Toyota Echo recalls

5 official safety recalls for the Toyota Echo from NHTSA (United States), DVSA (United Kingdom) and the EU Safety Gate, newest first. Recall repairs are normally free at the maker’s dealers.

Whether your car is affected and still needs the repair depends on its VIN or registration. Check it on the official site for your country:

  1. Crankshaft position sensor may disconnect

    Reported July 19, 2006Model years 2001–2002NHTSA campaign 06V26600034,771 vehicles affected

    Oil may enter the sensor connector and heat may deform it, allowing it to disconnect. The engine could stall while driving and may not restart. Dealers will replace the sensor free of charge.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
    Defect
    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.
    Consequence
    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.
    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.
    Notes
    TOYOTA RECALL NO. SSC 60G.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

  2. Brake master cylinder seal area may corrode

    Reported September 17, 2004Model years 2000NHTSA campaign 04V455000109,056 vehicles affected

    Corrosion near a rubber seal may allow brake fluid to leak or air to enter the master cylinder, increasing stopping distance. Dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder and replace it and the booster if necessary.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
    Defect
    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.
    Consequence
    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.
    Remedy
    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.
    Notes
    TOYOTA RECALL NO. SSC 40K.CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

  3. Snow may damage rear brake lines

    Reported October 1, 2002Model years 2001–2002NHTSA campaign 02V26800059,394 vehicles affected

    In repeated stop-and-start driving in deep snow and low temperatures, frozen snow inside a rear wheel may contact and damage a brake line. A damaged line could leak fluid and reduce braking. Dealers will replace the rear brake lines.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
    Defect
    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.
    Consequence
    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.
    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 REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
    Notes
    TOYOTA RECALL NO. SSC 20E.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

  4. Brake assist may decrease in cold conditions

    Reported October 10, 2001Model years 2000NHTSA campaign 01V32600042,198 vehicles affected

    In cold conditions just after starting the engine, with the air conditioner and other electrical devices adding load, the brake booster may not have enough vacuum. Brake assist could decrease, requiring more pedal pressure and increasing stopping distance. Dealers will replace the brake booster and front brake pads.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
    Defect
    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 THAT THE VACUUM IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD COULD BE INSUFFICIENT FOR THE BRAKE BOOSTER.
    Consequence
    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 DISTANCE.
    Remedy
    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 NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
    Notes
    ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

  5. Freezing moisture may reduce brake vacuum assist

    Reported September 7, 2000Model years 2000NHTSA campaign 00V2560004,530 vehicles affected

    Moisture from the PCV port can reach the brake vacuum port inside the intake manifold and begin to freeze. Reduced vacuum assist means more pedal pressure is needed and stopping distance increases. Dealers will repair the vacuum port.

    Official NHTSA recall text
    Component
    ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
    Defect
    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 MOISTURE FROM THE POSITIVE CRANKCASE VENTILATION (PCV) PORT COULD SEEP TOWARD THE BRAKE VACUUM PORT INSIDE THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND START TO FREEZE.
    Consequence
    VACUUM ASSIST TO THE BRAKES WOULD BE DECREASED AND INCREASED PEDAL PRESSURE WOULD BE REQUIRED, INCREASING THE VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE.
    Remedy
    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 POSSIBILITY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL BE OPERATED IN THESE STATES DURING THE WINTER OR IN CONDITIONS DESCRIBED, THE VEHICLE SHOULD BE SERVICED FOR THIS RECALL.
    Notes
    OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 4, 2000.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.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Sources: NHTSA (US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration), DVSA (UK Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) and the EU Safety Gate (European Commission) recall data. Each recall covers vehicles sold in that market; models sold elsewhere may differ.

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