Total Complaints
50 filings
TOYOTA TERCEL · model year
1993 TOYOTA TERCEL
50 NHTSA complaints, 23 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1993TOYOTATERCEL carries 50 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 23 crashes, 0 fires, 20 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 1993 TERCEL is air bags:frontal with 18 filings, followed by air bags (4) and air bags:frontal:sensor/control module (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 1993 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.
50
Complaints
23
Crashes
0
Fires
20
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
23 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 |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 18 |
| AIR BAGS | 4 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS | 1 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20050811CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG, DRIVERS SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY DURING REAR-END CAR ACCIDENT. *NM
20030107FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
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
20020514ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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
20020426ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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
20010118AIR BAGS
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
20001228CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
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
20001214ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
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
20001214ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE PREMATURELY FAILED AT 72,000 MILES. CONSUMER HAD TO BUY A REBUILT ENGINE.*AK
20000905CrashTIRES
THAT DAY, WHEN I DRIVE IN RT 21, I SUDDENTLY LOST CONTROL, HIT TO ANOTHER SUV, WE SLOW DOWN( DOT NUMBER: )
20000801TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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
20000330CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 35 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER,AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
19991129AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. YH
19991129ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY NEEDED CHARGING BUT DIED TWO YEARS LATER. YH
19991115AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE
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
19990601VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
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
19990503STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS
IN MINOR IMPACT THE BUMPER SUSTAINED EXCESSIVE DAMAGE. MJS
19990503AIR BAGS
AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUALLY ILLUMINATES, DEALER STATES SYSTEM IS FINE. MJS
19990308CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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
19990308CrashSEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
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
19990303CrashAIR BAGS
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.
Compare 1993TOYOTATERCEL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1993 TOYOTA TERCEL have?▼
The 1993 TOYOTA TERCEL has 50 NHTSA complaints, 23 crashes, 0 fires, 20 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1993 TOYOTA TERCEL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1993 TOYOTA TERCEL is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 18 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE.
Is the 1993 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.