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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.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →
7Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1985 Toyota Celica

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 7 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

  • Structure: 3 reports
  • Seat Belts: 2 reports
  • Steering: 2 reports
  • Vehicle Speed Control: 1 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

    No recall campaigns in this snapshot.

    Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

    Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

    How this year compares

    Owner complaints by model year

    Other model years Selected year
    4
    1982    3
    1983    3
    1984    7
    1985    9
    1986    5
    1987    6
    1988
    Compare all Celica years →

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

    What owners reported most

    Structure
    3    Seat Belts
    2    Steering
    2    Vehicle Speed Control
    1

    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

    Steering complaints

    2 reports
    Clear category filter
    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…

    Read full complaint

    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

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.

    An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.