado, idaho, illinois, iowa, kansas, maine, michigan, minnesota, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new york, north dakota, south dakota, vermont, wisconsin, and wyoming.
Remedy: Dealers will repair the vacuum port. Also, owners of the subject vehicles in states other than the recall states will be notified of the recall.
What 2000 Toyota Echo owners say
Brakes all 26 →
Tl 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.
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, [phone]), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 1811131014. The failure mileage was 260,010.
Air bags all 20 →
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.
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!
Speed control & acceleration
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, [phone]), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided case number: 1811131014. The failure mileage was 260,010.
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.
2000 Toyota Echo engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 29 / 37 / 32 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 34 / 30 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Toyota Echo a good car?
Based on 88 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2000 Echo rates avoid: 3.2× as many complaints as a typical year of the Echo at the same age. It is one of the Echo years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2000 Toyota Echo?
The brakes — 26 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year, most often about foundation components. Next are the air bags (20) and speed control & acceleration (13).
How many recalls does the 2000 Toyota Echo have?
There are 3 recalls for the 2000 Toyota Echo, the most recent from September 17, 2004 (master cylinder). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Echo?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005 and 2003. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000 and 2001. See the full Toyota Echo years comparison.
At what mileage do 2000 Toyota Echo problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 85,000 miles; 25% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.