1993 Toyota Tercel

Routine

Owners filed 43 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the airbags. No safety recall has been issued.

Not among the Toyota Tercel years to avoid. Which Toyota Tercel years to avoid →

Most common 1993 Toyota Tercel problems

22 of the 43 complaints (51%) are about the airbags.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal · airbags16
14014
Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module · airbags3
000
Air Bags · airbags3
101
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration2
000
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage2
001
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline · engine2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine · engine2
000
Visibility › Windshield1
000
Tires › Tread/Belt1
000
Tires1
100

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 11, 2005WA

AIR BAG, DRIVERS SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY DURING REAR-END CAR ACCIDENT. *NM

Fuel System, Other
Filed Jan 7, 2003CA

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
Filed Mar 22, 2002CO

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
Filed Jan 9, 2001NH

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
Filed Dec 28, 2000AZ

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
Filed Dec 14, 2000MI

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

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Dec 14, 2000MI

ENGINE PREMATURELY FAILED AT 72,000 MILES. CONSUMER HAD TO BUY A REBUILT ENGINE.*AK

TiresCrash
Filed Aug 22, 2000NJ

THAT DAY, WHEN I DRIVE IN RT 21, I SUDDENTLY LOST CONTROL, HIT TO ANOTHER SUV, WE SLOW DOWN( DOT NUMBER: )

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Aug 1, 2000CA

AFTER PUTTING AIR IN ALL TIRES, CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THEY FOUND OUT THAT TIRES HAD A TREAD SEPARATION WITHOUT A PRIOR WARNING. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Mar 30, 2000CA

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER,AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Nov 15, 1999MN

THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN STARTED. BEEN TO DEALER & PLACED ON DIAGNOSTIC. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC SHORT AIR BAG SENSOR SYSTEM WAS CAUSED & HAD A SHORT IN IT. THE ENTIRE SENSORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Visibility › Windshield
Filed Jun 1, 1999WY

HAVE LOOKED AT SEVERAL OTHER 1993 TERCELS. MOST I HAVE NOTICED HAVE A HORIZONTAL CRACK IN THE WINDSHIELD. I AM WONDERING IF THIS IS A PROBLEM IN MOST OF THAT YEAR? I FIND IT STRANGE THAT THE TERCELS I HAVE SEEN HAVE THE SAME TENDENCY TO CRACK IN THE SAME AREA IN THE SAME WAY. *AK

Structure › Body › Bumpers
Filed Apr 15, 1999PA

IN MINOR IMPACT THE BUMPER SUSTAINED EXCESSIVE DAMAGE. MJS

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Mar 8, 1999NC

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN 25 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. ALSO, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK UP UPON IMPACT. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 3, 1999MD

MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED UPON A MINOR CRASH. I RECEIVED BURNS AND SCRAPES TO MY FACE. ALSO THE AIRBAG OR SOMETHING IN IT CAUSED BURN IN MY SHIRT, THROUGH MY BRA AND ONTO MY CHEST AREA. I DON'T BELIEVE THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED PROPERLY AND AM VERY CONCERNED AS TO WHY.

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Feb 19, 1999CO

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH REARENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT, DRIVER'S AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND AIRBAG DUST CAME OUT, BUT DID NOT INFLATE. CAME OUT FLAT ,NO AIR IN THE BAG. *AK

Seat BeltsCrash
Filed Dec 14, 1998NC

WHILE IN A CHAIN REACTION ACCIDENT WAS HIT FROM THE FRONT AND BACK, THE SHOULDER BELTS FAILED TO RESTRAIN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 22, 1998FL

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT WITH ANOTHER CAR AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED HALFWAY. DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation ComponentsCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 6, 1998LA

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES WHILE DRIVING OVER A PUDDLE, BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, CAUSING CONSUMER TO SUSTAIN BURNS TO THE SKIN. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK

Exterior Lighting › Headlights
Filed May 9, 1998MA

BOTH DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S SIDE HEADLIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Dec 22, 1997MA

ENGINE CONTINUES TO RACE AS IF GAS PEDAL WERE DEPRESSED AFTER GAS PEDAL HAS BEEN RELEASED AND MANUAL TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL.

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage1 injured
Filed Nov 15, 1997FL

SEAT BELT FAILED DURING A COLLISION RESULTING IN CHEST INJURIES.

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Oct 15, 1997NY

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. YH

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Jul 15, 1997CA

WHILE GOING 35 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION . THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING SEVRE HEAD AND NECK INJURIES. OWNER WAS WEARING SEA TBELT. OWNER RECIEVED UPPER AND LOWER BACK PAIN DUE TO THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Mar 11, 1997FL

DRIVING VEHICLE, HEARD CLUNKING/GRINDING NOISE IN BRAKING AREA; TAKEN TO DEALER & HAD BRAKES CHANGED AT LEAST 5 TIMES; WOULD RESURFACE ROTORS & REPLACED PADS; BRAKES WOULD CHATTER BUT WAS TOLD IT WAS NORMAL. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 9, 1997VA

THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS DETERIORATING. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Dec 12, 1996AR

CONSUMER HAD TWO ACCIDENTS AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

Seat Belts › Front › RetractorCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 14, 1996FL

VEHICLE IMPACT ACCIDENT AT 11:00 POSITION, SPEED 45 MPH, DRIVER'S SIDE LAP/SHOULDER BELT DID NOT RETRACT, RESULTING IN AN INJURY. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Oct 7, 1996MA

PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE.

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Jun 22, 1996CA

OTHER: AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED DUE TO DEFECTIVE SENSOR. *SD

Seats › Front Assembly › Recliner
Filed Jun 19, 1996RI

WHEN SEAT BACK IS RELEASED, SEAT FLYS FORWARD WITH GREAT FORCE. *DH

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed May 22, 1996NY

THE THROTTLE STICKS AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE GAS PEDAL IS NOT BEING APPLIED. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 30, 1996CA

VEHICLE WAS IN FRONT-END ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 3, 1996RI

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Jan 17, 1996CA

VEHICLE STALLS IN TRAFFIC. WHICH MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Oct 19, 1995SC

AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON, EQUIPPED WITH DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG, REPLACED SPIRAL CABLE CONNECTING HORN AND AIRBAG. TT

Air Bags › Frontal
Filed Aug 7, 1995NY

DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG SENSOR KEEPS GOING OFF/ON, DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG . TT

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 17, 1995NY

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AND WAS TOTALED, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. TT

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed May 18, 1995NY

UPON IMPACT, DURING FRONTAL CRASH, AT APPROX. 30MPH, 12:00 ON FRONT BUMPER, AIRBAG FAIL TO DEPLOY. TT

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 15, 199500

OTHER: DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEFECTIVE, RESULTING IN INJURY. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) (OTHER VEHICLE ON 479623)*SKD

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Mar 15, 199500

OTHER: DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED DURING ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN INJURY. (ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT) *SKD

Air Bags
Filed Jan 18, 1995CA

THE AIRBAG LIGHT HAS COME ON AND HAS CONTINUED TO STAY ON. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Jan 13, 1995AL

VEHICLE STRUCK ON THE PASSENGER FRONT QUARTER PANEL AND AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT

All 43 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20001000Routine
19991101Fatalities reported
19983100Routine
199720200Routine
199640240Routine
199551210Routine
199440032Fatalities reported
1993 — this page43000Routine
199224011Fatalities reported
199117010Routine
199019140Routine

Compare every Tercel year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Most recent recall on file: none. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.