TOYOTA TERCEL · model year

1992 TOYOTA TERCEL

27 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1992TOYOTATERCEL carries 27 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 4 crashes, 1 fire, 3 injuries, and 2 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 1992 TERCEL is seat belts:front with 3 filings, followed by seat belts:front:webbing (3) and suspension:front:control arm (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 1992 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.

27
Complaints
4
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

27 filings

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

ComponentCount
SEAT BELTS:FRONT3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING3
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL2
POWER TRAIN1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING1
STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR1
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS1

Recent Complaints

20150122CrashFatalENGINE

ON 12/29/2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 10AM, MY 84 YEAR MOTHER WAS LEAVING A WALGREEN'S PARKING LOT LOCATED IN SUNRISE, FLORIDA. AFTER BACKING UP, SHE PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE WHERE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED. AS A RESULT THE CAR STRUCK A RETAINING WALL CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE POLICE AND EMS WERE CALLED AND PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION TO THE HOSPITAL. MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY AS A RESULT OF HER INJURIES AT APPROXIMATELY 12PM ON 12/29/2015. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20150122CrashFatalVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON 12/29/2015 AT APPROXIMATELY 10AM, MY 84 YEAR MOTHER WAS LEAVING A WALGREEN'S PARKING LOT LOCATED IN SUNRISE, FLORIDA. AFTER BACKING UP, SHE PUT THE CAR INTO DRIVE WHERE SUDDEN ACCELERATION OCCURRED. AS A RESULT THE CAR STRUCK A RETAINING WALL CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE. THE POLICE AND EMS WERE CALLED AND PROVIDED TRANSPORTATION TO THE HOSPITAL. MY MOTHER PASSED AWAY AS A RESULT OF HER INJURIES AT APPROXIMATELY 12PM ON 12/29/2015. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20100223VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

I WAS DRIVING A 92 TOYOTA TERCEL. I WAS GOING UP A STEEP HILL ON I-5 IN OREGON. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS PEDAL LOST PRESSURE AND FELL TO THE FLOOR WITH THE ENGINE AT FULL ACCELERATION. LUCKILY I WAS GOING UP A HILL. I REACHED DOWN AND WIGGLED THE GAS PEDAL AND IT WAS TOTALLY LOOSE AND JUST DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. AS I CAME TO THE NEXT EXIT I PULLED OFF, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE KEY. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND THE PRESSURE CAME BACK TO THE GAS PEDAL. IT SEEMED TO DRIVE FINE AFTER THAT EXCEPT IT MADE A DEEPER MUFFLED NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. I BROUGHT IT IN TO A MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY LUBED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY AND THERE WERE NO MORE PROBLEMS. *TR

Mileage: 90,000

20070131ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 TOYOTA TERCEL. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN THE SPRING OF 1992, AND 6 MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON A VERY NICE DAY THE ENGINE SEIZED AND ENGINE BLOCK CRACKED. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE ENGINE WITH A BRAND NEW ENGINE AT THAT TIME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SECOND ENGINE SEIZED 10 MONTHS LATER. THE CONTACT THEN PURCHASED A REBUILT ENGINE IN THE SPRING OF 1995, AND 7 MONTHS LATER THAT ENGINE SEIZED. THE CONTACT THEN PURCHASED ANOTHER ENGINE IN 2002, AND IT WAS CURRENTLY STILL WORKING. EACH INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH, AND HAD A BRAND NEW ENGINE WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED. *AK

20050216SEAT BELTS:FRONT

THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT STARTED TO ENTANGLE FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM. DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER BY PHONE. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

20030521SEAT BELTS:FRONT

DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT IS VERY BADLY FRAYED. HAS REACHED THE POINT WHERE IT DOESN'T RETRACT PROPERLY. *JB

20030307FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

VEHICLE EXPELLED HIGH HYDROCARBONS AND CARBON MONOXIDE AT CRUISE. HOWEVER AT IDLE IT WAS EXTREMELY LOW. AFTER MANY REPAIRS, IT WAS FOUND THE FUEL VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM HAD MALFUNCTIONED THAT WOULD PROBABLY INCLUDE THE VACUUM LINE FROM THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND MAY ALSO BE AFFECTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CONSUMER REQUESTED RECALL INFORMATION ON THIS CONDITION. *TT *JB

20011203TIRES:SIDEWALL

2 NEW TIRES, LESS THAN 5,00 MILES DRIVEN, SIDEWALLS CRACKING AND SEPARATING. *AK (DOT NUMBER: PL8JV9LR10 TIRESIZE: P175/65R14)

20010625SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

THE DRIVER SIDE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SHOULDER BELT IS FRAYING BADLY. *AK

20000522CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15-20MPH & ANOTHER VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER & THERE WAS A REAR END COLLISION. SEAT BELT DIDN'T TIGHTEN TO SECURE THE CONSUMER WHICH CAUSED ALOT OF KNOCKING AROUND. MANFACTURER WAS SENDING ADJUSTER OUT TO INSPECT VEHICLE & WOULDN'T SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT SO THAT CONSUMER COULD BE PRESENT. *AK THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T TIGHTEN AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. *YH

20000519ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING, THERE BEGAN A KNOCKING SOUND. WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP WHO SAID ONE OF THE BEARINGS ON THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN AND DISINTEGRATED. *AK.

20000224SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

THE SHOUDLER STRAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS SHREDDING. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE BELT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. *AK *ML

20000105SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

THE SHOULDER SAFETY BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS FRAYED ON THE EDGE THAT CONTACTS THE NECK. THE EXPOSED FIBERS ARE LIKE SHARP TINY SAW TEETH, MUCH LIKE A HACK SAW. IN AN ACCIDENT, THE BELT COULD EASILY SLICE THROUGH THE NECK TO THE CAROTID ARTERY. *AK

19990622SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES FAILED RESULTING IN VEHICLE ACCIDENT. MJS

19990113CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR

CONSUMER WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE THE SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN HER IN SEAT, RESULTING IN AN INJURY. *AK

19980407ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE FAILED

19980401SEAT BELTS:FRONT

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY.

19980205SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE

SEAT BELT DETERIORATED TO THREADS IN THE FRONT SHOULDER BELT AREA.

19970926SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

DRIVERS SIDE RESTRAINT IS COMING APART FROM THE FRAME, HE CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY WILL NOT REPAIR THE RESTRAINT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK CONSUMER REPLACED SHOULDER BELT AT HIS EXPENSE.*JB

19961106STEERING: STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT THE HIGH BEAM LIGHTS COME ON. *AK

Compare 1992TOYOTATERCEL to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1992 TOYOTA TERCEL have?
The 1992 TOYOTA TERCEL has 27 NHTSA complaints, 4 crashes, 1 fires, 3 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 TOYOTA TERCEL?
The most-complained component for the 1992 TOYOTA TERCEL is SEAT BELTS:FRONT with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING and SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM.
Is the 1992 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.