Model year record

2001 Toyota Echo recalls & problems

The 2001 Toyota Echo has 2 safety recalls and 50 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (14 complaints).

Recalls2safety recalls

Complaints50filed by owners

Crashes · fires16 · 6reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths16 · 1reported in complaints

2001 Toyota Echo in an NHTSA crash test — NHTSA crash test

Safety recalls

Engine and engine coolingJul 19, 2006

Engine and engine cooling

Recall 06V26600034,771 vehicles

Problem: 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.
Risk: ENGINE OIL INSIDE THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR COULD CAUSE EXPANSION DUE TO THE HEAT OF THE ENGINE AND COULD DEFORM THE SENSOR WIRING CONNECTOR. THE CONNECTOR MAY BECOME DISCONNECTED, WHICH COULD CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING AND NOT BE ABLE TO BE RESTARTED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: 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, hydraulicOct 1, 2002

Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 02V26800059,394 vehicles

Problem: 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. THE SNOW FROZEN INSIDE THE WHEEL COULD CONTACT THE REAR BRAKE LINE DURING WHEEL ROTATION.
Risk: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS FREQUENTLY, THE REAR BRAKE LINE COULD BE DAMAGED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN LEAKAGE OF BRAKE FLUID, CAUSING A DECREASE IN BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS.
Fix: 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 REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

2001 Toyota Echo 4-DR.

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

2001 Toyota Echo NHTSA side crash test — NHTSA side barrier crash test

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Echo

32mpg combined

City / highway	29 / 37 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,100/year to fuel

Echo

30mpg combined

City / highway	27 / 35 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,250/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Air bagsFrontal	14	12	2	14	64,000 mi
Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline	8	3	4	2	95,950 mi
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components; Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	7	1	0	0	—
Vehicle speed controlAccelerator pedal	7	2	0	2	67,000 mi
Tires	5	0	0	0	—
Power trainAutomatic transmission	3	0	0	0	—
VisibilityWindshield; Defroster/defogger/hvac system	3	0	0	0	—
Seat beltsFront; Rear/other	3	3	0	5	—
Fuel system, gasolineDelivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings; Storage › Tank assembly	3	0	0	0	3,000 mi
Electrical system	3	0	2	0	72,000 mi
Unknown or other	2	0	0	0	—
Exterior lightingHeadlights › High/low beam dimmer switch	1	0	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Vehicle speed control
While entering interstate accelerator was depressed all the way and became stuck on a couple of occasions. I had to use my foot to release it and it popped out. Dealership recommended it was floor mat. I purchased aftermarket ridged floor mats that will not curl up and it is still an issue.
Feb 6, 2023
Wheels
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA ECHO EQUIPPED WITH PRIME WELL TIRES, TIRE LINE: PS830, TIRE SIZE: UNKNOWN: DOT: 7TB03MH13318. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND HER FRONT LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE BLEW. SHE PULLED OVER AND NOTICED THE DAMAGE WAS ON THE BOTTOM SIDE. THE DAMAGE WAS A LONG TEAR AND HOLE IN THE TREAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT TIRE SHOP. THE CONTACT DID NOT REMEMBER WHAT THE TIRE SHOP DIAGNOSED AS THE CAUSE OF THE BLOW OUT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE TIRES WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE WAS 215,000.
Oct 16, 2020 · 215,000 miles
Engine
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA ECHO. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG AND CHECK ENGINE INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR DID NOT ILLUMINATE WHEN CHANGING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE COMPUTER WAS RESET, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000.
Jan 1, 2015 · 155,000 miles
Unknown or other
CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR! I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE FROM A GENTLEMAN WHO HASN'T DRIVEN THE CAR FOR AWHILE AFTER IT DIED ON HIM AND HE WAS UNABLE TO START IT UP AGAIN. I HOOKED IT UP TO AN OBD READER AND IT GIVE S ME THE CODE FOR THE CRANKSHAFT POSITION SENSOR. I CHECKED FUEL PUMP SPARK PLUGS TO MAKE SURE AND THOSE ARE GOOD WORKING ORDER.
Jul 1, 2015 · 150,000 miles
Air bagsCrash2 injuries
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A HOUSE GARAGE DOOR AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A WAIST INJURY AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED CHEST AND ARM INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Aug 3, 2015
Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE HORN BECAME INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000. MA 10/8 UPDATED 3/22/16 *JS *CN
Aug 4, 2015 · 93,000 miles
Electrical systemFire
EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE SPEAKER WIRE SHORTING AND GETTING HOT. I ONCE HAD TO CALL THE FIRE DEPT BECAUSE THE SPEAKER WAS SO HOT TO THE TOUCH. I AM STILL HAVING THAT PROBLEM AND JUST CUT THE WIRE AGAIN DUE TO SPARKING. I TOOK THE CAR TO FREEMAN TOYOTA IN SANTA ROSA, CA WHERE I GOT IT AND THEY REWIRED THE SPEAKERS. THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, AND I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO NEXT. *TR
Apr 1, 2003 · 10,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS ABOVE 5 MPH AND OPERATING THE HEADLIGHTS, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE RESTARTED AFTER A JUMP AND WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 225,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
Nov 29, 2011 · 225,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.