← New search

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

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Tercel years →

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

What owners reported most

All reported categories

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: 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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
191,400 miles · Nov 19, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

1994 TOYOTA TERCEL 4-DOOR SEDAN A/T WHITE/EXTERIOR 191400 MILES ON THE ODOMETER VIN#[XXX]. THEY TOLD ME IT HAS A REBUILD ENGINE, IT'S BETTER THAN A NEW ENGINE. I DON'T ANYTHING ABOUT CARS. I'VE NEVER OWN A CAR IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. PURCHASED IT FROM VALENCIA AUTO/ USED CAR DEALER 1535 VALENCIA STREET, S.F CALIF 94110/ TEL.# 415-282…

Read full complaint

1994 TOYOTA TERCEL 4-DOOR SEDAN A/T WHITE/EXTERIOR 191400 MILES ON THE ODOMETER VIN#[XXX]. THEY TOLD ME IT HAS A REBUILD ENGINE, IT'S BETTER THAN A NEW ENGINE. I DON'T ANYTHING ABOUT CARS. I'VE NEVER OWN A CAR IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. PURCHASED IT FROM VALENCIA AUTO/ USED CAR DEALER 1535 VALENCIA STREET, S.F CALIF 94110/ TEL.# 415-282-5553. PURCHASED IT ON OCT-12-2005 . THE CAR STALLS,ENGINE SHUTS-OFF 4-5 TIMES A DAY. VALENCIA AUTO TOLD ME NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. EVERY OTHER DAY OR SO, I BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. IT'S THE SAME OLD FUN AND GAMES THEY PLAYED EVERYTIME. THEY DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK AND EVERY TIME THEY CAME BACK AND TELLS ME THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I ASKED VALENCIA AUTO TO GIVE ME MY REFUND. THEY TOLD ME NO REFUND, BRING ME MORE MONEY FOR SOMETHING BETTER, HOW MUCH MORE MONEY CAN YOU BRING ME TODAY!!! I NEED IT THE CAR TO TAKE MY MOM OUT FOR GROCERY AND DINING, ALSO TO TAKE ME TO WORK. MY MOM WAS IN THE CAR WHEN THE ENGINE STALLS AND SHUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE. WILL NOT TAKE MY MOM ANYWHERE, NOT WITH THAT CAR. FOR PERSONAL SAFETY, I DON'T THINK SO. I HAVE 4 POSTINGS ON CRAIGS LIST ABOUT RE: VALENCIA AUTO/DISHONEST, CROOKS, SCAMS, LIES. KEY WORD : VALENCIA AUTO/ WWW.CRAIGSLIST.ORG FOR THE FINAL TIME THAT I BRING THE CAR TO THE DEALER, THE OWNER DROVE THE CAR WITH ME IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. HE DROVE IT ON THE STREET, UP THE FREE WAY. HE TELLS ME THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. NOTHING YET, TIL ON OUR WAY BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. WE STOP ON RED LIGHT, WHEN HE LET GO OF THE BRAKE THE ENGINE HESITATED AND SHOOK. HE TOOK IT BACK TO VALENCIA AUTO FOT SERVICED. THEY STILL HAVE THE CAR IN THEIR POSSESSION AND I GOT THE TITLE AND REGISTRATION. THEY STILL WON'T GIVE ME A REFUND. I DON'T KNOW WHY. THEY DID SOLD ME A CAR WITH MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. *NM INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10143276

Mileage unknown · Jul 11, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. AND THE BRAKING POWER WAS VERY LOW. *AK. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND ONE TIRE WERE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SIDEWALL DAMAGE AND NO TREAD, THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK, THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR MAIN SEAL, THE CRANK SEAL AND TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED.…

Read full complaint

WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. AND THE BRAKING POWER WAS VERY LOW. *AK. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND ONE TIRE WERE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SIDEWALL DAMAGE AND NO TREAD, THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK, THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR MAIN SEAL, THE CRANK SEAL AND TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED. PH *JB

NHTSA ODI #10022069

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

HAVE HAD A COMPLETE VALVE JOB, NOW THE PISTON RINGS ARE SHOT. I HAVE A FRIEND WHOSE 94 TERCEL ALSO HAD A FRIED ENGINE. BOTH CARS ORIGINATED FROM DEALERSHIPS IN MONTANA  MIGHT BE WORTH CHECKING OUT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #743488

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE IDLIES AND SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, WHENEVER ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IT WILL SHUT OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850857

Mileage unknown · Jul 30, 1998
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE 1994 TOYOTA WAS FIRST REPAIRED AUG 1996 FOR OIL LEAKAGE AT 63000 MILES. THE PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN AT 98000 MILES. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP. WE HAVE KEPT REGULAR MAINTANCE ON THE CAR. IT IS CLEAR TO US THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE AND THAT TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP DO NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY FOR THEIR …

Read full complaint

THE 1994 TOYOTA WAS FIRST REPAIRED AUG 1996 FOR OIL LEAKAGE AT 63000 MILES. THE PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN AT 98000 MILES. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP. WE HAVE KEPT REGULAR MAINTANCE ON THE CAR. IT IS CLEAR TO US THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE AND THAT TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP DO NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY FOR THEIR PRODUCT. PLEASE DO ALL THAT YOU CAN TO HELP US. WE CAN BE REACH AT 202-398-6400 OR 202-526-6127. OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS MGBWELL@AOL.COM

NHTSA ODI #539070

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE HAS A WHINING NOISE AND BURNING SMELL.

NHTSA ODI #515754

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 1995
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic

NOISE FROM ENGINE AT SPEEDS OF 40-50 MPH.

NHTSA ODI #482971

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.