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Toyota TercelModel year report

1986 Toyota Tercel Problems

Complaints
6filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
150,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
29 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl FWD · 26 city / 34 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1986 Toyota Tercel (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 1986 Toyota Tercel. The part named most often is seat belts, with 3 complaints (50% of the total), followed by brakes (1) and fuel system (1). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 150,000 miles. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 17 technical service bulletins for this model year.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Example complaints

Seat belts: “Belt failed to retract and closing door has cracked buckle. The safety related defect consists of the retracting mechanism failing to fully retract the belt, and the plastic buckle cracking when the door closed on it. There appears to be no way to remediate this other than to replace the entire belt assembly -- belt, retractor, buckle -- at a cost of $160.”

NHTSA complaint #703895, filed 1999-03

Brakes: “Abs: right side caliper broke into pieces, brake pedal went straight to floor with no braking effect; brake pad was lying on ground;prior, heard squeaking noise”

NHTSA complaint #972841, filed 1995-10

Fuel system: “Vehicle leaks fuel , and it leaks all the time. Owner has taken vehicle to dealer, and was told that fuel tank had rusted out. Owner also notes that dealer noted that this is a common problem with this type of vehicle. Owner is very concerned for safety.”

NHTSA complaint #815818, filed 1997-08

Vehicle speed control: “In 2006-2007, my 20 year-old 1986 Toyota Tercel station wagon began exhibiting sudden acceleration and/or failure to decelerate, caused by a sticking accelerator pedal -- causing no injuries but requiring me to brake, shift to neutral, and/or stomp repeatedly on the accelerator pedal to loosen it and allow it to rise back up. There were at least 4-5 occasions when this occurred over 6 months -- with none of the incidents involving a floor mat. …”

NHTSA complaint #10314752, filed 2010-02, 150,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 150,000 and 150,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–150100%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (1 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 150,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.

199521997199922010
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1986 Toyota Tercel version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Tercel FWD1.5L 4-cyl4-speed manual303532$2,100
Tercel FWD1.5L 4-cyl5-speed manual263429$2,300
Tercel FWD1.5L 4-cyl3-speed automatic262927$2,500
Tercel Wagon 2WD1.5L 4-cyl5-speed manual263329$2,300
Tercel Wagon 2WD1.5L 4-cyl3-speed automatic242826$2,600
Tercel Wagon 4WD1.5L 4-cyl5-speed manual232926$2,600
Tercel Wagon 4WD1.5L 4-cyl3-speed automatic212322$3,050

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1986 Toyota Tercel in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 17 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 17 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Tercel

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
199720154,5000—29—Stable
199640122,5250—30Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19955199,7000—30Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199440127,0430—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199343—0—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
19922490,0000—28—Stable
199117218,8000—28—Stable
19901976,0001—28—Stable
198922—1—29—Stable
19888—1—29—Not enough data
198713—1—28—Not enough data
19866150,0000—29—Not enough data
19845—0—27—Not enough data

All Toyota Tercel model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1986 Toyota Tercel have?

NHTSA recorded 6 consumer complaints for the 1986 Toyota Tercel as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1986 Toyota Tercel is reported most often?

Seat belts is named most often, in 3 complaints (50% of the total), followed by brakes with 1.

Has the 1986 Toyota Tercel been recalled?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1986 Toyota Tercel get?

The EPA rates the 1986 Toyota Tercel (Tercel, 1.5L 4-cyl) at 29 mpg combined, 26 city and 34 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1986 Toyota Tercel reported?

Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 150,000 miles and the middle half falls between 150,000 and 150,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.