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Toyota CelicaYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 419 NHTSA owner complaints across 31 model years, no Toyota Celica year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1990, 1991, 2001 and 2002. The Celica has 9 safety recalls on record.

Toyota Celica
Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 2000Best years'90 '91 '01 '02Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints419Top: Air bagsSafety recalls91972–2005 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Calreyn88, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Toyota Celica years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Celica median. Tap a year for its full report.

'72'73'74'77'78'79'80'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2005Not rated–/1004 complaints · 1 recall2004Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls2003Not rated–/10017 complaints · 1 recall2002Solid50/10029 complaints · 1 recall2001Solid50/10047 complaints · 1 recall2000Caution31/100106 complaints · 2 recalls1999Not rated–/10010 complaints · 1 recall1998Not rated–/1005 complaints · 1 recall1997Not rated–/1008 complaints · 0 recalls1996Not rated–/1009 complaints · 0 recalls1995Not rated–/10022 complaints · 0 recalls1994Not rated–/10014 complaints · 0 recalls1993Not rated–/10013 complaints · 0 recalls1992Not rated–/10021 complaints · 0 recalls1991Solid55/10027 complaints · 0 recalls1990Solid52/10029 complaints · 1 recall1989Not rated–/10011 complaints · 0 recalls1988Not rated–/1006 complaints · 0 recalls1987Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1986Not rated–/1009 complaints · 0 recalls1985Not rated–/1007 complaints · 0 recalls1984Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1983Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1982Not rated–/1004 complaints · 1 recall1980Not rated–/1002 complaints · 1 recall1979Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1978Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1977Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1974Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall1972Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Toyota Celica problems

All model years combined: 419 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Air bags7861
Engine and engine cooling752
Seat belts453
Power train411
Vehicle speed control397
Structure307
Service brakes, hydraulic259
Tires243
Electrical system2211
16 other systems11221
9 recalls

Toyota Celica recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

8%Driver side: inflator module20V-033 · 1998–1999 · Jan 22, 2020 · 138,842 vehicles–Other: labels10V-035 · 2005 · Feb 3, 2010 · 271,417 vehicles–Exterior lighting: headlights04V-566 · 2000–2001 · Nov 29, 2004 · 92,577 vehicles–Foundation components: master cylinder04V-455 · 2000 · Sep 17, 2004 · 109,056 vehicles–Fuel system, gasoline03V-074 · 2002–2003 · Mar 5, 2003 · 15,048 vehicles–Driver side: inflator module90V-078 · 1990 · Apr 20, 1990 · 2,543 vehicles–Vehicle speed control86V-132 · 1982 · Oct 2, 1986 · 4,561 vehicles–Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator80V-045 · 1980 · Apr 11, 1980 · 98,493 vehicles–Defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core78V-017 · 1972–1973 · Jan 23, 1978 · 74,475 vehicles
4 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Celica

  1. ENGINE SEIZUREDP02004 · 1996–2000 · closed Jun 20, 2002
    No recall
  2. THROTTLE STICKINGEA92044 · 1987–1989 · closed Jan 31, 1994
    No recall
  3. THROTTLE STICKINGPE92065 · 1987–1989 · closed Dec 18, 1992
    No recall
  4. SUDDEN ACCELERATIONEA85045 · 1982 · closed Feb 18, 1988
    Led to recall 86V-132