Total Complaints
1 filings
TOYOTA TERCEL · model year
1999 TOYOTA TERCEL
1 NHTSA complaints, 1 crash report for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1999TOYOTATERCEL carries 1 consumer safety complaint in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires, 1 injury, and 1 fatality. 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 1999 TERCEL is air bags with 1 filings. 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 1999 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.
1
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
1
Deaths
Crashes Reported
1 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 | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20080227CrashFatalAIR BAGS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA TERCEL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER WAS KILLED AND THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY PRIOR FAILURES WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, POWERTRAIN, AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
Compare 1999TOYOTATERCEL to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1999 TOYOTA TERCEL have?▼
The 1999 TOYOTA TERCEL has 1 NHTSA complaints, 1 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 TOYOTA TERCEL?▼
The most-complained component for the 1999 TOYOTA TERCEL is AIR BAGS with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 1999 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.