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1990 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

All reported categories

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
Mileage unknown · Nov 27, 2000
Electrical System

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 PASSE…

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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

NHTSA ODI #736928

Mileage unknown · Jun 16, 2000
Structure

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

NHTSA ODI #863677

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2000
Seat Belts

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

NHTSA ODI #723509

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 1999
Power Train

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, …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #708520

Mileage unknown · May 20, 1998
Equipment

AIR CONDITIONER FAILED DUE TO A FAULTY EVAPORATOR.

NHTSA ODI #535894

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 1997
Air Bags

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

NHTSA ODI #513871

Mileage unknown · May 8, 1997
Air BagsCrash

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

NHTSA ODI #812107

Mileage unknown · Apr 25, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

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

NHTSA ODI #810510

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 1997
Seat Belts

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

NHTSA ODI #810218

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 1997
Air BagsCrashInjury

AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY DURING FRONTAL CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #808363

Official recalls

1

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.