Model year record
1992 Toyota Tercel recalls & problems
The 1992 Toyota Tercel has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 24 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is seat belts (11 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1992 Toyota Tercel.
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.
Crash test ratings
1992 Toyota Tercel 4-DR.
| Frontal crash | Not Rated |
|---|---|
| Side crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Tercel
| City / highway | 27 / 33 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,250/year to fuel
Tercel
| City / highway | 25 / 33 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel
Tercel
| City / highway | 23 / 26 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,800/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 | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Seat beltsFront; Front › Webbing | 11 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline | 3 | — |
| SuspensionFront › Control arm | 2 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | — |
| Power train | 1 | — |
| Latches/locks/linkagesHood › Latch | 1 | — |
| Electrical systemWiring | 1 | — |
| SteeringSteering wheel/handle bar | 1 | — |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights › High/low beam dimmer switch | 1 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components | 1 | — |
| TiresSidewall | 1 | — |
| Fuel system, other | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
- EngineCrash
ON 12/29/2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 10AM, MY 84 YEAR MOTHER WAS LEAVING A WALGREEN'S PARKING LOT LOCATED IN SUNRISE, FLORIDA. AFTER BACKING UP, SHE PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE WHERE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED. AS A RESULT THE CAR STRUCK A RETAINING WALL CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE POLICE AND EMS WERE CALLED AND PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION TO THE HOSPITAL. MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY AS A RESULT OF HER INJURIES AT APPROXIMATELY 12PM ON 12/29/2015. *TR
- Vehicle speed control
I WAS DRIVING A 92 TOYOTA TERCEL. I WAS GOING UP A STEEP HILL ON I-5 IN OREGON. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS PEDAL LOST PRESSURE AND FELL TO THE FLOOR WITH THE ENGINE AT FULL ACCELERATION. LUCKILY I WAS GOING UP A HILL. I REACHED DOWN AND WIGGLED THE GAS PEDAL AND IT WAS TOTALLY LOOSE AND JUST DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. AS I CAME TO THE NEXT EXIT I PULLED OFF, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE KEY. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND THE PRESSURE CAME BACK TO THE GAS PEDAL. IT SEEMED TO DRIVE FINE AFTER THAT EXCEPT IT MADE A DEEPER MUFFLED NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. I BROUGHT IT IN TO A MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY LUBED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY AND THERE WERE NO…
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 TOYOTA TERCEL. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN THE SPRING OF 1992, AND 6 MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A VERY NICE DAY THE ENGINE SEIZED AND ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A BRAND NEW ENGINE AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECOND ENGINE SEIZED 10 MONTHS LATER. THE CONTACT THEN PURCHASED A REBUILT ENGINE IN THE SPRING OF 1995, AND 7 MONTHS LATER THAT ENGINE SEIZED. THE CONTACT THEN PURCHASED ANOTHER ENGINE IN 2002, AND IT WAS CURRENTLY STILL WORKING. EACH INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH, AND HAD A BRAND NEW ENGINE WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED. *AK
- Seat belts › Front
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT STARTED TO ENTANGLE FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM. DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER BY PHONE. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
- Seat belts › Front
DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT IS VERY BADLY FRAYED. HAS REACHED THE POINT WHERE IT DOESN'T RETRACT PROPERLY. *JB
- Fuel system, other
VEHICLE EXPELLED HIGH HYDROCARBONS AND CARBON MONOXIDE AT CRUISE. HOWEVER AT IDLE IT WAS EXTREMELY LOW. AFTER MANY REPAIRS, IT WAS FOUND THE FUEL VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM HAD MALFUNCTIONED THAT WOULD PROBABLY INCLUDE THE VACUUM LINE FROM THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND MAY ALSO BE AFFECTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CONSUMER REQUESTED RECALL INFORMATION ON THIS CONDITION. *TT *JB
- Tires › Sidewall
2 NEW TIRES, LESS THAN 5,00 MILES DRIVEN, SIDEWALLS CRACKING AND SEPARATING. *AK (DOT NUMBER: PL8JV9LR10 TIRESIZE: P175/65R14)
- Seat belts › Front › Webbing
THE DRIVER SIDE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SHOULDER BELT IS FRAYING BADLY. *AK
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.