Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
24
Latest Jan 22, 2015
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.
4
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Sep 29, 1995
What this page shows
Our database holds 24 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1992 Toyota Tercel. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–24 of 24
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jan 22, 2015
Crash reported1 death reported
ON 12/29/2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 10AM, MY 84 YEAR MOTHER WAS LEAVING A WALGREEN'S PARKING LOT LOCATED IN SUNRISE, FLORIDA. AFTER BACKING UP, SHE PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE WHERE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED. AS A RESULT THE CAR STRUCK A RETAINING WALL CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE POLICE AND EMS WERE CALLED AND PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION TO THE HOSPITAL. MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY AS A RESULT OF HER INJURIES AT APPROXIMATELY 12PM ON 12/29/2015. *TR
NHTSA ID
10678246
Incident
Dec 29, 2014
Mileage
90,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 23, 2010
I WAS DRIVING A 92 TOYOTA TERCEL. I WAS GOING UP A STEEP HILL ON I-5 IN OREGON. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS PEDAL LOST PRESSURE AND FELL TO THE FLOOR WITH THE ENGINE AT FULL ACCELERATION. LUCKILY I WAS GOING UP A HILL. I REACHED DOWN AND WIGGLED THE GAS PEDAL AND IT WAS TOTALLY LOOSE AND JUST DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. AS I CAME TO THE NEXT EXIT I PULLED OFF, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE KEY. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND THE PRESSURE CAME BACK TO THE GAS PEDAL. IT SEEMED TO DRIVE FINE AFTER THAT EXCEPT IT MADE A DEEPER MUFFLED NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. I BROUGHT IT IN TO A MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY LUBED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY AND THERE WERE NO MORE PROBLEMS. *TR
NHTSA ID
10312998
Incident
Jun 10, 1996
Mileage
90,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jan 31, 2007
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 TOYOTA TERCEL. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN THE SPRING OF 1992, AND 6 MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A VERY NICE DAY THE ENGINE SEIZED AND ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A BRAND NEW ENGINE AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECOND ENGINE SEIZED 10 MONTHS LATER. THE CONTACT THEN PURCHASED A REBUILT ENGINE IN THE SPRING OF 1995, AND 7 MONTHS LATER THAT ENGINE SEIZED. THE CONTACT THEN PURCHASED ANOTHER ENGINE IN 2002, AND IT WAS CURRENTLY STILL WORKING. EACH INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH, AND HAD A BRAND NEW ENGINE WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED. *AK
NHTSA ID
10181218
Incident
Nov 21, 1995
Seat belts
Filed Feb 16, 2005
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT STARTED TO ENTANGLE FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM. DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER BY PHONE. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ID
10111651
Incident
Feb 16, 2005
Seat belts
Filed May 21, 2003
DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT IS VERY BADLY FRAYED. HAS REACHED THE POINT WHERE IT DOESN'T RETRACT PROPERLY. *JB
NHTSA ID
10019059
Incident
May 20, 2003
Fuel system
Filed Mar 7, 2003
VEHICLE EXPELLED HIGH HYDROCARBONS AND CARBON MONOXIDE AT CRUISE. HOWEVER AT IDLE IT WAS EXTREMELY LOW. AFTER MANY REPAIRS, IT WAS FOUND THE FUEL VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM HAD MALFUNCTIONED THAT WOULD PROBABLY INCLUDE THE VACUUM LINE FROM THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND MAY ALSO BE AFFECTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CONSUMER REQUESTED RECALL INFORMATION ON THIS CONDITION. *TT *JB
NHTSA ID
10007323
Tires & wheels
Filed Dec 2, 2001
2 NEW TIRES, LESS THAN 5,00 MILES DRIVEN, SIDEWALLS CRACKING AND SEPARATING. *AK (DOT NUMBER: PL8JV9LR10 TIRESIZE: P175/65R14)
NHTSA ID
755191
Incident
Nov 1, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Jun 20, 2001
THE DRIVER SIDE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SHOULDER BELT IS FRAYING BADLY. *AK
NHTSA ID
747130
Incident
Jul 1, 1996
Seat belts
Filed May 22, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15-20MPH & ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER & THERE WAS A REAR END COLLISION. SEAT BELT DIDN'T TIGHTEN TO SECURE THE CONSUMER WHICH CAUSED ALOT OF KNOCKING AROUND. MANFACTURER WAS SENDING ADJUSTER OUT TO INSPECT VEHICLE & WOULDN'T SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT SO THAT CONSUMER COULD BE PRESENT. *AK THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T TIGHTEN AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. *YH
NHTSA ID
862326
Incident
Apr 17, 2000
Engine
Filed Apr 27, 2000
WHILE DRIVING, THERE BEGAN A KNOCKING SOUND. WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP WHO SAID ONE OF THE BEARINGS ON THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN AND DISINTEGRATED. *AK.
NHTSA ID
721993
Incident
Apr 20, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Feb 24, 2000
THE SHOUDLER STRAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS SHREDDING. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE BELT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. *AK *ML
NHTSA ID
857468
Incident
Jan 24, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Jan 5, 2000
THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS FRAYED ON THE EDGE THAT CONTACTS THE NECK. THE EXPOSED FIBERS ARE LIKE SHARP TINY SAW TEETH, MUCH LIKE A HACK SAW. IN AN ACCIDENT, THE BELT COULD EASILY SLICE THROUGH THE NECK TO THE CAROTID ARTERY. *AK
NHTSA ID
716903
Incident
Jan 1, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Jan 13, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported
CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HER IN SEAT, RESULTING IN AN INJURY. *AK
NHTSA ID
833524
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Apr 1, 1998
BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY.
NHTSA ID
533571
Engine
Filed Mar 17, 1998
ENGINE FAILED
NHTSA ID
532744
Incident
Aug 1, 1997
Seat belts
Filed Dec 23, 1997
SEAT BELT DETERIORATED TO THREADS IN THE FRONT SHOULDER BELT AREA.
NHTSA ID
527041
Brakes
Filed Nov 18, 1997
BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT. MJS
NHTSA ID
605598
Seat belts
Filed Sep 26, 1997
DRIVERS SIDE RESTRAINT IS COMING APART FROM THE FRAME, HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE RESTRAINT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK CONSUMER REPLACED SHOULDER BELT AT HIS EXPENSE.*JB
NHTSA ID
816663
Exterior lightingSteering
Filed Nov 6, 1996
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS COME ON. *AK
NHTSA ID
803493
Incident
Sep 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jul 24, 1996
Fire reported
BRAKE LIGHT WIRING SHORTED OUT, CAUSING FIRE IN REAR OF VEHICLE. *AW
NHTSA ID
506598
Incident
Jul 11, 1996
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 12, 1996
WHILE GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE HOOD FLEW UP AND OBSTRUCTED THE VIEW OF THE DRIVER AND BROKE THE WINDSHEILD.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
NHTSA ID
986790
Incident
Jul 8, 1996
Seat belts
Filed Jul 8, 1996
1 injury reported
SEAT BELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN DRIVER WHILE VEHICLE ROLLING OVER, CAUSING DRIVER TO BE EJECTED/INJURY. *SD
NHTSA ID
505992
Incident
Jul 24, 1994
Suspension
Filed Jan 25, 1996
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE CONTROL ARM BROKE CAUSING DRIVER TO LOSS CONTROL OF CAR. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT
NHTSA ID
978230
Incident
Nov 12, 1995
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 29, 1995
ODOMETER FRAUD. *SD
NHTSA ID
488394
Incident
Sep 29, 1995
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.
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