1997 Toyota Tercel Recalls, Complaints & Specs
No safety recalls list the 1997 Toyota Tercel, and owners have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
No safety recalls on record
NHTSA's recall database lists no safety campaigns that include the 1997 Toyota Tercel. That is good news, with two caveats: recalls can be issued at any time (this page refreshes daily), and a recall filed under a related model name may not appear here. The VIN check above queries NHTSA directly for your exact vehicle.
20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1997 Toyota Tercel have filed 20 complaints with NHTSA; 5 describe a crash. Reports cite 6 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 154,500 miles. Complaints peaked in 2001 with 4 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Both the driver side and passenger side seat belt buckles aren't working properly. Sometimes when you think you're buckled in the seat belt will release all of a sudden.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 27, 2019 · Seat belts
“Both the driver and passenger side seat belts stopped working about the same time. I would buckle myself up and my passenger would the seat buckle pop's right out of the anchor. I am breaking the law”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 15, 2017 · Seat belts
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1997 Toyota Tercel. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 27–31 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 25–28 / 31–35 |
| Fuel | Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.5 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 3-spd; Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Toyota Tercel model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota Tercel model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 Toyota Tercel | 1 | 0 |
| 1981 Toyota Tercel | 1 | 0 |
| 1982 Toyota Tercel | 1 | 2 |
| 1983 Toyota Tercel | 0 | 2 |
| 1984 Toyota Tercel | 0 | 5 |
| 1985 Toyota Tercel | 0 | 3 |
| 1986 Toyota Tercel | 0 | 6 |
| 1987 Toyota Tercel | 1 | 13 |
| 1988 Toyota Tercel | 1 | 8 |
| 1989 Toyota Tercel | 1 | 22 |
| 1990 Toyota Tercel | 1 | 19 |
| 1991 Toyota Tercel | 0 | 17 |
| 1992 Toyota Tercel | 0 | 24 |
| 1993 Toyota Tercel | 0 | 43 |
| 1994 Toyota Tercel | 0 | 40 |
| 1995 Toyota Tercel | 0 | 51 |
| 1996 Toyota Tercel | 0 | 40 |
| 1997 Toyota Tercel | 0 | 20 |
| 1998 Toyota Tercel | 0 | 3 |
| 1999 Toyota Tercel | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 Toyota Tercel | 0 | 1 |
Checking a specific 1997 Toyota Tercel
How do I know if my 1997 Toyota Tercel has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number.
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Toyota models
- Camry18,189 complaints
- Prius12,516 complaints
- Corolla11,739 complaints
- RAV49,385 complaints
- Sienna8,549 complaints
- Tacoma8,440 complaints
- Tundra6,922 complaints
- Highlander5,745 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.