11,145,731 US VINs16,875,657 Dutch plates3,603,918 businesses in 233 countries
English
AfrikaansAzərbaycancaBahasa IndonesiaBahasa MelayuCatalàČeštinaDanskDeutschEestiEnglishEspañolFilipinoFrançaisGaeilgeHrvatskiÍslenskaItalianoKiswahiliLatviešuLietuviųMagyarMaltiNederlandsNorskOʻzbekchaPolskiPortuguês (Brasil)Português (Portugal)RomânăShqipSlovenčinaSlovenščinaSrpskiSuomiSvenskaTiếng ViệtTürkçeΕλληνικάБеларускаяБългарскиКыргызчаҚазақшаМакедонскиМонголРусскийУкраїнськаქართულიՀայերենעבריתاردوالعربيةفارسیनेपालीहिन्दीবাংলাதமிழ்සිංහලไทยລາວမြန်မာខ្មែរ한국어日本語简体中文繁體中文
Check a VIN
ENNLFR

Cars

FordChevroletDodgeToyotaHondaJeepNissanHyundaiGMCChryslerAll makes A–ZVIN directory

Recalls

United StatesNederlandCanadaEuropean UnionTires (US)

Directory

Worldwide directoryNew YorkConnecticutNederland

More

APK-gebrekenNew car marketFuel cost calculatorCompare carsDriving tests (GB)How we countNederlandsFrançais
CarsLore / Toyota / Tercel / 1997

1997 Toyota Tercel

20 owner complaints — #7 of 19 Tercel model years. 0 recalls, 25 service bulletins.

20complaints · 5 crashes, 0 fires
0recalls
25manufacturer bulletins
154,500 mimedian mileage at failure

Problems owners report

Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Toyota Tercel, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.

  • Air bags8
  • Seat belts4
  • Engine and engine cooling3
  • Service brakes, hydraulic2
  • Suspension2
  • Tires2
  • Seats1
  • Visibility1

NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 6 injuries and 0 deaths reported

Compared with other years

’81’84’87’90’93’96’97’9920’81’84’87’90’93’96’97’9920
1982198419861987198819891990199519961997

NHTSA ODI complaints by model year

New York safety inspections

At its first New York inspection the 1997 Toyota Tercel failed the safety check 3.40% of the time — 112% more often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 151,263 miles.

353first inspections
3.40%failed on safety
151,263 mimedian odometer
0.0%1.7%3.5%’91’93’95’973.4%0.0%1.7%3.5%’91’94’973.4%

NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count

In New Zealand

46 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.

NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0

Fuel consumption

Official Canadian test results for 3 variants: combined 7.6–8.7 L/100 km (about 27–31 mpg US), CO₂ 175–200 g/km.

VariantEngineTransmissionCityHighwayCombinedCO₂ g/km
Tercel · Subcompact · Regular gasoline1.5 L, 4 cyl.M58.46.67.6175
Tercel · Subcompact · Regular gasoline1.5 L, 4 cyl.A49.77.28.6198
Tercel · Subcompact · Regular gasoline1.5 L, 4 cyl.A39.57.88.7200

Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada

Recalls

No recall campaigns cover the 1997 Toyota Tercel.

Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words

Service bulletins

What Toyota told its dealers about the 1997 Toyota Tercel: known faults, fixes and updates.

BulletinSummary
625647SUBJECT REGARDING SHOULDER BELT ANCHOR TAPE SET. *JG
619097TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN REGARDING RETRO-FIT INTERNAL TRUNK RELEASE KITS. *TT
610054INFORMATION ON THE SPOILER LIGHT REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE. *TT
604667SUBJECT REGARDING TOYOTA DINGHY TOWING GUIDE. *TT
601607REPLACEMENT PROCEDURE FOR THE SPOILER LIGHT.
600684REPLACEMENT OF THE FRONT AXLE HUB NUT. *YC
53033EXCESSIVE AIR CONDITIONING EVAPORATOR ODOR IS ACCURING IN VARIOUS VEHICLES. *YC
10244113TSB: 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 vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.
10207946POL: 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 vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Toyota.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.
10197476Replacement vin plates.
10197473Product general information.
10190460Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
10188913TSB: 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 vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.
10174891TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates
10174890TSB: 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, PG004-97, T-SB-0144-08, and T-SB-0304-17. The aforementioned bulletins are obsolete, and any printed versions should be discarded. 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 ? 2020 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in thi
10152205TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes SB No. T-SB-0101-11. Applicability has been updated to include 2016 ? 2017 model year vehicles. Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0101-11 is Obsolete and any printed versions should be discarded. Be sure to review the entire content of this bulletin before proceeding. When servicing interior electrical switches and components, please note the precautions in this bulletin to avoid damaging electrical components and switches. Many lubricants, cleaners, and automotive chemicals contain silicone or other compounds that may
10145776Update on Technician Certification Requirements.
10145749Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.
10145748Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.
10143953TSB: 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 should be discarded. 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, PG004-97, and T-SB-0144-08. Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, and T-SB-0144-08 are obsolete and any prin
10133649TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE November 21, 2017: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.
10132812Tech Tip: Low battery voltage can contribute to a MIL "ON" condition for P0335 (Crankshaft Position Sensor Circuit) and/or P0340 (Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit) due to inconsistent rotational speed of the engine's crankshaft.
10132295This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0054-13.
10132287California (CA), Federal (FED), and 50 State Certified emission control underhood labels (emission labels) may be obtained through your dealership?s Parts Department utilizing standard replacement parts ordering procedures. Follow the guidelines outlined in this bulletin to ensure proper label application.
10132136The appearance of spots in tempered glass (when viewed at certain angles) is the result of the heat treating and quick quenching process during manufacturing.

NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)