The 1988 Toyota Tercel has 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 360,399 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.
THERE CAN BE INTERFERENCE WITH THE HEADLAMP HOUSING IF HEADLAMP BULBS ARE REPLACED WITH ANY BRAND OTHER THAN KOITO BRAND BULBS.
Consequence
THE INTERFERENCE WITH THE HEADLAMP HOUSING CAUSED BYOTHER THAN KOITO BRAND LAMP BULBS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 108, "LAMPS,REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
Remedy
TOYOTA DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A NEW KOITO BRAND BULB WITH NO CHARGE IF A NON-KOITO BRAND BULB IS NOW INSTALLED, OR SHOULD A HEADLAMP BULB BURN OUT IN THE FUTURE. "CAUTION LABELS" WILL ALSO BE PLACED ON EACH HEADLAMP HOUSING.
Complaints by component
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
4
2fires
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
1
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE
1
Total complaints9
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“As a result of reoccurring electrical short, vehicle caught on fire.”
“Electrical short caused vehicle fire.”
“Vehicle fire due to electrical short.”
“Intermittent stalling.”
“Carbon builds up in the vaccuum lines of the emissions system, causing vehicle to operate improperly, vehicle failed emission test 3 times. *ak”
“Rear hatch leaks in rain/rear hatch gasket replaced four times. *ak”
“Electrical fire.”
“Known carburetor problems with the variable venturi carburetor in this model. Vehicle cuts off at speeds 58-62 mph. Automatically restarts when speed drops to approx. 56 mph.”
Defect investigations
InvestigationPE89134 Opened 1989-07-03 · closed 1989-09-22
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1988 Toyota Tercel as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.