1996 Toyota Tercel: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 45 complaints
45
Total Complaints
121,500mi
Median Mileage
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Top Issue
12
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

100,000 25th Percentile
121,500 Median Mileage
148,750 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
6
SUSPENSION:FRONT
4
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
3
STEERING
2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
2
TIRES
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2
POWER TRAIN
1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
1

Severity Assessment

12
Crashes
4
Fires
15
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BACK COLLAPSED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION (12:00) TRAVELLING AT 35 MPH. TT"
"THE FRONT WHEEL IS MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE,THE WHEELS SPIN AROUND, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A NEAR ACCIDENT. *AK"
"THE FRONT WHEEL IS MAKING A VERY LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE,THE WHEELS SPIN AROUND, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A NEAR ACCIDENT. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28