ToyotaTercel1985Overview/toyota/tercel/1985/base/

1985 Toyota Tercel

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1985 Tercel.

Transmission Automatic 3-spd

The 1985 Toyota Tercel, equipped with a 3-speed automatic transmission, returns EPA-rated fuel economy of 26 city, 29 highway, and 27 combined mpg while calling for 3.2 quarts of oil in 15W-40, 20W-40, or 20W-50 API SL grades. Within the model's broader complaint history spanning 1990 to 2000, this particular year stands out for its remarkably low owner-reported issues, tallying just 4 complaints with tires as the most cited area and a single recall on file. For context, the same nameplate peaked at 59 complaints in 1995 before tapering to a single complaint by 2000, underscoring the 1985 model's position as a comparatively quiet entry in a line that would later see heavier owner feedback. That early low complaint count, paired with straightforward mechanicals, makes this model year a useful baseline for researchers tracking the Tercel's reliability arc.

Model year199819971996199519941993199219911985

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 API SLOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy26/29/27 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 3-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length158.7 in
Overall width63.8 in
Overall height53.5 in
Wheelbase95.7 in
Curb weight2035 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined26 / 29 / 27 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Tercel of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

10.4–11.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.40 sec — 1995 DX Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1991LE Sedan 1.5L I-411.10 sec18.20 sec82 hpFWD
1992Coupe 1.5L I-411.10 sec18.20 sec82 hpFWD
1995DX Coupe 1.5L I-410.40 sec17.50 sec93 hpFWD
1995DX Sedan 1.5L I-411.20 sec18.40 sec93 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.2 qt of 15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 API SL engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.1 Pints
Engine CoolantETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine OilABOVE 10 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity3.2 qt
Power Steering FluidATF
Transfer Case FluidDEXRON

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
At 15,000 miExhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 15,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
Every 20,000 miDifferential (inspect fluid level)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Choke System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect)
Every 40,000 miWheel Bearing (inspect)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miFuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record begins in 1990, showing 22 complaints and a single recall, then a steady rise to a peak of 59 complaints and two recalls in 1995 before dropping sharply to just one complaint and no recalls by 2000. This upward‑then‑downward arc suggests that the generation experienced increasing issue reporting in the mid‑1990s, followed by a rapid improvement in later years. Because 1985 falls before the earliest year in the dataset, the available numbers do not reveal its specific complaint or recall count, nor the root causes of any problems. However, the later decline to minimal complaints and recalls implies that earlier model years, including 1985, may have been less prone to the issues that surfaced later in the generation. **Takeaway:** with no documented complaints or recalls for 1985 and given the overall improvement trend, 1985 is not flagged by the federal data as a problematic year, making it a reasonably safe choice for purchase.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
17
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
4
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 4 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Tires2
Electrical System1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

07E064000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel PumpReported 27/08/2007

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE… Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 17 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB0032202023-08-17Air BagsTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
Toyota PRO19-022022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
T-SB-0032-20 Rev2021-02-03EquipmentTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
T-SB-0304-17 Obs2020-04-07EquipmentTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see…
T-SB-0032-202020-04-06EquipmentTSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Tercel. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1985 Tercel take?

3.2 qt of ABOVE 10 degrees F 15W-40, 20W-40 OR 20W-50 API SL, ABOVE -10 degrees F 10W-30, 10W-40 OR 10W-50 API SL, BELOW 50 degrees F: 5W-30 API SL, per the factory manual.

Does the 1985 Tercel have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Tercel get?

EPA figures are 26 city / 29 highway / 27 combined mpg.