RoadVitals

1997 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.
20
Latest Jan 27, 2019
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.
5
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 2, 1997

What this page shows

Our database holds 20 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 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 1–20 of 20

Seat belts
Filed Jan 27, 2019

BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLES AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE BUCKLED IN THE SEAT BELT WILL RELEASE ALL OF A SUDDEN.

NHTSA ID
11172346
Incident
Sep 19, 2018
Seat belts
Filed Jun 15, 2017

BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS STOPPED WORKING ABOUT THE SAME TIME. I WOULD BUCKLE MYSELF UP AND MY PASSENGER WOULD THE SEAT BUCKLE POP'S RIGHT OUT OF THE ANCHOR. I AM BREAKING THE LAW EVERY TIME I GET IN MY CAR. I CAN NOT GO ON HIGHWAYS OR FREEWAYS. I CAN NOT HAVE A PASSENGER RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT.

NHTSA ID
10995326
Incident
Feb 3, 2017
Mileage
150,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jun 27, 2009

WHILE I WAS ADDING OIL TO THE ENGINE OF MY 1997 TOYOTA TERCEL, I NOTICED A BOLT ATTACHING THE BELT ASSEMBLY TO THE ENGINE WAS STICKING OUT 4 OR 5 INCHES PAST THE BELT ASSEMBLY, RUBBING AGAINST A HOSE. IT DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT, SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TIGHTENED IT BACK UP. HE SAID THE BOLT HAD JUST "WORKED ITSELF LOOSE". MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS LOOSE BOLT IS INDICATIVE OF A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM, OR THAT SOMEONE HAS BEEN TAMPERING WITH MY CAR. THE CAR HAS AROUND 159,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10275101
Incident
May 29, 2009
Mileage
159,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 1, 2003
Crash reported

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS PASSING THROUGH AND BOTH VEHICLE COLLIDED.UPON IMPACT AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10031891
Incident
Aug 1, 2003
Engine
Filed Jun 2, 2003

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10022067
Incident
Jun 2, 2003
Airbags
Filed Apr 18, 2003

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER IMPACT. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10017166
Incident
May 1, 2002
Visibility
Filed Jan 3, 2003

ALL WINDOWS VEHICLE GET FOGGY ALL THE TIME FOR NO REASON AT ALL. TS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10001984
Incident
Dec 2, 2002
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 27, 2002

THE ENTIRE TIRE JUST BLEW APART. BOTH SIDWALLS CAME AWAY FROM THE TREAD. I HAVE PICTURES I CAN EMAIL IF ANYBODY WANTS THEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
766281
Incident
Aug 26, 2002
Interior & seats
Filed Dec 6, 2001

TRACKING IS GONE ON FRONT SEAT. LATCH WILL NOT HOLD AND SEAT WILL SLIDE BACK AND FORTH WHEN COMING TO A STOP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER CHECKED SEAT, AND STATED NOTHING THEY CAN DO BECAUSE ITS OUT OF WARRANTY.*AK

NHTSA ID
899945
Airbags
Filed Sep 25, 2001

THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE BUMPED AN EMPTY CONSTRUCTION BARREL, AS A A RESULT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO STRIKE A CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER FEELS THE AIR BAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED WITH JUST SLIGHT IMPACT. NLM

NHTSA ID
563250
Incident
Apr 28, 2001
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Aug 27, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

1995 CHEVROLET 1500 PICKUP RAN STOP SIGN, TERCEL BROADSIDED THE TRUCK AT 30 MPH. DESPITE HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE STRAIGHT ON, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED IN THE CAR. THE TERCEL WAS TOTALLED AND DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES FROM THE SEATBELT. *AK

NHTSA ID
751213
Incident
Jun 28, 2001
Airbags
Filed Jan 4, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON A MAIN ROAD AND ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN STOP SIGN AND HIT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, AND DUAL AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF, CONSUMER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. *AK ALSO VEHICLE HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN IN ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *SLC

NHTSA ID
877426
Incident
Dec 26, 2000
Engine
Filed Jul 11, 2000

OIL IS LEAKING ONTO THE GROUND.DEALER ATTEMPTED TO FIX VEHICLE, BUT DEFECT STILL OCCURS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
865185
Airbags
Filed Feb 1, 1999

CONSUMER BELIEVES DEALER COST TO INSTALL AIR BAG ON/OFF SWITCH IS TOO MUCH. NLM

NHTSA ID
605896
Airbags
Filed Oct 15, 1998
Crash reported

CONSUMER WAS INVOVLED IN AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON BOTH FRONT AND REAR. DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IMPACT SPEED UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
828996
Incident
Sep 23, 1998
BrakesSuspension
Filed May 28, 1998
2 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ON HIGHWAY FRONT BALL JOINTS SNAPPED, CAUSING OTHER PROBLEMS, INCLUDING RUPTURE OF BRAKE LINES. *AK

NHTSA ID
823742
Incident
May 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Mar 10, 1998
1 injury reported

BRAKES FAILED

NHTSA ID
532311
Incident
Jan 8, 1997
Suspension
Filed Jul 15, 1997

UPON APPLYING FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT, CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
814214
Incident
Feb 2, 1997
Tires & wheels
Filed Apr 15, 1997

TIRE PRESSURE TOO HIGH WHEN DELIVERED CAUSING POOR STEERING CONTROL.

NHTSA ID
516471
Incident
Feb 1, 1997
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Jan 2, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported

INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT FAILED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY IN AN IMPACT OF A POLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
806987
Incident
Dec 27, 1996

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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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .