1996 Honda Civic 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 Honda Civic | 1996 Toyota Tercel |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 305 | 40 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 125 | 39 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 67 | 11 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 4 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 27–31 | 29–32 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 100,500 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Honda Civic | Toyota Tercel |
|---|---|---|
| Air Bags | 70 | 7 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 52 | 3 |
| Visibility | 34 | 4 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 31 | 1 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 27 | 4 |
| Power Train | 25 | 2 |
| Structure | 19 | 0 |
| Electrical System | 17 | 2 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Brake problems | 20 | 0 |
| Stalling | 8 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 5 | 0 |
1996 Honda Civic
1996 Toyota Tercel
Compare all Honda Civic 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.