1987 Toyota Tercel Problems
- Complaints
- 13filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- —no mileage reported
- Recalls
- 1campaigns 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
- 28 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl FWD · 25 city / 33 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1987 Toyota Tercel (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 1987 Toyota Tercel. The part named most often is fuel system, with 4 complaints (31% of the total), followed by engine cooling (3) and electrical system (2). Of all complaints, 2 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 18 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.
- Fuel system4 31%
- Engine cooling3 23%
- Electrical system2 15%
- Brakes1 7.7%
- Seat belts1 7.7%
- Tires1 7.7%
- Vehicle speed control1 7.7%
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1987 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).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tercel FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed manual | 31 | 37 | 33 | $2,050 |
| Tercel FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 27 | 35 | 30 | $2,250 |
| Tercel FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 25 | 31 | 27 | $2,500 |
| Tercel Wagon 2WD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 25 | 33 | 28 | $2,400 |
| Tercel Wagon 2WD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 25 | 28 | 26 | $2,600 |
| Tercel Wagon 4WD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | 23 | 28 | 25 | $2,700 |
| Tercel Wagon 4WD | 1.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 21 | 23 | 22 | $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
- 92V111000Jul 13, 1992Exterior lighting › HeadlightsCovers: Toyota Tercel 1987–1990
There can be interference with the headlamp housing if headlamp bulbs are replaced with any brand other than koito brand bulbs.
Recall details for the 1987 Toyota Tercel → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- PE89134Broken stabilizer barClosed · Jul 3, 1989
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. 18 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023Air bags, Vehicle speed control, Equipment. TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year…
- 10207946Jan 12, 2022Equipment, Wheels, Tires. POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of…
- 10188913Feb 3, 2021Equipment. TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2021 model year…
- 10174891Apr 7, 2020Equipment. TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates
- 10174890Apr 6, 2020Equipment. TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01…
- 10163729Jul 30, 2019Exterior lighting, Equipment. Dealer Letter: Toyota will initiate a Special Service Campaign to inform certain Tercel owners of the need to use only Koito brand replacement headlamp bulbs. The original equipment headlamp bulbs…
- 10145749Aug 31, 2018Equipment. Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.
- 10145748Aug 31, 2018Equipment. Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.
- 10143953Jul 31, 2018Equipment. TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 31, 2018 Rev2: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. January 11, 2018 Rev1: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin…
- 10131713Jan 11, 2018Equipment. TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, and…
Other model years of the Toyota Tercel
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 20 | 154,500 | 0 | — | 29 | — | Stable |
| 1996 | 40 | 122,525 | 0 | — | 30 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 51 | 99,700 | 0 | — | 30 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1994 | 40 | 127,043 | 0 | — | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 43 | — | 0 | — | 27 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 24 | 90,000 | 0 | — | 28 | — | Stable |
| 1991 | 17 | 218,800 | 0 | — | 28 | — | Stable |
| 1990 | 19 | 76,000 | 1 | — | 28 | — | Stable |
| 1989 | 22 | — | 1 | — | 29 | — | Stable |
| 1988 | 8 | — | 1 | — | 29 | — | Not enough data |
| 1987 | 13 | — | 1 | — | 28 | — | Not enough data |
| 1986 | 6 | 150,000 | 0 | — | 29 | — | Not enough data |
| 1984 | 5 | — | 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 1987 Toyota Tercel have?
NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 1987 Toyota Tercel as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1987 Toyota Tercel is reported most often?
Fuel system is named most often, in 4 complaints (31% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 3.
Has the 1987 Toyota Tercel been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1987 Toyota Tercel get?
The EPA rates the 1987 Toyota Tercel (Tercel Wagon 2WD, 1.5L 4-cyl) at 28 mpg combined, 25 city and 33 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,400 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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.