RoadVitals

1995 Toyota Tercel Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

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.
51
Latest Nov 5, 2018
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
14
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.
22

What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1995 Toyota Tercel, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

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

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Airbags1732.7%
  • Seat belts1019.2%
  • Visibility611.5%
  • Tires & wheels35.8%
  • Engine35.8%
  • Brakes35.8%
  • Driver assistance23.8%
  • Electrical23.8%
  • Fuel system11.9%
  • Steering11.9%
  • Suspension11.9%
  • Interior & seats11.9%
  • Transmission11.9%
  • Powertrain (other)11.9%

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

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Airbags

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.

17
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Sep 27, 2002

AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE BEING PARKED ALL DAY. *AK

NHTSA ID 767444 · filed Sep 20, 2002
All 17 reports naming airbags

Seat belts

Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.

10
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jul 27, 2013

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 · filed Feb 6, 2011
All 10 reports naming seat belts

Visibility

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.

6
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED AND HAD A STRESS FRACTURE.

NHTSA ID 517227 · filed May 14, 1997

WINDSHIELD SEAL FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID 600674 · filed Dec 18, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Tires & wheels

Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Nov 5, 2018

SEAT BELT LOCKS.

NHTSA ID 602506 · filed Feb 12, 1997

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Aug 30, 1999

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

NHTSA ID 826205 · filed Aug 3, 1998

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

3
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

DRIVING UP STEEP HILL, TURNED AROUND, BRAKES NOT WORKING, VEHICLE WENT FASTER AS BRAKES APPLIED, HIT FENCE, WENT INTO BANKMENT, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID 981214 · filed Mar 25, 1996

POOR PERFORMANCE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. TT

NHTSA ID 974755 · filed Nov 8, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Driver assistance

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Feb 25, 2010

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 · filed Jun 3, 2008

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

REPLACED BATTERY. *AK

NHTSA ID 479870 · filed Aug 11, 1995

PURCHASE CAR A MONTH AGO NEW WHEN TURN IT OFF AND TRY TO TURN IT ON CAR WILL NOT START IT HESITATES. TT

NHTSA ID 967577 · filed Jun 21, 1995

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Apr 12, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Steering

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Aug 10, 2001

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Suspension

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

WHILE DRIVING, AT APPROX. 70-75MPH, NOTICED VEHICLE STARTED TO PULL TO RIGHT, THEN SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL AND FLIPPED OVER. *AK

NHTSA ID 982780 · filed Apr 16, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Interior & seats

Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed Jan 19, 1999

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Transmission

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID 979991 · filed Mar 1, 1996

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Powertrain (other)

Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

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 · filed May 21, 2002

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .