At a glance

Reported mileage250,686 mi

LocationCa, USA

ColorSilver

Last listed price$450

Open recalls2

Vehicle identity & specifications

Make

Toyota

Model

Tercel

Year

1996

Trim

Base

Body style

Sedan/Saloon

Vehicle type

PASSENGER CAR

Engine

1.5L 4-cyl 93 hp

Cylinders

4

Fuel type

Gasoline

Drivetrain

4x2

Doors

2

Assembly plant

TOYOTA CITY, AICHI, JAPAN

Manufacturer

TOYOTA MOTOR CORPORATION

Full vehicle history report

$14.99 USD · one-time

What a full report checks for VIN JT2AC52L0T0183087

⚠️ 2 open safety recalls — shown above, free 🔒 Title & brand records 🔒 Accident & damage history 🔒 Salvage, total-loss & theft 🔒 Odometer & owner count 🔒 Liens & market valuation

A full report searches national title databases (NMVTIS) and licensed history providers for this VIN and shows whatever records are on file — not every vehicle has every record type. The decode, safety recalls and owner complaints above are always free.

📜 Title status Clean, salvage, rebuilt, junk, flood or lemon

🏷️ Title brand history Every brand ever applied, by state

🧾 Number of owners How many registrations on record

🛞 Odometer readings Reported mileage over time

🔎 Rollback check Mileage inconsistency / tamper flags

💥 Accident & damage Reported collisions and damage events

🚧 Total-loss records Insurance total-loss declarations

♻️ Salvage & auction Salvage-yard and auction history

🚓 Theft records Reported / recovered theft events

🏦 Liens & impounds Outstanding liens or impound records

🏷️ Sale & listing history Past marketplace and dealer listings

💰 Market valuation Estimated value for this exact spec

Unlock full report — $14.99 → or get up to 20 reports a month for $19.99/mo → One-time purchase · permanent access · VIN JT2AC52L0T0183087

Safety recalls 2

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

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."

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA Campaign #08E050000 · 11/08/2008

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

Remedy: 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.

NHTSA Campaign #06E026000 · 23/03/2006

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Common problems & what to inspect

Based on 46 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1996 Toyota Tercel, here are the most-reported problem areas — and exactly what to check before you buy.

💥 4 involved a crash 🔥 1 involved a fire 🚑 4 reported injuries

Seat Belts 3 reports

🔍 Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.

Service Brakes 2 reports

🔍 Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

Tires 2 reports

🔍 Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.

Air Bags 2 reports

🔍 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 2 reports

🔍 Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.

Steering 1 report

🔍 Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.

Pre-purchase checklist

Match the VIN on the dash, door jamb and title — they must be identical.
Cold-start the engine; listen for knocks and check for blue or white exhaust smoke.
Test-drive through all gears at low and highway speed — no slipping, shudder or pulling.
Confirm every warning light clears at startup (none should stay on).
Check fluids — oil, coolant, transmission — for level, color and leaks.
Look underneath for rust, fresh undercoating or signs of collision repair.
Always get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a trusted mechanic.

Owner complaints 46

Complaints filed with NHTSA by owners of the 1996 Toyota Tercel.

STEERING,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER

STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE WHILE PARALLEL PARKING. CAR WON'T STEER.

NHTSA ODI #10714840

SERVICE BRAKES

TL*THE CONTACT OWNED A 1996 TOYOTA TERCEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE BRAKE ROTOR FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT PASSENGERS WHEEL SEIZED AND THE OTHER WHEELS LOST HYDRAULIC PRESSURE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL CRASHING INTO A CONCRETE WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTA…

Crash · 2 injured · NHTSA ODI #10678337

SEAT BELTS

FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NO LONGER GRAB. PART SEEMS DEFECTIVE, BUT NO APPEARANCE OF ANY CRACK, OR DAMAGE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10541744

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

I HAVE A 2006 TOYOTA PRIUS. THE HEADLIGHTS FLICKER WHILE DRIVING AND GO OFF AND ON. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OFF AND WOULD NOT COME BACK ON TILL I TURNED THE POWER OFF IN THE CAR AND RE-STARTED THE CAR. MY HUSBAND HAS INSTALLED NEW HEADLIGHTS TWICE BUT THIS HAS NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN GRE…

NHTSA ODI #10377071

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 TOYOTA TERCEL. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. HE HAD TO DRIVE TO A SERVICE ROAD AND FORCE THE GEAR INTO PARK TO STOP THE VEHICLE. SOME WD-40 WAS SPRAYED ON THE ENGINE AND THEY HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM SINCE. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 2008 WITH 128,000 MILES. THE CONTACT HAS NOT CALLED THE DEALER…

NHTSA ODI #10314489

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS 1996 TOYOTA TERCEL. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE DASHBOARD. THE SMOKE TURNED INTO A FIRE THAT WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE CONTACT. THE FIRE MELTED A HOLE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC AND THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED AS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CAUSED BY A SEPARATED WIRE IN THE AIR BAG. THE P…

Fire · NHTSA ODI #10201845

TIRES

TL - WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE HIT DEBRIS IN THE ROAD CAUSING COMPLETE TIRE TREAD SEPARATION ON THE PASSENGER REAR TIRE. ALL FOUR TIRES WERE REPLACED MAY 2006 DUE TO DRIVER'S FRONT TIRE HAVING HAD TREAD SEPARATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE ON THE TIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THE TIRE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE ON THE VEHICLE IS 100,000. THERE WE…

NHTSA ODI #10190630

TIRES

1996 TOYOTA TERCEL TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD TO THE RIGHT AND SPUN TO THE RIGHT STRIKING A GUARDRAIL WITH IT'S LEFT FRONT. THE VEHICLE AGAIN STRUCK THE GUARDRAIL WITH IT'S LEFT REAR AND SPUN TO THE RIGHT MAKING A 360 DEGREE TURN AND CAME TO REST IN THE RIGHT LANE. THERE WAS SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR OF THE VEHICL…

Crash · NHTSA ODI #10146500

+ 38 more complaints on record.