Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 98 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Toyota Echo, and it carries 3 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 23 | 23% |
| Air bags | 16 | 16% |
| Vehicle speed control | 9 | 9% |
| Electrical system | 7 | 7% |
| Power train | 5 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 5 | 5% |
| Equipment | 4 | 4% |
| Suspension | 3 | 3% |
| Tires | 2 | 2% |
| Structure | 2 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Echo equipped with NEXEN Tire, Tire Line: N PRIZ, Tire Size: 175/65/R14, DOT Number: 8EJH. The contact replaced the original tires on July 1, 2021 and within 2 months the front driver’s sid
NHTSA complaint: Tires
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 S
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
DRIVER'S SEAT FAILURE (ORIGINAL AND REPLACEMENT SEAT FROM A COLLISION VEHICLE) ... SEAT BUTT PAN (MIDDLE METAL PANEL OF SEAT BASE/BOTTOM) METAL SPLIT, SPREADING APART TO THE POINT THAT CONNECTION TO THE METAL SEAT SIDE
NHTSA complaint: Seats
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 ST
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
TAKATA RECALL AIR BAG DASH LIGHT REMAINS "ON" WHENEVER ENGINE IS RUNNING.
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
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
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
WHEN YOU ARE IN THE CAR AND THE MANUAL LOCKS ARE LOCKED YOU CAN NOT OPEN THE DOOR. YOU HAVE TO UNLOCK IT FIRST TO OPEN DOOR. NORMALLY A LOCKED DOOR WILL OPEN WHEN YOU OPEN THE DOOR. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN. THEN WHE
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
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
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the 2000 Toyota Echo. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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. CONDENSED M
Risk: VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES WOULD BE DECREASED AND INCREASED PEDAL PRESSURE WOULD BE REQUIRED, INCREASING THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE.
Fix: 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. IF THE ECHO OWNER BELIEVES THAT THERE IS A POSSIBIL
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
Risk: WHEN THE BRAKE IS APPLIED UNDER THIS COMBINATION OF CONDITIONS, VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES WOULD DECREASE, AND THE INCREASED PEDAL PRESSURE REQUIRED COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE IN VEHICLE STOPPING DIST
Fix: 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
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.
Risk: IN THIS CONDITION, BRAKE FLUID MAY LEAK FROM THE SEAL, OR A SMALL AMOUNT OF AIR MAY ENTER THE MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE OF VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE.
Fix: 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
| Reliability raw | 82 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 84 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 39 | below average |
| Efficiency | 53 | average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 98 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 23 of them (23%). There are 3 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 82/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 84/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2000 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 75/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.