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: 2 of 24 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.
Seat Belts. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 2 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 reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
24 reports
90,000 miles · Jan 22, 2015
EngineVehicle Speed ControlCrash
ON 12/29/2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 10AM, MY 84 YEAR MOTHER WAS LEAVING A WALGREEN'S PARKING LOT LOCATED IN SUNRISE, FLORIDA. AFTER BACKING UP, SHE PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE WHERE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED. AS A RESULT THE CAR STRUCK A RETAINING WALL CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE POLICE AND EMS WERE CALLED AND PROVIDED TR…
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ON 12/29/2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 10AM, MY 84 YEAR MOTHER WAS LEAVING A WALGREEN'S PARKING LOT LOCATED IN SUNRISE, FLORIDA. AFTER BACKING UP, SHE PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE WHERE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED. AS A RESULT THE CAR STRUCK A RETAINING WALL CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE POLICE AND EMS WERE CALLED AND PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION TO THE HOSPITAL. MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY AS A RESULT OF HER INJURIES AT APPROXIMATELY 12PM ON 12/29/2015. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10678246
90,000 miles · Feb 23, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control
I WAS DRIVING A 92 TOYOTA TERCEL. I WAS GOING UP A STEEP HILL ON I-5 IN OREGON. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS PEDAL LOST PRESSURE AND FELL TO THE FLOOR WITH THE ENGINE AT FULL ACCELERATION. LUCKILY I WAS GOING UP A HILL. I REACHED DOWN AND WIGGLED THE GAS PEDAL AND IT WAS TOTALLY LOOSE AND JUST DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. AS I CAME TO …
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I WAS DRIVING A 92 TOYOTA TERCEL. I WAS GOING UP A STEEP HILL ON I-5 IN OREGON. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS PEDAL LOST PRESSURE AND FELL TO THE FLOOR WITH THE ENGINE AT FULL ACCELERATION. LUCKILY I WAS GOING UP A HILL. I REACHED DOWN AND WIGGLED THE GAS PEDAL AND IT WAS TOTALLY LOOSE AND JUST DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. AS I CAME TO THE NEXT EXIT I PULLED OFF, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE KEY. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND THE PRESSURE CAME BACK TO THE GAS PEDAL. IT SEEMED TO DRIVE FINE AFTER THAT EXCEPT IT MADE A DEEPER MUFFLED NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. I BROUGHT IT IN TO A MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY LUBED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY AND THERE WERE NO MORE PROBLEMS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10312998
Mileage unknown · Jan 31, 2007
Engine And Engine Cooling
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 TOYOTA TERCEL. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN THE SPRING OF 1992, AND 6 MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A VERY NICE DAY THE ENGINE SEIZED AND ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A BRAND NEW ENGINE AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECOND ENGINE SEI…
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TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 TOYOTA TERCEL. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN THE SPRING OF 1992, AND 6 MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A VERY NICE DAY THE ENGINE SEIZED AND ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A BRAND NEW ENGINE AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECOND ENGINE SEIZED 10 MONTHS LATER. THE CONTACT THEN PURCHASED A REBUILT ENGINE IN THE SPRING OF 1995, AND 7 MONTHS LATER THAT ENGINE SEIZED. THE CONTACT THEN PURCHASED ANOTHER ENGINE IN 2002, AND IT WAS CURRENTLY STILL WORKING. EACH INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH, AND HAD A BRAND NEW ENGINE WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10181218
Mileage unknown · Feb 16, 2005
Seat Belts
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT STARTED TO ENTANGLE FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM. DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER BY PHONE. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10111651
Mileage unknown · May 21, 2003
Seat Belts
DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT IS VERY BADLY FRAYED. HAS REACHED THE POINT WHERE IT DOESN'T RETRACT PROPERLY. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10019059
Mileage unknown · Mar 7, 2003
Fuel System, Other
VEHICLE EXPELLED HIGH HYDROCARBONS AND CARBON MONOXIDE AT CRUISE. HOWEVER AT IDLE IT WAS EXTREMELY LOW. AFTER MANY REPAIRS, IT WAS FOUND THE FUEL VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM HAD MALFUNCTIONED THAT WOULD PROBABLY INCLUDE THE VACUUM LINE FROM THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND MAY ALSO BE AFFECTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CONSUMER REQUESTED…
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VEHICLE EXPELLED HIGH HYDROCARBONS AND CARBON MONOXIDE AT CRUISE. HOWEVER AT IDLE IT WAS EXTREMELY LOW. AFTER MANY REPAIRS, IT WAS FOUND THE FUEL VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM HAD MALFUNCTIONED THAT WOULD PROBABLY INCLUDE THE VACUUM LINE FROM THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND MAY ALSO BE AFFECTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CONSUMER REQUESTED RECALL INFORMATION ON THIS CONDITION. *TT *JB
NHTSA ODI #10007323
Mileage unknown · Dec 2, 2001
Tires
2 NEW TIRES, LESS THAN 5,00 MILES DRIVEN, SIDEWALLS CRACKING AND SEPARATING. *AK (DOT NUMBER: PL8JV9LR10 TIRESIZE: P175/65R14)
NHTSA ODI #755191
Mileage unknown · Jun 20, 2001
Seat Belts
THE DRIVER SIDE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SHOULDER BELT IS FRAYING BADLY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #747130
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2000
Seat BeltsCrashInjury
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15-20MPH & ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER & THERE WAS A REAR END COLLISION. SEAT BELT DIDN'T TIGHTEN TO SECURE THE CONSUMER WHICH CAUSED ALOT OF KNOCKING AROUND. MANFACTURER WAS SENDING ADJUSTER OUT TO INSPECT VEHICLE & WOULDN'T SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT SO THAT CONSUMER COULD BE PRESEN…
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CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15-20MPH & ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER & THERE WAS A REAR END COLLISION. SEAT BELT DIDN'T TIGHTEN TO SECURE THE CONSUMER WHICH CAUSED ALOT OF KNOCKING AROUND. MANFACTURER WAS SENDING ADJUSTER OUT TO INSPECT VEHICLE & WOULDN'T SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT SO THAT CONSUMER COULD BE PRESENT. *AK THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T TIGHTEN AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. *YH
NHTSA ODI #862326
Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING, THERE BEGAN A KNOCKING SOUND. WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP WHO SAID ONE OF THE BEARINGS ON THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN AND DISINTEGRATED. *AK.
NHTSA ODI #721993
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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.
1992 Toyota Tercel Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year