NHTSA Service Bulletin 10163729: 1987-1990 Toyota Tercel
Official manufacturer communication context for 1987-1990 Toyota Tercel, with affected products, buyer checks and links into Carchieve recall, problem and VIN research.
Reviewed June 2026 from NHTSA manufacturer communication and service bulletin records. Carchieve is independent and not affiliated with any vehicle manufacturer or government agency.
Dealer Letter: Toyota will initiate a Special Service Campaign to inform certain Tercel owners of the need to use only Koito brand replacement headlamp bulbs. The original equipment headlamp bulbs in these vehicles were all Koito brand. The use of any brand of bulb other than Koito can cause the headlamp to fail to meet all of the photometric requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Standard No. 108. Owners will be supplied with caution labels and asked to install them on the headlamp housings. Owners who have previously replaced headlamp bulbs will be asked to bring their vehicle to a dealer for inspection and, if necessary, replacement with a Koito brand bulb. Any headlamp bulb of the involved vehicles that is burnt out now or in the future will be replaced free of charge with a Koito brand bulb. Please assist any involved Tercel owner by inspecting and replacing any non-Koito or burned out headlamp bulb with the correct Koito bulb. If an owner has not installed the caution labels on each headlamp housing, please do so for them. An initial supply of these labels is enclosed with this information package. Should you require additional labels, they can be ordered by calling (310) 783-5596. In addition, please install caution labels and Koito headlamp bulbs as necessary in any vehicles currently in your stock.
What this bulletin may mean before buying
Treat this as service research, not a verdict on one car. Before you buy, compare this communication with official recall campaigns, model-level owner complaint patterns, and the exact vehicle’s VIN-decoded specifications. A bulletin can help you ask a seller or dealer sharper questions about software updates, known repairs, warranty extensions and service history.
Affected products listed in this communication
Buyer checklist
- Run the 17-character VIN and confirm the year, make, model, engine and equipment match the listing.
- Check recall campaign pages for safety actions that may require dealer repair.
- Compare this bulletin with common problem pages for the same model and component area.
- Ask the seller or dealer whether the bulletin procedure, update or inspection has already been completed.
- Use the used-car buying checklist and get an independent inspection.
Frequently asked questions
What is NHTSA service bulletin 10163729?
Dealer Letter: Toyota will initiate a Special Service Campaign to inform certain Tercel owners of the need to use only Koito brand replacement headlamp bulbs. The original equipment headlamp bulbs in these vehicles were all Koito brand. The use of any brand of bulb other than Koito can cause the headlamp to fail to meet all of the photometric requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Standard No. 108. Owners will.
Is a service bulletin the same as a recall?
No. A recall is a safety campaign with a required remedy for affected VINs. A service bulletin or manufacturer communication usually describes diagnostic, repair, software, warranty or service information.
How should a used-car buyer use this bulletin?
Use it as a research signal. Compare it with recalls, owner complaints, service records, a VIN report and an independent inspection before buying.
Check the exact VIN before you buy
Model-level pages show public safety patterns. A full VIN report helps confirm the exact vehicle, decoded specs, recall applicability and buyer checks.
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