Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Toyota Echo owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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!
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.
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.
2000 Toyota Echo, purchased used one year ago from dealer - bill cook Toyota of ithaca, ny. Serious frontal collision and rollover on 9-12-03 - no injuries - but, air bags did not deploy. Why?
Vehicle was involved in a front end collision while going 50mph. Upon impact, passnger side air bag deployed. However, driver's side airbag deployed after driver's body made contact with steering wheel. Dealer was notified. Please provide more information.
Consumer was driving at approximately 50 MPH, hit a stopped vehicle head-on, dual air bags failed to deploy, causing bruises and injuries from hitting steering wheel. There was no warning or indication of defective air bags.front end was totaled.
Consumer was traveling 55mph on highway, veered off to road and was trying to get control of t vehicle. But, lost contol and ran into meridian strip and crashed. Upon impact, dual airbags didn't deploy. The dealership aware of problem.
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.
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.
Airbag complaints in other Echo years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2000 Toyota Echo?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the air bags of the 2000 Toyota Echo, 23% of the model year's 88 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (14 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Toyota Echo airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2000 Toyota Echo, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2000 Toyota Echo airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 100,000 miles, and 14% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 18 crashes, 0 fires and 9 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.