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NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Toyota Tercel Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 1997 Toyota Tercel has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 20 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Toyota dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 Toyota Tercel, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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1997 Toyota Tercel owner complaints

Owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Toyota Tercel, describing incidents dated December 27, 1996 to September 19, 2018.

Most-cited components

  • Air Bags 8 complaints
  • Seat Belts 4 complaints
  • Engine 3 complaints
  • Service Brakes 2 complaints
  • Suspension 2 complaints
  • Tires 2 complaints

Of the 20 complaints on file, 5 report a crash; across all 20 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11172346 · Filed

    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.

  • ODI #10995326 · Filed

    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…

  • ODI #10275101 · Filed

    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…

Read all 20 complaints

FMVSS 108/HEADLAMPS/MISSING AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS

NHTSA #08E050000 · Exterior Lighting — Headlights · NHTSA notice

Reported August 11, 2008 · K2 MOTOR CORPORATION

Potentially affected: 1,921 vehicles

Owners notified December 17, 2008

Defect description

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Safety consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS, THE LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY BE AFFECTED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY HONDA, FORD, OR CHRYSLER LLC. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS

NHTSA #06E026000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice

Reported March 23, 2006 · PRO-A MOTORS, INC.

Potentially affected: 61,944 vehicles

Owners notified April 3, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Safety consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO PRO-A MOTORS AFTERMARKET LAMPS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAMP MODEL NUMBERS, CLICK ON DOCUMENT SEARCH AND VIEW DOCUMENT TITLED "LAMP MODEL NUMBERS."CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Other Toyota Tercel model years

Check your 1997 Toyota Tercel VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Toyota Tercel at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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