2002 Toyota Echo problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (7) · Air Bags (6) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Echo model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
22 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (86)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-12-05 · T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
toyota vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film wi
Structure:body 2024-07-12 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-07-12 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Showing the 6 most recent of 86 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2018-04-25 · Air Bags“air bag front passenger looks that is not working, alarm in red shows that there is a problem with the airbag…”
2017-08-09 · Air Bags“takata recall.nothing has happened so far. i want to know if this is one of the models of cars affected by the takata air bag recall? please let me know,so i can get it repaired, if necessary. thank you!…”
2016-01-04 · Vehicle Speed Control · 66,292 mi“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?…”
2015-11-09 · Fuel System, Gasoline“2002 toyota echo. consumer writes in regards to gasoline burning too much in the exhaust system. *smd consumer sent additional correspondence. *smd *js…”
2015-01-02 · Unknown Or Other · 150,000 mi · 💥 crash · 🔥 fire“another vehicle traveling north, crossed center line and hit daughter in 2002 toyota echo head on. as a result of impact toyota echo caught on fire resulting in daughter receiving 3rd degree burns on right arm, head and leg. the air bag deployed as noted by -stander that removed daughter from vehicle and helped extinguish flames on daughter. daught…”
2014-07-04 · Vehicle Speed Control · 151,000 mi · 💥 crash“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 …”
2014-03-27 · Exterior Lighting · 70,000 mi · 🔥 fire“tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota echo. the contact stated that a burning odor was present inside the vehicle while driving. the contact soon discovered smoke coming from the rear window brake light. the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the rear window brake light socket and housing, which were made of plastic, had b…”
2012-03-04 · Electrical System · 74,600 mi“low beam headlights were engaged using the dimmer switch located on the steering column per normal operations. the low beams switched to high beams display. unable to disengage without totally switching off the lights. the high beam indicator appeared on the dashboard display as well. this event occurred when the temperatures were at or below…”
2012-02-23 · Vehicle Speed Control · 98,000 mi“stuck throttle on jan 19th, 2012 when accelerator pressed to floor. recovered by pulling up with foot. tried to reproduce the same day and was able to. took to dealer (boulder toyota) on jan 30th. they claimed they were unable to reproduce but thought carpet might be interfering with foot pedal and recommended i change all of carpet in car at a cos…”
2011-01-09 · Power Train · 137,242 mi“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 th…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.