NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Frontal
945.0%
AIR Conditioner
210.0%
Trunk LID
210.0%
Glass, Side/Rear
210.0%
Buckle Assembly
210.0%
Accelerator Pedal
15.0%
Tread/Belt
15.0%
Injectors
15.0%
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
10,000 – 24,999 miles
240.0%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
240.0%
150,000+ miles
120.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Jan 1995peak 4Jan 2016
Recalls on the 1990 Toyota Celica
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
10E002000
SUSPENSION
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.
90V078000
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 200,000 milesManteca, CACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #10405915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20,000 milesDallas, TXCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10060756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Matthews, NCCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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 complaint #10020138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Matthews, NCCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
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 complaint #10020138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dayton, OHCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVING AT SPEED OF 25MPH, VEHICLE IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #812107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oxford, NCCrash2 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #810510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 109,000 milesShreveport, LA
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 STILL ON AND I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALLS OR NOTICES. HOW DO I GET THIS PROBLEM FIXED?
NHTSA complaint #10819220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 200,000 milesManteca, CACrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #10405915 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 125,000 milesWoodland Hills, CA
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 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 complaint #10399363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gainesville, FL
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
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 complaint #10163131 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hyattsville, MD
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
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.
NHTSA complaint #10101789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20,000 milesDallas, TXCrash
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
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.
NHTSA complaint #10060756 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 12,700 milesVirginia Beach, VA
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 complaint #10044815 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Matthews, NCCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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 complaint #10020138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Matthews, NCCrash1 injured
SEAT BELTS
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 complaint #10020138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Highland Park, IL
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
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.
NHTSA complaint #762127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Haslett, MI
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
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
NHTSA complaint #560032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Canton, OH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
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.
NHTSA complaint #736928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Yorktown, VA
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
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?
NHTSA complaint #723509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eagle River, AK
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
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.
NHTSA complaint #863677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Suisun, CA
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
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 complaint #708520 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Noblesvill, IN
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER FAILED DUE TO A FAULTY EVAPORATOR.
NHTSA complaint #535894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odenton, MD
AIR BAGS
NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVER'S AIR BAG DURING FRONTAL COLLISION.
NHTSA complaint #513871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Dayton, OHCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVING AT SPEED OF 25MPH, VEHICLE IMPACT 12:00 POSITION, DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #812107 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oxford, NCCrash2 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
NHTSA complaint #810510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Highland Park, IL
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
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.
NHTSA complaint #810218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Albacurki, NMCrash1 injured
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY DURING FRONTAL CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #808363 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SAN Diego, CA
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
UNSPECIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #530024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odenton, MDCrash
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DURING FRONTAL IMPACT, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #806404 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.