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1996 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
43
199340
199451
199540
199620
19973
19981
1999
Compare all Tercel years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
7Engine And Engine Cooling
4Suspension
4Visibility
4Seat Belts
3
All reported categories
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
3Steering
3Tires
3Electrical System
2Power Train
2Unknown Or Other
2Exterior Lighting
1Fuel System, Other
1Parking Brake
1Seats
1Service Brakes
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Wheels
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: 10 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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports4 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

40 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #602707

Mileage unknown · Feb 12, 1997
Visibility

DEFROSTER FAILED, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA ODI #602529

Mileage unknown · Feb 3, 1997
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #808559

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 1996
Power Train

SET CAR IN REVERSE AND THE MILEAGE IS ERASED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #806803

Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 1996
Suspension

REAR END OF CAR TOO LIGHT, CAUSING REAR END TO SLIDE AND FISHTAIL, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #511883

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 1996
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringCrash

DRIVING AT SPEED OF 25MPH, COULD NOT STEER VEHICLE OR BRAKES LOCKED UP AND IMPACT 1:00 POSITION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #800361

Mileage unknown · Mar 18, 1996
TiresCrashInjury

TIRE CAME OFF RIM WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE FLIPPED TWO TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #980854

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 1996
Suspension

THE FRONT WHEELS ARE MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE WHEELS SPIN AROUND, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A NEAR ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #980192

Mileage unknown · Mar 4, 1996
Suspension

THE FRONT WHEEL IS MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE,THE WHEELS SPIN AROUND, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A NEAR ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #980029

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 1995
SeatsCrashInjury

DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION (12:00) TRAVELLING AT 35 MPH. TT

NHTSA ODI #975870

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.