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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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29Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7

1Recall campaigns

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0Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
5
19876
198811
198929
199027
199121
199213
1993
Compare all Celica years →

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

What owners reported most

Air Bags
11Seat Belts
5Electrical System
3Engine And Engine Cooling
2Equipment
2
All reported categories
Structure
2Vehicle Speed Control
2Fuel System, Gasoline
1Power Train
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Tires
1Unknown Or Other
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: 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

Electrical System complaints

3 reports
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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 · Jul 16, 1996
Electrical SystemEquipmentFuel System, Gasoline

ELECTRICAL SHORT, CAUSING FIRE. *SD

NHTSA ODI #506276

Mileage unknown · May 31, 1995
Electrical SystemFire

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE WHILE PARKED 45 MINUTES; SMOKED CAME FROM UNDERHOOD; HORN WAS HONKING; LIGHTS FLASHING; IGNITION OFF; VEHICLE TOTALED. TT

NHTSA ODI #966162

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.