1996 Ford Mustang vs 1996 Toyota Tercel
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Ford Mustang | 1996 Toyota Tercel |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 246 | 40 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 151 | 39 |
| Investigations | 3 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 17 | 11 |
| Fire reports | 6 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–21 | 29–32 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 70,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Mustang | Toyota Tercel |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 82 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 34 | 3 |
| Air Bags | 21 | 7 |
| Power Train | 25 | 2 |
| Suspension | 22 | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 16 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 12 | 3 |
| Steering | 12 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Overheating | 22 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 16 | 0 |
| Stalling | 9 | 0 |
1996 Ford Mustang
1996 Toyota Tercel
Compare all Ford Mustang vs Toyota Tercel years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.