1997 Toyota TERCEL: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
13 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
154,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 13 complaints (30.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 4 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Seat Belts | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Retractor | 1 |
| Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner | 1 |
| Tires:Sidewall | 1 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Rear Window | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 4; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Seat Belts: 2; Air Bags: 1; Seat Belts:Front:Retractor: 1; Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner: 1; Tires:Sidewall: 1; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Rear Window: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 2
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 11 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2001: 4; 2002: 1; 2003: 4; 2009: 1; 2017: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001984 · 2003-01-03 (January 3, 2003)
ALL WINDOWS VEHICLE GET FOGGY ALL THE TIME FOR NO REASON AT ALL. TS. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001984 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017166 · 2003-04-18 (April 18, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AFTER IMPACT. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017166 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10022067 · 2003-06-02 (June 2, 2003)
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10022067 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10031891 · 2003-08-01 (August 1, 2003)
WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS PASSING THROUGH AND BOTH VEHICLE COLLIDED.UPON IMPACT AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031891 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10275101 · 2009-06-27 (June 27, 2009)
WHILE I WAS ADDING OIL TO THE ENGINE OF MY 1997 TOYOTA TERCEL, I NOTICED A BOLT ATTACHING THE BELT ASSEMBLY TO THE ENGINE WAS STICKING OUT 4 OR 5 INCHES PAST THE BELT ASSEMBLY, RUBBING AGAINST A HOSE. IT DIDN'T LOOK RIGHT, SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC WHO TIGHTENED IT BACK UP. HE SAID THE BOLT HAD JUST "WORKED ITSELF LOOSE". MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS LOOSE BOLT IS INDICATIVE OF A MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM, OR THAT SOMEONE HAS BEEN TAMPERING WITH MY CAR. THE CAR HAS AROUND 159,000 MILES ON IT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 159,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10275101 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10995326 · 2017-06-15 (June 15, 2017)
BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS STOPPED WORKING ABOUT THE SAME TIME. I WOULD BUCKLE MYSELF UP AND MY PASSENGER WOULD THE SEAT BUCKLE POP'S RIGHT OUT OF THE ANCHOR. I AM BREAKING THE LAW EVERY TIME I GET IN MY CAR. I CAN NOT GO ON HIGHWAYS OR FREEWAYS. I CAN NOT HAVE A PASSENGER RIDE IN THE FRONT SEAT.
Owner-reported narrative. 150,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10995326 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11172346 · 2019-01-27 (January 27, 2019)
BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLES AREN'T WORKING PROPERLY. SOMETIMES WHEN YOU THINK YOU'RE BUCKLED IN THE SEAT BELT WILL RELEASE ALL OF A SUDDEN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11172346 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 563250 · 2001-09-25 (September 25, 2001)
THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE BUMPED AN EMPTY CONSTRUCTION BARREL, AS A A RESULT THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY CAUSING THE DRIVER TO STRIKE A CONSTRUCTION VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER FEELS THE AIR BAG SHOULD NOT HAVE DEPLOYED WITH JUST SLIGHT IMPACT. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 563250 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
0 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
No recall campaigns are recorded in this snapshot.