NHTSA vehicle safety data

1999 Toyota Tercel Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 1999 Toyota Tercel has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Toyota dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1999 Toyota Tercel, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

1999 Toyota Tercel owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 1999 Toyota Tercel, describing incidents dated January 27, 2008.

Most-cited components

Air Bags 1 complaint

The complaint on file reports a crash, with 1 injury and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10219307 · Filed February 27, 2008
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA TERCEL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER WAS KILLED AND THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS…

Read the full complaint

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.

1999 Toyota Tercel 2-DR.

—

out of 5

Overall Safety Rating

Not Rated

Frontal Crash

Not Rated

Driver: Not Rated, Passenger: Not Rated

Side Crash

Not Rated

Driver: 3, Passenger: 4

Side Pole

Not Rated

Rollover

Not Rated

Safety Technology

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 1999 Toyota Tercel.

Air Bags

ODI #10219307

Crash 1 injury1 death

Incident: January 27, 2008 · Filed: February 27, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 TOYOTA TERCEL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER WAS KILLED AND THE DRIVER WAS INJURED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW IF THERE WERE ANY PRIOR FAILURES WITH THE AIR BAG SYSTEM. THE VIN, PURCHASE DATE, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, POWERTRAIN, AND MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

Other Toyota Tercel model years

Check your 1999 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