RoadVitals

1993 Toyota Tercel Owner Complaints

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.
43
Latest Aug 11, 2005
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.
20
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 Jan 13, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 43 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 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 1–25 of 43 · page 1 of 2

Airbags
Filed Aug 11, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

AIR BAG, DRIVERS SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY DURING REAR-END CAR ACCIDENT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10132524
Incident
Nov 6, 2004
Fuel system
Filed Jan 7, 2003

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED SMELL STRONG CHEMICAL FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT(PLASTIC MATERIAL) DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID
10002301
Engine
Filed Mar 22, 2002

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE EXHIBITS WHITE SMOKE, CONSUMER HAD TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS INSPECT VEHICLE AND BOTH STATED THAT THE RINGS ARE SHOT AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. *TT

NHTSA ID
785927
Incident
Feb 20, 2002
Airbags
Filed Jan 9, 2001

DEALER FIRST SAID NOTHING WRONG. RESET . THEN CAME ON AGAIN. SAID MAY BE BAD SENSOR. I NOTICED 50 AIRBAG COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. THIS AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH AND DEALER/TOYOTA WILL NOT REPAIR THIS OBVOIUS SAFTEY DEFECT.*AK

NHTSA ID
739101
Incident
May 1, 1996
Brakes
Filed Dec 28, 2000
Crash reported

WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE WHICH CAUSED WHEELS TO LOCK. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, AND WOULD NOT RETURN. PROBLEM CAUSED VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAIL ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ID
877144
Incident
Dec 26, 2000
Engine
Filed Dec 14, 2000

ENGINE PREMATURELY FAILED AT 72,000 MILES. CONSUMER HAD TO BUY A REBUILT ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA ID
876527
Engine
Filed Dec 14, 2000

CONSUMER PURCHASED NEW AT 72,517, WAS TOLD THAT A NEW ENGINE NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. DEALER AGREED TO REPLACE ENGINE, ONLY IF DAMAGE WAS NOT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. DEALER TOOK ENGINE APART, AND SAID IT WAS WEAR AND TEAR, AND DID NOT REPLACE ENGINE. CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE IN DECEMBER OF 1999. *AK

NHTSA ID
876526
Incident
Dec 1, 1999
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 22, 2000
Crash reported

THAT DAY, WHEN I DRIVE IN RT 21, I SUDDENTLY LOST CONTROL, HIT TO ANOTHER SUV, WE SLOW DOWN( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ID
728704
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 1, 2000

AFTER PUTTING AIR IN ALL TIRES, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY FOUND OUT THAT TIRES HAD A TREAD SEPARATION WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID
866522
Incident
Jul 27, 2000
Airbags
Filed Mar 30, 2000
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER,AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
859501
Incident
Mar 17, 2000
Airbags
Filed Nov 15, 1999

THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN STARTED. BEEN TO DEALER & PLACED ON DIAGNOSTIC. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC SHORT AIR BAG SENSOR SYSTEM WAS CAUSED & HAD A SHORT IN IT. THE ENTIRE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
848592
Incident
Aug 22, 1999
Visibility
Filed Jun 1, 1999

HAVE LOOKED AT SEVERAL OTHER 1993 TERCELS. MOST I HAVE NOTICED HAVE A HORIZONTAL CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS A PROBLEM IN MOST OF THAT YEAR? I FIND IT STRANGE THAT THE TERCELS I HAVE SEEN HAVE THE SAME TENDENCY TO CRACK IN THE SAME AREA IN THE SAME WAY. *AK

NHTSA ID
707100
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Apr 15, 1999

IN MINOR IMPACT THE BUMPER SUSTAINED EXCESSIVE DAMAGE. MJS

NHTSA ID
545220
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Mar 8, 1999
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 25 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP UPON IMPACT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
835521
Airbags
Filed Mar 3, 1999
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED UPON A MINOR CRASH. I RECEIVED BURNS AND SCRAPES TO MY FACE. ALSO THE AIRBAG OR SOMETHING IN IT CAUSED BURN IN MY SHIRT, THROUGH MY BRA AND ONTO MY CHEST AREA. I DON'T BELIEVE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED PROPERLY AND AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO WHY.

NHTSA ID
703982
Incident
Feb 27, 1999
Airbags
Filed Feb 19, 1999
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH REARENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND AIRBAG DUST CAME OUT, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. CAME OUT FLAT ,NO AIR IN THE BAG. *AK

NHTSA ID
835096
Incident
Dec 4, 1998
Seat belts
Filed Dec 14, 1998
Crash reported

WHILE IN A CHAIN REACTION ACCIDENT WAS HIT FROM THE FRONT AND BACK, THE SHOULDER BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
832239
Airbags
Filed Oct 22, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER CAR AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED HALFWAY. DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK

NHTSA ID
829368
Incident
Aug 27, 1998
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Jul 6, 1998
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES WHILE DRIVING OVER A PUDDLE, BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SUSTAIN BURNS TO THE SKIN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID
825002
Incident
May 29, 1998
Exterior lighting
Filed May 9, 1998

BOTH DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE.

NHTSA ID
535370
Incident
Apr 11, 1998
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 22, 1997

ENGINE CONTINUES TO RACE AS IF GAS PEDAL WERE DEPRESSED AFTER GAS PEDAL HAS BEEN RELEASED AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL.

NHTSA ID
527505
Seat belts
Filed Nov 15, 1997
1 injury reported

SEAT BELT FAILED DURING A COLLISION RESULTING IN CHEST INJURIES.

NHTSA ID
525078
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Oct 15, 1997

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. YH

NHTSA ID
604637
Airbags
Filed Jul 15, 1997
Crash reported2 injuries reported

WHILE GOING 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION . THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING SEVRE HEAD AND NECK INJURIES. OWNER WAS WEARING SEA TBELT. OWNER RECIEVED UPPER AND LOWER BACK PAIN DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
814213
Incident
Oct 21, 1995
Brakes
Filed Mar 11, 1997

DRIVING VEHICLE, HEARD CLUNKING/GRINDING NOISE IN BRAKING AREA; TAKEN TO DEALER & HAD BRAKES CHANGED AT LEAST 5 TIMES; WOULD RESURFACE ROTORS & REPLACED PADS; BRAKES WOULD CHATTER BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. *AK

NHTSA ID
808664
Incident
Jan 29, 1997

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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