Model year guide

1996 Toyota Tercel

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1996 Toyota Tercel is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 4 on record.

1996 Toyota Tercel — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1996 Toyota Tercel at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints46
Combined29–32 mpg

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1996 Toyota Tercel recalls 2

Exterior Lighting:headlights NHTSA Campaign #08E050000 · 11/08/2008

K2 MOTOR IS RECALLING 1,921 AFTERMARKET HEADLAMPS OF VARIOUS MODELS SOLD FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS ARE MISSING THE AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Fix: K2 MOTOR WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND. THE RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMEBER 17, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT K2 MOTOR AT 1-909-839-2992.

Exterior Lighting NHTSA Campaign #06E026000 · 23/03/2006

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1996 Toyota Tercel common problems

Owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.

1996 Toyota Tercel MPG & running costs

Combined29–32 mpg
City27 mpg
Highway35 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,238
EPA size classSubcompact Cars
Transmission4 options
Passenger volume81 cu ft
Cargo volume9 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$813 less

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1996 Toyota Tercel costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$11,190
Fuel only$11,190
Per mile$0.15

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

1996 Toyota Tercel trims & engines on record

Trims
Base
Engines
1.5L 4-cyl 93 hp

1996 Toyota Tercel vehicles on record

1996 Toyota Tercel 1996 Toyota Tercel BaseJT2AC52L5T0172313 1996 Toyota Tercel BaseJT2AC52L0T0183087 1996 Toyota Tercel 1996 Toyota Tercel BaseJT2AC52L4T0191192 1996 Toyota Tercel 1996 Toyota Tercel BaseJT2AC52L2T0194690

Other Toyota Tercel model years

1997 1995 1994 1984

1996 Toyota Tercel — frequently asked questions

Does the 1996 Toyota Tercel have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1996 Toyota Tercel. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 1996 Toyota Tercel?

Owners have filed 46 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are seat belts, service brakes, tires.

What gas mileage does the 1996 Toyota Tercel get?

The 1996 Toyota Tercel has U.S. EPA estimates of 29–32 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.