IllustrationTHE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD FRONT END DAMAGE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS BACK , THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS/HER NECK AND BACK. *JB
1994 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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tercel years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 4 of 40 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.
- Air Bags. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. 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.
17 crash reports3 fire reports15 injury reports
Air Bags complaints
18 reportsCONSUMER INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH HIT A DEER HEAD-ON & AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A ROLLING STOP. IT KNOCKED THE CONSUMER OUT FOR 2 HOURS. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED OVER INTO HER LANE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF. *AK
FALSE AND VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG WHEN VEHICLE RAN OVER DEBRIS IN ROAD WHICH HIT UNDERCARRIAGE SENSORS, CAUSED INJURY TO HAND AND ARM. MJS …
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FALSE AND VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG WHEN VEHICLE RAN OVER DEBRIS IN ROAD WHICH HIT UNDERCARRIAGE SENSORS, CAUSED INJURY TO HAND AND ARM. MJS FALSE AND VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG WHEN DEBRIS FROM ROAD HIT CENSORS ON THE BOTTOM OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN HAND AND ARM INJURY. MJS
CONSUMER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
OWNER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD -ON ACCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING AT 20MPH AND THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG.DEALERS SENT INSPECTOR TO LOOK AT VEHICLE BUT DID NOT TELL OWNER AYNTHING. *AK
DRIVER HAS TO POSITION THE SEAT IN THE FOREMOST POSITION AND IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE IMPACT OF AN AIRBAG, AFTER DEPLOYMENT.
FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSED ACCIDENT/INJURIES ON FACE AND EYES. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)
AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WAS VIOLENT UPON IMPACT WITH DEER, CAUSING HEAD, NECK, BACK INJURY.
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.