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Toyota TercelModel year report

1996 Toyota Tercel Problems

Complaints
40filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
122,525miles, 10 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
30 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl FWD · 27 city / 35 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1996 Toyota Tercel (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 40 consumer complaints for the 1996 Toyota Tercel. The part named most often is air bags, with 7 complaints (18% of the total), followed by brakes (5) and engine cooling (4). 10 of the complaints include a mileage, and 20% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 122,525 miles. Of all complaints, 11 involved a crash, 4 a fire, 15 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 26 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 2 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Brakes complaints overlap with 1 technical service bulletin filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

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: Transmission and drivetrain (2), Exterior lighting (1), Fuel system (1), Seats (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “(1) automobile accident while avoiding collision with a deer. Accident caused severe front end damage and bending of the uni-body frame. (2) failure of air-bags to deploy. (3) no corrective actions taken as the vehicle was deemed to be a total loss. Some parts have been disposed of, ie. Assorted trim and the front fenders.”

NHTSA complaint #10134128, filed 2005-08, 215,000 miles

Brakes: “The contact owned a 1996 Toyota Tercel. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the front passenger's side brake rotor fractured. As a result, the front passengers wheel seized and the other wheels lost hydraulic pressure causing the vehicle to spin out of control crashing into a concrete wall. The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not disclose if a police report was filed or not. The contact and the passenger sustained unknown minor injuries that required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. …”

NHTSA complaint #10678337, filed 2015-01, 123,550 miles

Engine cooling: “Oil sludge problem with 1996 Toyota Tercel. The car was under warranty and Toyota would not pay. Car was taken and sold at an auction leaving me to pay the difference.”

NHTSA complaint #10018457, filed 2003-05, 41,800 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

20% of the 10 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 100,000 and 160,000 miles.

0%0–100%10–2520%25–500%50–750%75–10050%100–15030%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (10 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 122,525 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

’95’9713’99’03’05’10’15
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 1996 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 rated3 / 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 1996 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 manual293632$2,100
Tercel FWD1.5L 4-cyl5-speed manual273530$2,250
Tercel FWD1.5L 4-cyl3-speed automatic273229$2,300
Tercel FWD1.5L 4-cyl4-speed automatic263529$2,300

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 1996 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. 26 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 26 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 1996 Toyota Tercel have?

NHTSA recorded 40 consumer complaints for the 1996 Toyota Tercel as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1996 Toyota Tercel is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 7 complaints (18% of the total), followed by brakes with 5.

Has the 1996 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 1996 Toyota Tercel get?

The EPA rates the 1996 Toyota Tercel (Tercel, 1.5L 4-cyl) at 30 mpg combined, 27 city and 35 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,250 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1996 Toyota Tercel reported?

Among the 10 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 122,525 miles and the middle half falls between 100,000 and 160,000 miles; 20% 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.