1995 Toyota Tercel Owner Complaints

THIS IS A RECOUNT OF EVENTS IN WHICH MY TIRE FAILED. I BEGAN MY COMMUTE TO WORK BY ENTERING ONTO A GOOD CONDITION STATE HIGHWAY AND BEGAN DRIVING 65 MPH AROUND 6:30 AM EDT. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE WITH LITE TRAFFIC, I DECIDED TO CHANGE FROM THE MIDDLE LANE INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE. DURING THIS LANE CHANGE THE CAR STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THEN VIOLENTLY SHAKE. I APPLIED MY BREAKS TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER, BUT I COULD NOT STOP NOR CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF CAR. THE CAR BEGAN TO PULLING TO THE LEFT AND STARTED TO SPIN. THE CAR IMPACTED THE GUARDRAIL TWICE WHILE IN A SPIN AND RECEIVED UNFIXABLE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE CAR BODY FRAME, AND OTHER COMPONENTS. THE WITNESSES ON SCENE, CALLED THE POLICE AND REPORTED THAT THEY SAW THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLOW OUT CAUSING THE ACCIDENT. THE TIRE WAS BRAND NEW AND WAS PROFESSIONALLY BALANCED, INSTALLED, AND ALIGNED JUST 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED AND SET AT LESS THAN MAX MANUFACTURER TIRE PRESSURE. ALL OF MY TIRES WERE PURCHASED AT A TIRE KINGDOM STORE. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE TIRE, THE BLOWOUT OF THE TIRE OCCURRED ON THE SIDEWALL AND NO DAMAGE TO THE TREAD WAS FOUND. NO OBJECT WAS DESCRIBED AT THE SCREEN OF THE ACCIDENT OR BY WITNESSES THAT CAUSED THE TIRE TO RUPTURE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND I RECEIVED BODILY INJURY FROM THE ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO OTHER ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE, EQUIPMENT, DRIVER, HIGHWAY, TRAFFIC, MAYBE A LIGHT RAIN IN THE EARLY MORNING, THAT CAN EXPLAIN THE CAUSE OF THE TIRE FAILING. THE TIRE WITH DRIVEN LESS THAN 3,000 MILES BEFORE IT FAILED. THE POLICE REPORTED THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE, BUT SINCE THE TIRE IS NEW THAT THERE ARE NO CURRENT CLAIMS TO REPORT THIS DEFECTIVE TIRE. THIS TIRE WAS PURCHASED AT TIRE KINGDOM, MODEL UNIROYAL TIGER PAW AWPII WITH DOT SBXGHSTR1418 2.

NHTSA ID

11149486

Incident

Oct 8, 2018

Mileage

3,000 mi

I HIT A CURB SIDE AND MY BUCKLE UNLATCHED AFTER FURTHER CHECKING I NOTICED WITH LITTLE RESISTANCE IT SOMETIMES UNLATCHES EVENTHOUGH IT MAKES THE CLICK SOUND. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I NOTICED IT IN PAST UNLATCH BUT I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE NOT PUSHED IT WELL. BUT IT SEEMS PART IS DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10532096

Incident

May 13, 2013

Mileage

215,000 mi

I HAVE A 1995 TOYOTA TERCEL AND THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES ARE BROKEN AND NO HAVE A CORRECT FUNCTION. PLEASE I NEED TO KNOW IS THIS A RECALL I CONSIDER THIS ISSUE AFFECT A SECURITY DRIVER AND PASSENGER SAFETY IN A CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10380869

Incident

Dec 29, 2010

Mileage

135,786 mi

SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED TO LATCH ON TO SEAT BELT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10366963

Incident

Sep 1, 2010

Mileage

99,700 mi

MY 1995 TOYOTA TERCEL EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION EPISODE NEARLY 2 YEARS AGO. I WAS ENTERING A MAIN ROAD WHEN I NOTICED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I REPEATEDLY PRESSED THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME AT THE TIME, AND WHEN I TOTALLY REALIZED THAT THE SPEED WAS INCREASING FROM ABOUT 30 MPH TO ABOUT 45 OR 50 MPH, AND I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, I PUT IN PARK, (IT HAS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) IT MADE A STRONG NOISE, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY HALTED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AT LEAST TWO CAR SHOPS AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WAS EXACTLY AS IS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALLS. AND ALMOST TWO YEARS LATER I STILL FEEL INSECURE DRIVING ANY CAR, AND REMEMBERING WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY AND I HOPE IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, I'M SURE THE PROBLEM IS BIGGER THAN IT IS PORTRAYED NOW, AND IT MAY EXTEND TO MANY MORE VEHICLES AND MODELS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANKS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314458

Incident

May 15, 2008

Mileage

98,000 mi

I WAS STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC THAT HAD STOPPED, AND I WAS SEVERAL FEET AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS PEDAL ENGAGED AND MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD BUT IT DID NOT STOP IT, SO I PULLED UP THE HAND BRAKE BUT NOT BEFORE I HAD HIT THE REAR BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TICKETED FOR FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE. I EXPLAINED TO THE OFFICER WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY GAS PEDAL UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSED TO CAR TO ACCELERATE BUT ALL HE SAID IS THAT I BETTER GET IT FIXED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT, BUT MY CAR INSURANCE WENT UP, AS WELL AS THE DEDUCTIBLE I HAD TO PAY TO GET MY CAR FIXED AND REPAIR THE OTHER GENTLEMAN'S CAR. AT THE TIME I DIDN'T CONSIDER THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT BUT NOW I KNOW IT MIGHT WELL COULD HAVE BEEN. MY MOM HAD GIVEN ME THE CAR TO DRIVE AFTER SHE COULD NOT DRIVE IT ANY MORE, AND SHE DIED NOT TOO LONG THEREAFTER. I NOW HAVE OVER 210,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT HAS BEEN A PRETTY GOOD CAR, EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE INCIDENT. THANKS.

NHTSA ID

10229825

Incident

Jun 22, 2001

Mileage

25,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT CAME OUT OF THE MECHANISM IN A REAR END COLLSION. AS A RESULT, DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10037624

Mileage

100,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *MR WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITON THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *SCC

NHTSA ID

8019735

Incident

Jun 4, 2002

AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE BEING PARKED ALL DAY. *AK

NHTSA ID

767444

Incident

Jun 4, 2002

SOME OF THE AIRBAG WIRES ARE CONNECTED AND SOME ARE NOT.*AK CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE IN WHICH THE DRIVER AIR BAG WAS USED AND THE CONNECTIONS HAD BEEN CUT OFF, THE AIR BAG MONITOR WAS ALSO BAD, DEALER REPLACED DRIVER AIR BAG AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS COVER. RIGHT AXLE SEAL SHAFT WAS BEGINNING TO LEAK, DEALER REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

8010271

Incident

May 17, 2002

LOW SPEED IMPACT ACCIDENT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG CAUGHT FIRE. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED BUT AFTER INSPECITON SEND MEMO THAT FIRE WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. CAR WAS TOTALLED BY INSURANCE DUE TO COST TO REPLACE AIRBAGS. IF THIS IS A "SAFETY FEATURE" WHY WOULD IT CATCH FIRE? LUCKILY THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN THE CAR. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG ALSO DEPLOYED AND SINGED THE JEANS THAT MY SON WAS WEARING.*AK

NHTSA ID

754953

Incident

Aug 19, 2001

AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC RESET AIR BAG LIGHT. ON 2/22/000, SAME PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG LIGHT HAPPENED AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THEN AGAIN ON 8/7/01, SAME PROBLEMOCCURRED. BUT, THIS TIME MECHANIC INDICATED THA TIT WA SNEEDED TO REPLACE AIR BAG SENSORS. FIRST 2 TIMES MECHANIC DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *ASK

NHTSA ID

894083

Incident

Oct 5, 1999

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING - WIFE HAD CLEANED CAR INTERIOR INCLUDING CENTER CONSOLE 2 DAYS PRIOR TO ILLUMINATION. RECALL INITIATED IN COROLLA'S AND PRIZM'S PROBABLY UTILIZE SIMILAR SYSTEM IN TERCEL - PLEASE RESEARCH BECAUSE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TERCELS HAVE BEEN SOLD. *AK

NHTSA ID

743137

I REPLACED MY SEATBELT ONCE NOW THE SAME BELT IS BROKEN AGAIN AND THE OPPOSITE SIDE ALSO IS BROKEN. THYE HARDLEY GET USED IN THE BACK SEAT. NOW THEY TELL ME THEY COST 190 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THEM I THINK THEY SHOULD REPLACE THEM FOR FREE. *AK

NHTSA ID

732783

WHILE TRAVLING ABOUT 50 MPH, VEHICLE HIT A DITCH AND GUARDRAIL, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *CJ

NHTSA ID

784026

CONSUMER INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION TRAVAELING 30-40 MPH IN WHICH NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT. ALSO, VEHICLE IS WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

857189

Incident

Feb 3, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH DRIVER HIT A DEER HEAD-ON,WITHOUT BRAKING, AND DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJUIRES.PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION ON 11/98, AND DUAL AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY AT THAT TIME ALSO. *AK

NHTSA ID

855184

Incident

Dec 31, 1999

ENGINE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING, DUE TO FAILURE OF THE OIL INDICATOR, WHICH DID NOT WARN OF THE LOW OIL LEVEL. *YC

NHTSA ID

548247

Incident

Jun 2, 1999

FITTINGS ARE NOT COMPATIPLE WITH FUEL FILTER AND THEY ARE FORCED IN THE FACTORY THIS CAUSE I HAVE TO CHANGE ALL THE FUEL LINE TO CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER IF I DON'T DO THIS THIS CAUSE A FUEL LEAK

NHTSA ID

705532

Incident

Apr 10, 1999

I NEED TO KNOW WHICH TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON MY CAR HAVE BEEN UPDATED. THE FACTORY CLAIMS THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE ASSISTANCE FOR VEHICLES WHICH ARE DISPLAYING SOME TYPE OF CONCERN, BUT THAT THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION TO PROVIDE FOR ME. I VISITED THE RECALL SECTION AND FOUND 20 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR MY CAR. IS THERE A NATIONAL DATABASE WHICH KEEPS THESE RECORDS? I SURE WOULD APPRECIATE IT! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID

705311

DURING A RAIN STORM CAR SLID OUT OF CONTROL, THEN DOWN EMBANKMENT WITHOUT AIR BAGS EVER DEPLOYING. BUSHES, TREES, ETC WERE HIT, BUT CAR LANDED ON DRIVERS SIDE. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD INJURY.

NHTSA ID

704549

Incident

Jan 17, 1999

CAR REAR-ENDED BY VEHICLE TRAVELING AT LESS THAN 30MPH. CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE, INCLUDING FAILURE OF DRIVER'S SEAT WHICH FELL COMPLETELY BACK, EXPOSING DRIVER'S HEAD TO IMPACTED CRASH ZONE. BRACKET ON SEAT WAS FOUND TO BE FAULTY (APPARENTLY METAL WAS WEAK AND WARPED OUT OF SHAPE UPON IMPACT) AND HAD TO BE REPAIRED BY BODY SHOP. TOYOTA CANADA WAS INFORMED AND SAID THEY WOULD CONDUCT AN INVESTIGATION. ALL PERTINENT DATA WAS PROVIDED FOR THEM. NO ONE EVEN LOOKED AT THE CAR. FINALLY RECEIVED LETTER FROM TOYOTA STATING THAT TOYOTA HAS "UTMOST CONFIDENCE IN THE SAFETY OF THE SEATS" IN MY CAR! LETTER. ALSO, DOWN PLAYED FACT THAT REPAIR WORK WAS DONE TO FIX FAULTY SEAT BRACKET (EVEN THOUGH I HAVE REPAIR REPORT AVAILABLE). I NO LONGER FEEL SAFE DRIVING THE CAR IN EVENT OF ACCIDENT AND TOYOTA HAS NOT BOTHERED TO EXAMINE CAR, REPAIR REPORT ETC..OR CONSIDER A RECALL OF SIMILAR MODELS TO CHECK INTEGRITY OF METAL BRACKET SEAT SUPPORTS! HAD IMPACT BEEN EVEN SLIGHTLY HARDER IN THIS CASE. DRIVER WOULD HAVE SUSTAINED SERIOUS HEAD INJURY OR BEEN KILLED INSTANTLY.

NHTSA ID

701266

Incident

Sep 8, 1998

CONSUMER WAS COMING OFF HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING. *AK

NHTSA ID

826205

Incident

Aug 3, 1998

WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 25 MPH VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE, CREATING A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS SIDE AIRBAGS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ID

822504

AFTER AN ACCIDENT, OWNER WANTS TO KNOW IF BOTH AIR BAGS HAVE TO BE REINSTALLED.

NHTSA ID

530383