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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 →
40Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
17
199124
199243
199340
199451
199540
199620
1997
Compare all Tercel years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
18Engine And Engine Cooling
7Seat Belts
3Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Visibility
3
All reported categories
Electrical System
2Tires
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Exterior Lighting
1Service Brakes
1Suspension
1Unknown Or Other
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: 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

What owners actually said

40 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 1997
Air Bags

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG CAUSED ACCIDENT/INJURIES ON FACE AND EYES. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)

NHTSA ODI #516005

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

THE ENGINE HAS A WHINING NOISE AND BURNING SMELL.

NHTSA ODI #515754

Mileage unknown · Jan 28, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT WAS VIOLENT UPON IMPACT WITH DEER, CAUSING HEAD, NECK, BACK INJURY.

NHTSA ODI #514248

Mileage unknown · Jan 7, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKE ROTORS PREMATURELY RUSTED OR CORRODED, CAUSE UNKOWN BUT DEALER STATES THAT THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR FROM NORMAL WEARING, BUT CHEAP ROTORS MAY BE A FACTOR . PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #807244

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 1996
Electrical SystemFire

ELECTRICAL FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #511376

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 1996
VisibilityFire

WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

NHTSA ODI #507801

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 1996
VisibilityFire

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING, CAUSED THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO CATCH ON FIRE, WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #800285

Mileage unknown · Jul 19, 1996
Air Bags

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY, PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

NHTSA ODI #987085

Mileage unknown · Jun 28, 1996
Air BagsCrashInjury

DURING IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #986280

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 1996
Air BagsCrash

WHILE IN AN ACCIDENT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #979714

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.