Having traveled in some pretty remote areas in Ecuador, I never (at least in the past) had any fears of having been totally “abandoned” and left to fend for one’s self. We have had to perform many makeshift repairs (flat tires, broken exhaust system, etc.) in some pretty isolated and potentially dangerous situations (3,000 plus feet on the side of a narrow mountainous road in the middle of the night or on a low traveled road in the tropical coast), but have always been able to make do until we could get to a larger town for some more semi-permanent repairs.
Having the advantage of traveling with fluent Spanish speakers and native Ecuadorians does make a difference, but even when we have traveled a little on our own, most people are more then happy to try and help you out and see to your safety.
Pete