Model year guide

1997 Toyota Tercel

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1997 Toyota Tercel is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 16 on record.

1997 Toyota Tercel — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1997 Toyota Tercel at a glance

Safety recalls2
Owner complaints25
Combined27–31 mpg
Typical price$810

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

1997 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, checked 4 Nov 2026. 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.

1997 Toyota Tercel common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

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.
Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.
Engine And Engine Cooling
Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.
Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.
Suspension
Listen for clunks over bumps, check the car sits level, and look for uneven tire wear and worn shocks or struts.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

1997 Toyota Tercel safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Frontal — driver★★★★★
Frontal — passenger★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 1997 Toyota Tercel 4-DR.. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

1997 Toyota Tercel MPG & running costs

Combined27–31 mpg
City26 mpg
Highway33 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$2,317
EPA size classSubcompact Cars
Transmission3 options
Passenger volume81 cu ft
Cargo volume9 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$417 less

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 3 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 1997 Toyota Tercel worth?

Low
$600
Typical price
$810
High
$1,100

From 5 comparable 1997 Toyota Tercel listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1997 Toyota Tercel costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$11,585
Fuel only$11,585
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.

Dimensions & weight

Length
162.2 in
Width
65.4 in
Height
54.3 in
Wheelbase
93.7 in
Curb weight
2,031–2,055 lb
Front track
55.1 in
Rear track
56.3 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1997 Toyota Tercel — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 49

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 49.

TSB: 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 crit…

Bulletin TSB003220 · Air Bags, Vehicle Speed Control, Equipment · Aug 2023

POL: 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.…

Bulletin Toyota PRO19-02 · Tires, Wheels, Equipment · Jan 2022

Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements

Bulletin Toyota Safety Re · Air Bags · Mar 2021

TSB: 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 crit…

Bulletin T-SB-0032-20 Rev · Equipment · Feb 2021

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

Bulletin T-SB-0304-17 Obs · Equipment · Apr 2020

TSB: 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 bulleti…

Bulletin T-SB-0032-20 · Equipment · Apr 2020

Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

Bulletin PG004-97-Obsolet · Equipment · Aug 2018

Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

Bulletin PG006-01-Obsolet · Equipment · Aug 2018

TSB: 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 cont…

Bulletin T-SB-0304-17_Rev · Equipment · Jul 2018

TSB: 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, and T-SB-0144-08. Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-9…

Bulletin T-SB-0304-17_Rev · Equipment · Jan 2018

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the TERCEL. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Toyota Tercel

The Toyota Tercel is a subcompact car manufactured by Toyota from 1978 until 1999 across five generations, in five body configurations sized between the Corolla and the Starlet. Manufactured at the Takaoka plant in Toyota City, Japan, and sharing its platform with the Cynos and the Starlet, the Tercel was marketed variously as the Toyota Corolla II —sold at Toyota Japanese dealerships called Toyota Corolla Stores—and was replaced by the Platz in 1999. It was also known as the Toyota Corsa and sold at Toyopet Store locations. Starting with the second generation, the Tercel dealership network was changed to Vista Store, as its badge engineered sibling, the Corolla II, was exclusive to Corolla…

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1997 Toyota Tercel trims & engines on record

Trims
CE
Engines
1.5L 4-cyl 93 hp

1997 Toyota Tercel vehicles on record

1997 Toyota Tercel 1997 Toyota Tercel CEJT2AC52L8V0237268 1997 Toyota Tercel 1997 Toyota Tercel CEJT2AC52L0V0234994 1997 Toyota Tercel 1997 Toyota Tercel CEJT2AC52L5V0216300 1997 Toyota Tercel 1997 Toyota Tercel CEJT2AC52L3V0279041 1997 Toyota Tercel 1997 Toyota Tercel CEJT2AC52L0V0289865 1997 Toyota Tercel 1997 Toyota Tercel CEJT2AC52L4V0214344 1997 Toyota Tercel 1997 Toyota TercelJT2BC52L4V0269638 1997 Toyota Tercel 1997 Toyota TercelJTB53EL50V0053359 1997 Toyota Tercel 1997 Toyota TercelJTB53EL50V0051628 1997 Toyota Tercel 1997 Toyota TercelJTB53EL50V0042561 1997 Toyota Tercel 1997 Toyota TercelJTB53EL50V0058745 1997 Toyota Tercel 1997 Toyota TercelJTB53EL50V0041699 1997 Toyota Tercel 1997 Toyota TercelJTB53EL50V0058662 1997 Toyota Tercel 1997 Toyota TercelJTB53EL50V0040567 1997 Toyota Tercel 1997 Toyota TercelJTB53EL50V0036766 1997 Toyota Tercel 1997 Toyota TercelJTB53EL50V0036479

Other Toyota Tercel model years

1999 1998 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981

1997 Toyota Tercel — frequently asked questions

Does the 1997 Toyota Tercel have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1997 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 done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1997 Toyota Tercel?

Across all 25 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, seat belts, engine and engine cooling.

What is the 1997 Toyota Tercel safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 1997 Toyota Tercel crash-test ratings of frontal 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 1997 Toyota Tercel get?

The 1997 Toyota Tercel has U.S. EPA estimates of 27–31 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (3 versions).

How much is a 1997 Toyota Tercel worth?

Comparable 1997 Toyota Tercel listings run roughly $600–$1,100, typically around $810 (from 5 vehicles).

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