AI Damage1987 Toyota Tercel: common problems
Owners of the 1987 Toyota Tercel filed 13 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 13
- involving a crash
- 2
What fails most often
- 1 Fuel system 31% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 23% of all complaints
- 3 Electrical system 15% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 15% of all complaints
- 5 Seat belts 8% of all complaints
- 6 Service brakes 8% of all complaints
- 7 Tires 8% of all complaints
- 8 Vehicle speed control 8% of all complaints
- Fuel system: 4 complaints (31% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (23% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (15% of all).
- Powertrain: 2 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (8% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.5 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 3-speed
- manual, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 13 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel system | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
4 wheel drive vehicle right front wheel locked up causing the vehicle to spin. Yh
Consumer was in an accident the driver side seat belt didn't restrain it came loose . Tt
Over the past two months, 3 out of 4 tires have failed due to tread separation. The tires were approx 6-1/2 years old with 35,000 miles with plenty of remaining tread depth.
Vehicle fire due to possible engine failure, prior to fire the transmission was replaced. (ohio traffic crash report).
Defective carburetor/fuel system causing vehicle stalling, hesitation and surging.
While driving, vehicle stalls or surges forward. The manufacturer has been contacted.
When applying the brakes the vehicle made loud squeaks. The rotors and pads had to be replaced.
At any speed car stalls, when taken to the repair shop mechanic thinks it the carburetor but he is not sure.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 9,843 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 27% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Tercel has 17 complaints (19 years in the data). This year has 13, below average.
What to check before buying
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1987 Toyota Tercel?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, engine and cooling, electrical system. Total complaints: 13. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: stalls while driving (31%), unintended acceleration (23%), hesitation when accelerating (15%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1987 Toyota Tercel?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1987 Toyota Tercel from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1987 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.