NHTSA vehicle safety data
1998 Toyota Tercel Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 1998 Toyota Tercel has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 3 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 1998 Toyota Tercel, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
1998 Toyota Tercel owner complaints
Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA about the 1998 Toyota Tercel, describing incidents dated June 27, 1998 to December 6, 1998.
Most-cited components
- Air Bags 1 complaint
- Equipment 1 complaint
- Seat Belts 1 complaint
Of the 3 complaints on file, 1 reports a crash (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #833252 · Filed
WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 35MPH WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS REARENDED BY THE TERCEL. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
ODI #608178 · Filed
SEAT BELT FAILURE. *YC
ODI #549081 · Filed
AIR CONDITION INSTALLED AND IS CONTINUALLY EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. MJS
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.
Other Toyota Tercel model years
Check your 1998 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.
Check a Toyota VIN