1997 Ford Mustang vs 1997 Toyota Tercel
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1997 Ford Mustang | 1997 Toyota Tercel |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 176 | 20 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 167 | 36 |
| Investigations | 2 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 17 | 5 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–21 | 27–31 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Mustang | Toyota Tercel |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 38 | 3 |
| Power Train | 29 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 19 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 19 | 2 |
| Suspension | 14 | 2 |
| Parking Brake | 15 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 6 | 8 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 12 | 0 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 11 | 0 |
| Stalling | 10 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Overheating | 5 | 0 |
1997 Ford Mustang
1997 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.