1990 Toyota Celica

Routine

Owners filed 29 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the air bags › frontal. It has been recalled 2 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal9
808
Structure › Body › Trunk Lid2
000
Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly2
000
Air Bags2
000
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear1
000
Vehicle Speed Control1
000
Unknown or Other1
000
Tires › Tread/Belt1
000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components1
100
Seat Belts › Front › Retractor1
000

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Suspension10E002000
Filed Feb 11, 201012,657 vehiclesRide Control, Llc

Defect. RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.

Risk. THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module90V078000
Filed Apr 20, 19902,543 vehiclesToyota Motor Co., Ltd.

Defect. AIR BAG INFLATOR CASE WAS INCORRECTLY MACHINED.

Risk. IN AN ACCIDENT, THE AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INCREASED INJURY TO THE DRIVER.

Remedy. REPLACE AIR BAG INFLATOR UNIT.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air Bags
Filed Jan 10, 2016109,000 milesLA

"TAKATA RECALL" I HAVE A 1990 TOYOTA CELICA GT, MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON BACK AROUND 2003, I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT FIXED. A SERVICE MEMBER CAME OUT TO MY CAR WITH A HANDHELD DEVICE AND PLUGGED IT INTO THE CAR. BOTTOM LINE, HE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES TO RESET THE AIRBAG WITH NO SUCCESS. MY AIRBAG LIGHT IS STILL ON AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALLS OR NOTICES. HOW DO I GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED?

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Jun 10, 2011200,000 milesCA

MY 1990 TOYOTA CELICA ST WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN SAN LEANDRO FEB 22, 2003. I WAS STAYING IN FREMONT, CA. MY AIR BAG BURST OPEN AND THE CHEMICALS BURNED MY FACE AND ARMS. I WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AT WASHINGTON HOSPITAL, FREMONT,CA. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 6, 2011125,000 milesCA

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1990 TOYOTA CELICA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL. HE WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE AND THEN IT WOULD PERFORM AS NORMAL. THE CONTACT DID NOT INFORM THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER DUE TO THE AGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE THEY REPLACED THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO OCCUR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000.

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Jul 21, 2006FL

PATCHES OF THE TIRE FALLING OFF AS IF IT IS A RETREAD, VERY DANGEROUS IF I DON'T REPLACE SOON. NOTICED IT AT 30K ON TIRES.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Nov 29, 2004MD

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation ComponentsCrash
Filed Mar 8, 200420,000 milesTX

MY 1990 TOYOTA CELICA HAS 'SURGED FORWARD' FREQUENTLY, ALWAYS WHEN USING THE BRAKE. IT CAUSED ME TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE EARLY 90'S, NO PEOPLE WERE HURT, BUT THERE WAS VEHICLE DAMAGE. THE BRAKE CAN BE COMPLETLY DEPRESED, WHEN THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD AND THE BRAKE TENSION WILL REDUCE. *AK

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Dec 3, 200312,700 milesVA

THE CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO 90 MPH UNTIL OWNER PRESSED ON BRAKE PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES BUT HAD NO BOOSTER. *SCC

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed May 19, 2003NC

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YET NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN THE PASSENGERS. *NLM

Structure › Body › Trunk Lid
Filed May 21, 2002IL

OPENING OF TRUNK - LID HINGE SNAPPED IN HALF LIKE METAL FATIGUE. TOYOTA DEALER SAID THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL CAR HINGES REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE: $207.00 QUOTED. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Buckle Assembly
Filed Mar 2, 2001MI

THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT LATCH FAILED, THE LATCH RETURN SPRING BROKE AND REMAINED INSIDE THE LATCH MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SECURELY FASTEN THE SEAT BELT. NLM

Electrical System › Wiring › Interior/Under Dash
Filed Nov 27, 2000OH

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SEEMS TO HAVE AN OFF-AND-ON DEFECT. IT REPEATEDLY REGISTERS THE PARKING BRAKE AS BEING "ON" WHEN THE BRAKE IS, AND HAS BEEN, IN THE "OFF" POSITION. THE DASH BOARD LIGHTS, INCLUDING SPEEDOMETER, RADIO, HEAT/AIR, AND ALL OTHER DASHBOARD LIGHTING COMPONENTS GO OUT WITHOUT WARNING, AS DOES THE INTERIOR PASSENGER COMPARTMENT LIGHT OPERATED BY OPENING OR CLOSING THE DOORS. *AK

Structure › Body › Trunk Lid
Filed Jun 16, 2000AK

TRUNK HINGES WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH AND WORE OUT, CAUSING TRUNK TO BE OUT ALIGNMENT, AND PREVENTING IT FROM FULLY CLOSING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage
Filed Jun 2, 2000VA

I AM SMALL, AND THE SEAT BELT COMES ACROSS ME HIGH ON MY NECK, THE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO FIX BUT I AM AFRAID THAT I WILL BE INJURED BY THE BELT, ANY SUGGESTIONS? *AK

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Jul 12, 1999CA

THE ORIGIONAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS ARE: HARD INTO 2ND GEAR & GRIND ON UP&DOWN SHIFT, 3RD GEAR GRIND UP&DOWN SHIFT, 4TH GEAR GRIND ON UPSHIFT & LOCK OUT OF GEAR ON DOWN SHIFT. THE "NEW" TRANSMISSION (THATS THE WAY TOYOTA SELLS IT, NO REMANUFACTURED UNITS AVAILABLE, DEALER ITEM ONLY) PROBLEMS ARE: HARD IN TO 2ND ON DOWN SHIFT, 3RD GEAR GRIND ON UP&DOWN SHIFT, LOCK OUT OF 4TH GEAR ON DOWN SHIFT & GRIND IF ENGAGED, 5TH GEAR GRIND ON UP SHIFT. NEW TRANSMISSION PURCHASED JULY 1998. PROBLEMS DOCUMENTED BEFORE WARRANTY EXPIRED IN JULY 1999 BY DEALER & CLUTCH CONNECTION. THE NEW TRANSMISSION WAS PURCHASED AT FAIRFIELD TOYOTA AND INSTALLED AT CLUTCH CONNECTION 327 TEXAS ST., FAIRFIELD, CA 94533. PHONE# 707-422-5607.

Equipment › Appliance › Air Conditioner
Filed May 20, 1998IN

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED DUE TO A FAULTY EVAPORATOR.

Air Bags
Filed Oct 20, 1997MD

NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING FRONTAL COLLISION. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed May 8, 1997OH

DRIVING AT SPEED OF 25MPH, VEHICLE IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash2 injured
Filed Apr 25, 1997NC

VEHICLE WAS SITTING AT STOP SIGN AND ANOTHER CAR CRASHED INTO IT, HITTING BOTH SIDES AND THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. 2ND TIME INVOLVED IN A CRASH AND ALSO NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAG. *AK

Seat Belts › Front › Retractor
Filed Mar 20, 1997IL

SEAT BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WILL NOT RETRACT. WHEN PUTTING THE SEAT BELT ON IT JUST HANGS LOOSE .TOOK IN FOR REPAIR BUT DID NOT HAVE IT DONE BECAUSE DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Jan 30, 1997NM

AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY DURING FRONTAL CRASH. *AK

20 of 29 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20054100Routine
20044000Routine
200317100Routine
200229100Routine
200147100Routine
2000106323Fatalities reported
199910100Routine
19985100Routine
19978010Routine
19969100Routine
199522001Fatalities reported
199414000Routine
199313110Routine
199221120Routine
199127120Routine
1990 — this page29220Routine

Compare every Celica year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Feb 11, 2010. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.