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1989 Toyota Tercel

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
22Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
6
198613
19878
198822
198919
199017
199124
1992
Compare all Tercel years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Fuel System, Gasoline
8Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Structure
3Vehicle Speed Control
3Latches/locks/linkages
2
All reported categories
Visibility
2Electrical System
1Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Power Train
1Seat Belts
1Seats
1Suspension
1Tires
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 22 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2002
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

WHILE PUSHING ON BRAKES, VEHICLE DOES NOT MAKE A COMPLETE STOP, INSTEAD BRAKE PEDAL WILL TOUCH THE GROUND, RESULTING IN USE OF EMERGENCY BRAKE TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE MASTER CYLINDER IS OUT. DRUMS WERE TURNED BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO THIN. THE FRONT AXLE IS LEAKING BAD. GOODYEAR TIRES ARE BAD, P155/80R1…

Read full complaint

WHILE PUSHING ON BRAKES, VEHICLE DOES NOT MAKE A COMPLETE STOP, INSTEAD BRAKE PEDAL WILL TOUCH THE GROUND, RESULTING IN USE OF EMERGENCY BRAKE TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE MASTER CYLINDER IS OUT. DRUMS WERE TURNED BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO THIN. THE FRONT AXLE IS LEAKING BAD. GOODYEAR TIRES ARE BAD, P155/80R13, DOT NUMBER MDE4E70119. INSIDE THE VEHICLE THERE IS A FUEL ODOR. *JB

NHTSA ODI #8003215

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER TURNED KEY TO START VEHICLE, PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND VEHICLE SHOT OUT SO FAST IN REVERSE THAT THE DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. APPLYING THE BRAKES DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN CRASHING INTO A PARK VAN. THE VEHCLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #819508

Mileage unknown · Apr 11, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE PEDAL TOO CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL, CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT BOTH PEDALS SIMULTANEOUSLY WHEN TRYING TO STOP.

NHTSA ODI #503156

Official recalls

1

92V111000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Jul 13, 1992

THERE CAN BE INTERFERENCE WITH THE HEADLAMP HOUSING IF HEADLAMP BULBS ARE REPLACED WITH ANY BRAND OTHER THAN KOITO BRAND BULBS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE INTERFERENCE WITH THE HEADLAMP HOUSING CAUSED BYOTHER THAN KOITO BRAND LAMP BULBS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 108, "LAMPS,REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Remedy: TOYOTA DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A NEW KOITO BRAND BULB WITH NO CHARGE IF A NON-KOITO BRAND BULB IS NOW INSTALLED, OR SHOULD A HEADLAMP BULB BURN OUT IN THE FUTURE. "CAUTION LABELS" WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON EACH HEADLAMP HOUSING.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.