1994 Toyota Tercel recalls & problems

Safety recalls

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

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

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

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

Recent owner complaints

• Service brakes

  THE RUBBER PIN/PEG/PIECE (LOOKS LIKE THUMBTACK BUT BIGGER AND MADE OF RUBBER) THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AT THE POINT WERE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH/BUTTON IS, FELL APART INTO FIVE INDIVIDUAL PIECES RESULTING IN THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE FULLY ON AS IF THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THIS WAS EVEN WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THE ENGINE OFF. VEHICLE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND START THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS JUST BOUGHT FROM A PRIVATE OWNER AND I'VE ONLY HAD IT FOR ABOUT ELEVEN DAYS. ALL FUSES WERE FOUND TO BE IN GOOD ORDER AS WELL. REPLACED THE PART AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK PROPERLY. *TR

  May 30, 2014 · 104,340 miles
• Tires

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA TERCEL. THE VEHICLE HAS AEROLITE WHEEL TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RUBBER IN THE CENTER OF THE TIRE SHREDDED AND DETACHED. THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE TIRES ARE 50,000 MILE TIRES, WHICH SHREDDED AT APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,865 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,625.

  Aug 15, 2008 · 123,625 miles
• Engine and engine cooling › Engine

  1994 TOYOTA TERCEL 4-DOOR SEDAN A/T WHITE/EXTERIOR 191400 MILES ON THE ODOMETER VIN#[XXX]. THEY TOLD ME IT HAS A REBUILD ENGINE, IT'S BETTER THAN A NEW ENGINE. I DON'T ANYTHING ABOUT CARS. I'VE NEVER OWN A CAR IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. PURCHASED IT FROM VALENCIA AUTO/ USED CAR DEALER 1535 VALENCIA STREET, S.F CALIF 94110/ TEL.# 415-282-5553. PURCHASED IT ON OCT-12-2005 . THE CAR STALLS,ENGINE SHUTS-OFF 4-5 TIMES A DAY. VALENCIA AUTO TOLD ME NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. EVERY OTHER DAY OR SO, I BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. IT'S THE SAME OLD FUN AND GAMES THEY PLAYED EVERYTIME. THEY DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK AND EVERY TIME THEY CAME BACK…

  Oct 12, 2005 · 191,400 miles
• Air bagsCrash2 injuries

  THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD FRONT END DAMAGE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS BACK , THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS/HER NECK AND BACK. *JB

  Nov 1, 2004 · 130,461 miles
• Service brakes, hydraulic

  WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. AND THE BRAKING POWER WAS VERY LOW. *AK. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND ONE TIRE WERE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SIDEWALL DAMAGE AND NO TREAD, THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK, THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR MAIN SEAL, THE CRANK SEAL AND TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED. PH *JB

  Jun 2, 2003
• Air bags › FrontalCrash

  CONSUMER INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

  Jun 10, 2003
• Engine and engine cooling › Engine

  HAVE HAD A COMPLETE VALVE JOB, NOW THE PISTON RINGS ARE SHOT. I HAVE A FRIEND WHOSE 94 TERCEL ALSO HAD A FRIED ENGINE. BOTH CARS ORIGINATED FROM DEALERSHIPS IN MONTANA  MIGHT BE WORTH CHECKING OUT.*AK

  Oct 30, 2000
• Tires › Tread/beltCrash3 injuries

  ON 8/29/1999 MY DAUGHTERS BOYFRIEND AND HER BROTHER WERE ON THEIR WAY TO DATONA, FL FOR THE WEEK. NEARING DATONA HER LEFT REAR TIRE STARTED TO BREAK TS TREAD AND HER BOYFRIEND LOST CONTROLL OF THE CAR AND CROSSED INTO THE MEDIAN AND CUT ACRROS AN APPROACHING CAR WHICH HIT HER CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE BROADSIDE. SHE WAS KILLED AND HER BOYFRIEND WAS KILLED. HER BROTHER WAS BADLEY INJURED AND STILL CANNOT WALK WITHOUT A WALKER . IN JAN OR FEB OF 1999 SHE ALSO HAD THE RIGHT REAR (MATE TO THE ONE THAT FAILED AT THIS ACCIDENT ) AND SHE ALMOST FLIPPED THE CAR IN THE CENTER MEDIAN ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE. HER ROOM MATE WAS IN THE CAR WITH HER. I PERSONALLY CHANGED THAT TIRE AND THE TREAD PEALED AND…

  Aug 29, 1999

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