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1988 Toyota Celica

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →
6Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

2Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
7
19859
19865
19876
198811
198929
199027
1991
Compare all Celica years →

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

What owners reported most

Engine And Engine Cooling
2Seat Belts
2Electrical System
1Equipment
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1
All reported categories
Suspension
1Vehicle Speed Control
1Visibility
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 6 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.

  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 2 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 →
  • Electrical System. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

6 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2000
Visibility

I CURRENTLY OWN AN 87 AND 88 TOYOTA CELICAS AND BOTH HEATERS DO NOT WORK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #721037

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipment

ENGINE PROBLEM AFTER WARM UP SHIFTING FROM 1ST TO 2ND GRINDING LIKE THE GEARS ARE NOT MESHING CORRECTLY. SO TRY AND SKIP 2ND WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #713093

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 1998
Electrical System

RING GEAR BEHIND THE STARTER TEETH STARTED SLIPPING, WHICH MADE LOUD NOISES, DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, MECHANIC DID REPAIR WORK, CONSUMER HAD TO PAY EXPENSES TO GET REPAIRS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #832564

Mileage unknown · Oct 16, 1996
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicSuspension

BRAKES FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #509937

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 1996
Seat BeltsVehicle Speed Control

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED. *SD

NHTSA ODI #501737

Mileage unknown · Jun 27, 1995
Seat Belts

THE DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT BUCKLE WHEN LOCK IT STAY LOCK AND HARD TO LOCK . TT

NHTSA ODI #967754

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

2

EA92044 · Throttle Sticking

Opened Dec 18, 1992 · Closed Jan 31, 1994

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available

PE92065 · Throttle Sticking

Opened Jul 16, 1992 · Closed Dec 18, 1992

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available