Most common 2002 Toyota Echo problems
Share of the 35 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 →
2002 Toyota Echo recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling
On certain passenger vehicles, due to improper molding of the resin body of the crankshaft position senor installed on the engine block, engine oil May penetrate the seal and enter the sensor wiring connector. The wire harness connector May not be sufficiently attached to the locking tab of the sensor wiring connector.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the crankshaft position sensor free of charge. The recall began on July 26, 2006. Owners May contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
On certain passenger vehicles, if the vehicle is driven under repeated start and stop operation in low ambient temperatures and in deep snow, there is a possibility that snow could accumulate in large quantities inside the rear wheel and freeze.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear brake lines. Owner notification began November 9, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a…
What 2002 Toyota Echo owners say
Speed control & acceleration
I shifted into reverse to back out of a driveway when the car suddenly accelerated on its own. It crossed the street and ran over a brick planter box, knocked down a crape myrtle tree and finally hit the neighbor's SUV. I applied the brakes to no avail and had no time to shift into neutral or turn off the ignition. After the accident, I checked the gas pedal to see if it was against the floor or if the floor mat was interfering with it, but found nothing wrong. The car was totaled and my back was injured.
Our Toyota excels to top speed on its own full speed. This almost had us in a very serious accident. The dealer says there is nothing wrong with the car but this happened twice last week 12/30/15 Toyota gave us a case # ni50883640 however, they have not done anything about it, what can we do?
Air bags
I was driving down a 4 lane highway (us 29 s), when a car tried to turn into the median three cars ahead of me. One car swerved to avoid the front two vehicles. When they did I was able to see the cars trying to stop. I slammed on my brakes, by the time I did it was too late. So going about 65 with about 50 feet of stopping distance I guess I was going 40 - 50 MPH. I could not move to the other lane since there was tractor trailer in the other lane. So I rear ended the vehicle in front of me. Impacting on the driver side front corner. My airbags failed to deploy. The following day inspecting the damage, the air bag sensor was right next to the damaged area and should have been able to pick up the impact.
Dt: as of August 17, 2005 there was single car accident in which the car rolled 3 times, and the air bags did not deploy. The speed was 45 MPH when this happened, there was a blown tire that caused the car to strike an embankment., and when consumer tried to correct the vehicle it rolled. Car was towed to consumer's residence where an insurance adjustor was going to make an assessment on this accident. No repairs or no dealer. Didn't know why air bags did not deploy. Had not contacted Toyota at this time.
Transmission & drivetrain
I shifted into reverse to back out of a driveway when the car suddenly accelerated on its own. It crossed the street and ran over a brick planter box, knocked down a crape myrtle tree and finally hit the neighbor's SUV. I applied the brakes to no avail and had no time to shift into neutral or turn off the ignition. After the accident, I checked the gas pedal to see if it was against the floor or if the floor mat was interfering with it, but found nothing wrong. The car was totaled and my back was injured.
My 2002 Toyota Echo on nov. 16th 2010 while driving on the freeway in the county of los angeles ca. Went into reverse while still in drive. There was traffic ahead of me so I was only driving about 2 MPH when it went into reverse while the automatic shift was still in drive. I went to put on the brake but the brakes did not work. I turned off the car and put on the hazards. Two minutes went by when I turned on the car and it went into drive. I then took it to the keyes Toyota in van nuys ca, and was told that they never heard of this before from any Toyota cars and that if they were even to look it would be completely at my expense. I sold the car for parts on 11/18/10.
2002 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 | 27 / 35 / 30 |
EPA ratings. Class: Compact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2002 Toyota Echo a good car?
Based on 35 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2002 Echo rates average: about as many complaints as a typical year of the Echo at the same age. 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 2002 Toyota Echo?
The speed control & acceleration — 8 complaints, 23% of all complaints for this model year, most often about accelerator pedal. Next are the air bags (7) and transmission & drivetrain (5).
How many recalls does the 2002 Toyota Echo have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2002 Toyota Echo, the most recent from July 19, 2006 (engine and engine cooling). 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 2002 Toyota Echo problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 75,000 miles; 41% 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.