Recalls (1)
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1982 Toyota Tercel. Check whether yours was repaired with NHTSA's free VIN lookup ↗
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. PlainVIN shows every recall campaign listed for a model year, with the official text and how many cars have been fixed so far.
Check on NHTSA ↗SUSPENSION:SINGLE AXLE:REAR:CONTROL ARM
- Summary
- THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS, WHICH SUPPORT THE REAR WHEELS, ARE SUBJECT TO CORROSION IF OPERATED IN AREAS WHERE A LARGE AMOUNT OF ROAD SALT IS USED TO AID IN SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: CONTINUOUS EXPOSURE TO ROAD SALT MAY CAUSE CORROSION FAILURE OF THE LOWER CONTROL ARM AFFECTING VEHICLE OPERATION; THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
- Remedy
- RUST PROOF OR REPLACE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. (OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN IN MAY 1986).
PlainVIN shows public government records for education. It isn't a vehicle inspection or legal advice. Check your own VIN with NHTSA or your dealer.
Owner complaints (2)
2 complaints filed with NHTSA (owner reports, not verified findings). The suspension is mentioned most often.
As reported by owners in their complaints. These are reports, not NHTSA findings.
Most-reported components
| Component | Complaints | % of 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Suspension | 2 | 100% |
How 1982 compares with other Tercel years
Best and worst Tercel years →| Model year | Complaints | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 2 | 1 |
| 1983 | 2 | 0 |
| 1984 | 5 | 0 |
| 1985 | 3 | 0 |
| 1986 | 6 | 0 |
| 1987 | 13 | 1 |
| 1988 | 8 | 1 |
| 1989 | 22 | 1 |
| 1990 | 19 | 1 |
| 1991 | 17 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Owners are still filing reports for recent model years, so these counts will grow. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Looking at a 1982 Tercel for sale?
Print a one-page buyer's checklist: each recall campaign with a box to tick when the seller shows proof of repair, the top complaint areas to inspect, crash stars, MPG, and a link back to this page.
Where to next
1982 Toyota Tercel FAQ
How many recalls does the 1982 Toyota Tercel have?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign: 86V038000 (suspension). Use NHTSA's VIN lookup to see whether a specific car was repaired.
What are the most common 1982 Toyota Tercel problems?
Owners filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. Suspension (2) are mentioned most. These are owner reports, not verified findings.
How does the 1982 Tercel compare with other years?
Among the 1982–1991 Toyota Tercel model years at least five years old, the 1982 drew the fewest complaints (2) and the 1989 the most (22). The 1982 drew 2. Counts are owner reports, not failure rates.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.