RoadVitals

1988 Toyota Tercel

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints 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.
8
Latest Aug 16, 1998
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Aug 27, 2007
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
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.
2

Overview

Our database contains 8 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Toyota Tercel, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and body & structure categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 20 manufacturer communications are on file.

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

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical337.5%
  • Engine337.5%
  • Body & structure112.5%
  • Fuel system112.5%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
07E064000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Aug 27, 2007
34,000 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FUEL PUMP DIAPHRAGM IN CERTAIN PRODUCTION RUNS MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR INADEQUATELY TESTED WHICH MAY CAUSE THE FUEL PUMP TO LEAK.
The risk: A LEAKING FUEL PUMP COULD CREATE A VEHICLE FIRE HAZARD.
The remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
FEDERAL-MOGUL CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
92V111000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Jul 13, 1992
360,399 units potentially affected
The defect: THERE CAN BE INTERFERENCE WITH THE HEADLAMP HOUSING IF HEADLAMP BULBS ARE REPLACED WITH ANY BRAND OTHER THAN KOITO BRAND BULBS.
The risk: THE INTERFERENCE WITH THE HEADLAMP HOUSING CAUSED BYOTHER THAN KOITO BRAND LAMP BULBS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 108, "LAMPS,REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
The remedy: TOYOTA DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A NEW KOITO BRAND BULB WITH NO CHARGE IF A NON-KOITO BRAND BULB IS NOW INSTALLED, OR SHOULD A HEADLAMP BULB BURN OUT IN THE FUTURE. "CAUTION LABELS" WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON EACH HEADLAMP HOUSING.
TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE89134ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

BROKEN STABILIZER BAR

Opened Jul 3, 1989
Closed Sep 22, 1989

===

SUSPENSION

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Aug 16, 1998

LACK OF POWER, RUN-ON, FLAT SPOTS, WILL NOT GO WHEN ENGINE IS COLD.

NHTSA ID
539942
Fuel system
Filed Mar 16, 1998

KNOWN CARBURETOR PROBLEMS WITH THE VARIABLE VENTURI CARBURETOR IN THIS MODEL. VEHICLE CUTS OFF AT SPEEDS 58-62 MPH. AUTOMATICALLY RESTARTS WHEN SPEED DROPS TO APPROX. 56 MPH.

NHTSA ID
532847
Electrical
Filed Sep 14, 1997
Fire reported

VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT.

NHTSA ID
522083
Incident
Oct 25, 1995
Electrical
Filed Sep 10, 1997
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED VEHICLE FIRE.

NHTSA ID
522224
Incident
Oct 25, 1995
Electrical
Filed Sep 2, 1997

ELECTRICAL FIRE.

NHTSA ID
521581
Engine
Filed Nov 22, 1996

INTERMITTENT STALLING.

NHTSA ID
601953
Incident
Aug 1, 1988
Body & structure
Filed Nov 5, 1996

REAR HATCH LEAKS IN RAIN/REAR HATCH GASKET REPLACED FOUR TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
510967
Engine
Filed Oct 17, 1996

CARBON BUILDS UP IN THE VACCUUM LINES OF THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY, VEHICLE FAILED EMISSION TEST 3 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID
509789

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB003220

AIR BAGS; EQUIPMENT; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.

Toyota PRO19-02

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; TIRES; WHEELS

POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Toyota.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.

T-SB-0032-20 Rev

EQUIPMENT

TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2021 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.

T-SB-0304-17 Obs

EQUIPMENT

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

T-SB-0032-20

EQUIPMENT

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, T-SB-0144-08, and T-SB-0304-17. The aforementioned bulletins are obsolete, and any printed versions should be discarded. Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2020 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.

T-CP-N04-0144-W_

EQUIPMENT; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Dealer Letter: Toyota will initiate a Special Service Campaign to inform certain Tercel owners of the need to use only Koito brand replacement headlamp bulbs. The original equipment headlamp bulbs in these vehicles were all Koito brand. The use of any brand of bulb other than Koito can cause the headlamp to fail to meet all of the photometric requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Standard No. 108. Owners will be supplied with caution labels and asked to install them on the headlamp housings. Owners who have previously replaced headlamp bulbs will be asked to bring their vehicle to a dealer for inspection and, if necessary, replacement with a Koito brand bulb. Any headlamp bulb of the involved vehicles that is burnt out now or in the future will be replaced free of charge with a Koito brand bulb. Please assist any involved Tercel owner by inspecting and replacing any non-Koito or burned out headlamp bulb with the correct Koito bulb. If an owner has not installed the caution labels on each headlamp housing, please do so for them. An initial supply of these labels is enclosed with this information package. Should you require additional labels, they can be ordered by calling (310) 783-5596. In addition, please install caution labels and Koito headlamp bulbs as necessary in any vehicles currently in your stock.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Toyota Tercel by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2000100—
1999110—
1998310—
1997202057.4
1996402058.3
1995512059.9
1994400048.9
1993430049.8
1992240041.8
1991170040.3
1990191053.2
1989221044.7
1988Viewing821—
1987132158.4
1986612—
1985312—
1984512—
1983212—
1982212—
1981010—
1980010—
1979000—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.