1992 Toyota Tercel Problems: Seat belts (23 Complaints)

The most-reported problem on the 1992 Toyota Tercel is Seat belts (48% of 23 owner reports). There are 0 safety recalls. Check the VIN and inspect Seat belts — this is the NHTSA file, not a score.

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Snapshot 2026-09-07 23 complaints · 0 recalls

What problems show up on the 1992 Toyota Tercel?

11 of 23 filings named Seat belts (48% of the file). That is what owners wrote, not a shop diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.

Second is Engine (3 reports).

This snapshot lists no safety recalls for this year. That is not a clean bill of health. Still check the VIN at nhtsa.gov.

The 1991 has 17 reports on file; this year has 23. Older years collect more reports just by being on the road longer. If you need a fairer comparison, use the equal-time view.

What to check before you buy a 1992 Toyota Tercel

A useful visit to this page takes five minutes. YearTell does not score years and cannot see the vehicle in front of you.

  1. Look up the VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov even if this page lists none.
  2. Seat belts. Check that every belt latches, retracts and that related recalls are closed.
  3. Engine. Have a shop check for oil consumption, coolant leaks, rough idle and unusual engine noise.
  4. Cruise / speed control. Test cruise control and ask about unintended-acceleration reports on this year.
  5. Skim a few owner reports below for Seat belts. Look for the same symptom repeating.
  6. Take that list to a mechanic. Do not turn the complaint total into a score.

What owners reported

System named most often: Seat belts 11 complaints · 47.8% of the file
Crashes, fires, injuries and deaths in those filings:
  • Crashes 3
  • Fires 1
  • Injuries 3
  • Deaths 1
All Toyota Tercel years →
NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record Read our complete data methodology →

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Which systems owners named

Share of owner complaints filed against each vehicle system. These shares are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold.

Which systems owners named Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) appears in 11 of 23 owner complaints (47.8%) in this vehicle snapshot. Seat belts (SEAT BELTS): 11 complaints, 47.8% of reports Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 2 crash reports 11 · 47.8% Engine (ENGINE): 3 complaints, 13.0% of reports Engine (ENGINE) 3 · 13.0% Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL): 2 complaints, 8.7% of reports Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 1 crash reports 2 · 8.7% Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 4.4% of reports Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 fire reports 1 · 4.4% Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING): 1 complaints, 4.4% of reports Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 · 4.4% Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM): 1 complaints, 4.4% of reports Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 · 4.4% Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN): 1 complaints, 4.4% of reports Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 · 4.4% Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES): 1 complaints, 4.4% of reports Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 · 4.4% Suspension (SUSPENSION): 1 complaints, 4.4% of reports Suspension (SUSPENSION) 1 · 4.4% Unclassified NHTSA leftover: 18 complaints, 78.3% of reports Unclassified NHTSA leftover 2 crash reports 1 fire reports 18 · 78.3% 0% 25% 50% 75% 100%

“Unclassified NHTSA leftover” is not a car part. It is a filing bucket and always sits last.

View component data as a table
System / Component Complaints Share of Reports Safety Reports (Crashes / Fires)
Seat belts (SEAT BELTS) 11 47.8% 2 crashes · 0 fires
Engine (ENGINE) 3 13.0% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) 2 8.7% 1 crashes · 0 fires
Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) 1 4.4% 0 crashes · 1 fires
Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) 1 4.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM) 1 4.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) 1 4.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) 1 4.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Suspension (SUSPENSION) 1 4.4% 0 crashes · 0 fires
Unclassified NHTSA leftover 18 78.3% 2 crashes · 1 fires
NHTSA Consumer Complaints, NHTSA Safety Recalls, and NHTSA Defect Investigations Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

When reports and recalls showed up

When owners filed reports, and when recall campaigns showed up.

When reports and recalls showed up Owner reports in this snapshot begin in Jul 1995. 1995-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1996-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1996-Q3: 3 owner reports 3 1996-Q4: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q3: 1 owner reports 1 1997-Q4: 2 owner reports 2 1998-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 1998-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 1999-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2000-Q1: 2 owner reports 2 2000-Q2: 2 owner reports 2 2001-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2003-Q2: 1 owner reports 1 2005-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2007-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2010-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 2015-Q1: 1 owner reports 1 Owner reports Jul 1995 Jan 2015
View timeline records as a table
Date Record type Count Record identifier
1995-Q3 Owner reports 1
1996-Q1 Owner reports 1
1996-Q3 Owner reports 3
1996-Q4 Owner reports 1
1997-Q3 Owner reports 1
1997-Q4 Owner reports 2
1998-Q1 Owner reports 1
1998-Q2 Owner reports 1
1999-Q1 Owner reports 1
2000-Q1 Owner reports 2
2000-Q2 Owner reports 2
2001-Q2 Owner reports 1
2003-Q1 Owner reports 1
2003-Q2 Owner reports 1
2005-Q1 Owner reports 1
2007-Q1 Owner reports 1
2010-Q1 Owner reports 1
2015-Q1 Owner reports 1
NHTSA Safety Recalls Snapshot 2026-09-06 Open source record

Safety Recalls (0)

Official campaigns. Each one says what could go wrong and what the dealer was told to fix.

No safety recalls are on file for this model year in this snapshot.

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

What owners actually wrote

Short excerpts from the public NHTSA file. Look for the same symptom repeating.

Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation · snapshot 2026-09-07
Safety incident filters
Showing 10 of 23 complaints · page 1 of 1
2015-01-22Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
NHTSA ODI 10678246
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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. *TR
2010-02-23Cruise / speed control (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL)
NHTSA ODI 10312998
CrashFireInjuryDeath
I WAS DRIVING A 92 TOYOTA TERCEL. I WAS GOING UP A STEEP HILL ON I-5 IN OREGON. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS PEDAL LOST PRESSURE AND FELL TO THE FLOOR WITH THE ENGINE AT FULL ACCELERATION. LUCKILY I WAS GOING UP A HILL. I REACHED DOWN AND WIGGLED THE GAS PEDAL AND IT WAS TOTALLY LOOSE AND JUST DROPPED TO THE FLOOR. AS I CAME TO THE NEXT EXIT I PULLED OFF, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURNED OFF THE KEY. I STARTED IT BACK UP AND THE PRESSURE CAME BACK TO THE GAS PEDAL. IT SEEMED TO DRIVE FINE AFTER THAT EXCEPT IT MADE A DEEPER MUFFLED NOISE WHEN ACCELERATING. I BROUGHT IT IN TO A MECHANIC AND THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG. THEY LUBED THE ACCELERATOR AND THE NOISE WENT AWAY AND THERE WERE NO MORE PROBLEMS. *TR
2007-01-31Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 10181218
CrashFireInjuryDeath
TL* - 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. EACH INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING AT 55 MPH, AND HAD A BRAND NEW ENGINE WHEN THE ENGINE SEIZED. *AK
2005-02-16Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10111651
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT STARTED TO ENTANGLE FROM THE TOP TO THE BOTTOM. DRIVER CONTACTED THE DEALER BY PHONE. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
2003-05-21Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10019059
CrashFireInjuryDeath
DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT IS VERY BADLY FRAYED. HAS REACHED THE POINT WHERE IT DOESN'T RETRACT PROPERLY. *JB
2003-03-07Fuel system (FUEL SYSTEM)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 10007323
CrashFireInjuryDeath
VEHICLE EXPELLED HIGH HYDROCARBONS AND CARBON MONOXIDE AT CRUISE. HOWEVER AT IDLE IT WAS EXTREMELY LOW. AFTER MANY REPAIRS, IT WAS FOUND THE FUEL VAPOR RECOVERY SYSTEM HAD MALFUNCTIONED THAT WOULD PROBABLY INCLUDE THE VACUUM LINE FROM THE CHARCOAL CANISTER AND MAY ALSO BE AFFECTING THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. CONSUMER REQUESTED RECALL INFORMATION ON THIS CONDITION. *TT *JB
2001-06-20Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 747130
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE DRIVER SIDE PASSIVE RESTRAINT SHOULDER BELT IS FRAYING BADLY. *AK
2000-05-22Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 862326
CrashFireInjuryDeath
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. *AK THE SEAT BELT DIDN'T TIGHTEN AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. *YH
2000-04-27Engine (ENGINE)
NHTSA ODI 721993
CrashFireInjuryDeath
WHILE DRIVING, THERE BEGAN A KNOCKING SOUND. WAS TOWED TO A BODY SHOP WHO SAID ONE OF THE BEARINGS ON THE CRANKSHAFT HAD BROKEN AND DISINTEGRATED. *AK.
2000-02-24Seat belts (SEAT BELTS)Unclassified NHTSA leftover
NHTSA ODI 857468
CrashFireInjuryDeath
THE SHOUDLER STRAP PORTION OF THE SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT IS SHREDDING. THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE BELT HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. *AK *ML

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems on the 1992 Toyota Tercel?

Owners named Seat belts most often — 11 of 23 reports (48%). That is the NHTSA file, not a diagnosis of every vehicle.

Are there recalls for the 1992 Toyota Tercel?

NHTSA lists 0 safety recall campaigns. This snapshot lists none, which is not a clean bill of health. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov; a campaign on this page can still be open on a specific vehicle.

What should I inspect before buying a 1992 Toyota Tercel?

Look up the VIN for open recalls. Check that every belt latches, retracts and that related recalls are closed. Then skim owner filings for the same symptom and take that list to a mechanic.

Does a high complaint count mean I should skip this year?

No. Counts are reports people chose to file and they are not adjusted for sales volume. YearTell does not publish scores or a list of years to skip. Inspect the vehicle.

EPA Fuel Economy Database Snapshot 2026-08-21 Open source record

Estimated Ownership Cost

EPA fuel economy ratings and annual operating cost estimates

Data: US EPA Fuel Economy Guide · snapshot 2026-08-21
Supported range: 1,000–60,000 miles per year
Supported range: $1.50–$10.00 per gallon
55% city45% highway
Estimate unavailable

EPA fuel-economy data is unavailable for this vehicle.

No estimate is shown when required EPA values are unavailable.

 Open Ownership Cost Calculator →

Adjacent Model Years

Immediate preceding and succeeding model year records

NHTSA Consumer Complaints Snapshot 2026-09-07 Open source record

Complaint counts reflect self-selected reports and are not normalised for production sales volume. We publish no reliability scores, superlatives, or vehicle rankings.

Methodology & Data Integrity

Source: NHTSA ODI / recalls, snapshot 2026-09-07. YearTell is not a government agency.

Read our complete data methodology → Sources