Toyota Tercel Problems by Year
NHTSA has 116 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file for the Toyota Tercel, across 6 model years (1995–2000). The 1995 model year has the most complaints (51). The most reported problem area overall is air bags.
Toyota Tercel years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Tercel year: 1995, 1996, 1997. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1995 Tercel: 51 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1996 Tercel: 40 complaints, 0 recalls
- 1997 Tercel: 20 complaints, 0 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 1999 Tercel: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 2000 Tercel: 1 complaint, 0 recalls
- 1998 Tercel: 3 complaints, 0 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Toyota Tercel problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 34 | 5 | 24 |
| Seat Belts | 18 | 4 | 4 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 11 | 4 | 0 |
| Visibility | 11 | 3 | 0 |
| Tires | 8 | 3 | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | 3 | 3 |
| Suspension | 7 | 3 | 1 |
| Steering | 5 | 3 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Power Train | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Seats | 3 | 3 | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Exterior Lighting | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Wheels | 1 | 1 | 0 |
All Toyota Tercel model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Tercel | 1 | 0 | — | Steering | |
| 1999 Tercel | 1 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 1998 Tercel | 3 | 0 | — | Air Bags | |
| 1997 Tercel | 20 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 Tercel | 40 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1995 Tercel | 51 | 0 | — | Air Bags | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Toyota: all Toyota models · Toyota VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Tercel years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (51), 1996 (40), 1997 (20) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Tercel year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Toyota Tercel?
Air Bags, with 34 complaints across 5 model years.
How many recalls does the Toyota Tercel have?
0 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.