RoadVitals

2002 Toyota Echo Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
35
Latest Apr 25, 2018
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
14
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jul 9, 2002

What this page shows

Our database holds 35 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Toyota Echo. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 35 · page 1 of 2

Airbags
Filed Apr 25, 2018

AIR BAG FRONT PASSENGER LOOKS THAT IS NOT WORKING, ALARM IN RED SHOWS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE AIRBAG

NHTSA ID
11090041
Incident
Mar 6, 2018
Airbags
Filed Aug 9, 2017

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!

NHTSA ID
11013961
Incident
Aug 9, 2017
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 4, 2016

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?

NHTSA ID
10817585
Incident
Dec 30, 2015
Mileage
66,292 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Nov 9, 2015

2002 TOYOTA ECHO. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO GASOLINE BURNING TOO MUCH IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *SMD CONSUMER SENT ADDITIONAL CORRESPONDENCE. *SMD *JS

NHTSA ID
10806896
Incident
Feb 1, 2014
Filed Jan 2, 2015
Crash reportedFire reported1 injury reported

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. DAUGHTER WAS UNCONSCIOUS AFTER IMPACT. VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY CONSUMED BY FIRE AND DAUGHTER AIRLIFTED TO BURN CENTER FOR TREATMENT.

NHTSA ID
10669766
Incident
Dec 13, 2014
Mileage
150,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 4, 2014
Crash reported1 injury reported

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10608192
Incident
Jun 20, 2014
Mileage
151,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 27, 2014
Fire reported

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 BOTH MELTED FROM THE HEAT OF THE LIGHT BULB. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REMOVED THE LIGHT BULB FROM THE SOCKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 06/10/14 MA THE CONSUMER PURCHASED THE PARTS AND VEHICLE HAS SINCE BEEN REPAIRED. *TR

NHTSA ID
10575211
Incident
Mar 22, 2014
Mileage
70,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 4, 2012

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 20 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT AND THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 8 HOURS (IN A PARK AND RIDE LOT). ONCE THE INTERIOR CABIN WARMED UP AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO "JIGGLE" THE LIGHTS BACK TO LOW BEAMS.

NHTSA ID
10450928
Incident
Feb 22, 2012
Mileage
74,600 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 23, 2012

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 COST OF $1200. I ASKED THEM TO JUST TRIM THE CARD AROUND THE PEDAL, AND THEY TOLD ME THEY COULDN'T DO THAT. TRIED TO REPRODUCE AFTER DEALER VISIT AND WAS UNABLE. INSPECTED ON FEB 3RD, AND IT APPEARED LIKE CARPET MIGHT HAVE BEEN PULLED BACK AROUND HOLE IN FLOOR. I PUSHED IT BACK INTO POSITION, AND THEN TRIED TO REPRODUCE THE STUCK THROTTLE AND WAS ABLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10449089
Incident
Jan 19, 2012
Mileage
98,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 9, 2011

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10375302
Incident
Nov 16, 2010
Mileage
137,242 mi
Suspension
Filed Jun 17, 2010

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 40 MPH AND UP, THE TRACTION WOULD FEEL AS IF SHE WAS DRIVING ON ICE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD SLIDE BACK AND FORTH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT THE SWAY BAR WAS WORN. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SWAY BAR, A REAR SHOCK THAT WAS LEAKING AND ALL FOUR TIRES. THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE DIAGNOSED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FURTHER REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,220 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 128,443.

NHTSA ID
10336809
Incident
Feb 8, 2010
Mileage
127,220 mi
Engine
Filed May 17, 2010

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) NHTSA RECALL 06V266000 RECALLED 02 TOYOTA ECHO FOR CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILURES WHICH COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLES TO STALL AND NOT RESTART, RISKING A CRASH. TOYOTA ONLY RECALLED VEHICLES UP TO SERIAL NUMBERS ENDING IN 212671. MY 02 ECHO JUST HAD THE EXACT CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILURE DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL. MY VIN NUMBER IS[XXX]. SO I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT BY VEHICLE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE EXACT FAILURE. THE RECALL NEEDS TO BE EXTENDED TO HIGHER VEHICLE NUMBERS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10330760
Incident
May 16, 2010
Mileage
85,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Apr 7, 2010

1. APPROACHING A LEFT TURN AT 15 TO 25 MPH, GAP IN ON-COMING TRAFFIC, PRESS ACCELERATOR AND TURN LEFT. 2. THE CAR DECELERATES AS THE TRANSMISSION TAKES OVER AND LETHARGICALLY DOWNSHIFTS, 98% OF THE TIME, CAUSING NEAR MISSES. 3. I DOUBT ANYONE CARES TO CONSIDER IT A PROBLEM. SO, HOW MANY MORE BROADSIDES OCCUR WITH ECHOES THAN THE AVERAGE FOR OTHER CARS, OR HAS NO ONE EVER CHECKED? *TR

NHTSA ID
10324394
Incident
Jun 7, 2004
Mileage
14,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 17, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WITH HIS FOOT OFF OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THE ENGINE IDLED AND ACCELERATED TO A HIGHER SPEED. HE HAD TO PUT HIS FOOT ON THE BRAKES AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM IDLING. THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND A CLAIM WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS PERFORMED WHICH CONFIRMED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL MALFUNCTIONED. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THE HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST SINCE THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. UPDATED 03/12/10. *LJ WHEN THE BEGINNING ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE WOULD REV AT A HIGH IDLE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD PICK UP SPEED AND SEVERE BRAKE PRESSURE WAS NEED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/14/10

NHTSA ID
10311447
Incident
Jan 4, 2010
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Sep 29, 2009

TOYOTA FLOOR MAT OVER ACCELERATOR- THIS HAPPENED TO ME! MORE THAN ONCE! I DISCOVERED WHAT IT WAS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED. I PULLED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL BOTH TIMES. TOYOTA ECHO, 2002 . *TR

NHTSA ID
10285697
Incident
Jun 1, 2007
Engine
Filed Jan 25, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA ECHO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED A STARTER AND THE PART HAD TO BE ORDERED. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED ON A LIFT AND A HOLE WAS DISCOVERED IN THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE HAS BEEN RECURRING FOR FOUR OR FIVE YEARS. WHEN SHE DRIVES OVER 80 MILES, THE OIL LIGHT ILLUMINATES. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE FAILURE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE'S MAINTENANCE HAS ALWAYS BEEN CURRENT. THE DEALER ALSO STATED THAT THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V266000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING), BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. CURRENTLY, THE ENGINE IS BEING REPLACED WITH A USED ENGINE AT THE CONTACT'S EXPENSE. THE REPLACEMENT WILL COST OVER $3,000. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 97,500.

NHTSA ID
10216136
Incident
Jan 16, 2008
Mileage
97,500 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 12, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported

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. *JB

NHTSA ID
10182367
Incident
Feb 11, 2007
Mileage
101,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 18, 2005

DT: 2002 TOYOTA ECHO. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN CLOSING THE PASSENGER DOOR THE REAR WINDOW COLLAPSED AND SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT IT WAS AT A LOCAL AUTO GLASS REPAIR SHOP. TOYOTA STATED THEY HAD NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, AND ASKED THE REPAIR SHOP TO FILE A LETTER OF CAUSE, CONDITION, AND REMEDY. THIS OCCURRED ON OCTOBER 14, 2005. THERE HAD BEEN NO TROUBLE WITH THAT WINDOW PRIOR TO THIS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10140085
Incident
Oct 14, 2005
Brakes
Filed Sep 22, 2005

2002 TOYOTA ECHO EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE.*MR THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES DID NOT FUNCTION AT THE SAME TIME, WHICH CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE BRAKE INDICATOR DID NOT FUNCTION AS DESIGNED TO LET THE CONSUMER KNOW WHEN THE BRAKES HAD WORN OUT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10137772
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Airbags
Filed Aug 22, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
10133776
Incident
Aug 17, 2005
Mileage
80,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jul 5, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA ECHO. IT WAS REALLY HOT AFTERNOON AND STEREO MALFUNCTIONED. THE ELECTRICITY SURGED THROUGHOUT CAR, AND THROUGHOUT SPEAKERS. THIS HAPPENED EVEN AFTER SHE TURNED OFF THE AIR CONDITIONER, STEREO, AND VEHICLE .THERE WAS A BAD SMELL OF BURNT PLASTIC THAT REMAINED IN VEHICLE FOR ABOUT THREE DAYS. IT WAS APPARENT THAT IT WAS NOT THE STEREO FUSE BECAUSE THE CABIN LIGHT AND THE CLOCK WAS NOT WORKING. SHE WILL NOT KNOW FOR SURE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM UNTIL SHE HAS THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10127462
Incident
Jun 23, 2005
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Dec 6, 2004

VEHICLE WOULD INTERMITTENTLY JUMP OUT OF DRIVE INTO NEUTRAL WHEN APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL FROM A STOP/SLOW MOTION OR FROM INCREASING THE SPEED TO HIGH LEVELS. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
10103145
Incident
Oct 14, 2004
Mileage
1,200 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 20, 2004
Crash reported3 injuries reported

MY BOY FRIEND WAS DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA ECHO 2-DOOR COUPE. WE WERE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE LANE ON THE OUTERLOOP OF 495 (MARYLAND), RIGHT PAST THE CONNECTICUT/KENSINGTON EXIT WHEN TRAFFIC BEGAN TO SLOW DOWN (50MPH). THE MAZDA 626 IN FRONT OF US SUDDENLY SLAMMED ON HIS BREAKS SO MY BOYFRIEND SLAMMED ON HIS BREAKS WHEN HE NOTICED A CHEVY MALIBU COMING FULL SPEED BEHIND US WITH THE DRIVER UNCONSCIOUS AT THE STEERING WHEEL. HE GLANCED TO THE SIDE AND SAW NO ONE COMING ON HIS LEFT SO HE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO CHANGE LANES. THE TOYOTA ECHO KEPT GOING STRAIGHT SINCE SLOWING DOWN AT THAT SPEED, THE CAR WAS SKIDDING TOWARD THE MAZDA 626 QUITE FAST. SINCE HE WAS SLOWING DOWN QUITE RAPIDLY AND THE CHEVY MALIBU BEHIND US DIDN'T SEEM TO BE SLOWING DOWN, IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT THE CHEVY MALIBU SLAMMED INTO THE BACK OF OUR TOYOTA ECHO. THE IMPACT CRUSHED THE TRUNK PAST THE GAS TANK. AFTER THAT WE WERE LURCHED FORWARD INTO THE MAZDA 626. IN TURN HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM AND SO FORTH. IT DIDN'T END THERE BECAUSE THE DRIVER BEHIND US WAS UNCONSCIOUS, THE CHEVY MALIBU KEPT SLAMMING INTO THE BACK OF OUR TOYOTA 2-3 TIMES LIKE A BUMPER CAR UNTIL WE FINALLY CAME TO A STOP. NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE TOYOTA ECHO SUFFERED SEVERE FRONTAL AND REAR DAMAGE, YET THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. WHEN THE PARAMEDICS ARRIVED ON THE SCENE, THEY WERE SHOCKED TO SEE THAT WITH SUCH SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE CAR, THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE INSURANCE ADJUSTER HAS TOLD ME THAT THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS AND NOT WORTH THE COST OF REPAIRING AS IT WOULD EXCEED $10,000 IN CHARGES. MY MAIN CONCERN IS THAT ALTHOUGH WE ALL SURVIVED THE CRASH WITHOUT SERIOUS INJURY, WHY WOULD SUCH AN IMPACT NOT MAKE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY?*AK

NHTSA ID
10088269
Incident
Aug 15, 2004
Mileage
24,000 mi
Body & structureOther / unspecifiedSteering+1 more
Filed Aug 11, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

1. NO PROBLEMS WHATSOEVER UNTIL EVENT. WE ARE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND THE CAR ONLY HAD 17,000+ MILES ON IT. 2. DRIVING ALONG AT NORMAL RATE OF SPEED, SUDDENLY METALLIC, GRINDING SOUNDS FROM UNDER HOOD (NOT LIKE A BLOW OUT OR TIRE TREAD COMING OFF), SLOWED DOWN TO PULL OVER WHEN CAR PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT AND LOCKED. HUSBAND PULLED HARD ON THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT. THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED BUT THE WHEELS DIDN'T. NO CONTROL OF CAR WHATSOEVER. CAR HIT GUARDRAIL. AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HUSBAND WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE WITH HEAD, CHEST, AND BACK INJURIES. 3. STILL HAVEN'T HEARD FROM INSURANCE COMPANY BUT EVERYONE HAS TOLD US THE CAR IS TOTALED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10086611
Incident
Aug 7, 2004
Mileage
17,296 mi
Other / unspecified
Filed May 19, 2004
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH ON A FLAT, STRIGHT HIGHWAY IN LIGHT-TO-MODERATE TRAFFIC CONDITIONS ON A ROAD WITH NO OBSTRUCTIONS OR VISIBLE FLUID/OIL SPOTS MY 2002 TOYOTA ECHO SUDDENLY AND SHARPLY VEERED RIGHT. I ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT MY TRAJECTORY, BUT THE CAR SWERVED COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL, FINAL TURNING COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TO HIT THE CONCRETE MEDIAN NEARLY-HEAD-ON, WITH MAJORITY OF IMPACT ON RIGHT FRONT OF CAR. THE RECOIL OF THE IMPACT TURNED THE CAR SO THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY 180 DEGREES FROM THE DRIVING DIRECTION ON THE FREEWAY. THE FRONT END OF THE CAR WAS PUSHED IN, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE HOOD PUSHED IN AND UP AND THE DRIVER'S DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN. NO INJURY OCCURED FROM THE CRASH. I WAS NOT UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF ALCOHOL OR OTHER DRUGS, WAS NOT TALKING ON A CELL PHONE AND HAD BOTH HAND ON THE WHEEL AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. IT OCCURED DURING CLEAR, SUNNY WEATHER AT 4:00 PM ON MAY 7, 2004. THE CAR HAS BEEN DEEMED "TOTALLED" BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY AND NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN DONE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10072878
Incident
May 7, 2004
Mileage
10,300 mi

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