Most common 1997 Toyota Tercel problems
Share of the 20 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Tercel complaints by model year
Best Tercel years: 1997. Years to avoid: 1995. Compare all years →
What 1997 Toyota Tercel owners say
Air bags
Consumer was traveling on a main road and another vehicle ran stop sign and hit consumer's vehicle. Upon impact, and dual airbags didn't go off, consumer sustained minor injuries. Also vehicle had previously been in accident where the airbags did not deploy.
1995 Chevrolet 1500 pickup ran stop sign, Tercel broadsided the truck at 30 MPH. Despite hitting another vehicle straight on, neither airbag deployed in the car. The Tercel was totalled and driver sustained minor injuries from the seatbelt.
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 every time I get in my car. I can not go on highways or freeways. I can not have a passenger ride in the front seat.
1995 Chevrolet 1500 pickup ran stop sign, Tercel broadsided the truck at 30 MPH. Despite hitting another vehicle straight on, neither airbag deployed in the car. The Tercel was totalled and driver sustained minor injuries from the seatbelt.
Engine & cooling
While I was adding oil to the engine of my 1997 Toyota Tercel, I noticed a bolt attaching the belt assembly to the engine was sticking out 4 or 5 inches past the belt assembly, rubbing against a hose. It didn't look right, so I took it to a mechanic who tightened it back up. He said the bolt had just "worked itself loose". My concern is that this loose bolt is indicative of a more serious problem, or that someone has been tampering with my car. The car has around 159,000 miles on it.
Oil is leaking onto the ground.dealer attempted to fix vehicle, but defect still occurs. Please provide further information.
1997 Toyota Tercel engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 28 / 35 / 31 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 26 / 34 / 29 |
| 1.5L 4-cyl | 3-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 31 / 27 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Toyota Tercel a good car?
Based on 20 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1997 Tercel rates better than average: 53% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Tercel at the same age. It is one of the best Tercel years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Toyota Tercel?
The air bags — 8 complaints, 40% of all complaints for this model year, most often about frontal. Next are the seat belts (4) and engine & cooling (3).
How many recalls does the 1997 Toyota Tercel have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 1997 Toyota Tercel. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Tercel?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1997. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995. See the full Toyota Tercel years comparison.
At what mileage do 1997 Toyota Tercel problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 159,000 miles; 0% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.