Total Complaints
45 filings
TOYOTA TERCEL · model year
45 NHTSA complaints, 18 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994TOYOTATERCEL carries 45 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 18 crashes, 3 fires, 22 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 1994 TERCEL is air bags:frontal with 14 filings, followed by air bags (5) and engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (4). 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 1994 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.
Total Complaints
45 filings
Crashes Reported
18 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 14 |
| AIR BAGS | 5 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 3 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR | 2 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 1 |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 1 |
THE RUBBER PIN/PEG/PIECE (LOOKS LIKE THUMBTACK BUT BIGGER AND MADE OF RUBBER) THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AT THE POINT WERE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH/BUTTON IS, FELL APART INTO FIVE INDIVIDUAL PIECES RESULTING IN THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE FULLY ON AS IF THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THIS WAS EVEN WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THE ENGINE OFF. VEHICLE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND START THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS JUST BOUGHT FROM A PRIVATE OWNER AND I'VE ONLY HAD IT FOR ABOUT ELEVEN DAYS. ALL FUSES WERE FOUND TO BE IN GOOD ORDER AS WELL. REPLACED THE PART AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK PROPERLY. *TR
Mileage: 104,340
THE RUBBER PIN/PEG/PIECE (LOOKS LIKE THUMBTACK BUT BIGGER AND MADE OF RUBBER) THAT IS ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL AT THE POINT WERE THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH/BUTTON IS, FELL APART INTO FIVE INDIVIDUAL PIECES RESULTING IN THE BRAKE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON. THE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE FULLY ON AS IF THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THIS WAS EVEN WITH THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND THE ENGINE OFF. VEHICLE BATTERY HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND START THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS JUST BOUGHT FROM A PRIVATE OWNER AND I'VE ONLY HAD IT FOR ABOUT ELEVEN DAYS. ALL FUSES WERE FOUND TO BE IN GOOD ORDER AS WELL. REPLACED THE PART AND THE BRAKE LIGHTS WORK PROPERLY. *TR
Mileage: 104,340
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA TERCEL. THE VEHICLE HAS AEROLITE WHEEL TIRES. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE RUBBER IN THE CENTER OF THE TIRE SHREDDED AND DETACHED. THERE WAS NO CRASH. THE TIRES ARE 50,000 MILE TIRES, WHICH SHREDDED AT APPROXIMATELY 18,000 MILES. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 123,865 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 123,625.
Mileage: 123,625
1994 TOYOTA TERCEL 4-DOOR SEDAN A/T WHITE/EXTERIOR 191400 MILES ON THE ODOMETER VIN#[XXX]. THEY TOLD ME IT HAS A REBUILD ENGINE, IT'S BETTER THAN A NEW ENGINE. I DON'T ANYTHING ABOUT CARS. I'VE NEVER OWN A CAR IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. PURCHASED IT FROM VALENCIA AUTO/ USED CAR DEALER 1535 VALENCIA STREET, S.F CALIF 94110/ TEL.# 415-282-5553. PURCHASED IT ON OCT-12-2005 . THE CAR STALLS,ENGINE SHUTS-OFF 4-5 TIMES A DAY. VALENCIA AUTO TOLD ME NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR BEFORE I PURCHASED IT. EVERY OTHER DAY OR SO, I BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND COMPLAINED ABOUT THE PROBLEMS. IT'S THE SAME OLD FUN AND GAMES THEY PLAYED EVERYTIME. THEY DROVE IT AROUND THE BLOCK AND EVERY TIME THEY CAME BACK AND TELLS ME THAT THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. I ASKED VALENCIA AUTO TO GIVE ME MY REFUND. THEY TOLD ME NO REFUND, BRING ME MORE MONEY FOR SOMETHING BETTER, HOW MUCH MORE MONEY CAN YOU BRING ME TODAY!!! I NEED IT THE CAR TO TAKE MY MOM OUT FOR GROCERY AND DINING, ALSO TO TAKE ME TO WORK. MY
Mileage: 191,400
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH. THE VEHICLE HAD FRONT END DAMAGE. THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS BACK , THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HIS/HER NECK AND BACK. *JB
Mileage: 130,461
CONSUMER INVOLVED IN A HEAD-ON COLLISION TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. AND THE BRAKING POWER WAS VERY LOW. *AK. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND ONE TIRE WERE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SIDEWALL DAMAGE AND NO TREAD, THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK, THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR MAIN SEAL, THE CRANK SEAL AND TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED. PH *JB
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. AND THE BRAKING POWER WAS VERY LOW. *AK. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND ONE TIRE WERE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SIDEWALL DAMAGE AND NO TREAD, THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK, THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR MAIN SEAL, THE CRANK SEAL AND TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED. PH *JB
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE FLOOR. AND THE BRAKING POWER WAS VERY LOW. *AK. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND ONE TIRE WERE REPLACED BECAUSE OF SIDEWALL DAMAGE AND NO TREAD, THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL LEAK, THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR MAIN SEAL, THE CRANK SEAL AND TIMING BELT WAS REPLACED. PH *JB
HAVE HAD A COMPLETE VALVE JOB, NOW THE PISTON RINGS ARE SHOT. I HAVE A FRIEND WHOSE 94 TERCEL ALSO HAD A FRIED ENGINE. BOTH CARS ORIGINATED FROM DEALERSHIPS IN MONTANA MIGHT BE WORTH CHECKING OUT.*AK
ON 8/29/1999 MY DAUGHTERS BOYFRIEND AND HER BROTHER WERE ON THEIR WAY TO DATONA, FL FOR THE WEEK. NEARING DATONA HER LEFT REAR TIRE STARTED TO BREAK TS TREAD AND HER BOYFRIEND LOST CONTROLL OF THE CAR AND CROSSED INTO THE MEDIAN AND CUT ACRROS AN APPROACHING CAR WHICH HIT HER CAR ON THE RIGHT SIDE BROADSIDE. SHE WAS KILLED AND HER BOYFRIEND WAS KILLED. HER BROTHER WAS BADLEY INJURED AND STILL CANNOT WALK WITHOUT A WALKER . IN JAN OR FEB OF 1999 SHE ALSO HAD THE RIGHT REAR (MATE TO THE ONE THAT FAILED AT THIS ACCIDENT ) AND SHE ALMOST FLIPPED THE CAR IN THE CENTER MEDIAN ON THE FLORIDA TURNPIKE. HER ROOM MATE WAS IN THE CAR WITH HER. I PERSONALLY CHANGED THAT TIRE AND THE TREAD PEALED AND THE AIR WAS STILL IN THE TIRE. THE TIRE IN THIS ACCIDENT ALSO AIRIN IT. SENT IT OUT TO AN EXPERT BUT WANTS $10,00-30,00 TO TEST IT.*AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH HIT A DEER HEAD-ON & AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY UNTIL THE VEHICLE CAME TO A ROLLING STOP. IT KNOCKED THE CONSUMER OUT FOR 2 HOURS. DEALER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE VEERED OVER INTO HER LANE, CAUSING CONSUMER TO HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER AIRBAG DIDN'T GO OFF. *AK
WHEN COMING TO A STOP VEHICLE IDLIES AND SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, WHENEVER ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IT WILL SHUT OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
FALSE AND VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG WHEN VEHICLE RAN OVER DEBRIS IN ROAD WHICH HIT UNDERCARRIAGE SENSORS, CAUSED INJURY TO HAND AND ARM. MJS FALSE AND VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG WHEN DEBRIS FROM ROAD HIT CENSORS ON THE BOTTOM OF VEHICLE, RESULTING IN HAND AND ARM INJURY. MJS
I BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. AFTER I STOPPED AND PUT THE GEAR FROM REVERSE INTO "DRIVE" THE CAR TOOK OFF IMMEDIATELY AT HIGH SPEED RETURNING TO MY PARKING SPACE AND BEYOND ACCELERATING INTO THE BUILDING A FEW FEET PAST MY ORIGINAL PARKING SPACE. THE TOOK OFF AT SUCH A HIGH SPEED AND WENT FORWARD AT SUCH A HIGH SPEED THAT THE FRONT END GOT DAMAGED, THE RADIATOR BURST, THE WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED, AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. MY PASSENGER WAS HURT. THE CAR WAS TOTALLED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. I WOULD LIKE AN INSPECTION OF THE AUTOMOBILE AS I AM SURE IT WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE.
I BACKED OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. AFTER I STOPPED AND PUT THE GEAR FROM REVERSE INTO "DRIVE" THE CAR TOOK OFF IMMEDIATELY AT HIGH SPEED RETURNING TO MY PARKING SPACE AND BEYOND ACCELERATING INTO THE BUILDING A FEW FEET PAST MY ORIGINAL PARKING SPACE. TOOK OFF AT SUCH A HIGH SPEED AND WENT FORWARD AT A HIGH SPEED THAT THE FRONT END GOT DAMAGED, THE RADIATOR BURST, THE WINDSHIELD WAS SHATTERED, AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. MY PASSENGER WAS HURT. THE CAR WAS TOTALLED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. I WOULD LIKE AN INSPECTION OF THE AUTOMOBILE AS I AM SURE IT WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE. *AK
WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT THE REAR SUSPENSION BROKE. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK
THE 1994 TOYOTA WAS FIRST REPAIRED AUG 1996 FOR OIL LEAKAGE AT 63000 MILES. THE PROBLEM BEGAN AGAIN AT 98000 MILES. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP. WE HAVE KEPT REGULAR MAINTANCE ON THE CAR. IT IS CLEAR TO US THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE ENGINE AND THAT TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP DO NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBLITY FOR THEIR PRODUCT. PLEASE DO ALL THAT YOU CAN TO HELP US. WE CAN BE REACH AT 202-398-6400 OR 202-526-6127. OUR E-MAIL ADDRESS IS MGBWELL@AOL.COM
CONSUMER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
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.