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Toyota TercelModel year report

1992 Toyota Tercel Problems

Complaints
24filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
90,000miles, 2 complaints with mileage
Recalls
0campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
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 1992 Toyota Tercel (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1992 Toyota Tercel. The part named most often is seat belts, with 11 complaints (46% of the total), followed by engine cooling (3) and vehicle speed control (2). 2 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 90,000 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 1 a fire, 3 an injury, 1 a death, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 24 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.

Also reported: Suspension (1), Tires (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1).

Example complaints

Seat belts: “Consumer was traveling about 15-20mph & another vehicle stopped in front of consumer & there was a rear end collision. Seat belt didn't tighten to secure the consumer which caused alot of knocking around. Manfacturer was sending adjuster out to inspect vehicle & wouldn't schedule appointment so that consumer could be present. The seat belt didn't tighten at the time of impact.”

NHTSA complaint #862326, filed 2000-05

Engine cooling: “- the contact owns a 1992 Toyota Tercel. The contact purchased the vehicle new in the spring of 1992, and 6 months later while driving 55 MPH on a very nice day the engine seized and engine block cracked. The contact replaced the engine with a brand new engine at that time. The contact stated that the second engine seized 10 months later. The contact then purchased a rebuilt engine in the spring of 1995, and 7 months later that engine seized. The contact then purchased another engine in 2002, and it was currently still working. …”

NHTSA complaint #10181218, filed 2007-01

Vehicle speed control: “On 12/29/2015 at approximately 10am, my 84 year mother was leaving a walgreen's parking lot located in sunrise, florida. After backing up, she put the car into drive where sudden acceleration occurred. As a result the car struck a retaining wall causing extensive damage. The police and ems were called and provided transportation to the hospital. My mother passed away as a result of her injuries at approximately 12pm on 12/29/2015.”

NHTSA complaint #10678246, filed 2015-01, 90,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

0% of the 2 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 90,000 and 90,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–75100%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (2 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 90,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

1996519982000200320072015
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.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1992 Toyota Tercel. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Tercel · sedan not rated2 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1992 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 manual273330$2,250
Tercel FWD1.5L 4-cyl5-speed manual253328$2,400
Tercel FWD1.5L 4-cyl3-speed automatic232624$2,800

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 1992 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.

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. 24 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 24 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 1992 Toyota Tercel have?

NHTSA recorded 24 consumer complaints for the 1992 Toyota Tercel as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1992 Toyota Tercel is reported most often?

Seat belts is named most often, in 11 complaints (46% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 3.

Has the 1992 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 1992 Toyota Tercel get?

The EPA rates the 1992 Toyota Tercel (Tercel, 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.

At what mileage are problems with the 1992 Toyota Tercel reported?

Among the 2 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 90,000 miles and the middle half falls between 90,000 and 90,000 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 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. 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.