1997 Toyota Tercel Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Tercel years
- Far more complaints than other years 3rd of 6 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- None on file
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Toyota Tercel. That ranks 3rd out of 6 Tercel model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is air bags (8 complaints, 40%). Complaints mention 5 crashes, 6 injuries. There are no safety recalls on file for this model year.
- 20owner complaints
- 0safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 5complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Toyota Tercel problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 8 | 40% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 4 | 20% | 150,000 | — | — |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | 15% | 159,000 | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Suspension | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Tires | 2 | 10% | — | — | — |
| Seats | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
| Visibility | 1 | 5% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Toyota Tercel recalls (0)
No safety recalls are on file for the 1997 Toyota Tercel.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
Both the driver side and passenger side seat belt buckles aren't working properly. Sometimes when you think you're buckled in the seat belt will release all of a sudden.
Both the driver and passenger side seat belts stopped working about the same time. I would buckle myself up and my passenger would the seat buckle pop's right out of the anchor. I am breaking the law every time i get in my car. I can not go on highways or freeways. I can not have a passenger ride…
While i was adding oil to the engine of my 1997 toyota tercel, i noticed a bolt attaching the belt assembly to the engine was sticking out 4 or 5 inches past the belt assembly, rubbing against a hose. It didn't look right, so i took it to a mechanic who tightened it back up. He said the bolt had…
While backing out of the driveway and without prior warning another vehicle was passing through and both vehicle collided.upon impact air bags didn't deploy. *ak
While traveling on the highway the vehicle is leaking oil from underneath the vehicle. *ak
Other Toyota Tercel years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 Tercel | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 Tercel | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 Tercel | 3 | 0 |
| 1997 | 20 | 0 |
| 1996 Tercel | 40 | 0 |
| 1995 Tercel | 51 | 0 |
See all Toyota Tercel problems by year, every Toyota model, or the Toyota VIN decoder.
Similar Toyota models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Toyota Tercel?
Owners most often report air bags, seat belts, engine and engine cooling problems. The top one, air bags, accounts for 8 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Toyota Tercel?
No safety recalls are on file for this model year.
Was the 1997 Toyota Tercel a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Tercel model years, the 1997 has far more complaints than most years. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.