The 1998 Toyota Tercel has 1 safety recall and 3 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is air bags (1 complaint).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints3filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Exterior lighting › Headlights
NHTSA recall 08E050000 · Aug 11, 2008 · 1,921 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (OVSC)
Problem: K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.
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
1998 Toyota Tercel 2-DR.
Overall
Not Rated
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
30mpg combined
City / highway
27 / 35 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.5 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,250/year to fuel
Tercel
29mpg combined
City / highway
26 / 34 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,300/year to fuel
Tercel
27mpg combined
City / highway
25 / 30 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.5 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/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*
Air bags Frontal
1
1
0
0
—
Seat belts Front › Anchorage
1
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline
1
0
0
0
—
Equipment Appliance › Air conditioner
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Oct 18, 1999Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline ENGINE NOISE AND HESITATION, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, HOWEVER UNABLE TO RECTIFY. MJS
Jun 27, 1998Seat belts › Front › Anchorage SEAT BELT FAILURE. *YC
Dec 6, 1998 · crashAir bags › Frontal WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS REARENDED BY THE TERCEL. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *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.