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: 7 of 51 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 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Visibility. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
21 crash reports1 fire reports14 injury reports
What owners actually said
51 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 26, 2001
Air BagsCrashFire
LOW SPEED IMPACT ACCIDENT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG CAUGHT FIRE. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED BUT AFTER INSPECITON SEND MEMO THAT FIRE WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. CAR WAS TOTALLED BY INSURANCE DUE TO COST TO REPLACE AIRBAGS. IF THIS IS A "SAFETY FEATURE" WHY WOULD IT CA…
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LOW SPEED IMPACT ACCIDENT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG CAUGHT FIRE. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED BUT AFTER INSPECITON SEND MEMO THAT FIRE WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. CAR WAS TOTALLED BY INSURANCE DUE TO COST TO REPLACE AIRBAGS. IF THIS IS A "SAFETY FEATURE" WHY WOULD IT CATCH FIRE? LUCKILY THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN THE CAR. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG ALSO DEPLOYED AND SINGED THE JEANS THAT MY SON WAS WEARING.*AK
NHTSA ODI #754953
Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 2001
Steering
AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC RESET AIR BAG LIGHT. ON 2/22/000, SAME PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG LIGHT HAPPENED AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THEN AGAIN ON 8/7/01, SAME PROBLEMOCCURRED. BUT, THIS TIME MECHANIC INDICATED THA TIT WA SNEEDED TO REPLACE AIR…
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AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC RESET AIR BAG LIGHT. ON 2/22/000, SAME PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG LIGHT HAPPENED AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THEN AGAIN ON 8/7/01, SAME PROBLEMOCCURRED. BUT, THIS TIME MECHANIC INDICATED THA TIT WA SNEEDED TO REPLACE AIR BAG SENSORS. FIRST 2 TIMES MECHANIC DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *ASK
NHTSA ODI #894083
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2001
Air Bags
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING - WIFE HAD CLEANED CAR INTERIOR INCLUDING CENTER CONSOLE 2 DAYS PRIOR TO ILLUMINATION. RECALL INITIATED IN COROLLA'S AND PRIZM'S PROBABLY UTILIZE SIMILAR SYSTEM IN TERCEL - PLEASE RESEARCH BECAUSE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TERCELS HAVE BEEN SOLD. *AK
NHTSA ODI #743137
Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 2000
Seat Belts
I REPLACED MY SEATBELT ONCE NOW THE SAME BELT IS BROKEN AGAIN AND THE OPPOSITE SIDE ALSO IS BROKEN. THYE HARDLEY GET USED IN THE BACK SEAT. NOW THEY TELL ME THEY COST 190 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THEM I THINK THEY SHOULD REPLACE THEM FOR FREE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #732783
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE TRAVLING ABOUT 50 MPH, VEHICLE HIT A DITCH AND GUARDRAIL, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *CJ
NHTSA ODI #784026
Mileage unknown · Feb 18, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury
CONSUMER INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION TRAVAELING 30-40 MPH IN WHICH NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT. ALSO, VEHICLE IS WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #857189
Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury
WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH DRIVER HIT A DEER HEAD-ON,WITHOUT BRAKING, AND DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING INJUIRES.PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT, VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN HEAD-ON COLLISION ON 11/98, AND DUAL AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY AT THAT TIME ALSO. *AK
NHTSA ODI #855184
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
ENGINE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING, DUE TO FAILURE OF THE OIL INDICATOR, WHICH DID NOT WARN OF THE LOW OIL LEVEL. *YC
NHTSA ODI #548247
Mileage unknown · Apr 12, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline
FITTINGS ARE NOT COMPATIPLE WITH FUEL FILTER AND THEY ARE FORCED IN THE FACTORY THIS CAUSE I HAVE TO CHANGE ALL THE FUEL LINE TO CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER IF I DON'T DO THIS THIS CAUSE A FUEL LEAK
NHTSA ODI #705532
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 1999
Unknown Or Other
I NEED TO KNOW WHICH TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON MY CAR HAVE BEEN UPDATED. THE FACTORY CLAIMS THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE ASSISTANCE FOR VEHICLES WHICH ARE DISPLAYING SOME TYPE OF CONCERN, BUT THAT THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION TO PROVIDE FOR ME. I VISITED THE RECALL SECTION AND FOUND 20 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR MY CAR. IS THER…
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I NEED TO KNOW WHICH TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON MY CAR HAVE BEEN UPDATED. THE FACTORY CLAIMS THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE ASSISTANCE FOR VEHICLES WHICH ARE DISPLAYING SOME TYPE OF CONCERN, BUT THAT THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION TO PROVIDE FOR ME. I VISITED THE RECALL SECTION AND FOUND 20 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR MY CAR. IS THERE A NATIONAL DATABASE WHICH KEEPS THESE RECORDS? I SURE WOULD APPRECIATE IT! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #705311
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.
1995 Toyota Tercel Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year