Safety ratings
1995 Toyota Tercel 4-DR.
- Lane departure warningNo
- Forward collision warningNo
- Electronic stability controlNo
Crash test videos & photos
Crash test #1NHTSA test 2224
Full test report (PDF) ↗Crash test #2NHTSA test 2245
Full test report (PDF) ↗Recalls (2)
- EXTERIOR LIGHTINGCampaign 06E026000 · 23/03/2006
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
- EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTSCampaign 08E050000 · 11/08/2008
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.
Owner complaints
Most-reported areas
- AIR BAGS18
- SEAT BELTS9
- VISIBILITY6
- ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING3
- TIRES3
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3
- SERVICE BRAKES2
- HYDRAULIC2
Read individual complaints (50 most recent)
These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.
- 12/18/1995· VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD SEAL FAILED. *AK
- 12/05/1996· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OFFENSIVE ODOR ENTERED INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK
- 11/26/2001· AIR BAGSCrashFire
LOW SPEED IMPACT ACCIDENT, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG CAUGHT FIRE. TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED BUT AFTER INSPECITON SEND MEMO THAT FIRE WAS NOT CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURING OR DESIGN DEFECT. NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. CAR WAS TOTALLED BY INSURANCE DUE TO COST TO REPLACE AIRBAGS. IF THIS IS A "SAFETY FEATURE" WHY WOULD IT CATCH FIRE? LUCKILY THERE WAS NO PASSENGER IN THE CAR. DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG ALSO DEPLOYED AND SINGED THE JEANS THAT MY SON WAS WEARING.*AK
- 11/20/2010· SEAT BELTS
SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED TO LATCH ON TO SEAT BELT. *TR
- 11/08/1995· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash
POOR PERFORMANCE OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. TT
- 11/05/2018· TIRESCrash
THIS IS A RECOUNT OF EVENTS IN WHICH MY TIRE FAILED. I BEGAN MY COMMUTE TO WORK BY ENTERING ONTO A GOOD CONDITION STATE HIGHWAY AND BEGAN DRIVING 65 MPH AROUND 6:30 AM EDT. APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES INTO THE DRIVE WITH LITE TRAFFIC, I DECIDED TO CHANGE FROM THE MIDDLE LANE INTO THE RIGHT HAND LANE. DURING THIS LANE CHANGE THE CAR STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO VIBRATE AND THEN VIOLENTLY SHAKE. I APPLIED MY BREAKS TO SLOW DOWN AND PULL OVER, BUT I COULD NOT STOP NOR CONTROL THE DIRECTION OF CAR. THE CAR BEGAN TO PULLING TO THE LEFT AND STARTED TO SPIN. THE CAR IMPACTED THE GUARDRAIL TWICE WHILE IN A SPIN AND RECEIVED UNFIXABLE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT AND REAR OF THE CAR BODY FRAME, AND OTHER COMPONENTS. THE WITNESSES ON SCENE, CALLED THE POLICE AND REPORTED THAT THEY SAW THE FRONT PASSENGER TIRE BLOW OUT CAUSING THE ACCIDENT. THE TIRE WAS BRAND NEW AND WAS PROFESSIONALLY BALANCED, INSTALLED, AND ALIGNED JUST 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED AND SET AT LESS THAN MAX MANUFACTURER TIRE PRESSURE. ALL OF MY TIRES WERE PURCHASED AT A TIRE KINGDOM STORE. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE TIRE, THE BLOWOUT OF THE TIRE OCCURRED ON THE SIDEWALL AND NO DAMAGE TO THE TREAD WAS FOUND. NO OBJECT WAS DESCRIBED AT THE SCREEN OF THE ACCIDENT OR BY WITNESSES THAT CAUSED THE TIRE TO RUPTURE. THE CAR WAS TOTALED AND I RECEIVED BODILY INJURY FROM THE ACCIDENT. THERE WERE NO OTHER ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE, EQUIPMENT, DRIVER, HIGHWAY, TRAFFIC, MAYBE A LIGHT RAIN IN THE EARLY MORNING, THAT CAN EXPLAIN THE CAUSE OF THE TIRE FAILING. THE TIRE WITH DRIVEN LESS THAN 3,000 MILES BEFORE IT FAILED. THE POLICE REPORTED THAT THE TIRE WAS DEFECTIVE, BUT SINCE THE TIRE IS NEW THAT THERE ARE NO CURRENT CLAIMS TO REPORT THIS DEFECTIVE TIRE. THIS TIRE WAS PURCHASED AT TIRE KINGDOM, MODEL UNIROYAL TIGER PAW AWPII WITH DOT SBXGHSTR1418 2.
- 09/28/2000· SEAT BELTS
I REPLACED MY SEATBELT ONCE NOW THE SAME BELT IS BROKEN AGAIN AND THE OPPOSITE SIDE ALSO IS BROKEN. THYE HARDLEY GET USED IN THE BACK SEAT. NOW THEY TELL ME THEY COST 190 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THEM I THINK THEY SHOULD REPLACE THEM FOR FREE. *AK
- 09/27/2002· AIR BAGS
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. *MR WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITON THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *SCC
- 09/20/2002· AIR BAGS
AIRBAGS DEPLOYED WHILE BEING PARKED ALL DAY. *AK
- 09/03/1995· VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD SEAL LEAKS. *TT
- 08/30/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE FAILURE WITHOUT WARNING, DUE TO FAILURE OF THE OIL INDICATOR, WHICH DID NOT WARN OF THE LOW OIL LEVEL. *YC
- 08/29/1996· AIR BAGSCrash
NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS IN ACCIDENT.
- 08/28/1995· PARKING BRAKE
EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE DISENGAGED BY ITSELF TOOK TO DEALER FOUND OUT WAS A RUBBER BAND WAS IN THE GEAR OF THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE . TT
- 08/26/2003· SEAT BELTSCrash
DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT CAME OUT OF THE MECHANISM IN A REAR END COLLSION. AS A RESULT, DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK
- 08/25/1995· TIRES
MICHELIN TIRE WENT FLAT 2 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE. *TT
- 08/20/1995· EQUIPMENT
RADIO ON/OFF AND VOLUME KNOBS FAILED. *AW
- 08/16/1995· VISIBILITY
WINDSHIELD PROBLEMS. *SKD
- 08/11/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
REPLACED BATTERY. *AK
- 08/10/2001· STEERING
AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON WHILE DRIVING. HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC RESET AIR BAG LIGHT. ON 2/22/000, SAME PROBLEM WITH AIR BAG LIGHT HAPPENED AGAIN. TOOK IT BACK AGAIN AND REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THEN AGAIN ON 8/7/01, SAME PROBLEMOCCURRED. BUT, THIS TIME MECHANIC INDICATED THA TIT WA SNEEDED TO REPLACE AIR BAG SENSORS. FIRST 2 TIMES MECHANIC DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *ASK
- 08/03/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
CONSUMER WAS COMING OFF HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITH NO WARNING. *AK
- 07/27/2013· SEAT BELTSCrash
I HIT A CURB SIDE AND MY BUCKLE UNLATCHED AFTER FURTHER CHECKING I NOTICED WITH LITTLE RESISTANCE IT SOMETIMES UNLATCHES EVENTHOUGH IT MAKES THE CLICK SOUND. I HAVE TO SAY THAT I NOTICED IT IN PAST UNLATCH BUT I THOUGHT I MAY HAVE NOT PUSHED IT WELL. BUT IT SEEMS PART IS DEFECTIVE. *TR
- 07/27/1995· VISIBILITY
PURCHASED CAR NEW AND THE RIGHT WINDSHIELD WIPER ARM IS NOT WORKING . TT
- 07/27/1995· VISIBILITY
NO REAR DEFROSTER, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *SD
- 07/22/1996· AIR BAGSCrash
FAILURE ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
- 07/11/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
IGNITION FAILED. *DH
- 06/21/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
PURCHASE CAR A MONTH AGO NEW WHEN TURN IT OFF AND TRY TO TURN IT ON CAR WILL NOT START IT HESITATES. TT
- 06/11/2000· AIR BAGS
AIRBAG SENSOR FAILED/FALSE DEPLOYMENT, CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO DISCHAGE WHEN THE CAR SCRAPPED THE CURB DURING A THREE POINT TURN. NLM
- 06/03/2008· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash
I WAS STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC THAT HAD STOPPED, AND I WAS SEVERAL FEET AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS PEDAL ENGAGED AND MY CAR LUNGED FORWARD. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD BUT IT DID NOT STOP IT, SO I PULLED UP THE HAND BRAKE BUT NOT BEFORE I HAD HIT THE REAR BUMPER OF THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS TICKETED FOR FOLLOWING TOO CLOSE WHICH WAS NOT THE CASE. I EXPLAINED TO THE OFFICER WHAT HAPPENED WHEN MY GAS PEDAL UNEXPECTEDLY CAUSED TO CAR TO ACCELERATE BUT ALL HE SAID IS THAT I BETTER GET IT FIXED. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY FIXED IT, BUT MY CAR INSURANCE WENT UP, AS WELL AS THE DEDUCTIBLE I HAD TO PAY TO GET MY CAR FIXED AND REPAIR THE OTHER GENTLEMAN'S CAR. AT THE TIME I DIDN'T CONSIDER THAT IT WAS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT BUT NOW I KNOW IT MIGHT WELL COULD HAVE BEEN. MY MOM HAD GIVEN ME THE CAR TO DRIVE AFTER SHE COULD NOT DRIVE IT ANY MORE, AND SHE DIED NOT TOO LONG THEREAFTER. I NOW HAVE OVER 210,000 MILES ON THE CAR AND IT HAS BEEN A PRETTY GOOD CAR, EXCEPT FOR THAT ONE INCIDENT. THANKS.
- 05/26/1995· SEAT BELTS
PASSENGERS FROM THE REAR SEATS EXIT THE CAR WILL TRIP WITH THE SEATBELTS ANCHORAGE ATTACHMENTS. TT
- 05/22/2000· AIR BAGSCrash
WHILE TRAVLING ABOUT 50 MPH, VEHICLE HIT A DITCH AND GUARDRAIL, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG, VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *CJ
- 05/21/2002· POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS
SOME OF THE AIRBAG WIRES ARE CONNECTED AND SOME ARE NOT.*AK CONSUMER BOUGHT VEHICLE IN WHICH THE DRIVER AIR BAG WAS USED AND THE CONNECTIONS HAD BEEN CUT OFF, THE AIR BAG MONITOR WAS ALSO BAD, DEALER REPLACED DRIVER AIR BAG AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS COVER. RIGHT AXLE SEAL SHAFT WAS BEGINNING TO LEAK, DEALER REPLACED. *SLC
- 05/14/1997· VISIBILITY
THE WINDSHIELD WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED AND HAD A STRESS FRACTURE.
- 04/16/1998· AIR BAGSCrash
WHILE MAKING A TURN AT 25 MPH VEHICLE STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE, CREATING A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS SIDE AIRBAGS. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
- 04/16/1996· SUSPENSIONCrash
WHILE DRIVING, AT APPROX. 70-75MPH, NOTICED VEHICLE STARTED TO PULL TO RIGHT, THEN SUDDENLY LOST CONTROL AND FLIPPED OVER. *AK
- 04/12/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
FITTINGS ARE NOT COMPATIPLE WITH FUEL FILTER AND THEY ARE FORCED IN THE FACTORY THIS CAUSE I HAVE TO CHANGE ALL THE FUEL LINE TO CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER IF I DON'T DO THIS THIS CAUSE A FUEL LEAK
- 04/11/1996· SEAT BELTS
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT KEEPS RETRACTING AFTER BEING LATCHED AND CHOKES THE PASSENGER. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
- 04/11/1996· SEAT BELTS
PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SHOULDER/LAP BELT RETRACTS/TIGHTENS AND CHOKES OCCUPANT. MANUFACTURE IS AWARE BUT FEELS COMPLAINT IS BASED ON COMFORT. PLEASE DESCRIBE.*AK
- 04/05/1999· UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I NEED TO KNOW WHICH TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS ON MY CAR HAVE BEEN UPDATED. THE FACTORY CLAIMS THE DEALERSHIPS HAVE ASSISTANCE FOR VEHICLES WHICH ARE DISPLAYING SOME TYPE OF CONCERN, BUT THAT THEY HAVE NO INFORMATION TO PROVIDE FOR ME. I VISITED THE RECALL SECTION AND FOUND 20 TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS FOR MY CAR. IS THERE A NATIONAL DATABASE WHICH KEEPS THESE RECORDS? I SURE WOULD APPRECIATE IT! NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY. *AK
- 04/04/1996· AIR BAGSCrash
FRONTAL COLLISION, IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, SPEED 30 MPH, DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
- 03/27/2001· AIR BAGS
AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING - WIFE HAD CLEANED CAR INTERIOR INCLUDING CENTER CONSOLE 2 DAYS PRIOR TO ILLUMINATION. RECALL INITIATED IN COROLLA'S AND PRIZM'S PROBABLY UTILIZE SIMILAR SYSTEM IN TERCEL - PLEASE RESEARCH BECAUSE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF TERCELS HAVE BEEN SOLD. *AK
- 03/25/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICCrash
DRIVING UP STEEP HILL, TURNED AROUND, BRAKES NOT WORKING, VEHICLE WENT FASTER AS BRAKES APPLIED, HIT FENCE, WENT INTO BANKMENT, AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
- 03/17/1999· AIR BAGSCrash
DURING A RAIN STORM CAR SLID OUT OF CONTROL, THEN DOWN EMBANKMENT WITHOUT AIR BAGS EVER DEPLOYING. BUSHES, TREES, ETC WERE HIT, BUT CAR LANDED ON DRIVERS SIDE. DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE HEAD INJURY.
- 03/11/1996· AIR BAGSCrash
INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 30MPH AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
- 03/11/1996· AIR BAGSCrash
AIR BAG; THE CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
- 03/01/1996· POWER TRAINCrash
THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
- 02/25/2010· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
MY 1995 TOYOTA TERCEL EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN ACCELERATION EPISODE NEARLY 2 YEARS AGO. I WAS ENTERING A MAIN ROAD WHEN I NOTICED THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. I REPEATEDLY PRESSED THE BRAKE, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES AROUND ME AT THE TIME, AND WHEN I TOTALLY REALIZED THAT THE SPEED WAS INCREASING FROM ABOUT 30 MPH TO ABOUT 45 OR 50 MPH, AND I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, I PUT IN PARK, (IT HAS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION) IT MADE A STRONG NOISE, AND THE CAR SUDDENLY HALTED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AT LEAST TWO CAR SHOPS AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WHAT HAPPENED TO ME WAS EXACTLY AS IS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALLS. AND ALMOST TWO YEARS LATER I STILL FEEL INSECURE DRIVING ANY CAR, AND REMEMBERING WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY AND I HOPE IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE, I'M SURE THE PROBLEM IS BIGGER THAN IT IS PORTRAYED NOW, AND IT MAY EXTEND TO MANY MORE VEHICLES AND MODELS. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. THANKS. *TR
- 02/25/1997· SEAT BELTS
FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELTS ARE TOO SHORT. LOCAL DEALER WILL PROVIDE EXTENSIONS BUT REQUIRES A SIGNED LEGAL WAIVER.
- 02/18/2000· AIR BAGSCrash
CONSUMER INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION TRAVAELING 30-40 MPH IN WHICH NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING INJURIES TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE OCCUPANT. ALSO, VEHICLE IS WAS TOTALED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
- 02/12/1997· TIRES
MICHELIN TIRE SIZE 155SR13 BLEW DUE TO ACCIDENTALLY STRIKING CEMENT SIDE OF ISLAND.
- 02/06/2011· SEAT BELTS
I HAVE A 1995 TOYOTA TERCEL AND THE SEAT BELT BUCKLES ARE BROKEN AND NO HAVE A CORRECT FUNCTION. PLEASE I NEED TO KNOW IS THIS A RECALL I CONSIDER THIS ISSUE AFFECT A SECURITY DRIVER AND PASSENGER SAFETY IN A CRASH. *TR