Total Complaints
23 filings
TOYOTA TERCEL · model year
1990 TOYOTA TERCEL
23 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1990TOYOTATERCEL carries 23 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 4 fires, 3 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 1990 TERCEL is fuel system, gasoline:carburetor system with 3 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (3) and engine and engine cooling:exhaust system:emission control (2). 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 1990 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.
23
Complaints
4
Crashes
4
Fires
3
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 | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 2 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20100207CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER
IN APRIL 2004, MY TOYOTA TERCEL ACCELERATED FROM 05 TO APPROXIMATELY 90MPH IN A PARKING LOT, CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND TOTALED MY CAR. ANOTHER PROBLEM WAS THE BRAKE PEDAL. EVEN AFTER CHANGING TO NEW BRAKE PADS, SHOES, BRAKE DRUMS AND ROTORS, THE BRAKE PEDAL STILL DROPPED LOW TO THE FLOOR THAT IT FELT THAT I WAS PUSHING THE FLOOR WHEN I BRAKE. I HAD SEVERAL ACCELERATION INCIDENTS. EVEN WHEN I PUSHED THE BRAKE PEDAL FIRMLY AND CONTINUOUSLY, THE CAR KEPT GOING. THE ACCELERATION PROBLEM AND STICKY BRAKE PEDAL PROBLEMS WERE NEVER SOLVED. I WROTE THE TRIPLE A/AUTOMOBILE CLUB OF SO. CA INSURANCE ABOUT THESE ISSUES REGARDING MY ACCIDENT BUT WAS IGNORED. *TW
Mileage: 76,000
20080812ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
1990 TOYOTA TERCEL ENGINE BLEW. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE ENGINE BLEW AND HAD ANOTHER ENGINE PUT IN BUT IT DID NOT LAST VERY LONG. *NJ
20020719FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
CONSUMER HAD TAKEN VEHICLE TO HAVE CARBURETOR REPAIRED. CARBURETOR FAILED IN HIGH RPM MODE, NEARLY CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *JG
20020719ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
CONSUMER HAD THE OXYGEN SENSORS REPLACED. *JG
20010626FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
THE FOLLOWING IS A DESCRIPTION OF EVENTS WHICH LEAD TO MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER OVER-HEATING AND CATCHING MY CAR ON FIRE. ON 6-18-01, I SMELT A BURNING SMELL AND PULLED OVER TO TRY TO FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE SMELL. AFTER A SERIES OF LOOKS I COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING ANY WHERE, HOWEVER, I COULD FEEL A LITTLE HEAT BETWEEN MY SHIFT AND EMERGENCY BRAKE. ON MY HOME SMOKE STARTED TO EMERGE FROM THE STICK/EMERGENCY BRAKE AREA. BEFORE I COULD PULL OVER OUT OF TRAFFIC, FLAMES BEGIN SHOOTING OUT OF THE CENTER OF THE CAR (EMERGENCY BRAKE AND STICK-SHIFT AREA). I IMMEDIATELY TURNED UPON THE CURB AND PARKED THE CAR WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE 10 MINUTES LATER AND EVALUATED THE SITUATION, STATING MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER IGNITED THE CAR AND THAT I WAS VERY LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. THE FIRE BURNED THROUGH THE FLOOR AND MOST OF MY INTERIOR.*AK
20010129ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OIL LEAK, LATER NEEDED ENGINE REPLACEMENT, THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED TWICE. *SLC
20010123ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED OIL LEAK, LATER NEEDED ENGINE REPLACEMENT, THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED TWICE. *SLC
20001219EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
CUSHION BROKE OFF BRAKE LIGHT PEDAL ARM ASSEMBLY, CAUSING BRAKE LIGHTS TO STAY ON PERMANENTLY. THERE IS NOTHING ON BRAKE PEDAL ARM TO RETRACT SWITCH'S TRIGGER. *CJ
19990729FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CAR CUT OFF. CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER ,AND DEARLER REPLACED ELECTRICAL PARTS IN THE ENGINE. *AK
19981014FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR
OVERHEATING OF THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER CAUSING VEHICLE FIRE.
19980816FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
DUE TO CARBON BUILD-UP IN THE CARBURETOR AND INTAKE VALVES, THE CAR CONTINUOUSLY STALLS IN TRAFFIC AND WILL NOT RESTART.
19970217ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY OR EASILY AND LOSES ACCELERATION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS. DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT HARNESS HAS SHREDDED OVER TIME AND IS NO LONGER USABLE.
19970217SEAT BELTS
VEHICLE DOES NOT ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY OR EASILY AND LOSES ACCELERATION WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PASS. DRIVER SIDE SEATBELT HARNESS HAS SHREDDED OVER TIME AND IS NO LONGER USABLE.
19961231ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
OXYGEN SENSOR FAILED.
19961231FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP FAILED.
19961210SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILURE, WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED PEDAL BECOMES VERY HARD AND LEFT FOOT OFF PEDAL, REAPPLIED THE BRAKES AND EFFECTIVESS RETURNS. *AK
19961107FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO CARBURETOR FAILURE. *AK
19961002FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE DASH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
19960918CrashSEATS
DRIVER'S SEAT COLLAPSED AND DETACHED FROM ANCHOR UPON REAR END COLLISION AND FELL INTO REAR SEAT. *AK
19960830POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
TRANSAXLE FAILURE. *AK
Compare 1990TOYOTATERCEL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1990 TOYOTA TERCEL have?▼
The 1990 TOYOTA TERCEL has 23 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 4 fires, 3 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 TOYOTA TERCEL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1990 TOYOTA TERCEL is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL.
Is the 1990 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.