Total Complaints
32 filings
TOYOTA TERCEL · model year
1989 TOYOTA TERCEL
32 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989TOYOTATERCEL carries 32 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 TERCEL is fuel system, gasoline:carburetor system with 7 filings, followed by structure:body:trunk lid (4) and latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 51 investigation files overlapping the 1989 TERCEL, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
32
Complaints
4
Crashes
0
Fires
2
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
4 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM | 7 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID | 4 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100224VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IN 1989 TOYOTA HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE TERCEL.. I HAD ONE THEY DID A FIX BUT NOT A RECALL.. I DON'T KNOW FOR SURE BUT I BET IT IS THE SAME PROBLEM.. THEY TREATED ME HORRIBLE AND I ABOUT DIED... THEY KNEW THEN THAT TYPE OF ACCELERATOR WOULD STICK,, THEN KNEW ALL THE WAY BACK THEN AND DID NOTHING.. I SO HOPE THIS HELP AND GET INVESTIGATED.. THEN KNEW IN 1989 ON THE TERCEL. *TR
20040630ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
DEFECT IN WORKMANSHIP ON THE ALTERNATOR.*MR THE CONSUMER PURCHASED A REMANUFACTURED ALTERNATOR WHICH ONLY LASTED FOR THREE DAYS. THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED. *JB
20020130SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE PUSHING ON BRAKES, VEHICLE DOES NOT MAKE A COMPLETE STOP, INSTEAD BRAKE PEDAL WILL TOUCH THE GROUND, RESULTING IN USE OF EMERGENCY BRAKE TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE MASTER CYLINDER IS OUT. DRUMS WERE TURNED BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO THIN. THE FRONT AXLE IS LEAKING BAD. GOODYEAR TIRES ARE BAD, P155/80R13, DOT NUMBER MDE4E70119. INSIDE THE VEHICLE THERE IS A FUEL ODOR. *JB
20020130FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
WHILE PUSHING ON BRAKES, VEHICLE DOES NOT MAKE A COMPLETE STOP, INSTEAD BRAKE PEDAL WILL TOUCH THE GROUND, RESULTING IN USE OF EMERGENCY BRAKE TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE MASTER CYLINDER IS OUT. DRUMS WERE TURNED BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO THIN. THE FRONT AXLE IS LEAKING BAD. GOODYEAR TIRES ARE BAD, P155/80R13, DOT NUMBER MDE4E70119. INSIDE THE VEHICLE THERE IS A FUEL ODOR. *JB
20020130SUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE PUSHING ON BRAKES, VEHICLE DOES NOT MAKE A COMPLETE STOP, INSTEAD BRAKE PEDAL WILL TOUCH THE GROUND, RESULTING IN USE OF EMERGENCY BRAKE TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE MASTER CYLINDER IS OUT. DRUMS WERE TURNED BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO THIN. THE FRONT AXLE IS LEAKING BAD. GOODYEAR TIRES ARE BAD, P155/80R13, DOT NUMBER MDE4E70119. INSIDE THE VEHICLE THERE IS A FUEL ODOR. *JB
20020130TIRES
WHILE PUSHING ON BRAKES, VEHICLE DOES NOT MAKE A COMPLETE STOP, INSTEAD BRAKE PEDAL WILL TOUCH THE GROUND, RESULTING IN USE OF EMERGENCY BRAKE TO MAKE A COMPLETE STOP.*AK CONSUMER STATES THE MASTER CYLINDER IS OUT. DRUMS WERE TURNED BECAUSE THERE ARE TOO THIN. THE FRONT AXLE IS LEAKING BAD. GOODYEAR TIRES ARE BAD, P155/80R13, DOT NUMBER MDE4E70119. INSIDE THE VEHICLE THERE IS A FUEL ODOR. *JB
20000127CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT
WHILE DRIVING 40-45 MPH RIGHT FRONT WHEELS LOCKED UP FOR NO REASON, CAUSING VEHICLE TO GO OUT OF CONTROL AND CRASH. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE PROBLEM. POLICE OFFICER STATED THIS PROBLEM ALSO HAPPENED TO HIM. THE LOCKED WHEEL, WHILE DRIVING, WAS RELATED TO THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE OPTION. *AK
19991117FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
IT HAPPENED ALL OF SUDDEN IN THE MORNINGS WHEN STARTING UP THE VEHICLE. IT WILL START SHAKING, AS TIME PROGRESSED IT WILL GET WORSE. CONTACTED THE DEALER, THEY SAID IT WAS INTERNAL IN THE CARBURETOR. *AK
19991117FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT AMONG SERVICE PERSONNEL AT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN SARASOTA, FLORIDA AND AMONG MECHANICS. WE WERE TOLD THE CARBURETOR IS UNREPAIRABLE. WE COULD PURCHASE A NEW CARBURETOR, ONLY TO EXPERIENCE THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH STALLING AND EVENTUAL FAILURE DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE DESIGN. WE HAVE SPENT THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS REPAIRING THE FUELING SYSTEM AND CARBURETOR. ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT WE HAVE PURCHASED "THE WORST CAR TOYOTA EVER MADE" WITH A DEFECTIVE CARBURETOR. *AK
19991022FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCING SPUTTER AND JERKING WHEN IDLING DUE TO A DEFECTIVE CARBURETOR. REPLACEMENTS WERE DONE. *YC
19990601VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ENGINE RACES WHEN STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED . DEALER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
19990326STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
VEHICLE EXHIBITING TRUNK LEAKAGE, REPAIRS WHERE MADE, PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *YC
19990326VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPER PUMP AND SPRAYER FAILED.
19990317STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
WHENEVER IT RAINS THE WATER IS GETTING INTO THE TRUNK OF THE VEHICLE WHICH IS CAUSING A LEAKAGE. *AK
19980917EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
DEALERSHIP DID NOT USE THE PART SPECIFIED IN THE HEADLIGHT BULB RECALL NOTICE. (QCAW)
19980106CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER TURNED KEY TO START VEHICLE, PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND VEHICLE SHOT OUT SO FAST IN REVERSE THAT THE DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. APPLYING THE BRAKES DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN CRASHING INTO A PARK VAN. THE VEHCLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK
19980106CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE DRIVER TURNED KEY TO START VEHICLE, PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND VEHICLE SHOT OUT SO FAST IN REVERSE THAT THE DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL OF VEHICLE. APPLYING THE BRAKES DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. THE VEHICLE STOPPED WHEN CRASHING INTO A PARK VAN. THE VEHCLE IS BEING REPAIRED. *AK
19970627FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
THE CARBURETOR FAILED RESULTING IN DANGEROUS ACCELERATION, NO POWER, HESITATION, AND STALLING.
19961231FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
CARBURETOR FAILURE.
19961115CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE CONSUMER HAD AN ACCIDENT AND THE FRONT SHOULDER RETRACTOR DIDN'T RETRACT. *AK
Compare 1989TOYOTATERCEL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 TOYOTA TERCEL have?▼
The 1989 TOYOTA TERCEL has 32 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 TOYOTA TERCEL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 TOYOTA TERCEL is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM with 7 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID and LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH.
Is the 1989 TOYOTA TERCEL safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.