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: 5 of 29 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.
Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Seat Belts. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
9 crash reports1 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
29 reports
109,000 miles · Jan 10, 2016
Air Bags
"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 …
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"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?
NHTSA ODI #10819220
200,000 miles · Jun 10, 2011
Air BagsCrashInjury
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
NHTSA ODI #10405915
125,000 miles · May 6, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling
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 THE…
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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.
NHTSA ODI #10399363
Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2006
Tires
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.
NHTSA ODI #10163131
Mileage unknown · Nov 29, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
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
NHTSA ODI #10101789
20,000 miles · Mar 8, 2004
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
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
NHTSA ODI #10060756
12,700 miles · Dec 3, 2003
Vehicle Speed Control
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
NHTSA ODI #10044815
Mileage unknown · May 19, 2003
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury
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
NHTSA ODI #10020138
Mileage unknown · May 21, 2002
Structure
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
NHTSA ODI #762127
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 2001
Seat Belts
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
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