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Toyota TercelYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 320 NHTSA owner complaints across 21 model years, no Toyota Tercel year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1993, 1994, 1995 and 1996. The Tercel has 2 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years'93 '94 '95 '96Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints320Top: Air bagsSafety recalls21980–2000 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years.

Best & worst years

Toyota Tercel years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Tercel median. Tap a year for its full report.

'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2000Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1999Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1998Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/10020 complaints · 0 recalls1996Solid56/10040 complaints · 0 recalls1995Solid48/10051 complaints · 0 recalls1994Solid50/10040 complaints · 0 recalls1993Solid50/10043 complaints · 0 recalls1992Not rated–/10024 complaints · 0 recalls1991Not rated–/10017 complaints · 0 recalls1990Not rated–/10019 complaints · 1 recall1989Not rated–/10022 complaints · 1 recall1988Not rated–/1008 complaints · 1 recall1987Not rated–/10013 complaints · 1 recall1986Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls1985Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1984Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1983Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls1982Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1981Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1980Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Toyota Tercel problems

All model years combined: 320 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags7657
Seat belts5218
Engine and engine cooling456
Service brakes, hydraulic249
Electrical system217
Fuel system, gasoline200
Visibility183
Tires165
Suspension142
13 other systems7018
2 recalls

Toyota Tercel recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Exterior lighting: headlights92V-111 · 1987–1990 · Jul 13, 1992 · 360,399 vehicles–Suspension: rear86V-038 · 1980–1982 · Mar 10, 1986 · 359,000 vehicles
3 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Tercel

  1. BROKEN STABILIZER BARPE89134 · 1982–1988 · closed Sep 22, 1989
    No recall
  2. IGNITER ASSEMBLY FAILUREPE87057 · 1983–1986 · closed Mar 30, 1988
    No recall
  3. WHEEL BEARING FAILURE AND AXLEDP85019 · 1982 · closed May 14, 1985
    No recall