1997 Toyota Tercel: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 25 complaints
25
Total Complaints
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Top Issue
7
Crash Reports

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
6
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3
TIRES
2
SEAT BELTS
2
AIR BAGS
2
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
2
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
1
SUSPENSION:FRONT
1
AIR BAGS:ON-OFF SWITCH ASSEMBLY
1

Severity Assessment

7
Crashes
0
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT FAILED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY IN AN IMPACT OF A POLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK"
"INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG AND SEAT BELT FAILED TO OPERATE CORRECTLY IN AN IMPACT OF A POLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK"
"EXTRA HIGH AIR PRESSURE IN MICHELIN TIRES CAUSES STEERING DIFFICULTY."

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