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1985 Toyota Celica

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 7 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports

What owners actually said

7 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2002
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury

I WAS LEAVING THE PARKING LOT AND PREPARED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. ALL OF SUDDEN THE CAR ACCERLATED AT A HIGH SPEED AND I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE BUT IT KEEP GOING. I HIT A SIDEWALK CURB, HIT PART OF THE WALL, AND HIT A SIGN POLL HEAD ON THAT STOP THE CAR. MAJOR DAMAGES ON FRONT OF THE CAR, TIRE BLOWN, AND MIRROR CRACK. I RECEIVED …

Read full complaint

I WAS LEAVING THE PARKING LOT AND PREPARED TO MAKE A RIGHT TURN. ALL OF SUDDEN THE CAR ACCERLATED AT A HIGH SPEED AND I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE BUT IT KEEP GOING. I HIT A SIDEWALK CURB, HIT PART OF THE WALL, AND HIT A SIGN POLL HEAD ON THAT STOP THE CAR. MAJOR DAMAGES ON FRONT OF THE CAR, TIRE BLOWN, AND MIRROR CRACK. I RECEIVED BRUISES ON MY FACE AND BODY IS SORE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #756554

Mileage unknown · May 15, 1999
Structure

CONVERTABLE TOP FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #782358

Mileage unknown · May 15, 1999
Structure

POWER TOP FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #782357

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 1998
SteeringCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON DRY PAVEMENT ON THE FREEWAY, THE STEERING LINKAGE BROKE, AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE HAD NO STEERING CAPABILITY. THE CAR HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SWERVED AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT A PANIC STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY TWO PASSENGERS, A CHIL…

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WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON DRY PAVEMENT ON THE FREEWAY, THE STEERING LINKAGE BROKE, AND SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE HAD NO STEERING CAPABILITY. THE CAR HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE AND SWERVED AND HIT A CONCRETE WALL. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED AT A PANIC STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. MINOR INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY TWO PASSENGERS, A CHILD AND THE DRIVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822709

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 1998
SteeringCrashInjury

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT, TRAVELING STRAIGHT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY HAD NO STEERING CAPABILITY. VEHICLE HIT ONE CAR AND SWERVED, THEN HIT A CONCRETE WALL. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES IN A PANIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE THAT HAD MINOR INJURIES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS…

Read full complaint

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH ON DRY PAVEMENT, TRAVELING STRAIGHT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY HAD NO STEERING CAPABILITY. VEHICLE HIT ONE CAR AND SWERVED, THEN HIT A CONCRETE WALL. WHEN CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES IN A PANIC STOP, THE VEHICLE STOPPED, THERE WERE THREE PEOPLE THAT HAD MINOR INJURIES, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822707

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 1996
Seat BeltsStructure

SEAT BELTS LOCK UP FREQUENTLY, ALSO POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #508720

Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 1996
Seat Belts

DRIVERS SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT. *DH

NHTSA ODI #505140

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.