Model year record

1990 Toyota Tercel recalls & problems

The 1990 Toyota Tercel has 1 safety recall and 19 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (8 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints19filed by owners

Crashes · fires4 · 4reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths3 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Exterior lightingJul 13, 1992

Headlights

Recall 92V111000360,399 vehiclesopened after NHTSA action (OVSC)

Problem: THERE CAN BE INTERFERENCE WITH THE HEADLAMP HOUSING IF HEADLAMP BULBS ARE REPLACED WITH ANY BRAND OTHER THAN KOITO BRAND BULBS.
Risk: THE INTERFERENCE WITH THE HEADLAMP HOUSING CAUSED BYOTHER THAN KOITO BRAND LAMP BULBS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 108, "LAMPS,REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Fix: TOYOTA DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A NEW KOITO BRAND BULB WITH NO CHARGE IF A NON-KOITO BRAND BULB IS NOW INSTALLED, OR SHOULD A HEADLAMP BULB BURN OUT IN THE FUTURE. "CAUTION LABELS" WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON EACH HEADLAMP HOUSING.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Fuel economy

Tercel

29mpg combined

City / highway	27 / 33 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,300/year to fuel

Tercel

28mpg combined

City / highway	26 / 33 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel

Tercel

27mpg combined

City / highway	25 / 29 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel

Tercel

25mpg combined

City / highway	23 / 28 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

1.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,700/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Fires	Injuries	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingEngine › Gasoline; Exhaust system › Emission control	8	0	2	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineCarburetor system; Delivery › Fuel pump	4	0	0	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Master cylinder; Foundation components	2	1	0	1	—
SeatsFront assembly › Recliner	2	2	0	2	—
Seat beltsFront › Anchorage	2	0	0	0	—
Electrical systemWiring › Interior/under dash	2	0	2	0	—
Power trainAxle assembly	1	0	0	0	—
Exterior lightingBrake lights › Switch	1	0	0	0	—
Unknown or other	1	1	0	0	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Unknown or otherCrash
IN APRIL 2004, MY TOYOTA TERCEL ACCELERATED FROM 05 TO APPROXIMATELY 90MPH IN A PARKING LOT, CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND TOTALED MY CAR. ANOTHER PROBLEM WAS THE BRAKE PEDAL. EVEN AFTER CHANGING TO NEW BRAKE PADS, SHOES, BRAKE DRUMS AND ROTORS, THE BRAKE PEDAL STILL DROPPED LOW TO THE FLOOR THAT IT FELT THAT I WAS PUSHING THE FLOOR WHEN I BRAKE. I HAD SEVERAL ACCELERATION INCIDENTS. EVEN WHEN I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL FIRMLY AND CONTINUOUSLY, THE CAR KEPT GOING. THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM AND STICKY BRAKE PEDAL PROBLEMS WERE NEVER SOLVED. I WROTE THE TRIPLE A/AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SO. CA INSURANCE ABOUT THESE ISSUES REGARDING MY ACCIDENT BUT WAS IGNORED. *TW
Apr 17, 2004 · 76,000 miles
Engine and engine cooling
1990 TOYOTA TERCEL ENGINE BLEW. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE BLEW AND HAD ANOTHER ENGINE PUT IN BUT IT DID NOT LAST VERY LONG. *NJ
Jan 1, 1901
Fuel system, gasoline › Carburetor system
CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO HAVE CARBURETOR REPAIRED. CARBURETOR FAILED IN HIGH RPM MODE, NEARLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *JG
Aug 15, 2001
Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertorFire
THE FOLLOWING IS A DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS WHICH LEAD TO MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVER-HEATING AND CATCHING MY CAR ON FIRE. ON 6-18-01, I SMELT A BURNING SMELL AND PULLED OVER TO TRY TO FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SMELL. AFTER A SERIES OF LOOKS I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING ANY WHERE, HOWEVER, I COULD FEEL A LITTLE HEAT BETWEEN MY SHIFT AND EMERGENCY BRAKE. ON MY HOME SMOKE STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE STICK/EMERGENCY BRAKE AREA. BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER OUT OF TRAFFIC, FLAMES BEGIN SHOOTING OUT OF THE CENTER OF THE CAR (EMERGENCY BRAKE AND STICK-SHIFT AREA). I IMMEDIATELY TURNED UPON THE CURB AND PARKED THE CAR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE 10 MINUTES…
Jun 18, 2001
Exterior lighting › Brake lights › Switch
CUSHION BROKE OFF BRAKE LIGHT PEDAL ARM ASSEMBLY, CAUSING BRAKE LIGHTS TO STAY ON PERMANENTLY. THERE IS NOTHING ON BRAKE PEDAL ARM TO RETRACT SWITCH'S TRIGGER. *CJ
Dec 5, 2000
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OIL LEAK, LATER NEEDED ENGINE REPLACEMENT, THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED TWICE. *SLC
Nov 20, 2000
Electrical systemFire
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CAR CUT OFF. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEARLER REPLACED ELECTRICAL PARTS IN THE ENGINE. *AK
Jul 28, 1999
Fuel system, gasoline › Carburetor system
DUE TO CARBON BUILD-UP IN THE CARBURETOR AND INTAKE VALVES, THE CAR CONTINUOUSLY STALLS IN TRAFFIC AND WILL NOT RESTART.
Sep 1, 1990

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.