Model year record
1993 Toyota Tercel recalls & problems
The 1993 Toyota Tercel has no safety recalls on file with NHTSA, and 43 owner complaints. The most-reported problem area is air bags (25 complaints).
Safety recalls
No safety recalls have been filed for the 1993 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
1993 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 $2,300/year to fuel
Tercel
| City / highway | 24 / 31 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/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* |
|---|---|---|
| Air bagsFrontal; Frontal › Sensor/control module | 25 | — |
| Seat beltsFront › Anchorage; Front › Retractor | 5 | — |
| Engine and engine coolingEngine; Engine › Gasoline | 5 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicFoundation components › Disc › Rotor; Foundation components › Disc › Pads | 4 | — |
| Electrical systemIgnition; 12v/24v/48v battery | 2 | — |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | — |
| TiresTread/belt | 2 | — |
| SeatsFront assembly › Recliner | 1 | — |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights | 1 | — |
| StructureBody › Bumpers | 1 | — |
| VisibilityWindshield | 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
- Air bags › FrontalCrash1 injury
AIR BAG, DRIVERS SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY DURING REAR-END CAR ACCIDENT. *NM
- Fuel system, other
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT ANY SPEED SMELL STRONG CHEMICAL FUMES INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT(PLASTIC MATERIAL) DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE EXHIBITS WHITE SMOKE, CONSUMER HAD TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS INSPECT VEHICLE AND BOTH STATED THAT THE RINGS ARE SHOT AND ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, THERE WERE NO INDICATIONS THAT THE ENGINE OVERHEATED. *TT
- Air bags
DEALER FIRST SAID NOTHING WRONG. RESET . THEN CAME ON AGAIN. SAID MAY BE BAD SENSOR. I NOTICED 50 AIRBAG COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE. THIS AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN A CRASH AND DEALER/TOYOTA WILL NOT REPAIR THIS OBVOIUS SAFTEY DEFECT.*AK
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slipCrash
WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKE WHICH CAUSED WHEELS TO LOCK. BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, AND WOULD NOT RETURN. PROBLEM CAUSED VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAIL ON THIS MATTER. *AK
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
ENGINE PREMATURELY FAILED AT 72,000 MILES. CONSUMER HAD TO BUY A REBUILT ENGINE.*AK
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
CONSUMER PURCHASED NEW AT 72,517, WAS TOLD THAT A NEW ENGINE NEEDED TO BE INSTALLED. DEALER AGREED TO REPLACE ENGINE, ONLY IF DAMAGE WAS NOT DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. DEALER TOOK ENGINE APART, AND SAID IT WAS WEAR AND TEAR, AND DID NOT REPLACE ENGINE. CONSUMER HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW ENGINE IN DECEMBER OF 1999. *AK
- TiresCrash
THAT DAY, WHEN I DRIVE IN RT 21, I SUDDENTLY LOST CONTROL, HIT TO ANOTHER SUV, WE SLOW DOWN( DOT NUMBER: )
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.