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: 3 of 14 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 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
6 crash reports0 fire reports5 injury reports
What owners actually said
14 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury
I WAS IN A FRONT ON COLLISION ON A CITY STREET. I WAS TRAVELING 25 AND OTHER CAR 35 HIT ME HEAD ON. MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED WHEN IT DEPLOYED TAKING OUT WINDSHIELD SCATTERING GLASS EVERYWHERE WHICH CUT ME. I BREATHED IN THE POWDER FROM THE AIRBAG AND HAD DIFFICULTY BREATHING FOR SOME TIME. I INITIALLY SUFFERED ALMOST T…
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I WAS IN A FRONT ON COLLISION ON A CITY STREET. I WAS TRAVELING 25 AND OTHER CAR 35 HIT ME HEAD ON. MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED WHEN IT DEPLOYED TAKING OUT WINDSHIELD SCATTERING GLASS EVERYWHERE WHICH CUT ME. I BREATHED IN THE POWDER FROM THE AIRBAG AND HAD DIFFICULTY BREATHING FOR SOME TIME. I INITIALLY SUFFERED ALMOST TOTAL HEARING LOSS RIGHT EAR AND PERMANENT DIMINISHED HEARING. REPORTED TO TOYOTA WHEN OCCURRED AND NEVER RECEIVED ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MY CONCERN AND COMPLAINT. I COMPLAINED THAT ABOUT MY INJURIES AND CONCERN THAT HAD SOMEONE BEEN IN PASSENGER SEAT THEY MOST PROBABLY WOULD HAVE DIED OR BEEN SEVERELY INJURED. I HAVE MANY PICTURES AND DOCUMENTATION OF MY INJURY IF THIS IS OF INTEREST TO NHTSA SO MANY YEARS POST OCCURRENCE.
NHTSA ODI #10818551
24,000 miles · Feb 10, 2015
Power Train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA CELICA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE GEAR LEVER WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILED RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
NHTSA ODI #10682635
108,000 miles · Jan 26, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
STEERING, SUSPENSION, CLUTCH AND BRAKES, COOLING SYSTEM AND DRIVEABILITY, FUEL AND FLUID BREAKDOWN. SEVERE COMPONENT FAILURE LEADING BACK TO ECU AND EMISSION SYSTEM SENSORS NOT ACTIVATING WARNING LIGHTS NOR SENDING TROUBLE CODES. ENGINE COMPRESSION FANTASTIC, ENGINE SENSORS CHECK OK BUT CAR IS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE NOR RELIABLE TR…
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STEERING, SUSPENSION, CLUTCH AND BRAKES, COOLING SYSTEM AND DRIVEABILITY, FUEL AND FLUID BREAKDOWN. SEVERE COMPONENT FAILURE LEADING BACK TO ECU AND EMISSION SYSTEM SENSORS NOT ACTIVATING WARNING LIGHTS NOR SENDING TROUBLE CODES. ENGINE COMPRESSION FANTASTIC, ENGINE SENSORS CHECK OK BUT CAR IS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE NOR RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10107924
180,000 miles · Sep 2, 2003
Tires
ON 11/02/02 WE PURCHASED 4 KELLY SPRINGFIELD 185/70R14 METRIC TIRES WITH A MFGS 50,000 MILE WARRANTY FOR OUR TOYOTA CELICA. ON 11/25/2002, THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WHICH DEVELOPED A BULDGE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. ON 08/30/03 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CELICA ON THE FREEWAY AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED A B…
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ON 11/02/02 WE PURCHASED 4 KELLY SPRINGFIELD 185/70R14 METRIC TIRES WITH A MFGS 50,000 MILE WARRANTY FOR OUR TOYOTA CELICA. ON 11/25/2002, THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WHICH DEVELOPED A BULDGE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. ON 08/30/03 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CELICA ON THE FREEWAY AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT. INSPECTION OF THE TIRE REVEALS THAT THAT THE BLOWOUT PRODUCED A VERTICAL GASH FROM THE RIM TO THE TIRE TREAD. THE TIRE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT ON 09/04/03. THE TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 12,000 MILE OF WEAR ON THEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10037082
Mileage unknown · Aug 6, 2002
Seat Belts
BOTH OF MY REAR SEATBELTS, WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN USED VERY OFTEN, HAVE BROKE. THE FIRST BROKE A WHILE BACK. WE DON'T USE THIS CAR TO TRANSPORT OUR CHILDREN VERY MUCH, AND I'M SURPRISED THAT THEY BOTH BROKE. PART OF ME SUSPECTS THAT TOYOTA PUT IN A CHEAPER SEATBELT ASSEMBLY ASSUMING THAT THE BACK SEAT IN A SPORTS CAR WOULD NOT B…
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BOTH OF MY REAR SEATBELTS, WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN USED VERY OFTEN, HAVE BROKE. THE FIRST BROKE A WHILE BACK. WE DON'T USE THIS CAR TO TRANSPORT OUR CHILDREN VERY MUCH, AND I'M SURPRISED THAT THEY BOTH BROKE. PART OF ME SUSPECTS THAT TOYOTA PUT IN A CHEAPER SEATBELT ASSEMBLY ASSUMING THAT THE BACK SEAT IN A SPORTS CAR WOULD NOT BE USED ALL THAT OFTEN. THE DEALERSHIP I WENT TO(BRUNSWICK AUTO MART) WANTED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS, CITING IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT TOYOTA SAYS NO. MY IMPRESSION WAS THAT IT WAS NOT THAT UNCOMMON OF A PROBLEM, AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #765276
Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2000
Air BagsCrashInjury
UPON A FRONT END COLLISION AT 45 MPH WITH OVER 4500.00 WORTH OR DAMAGE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES TO MYSELF. THEN AFTER REPAIRS THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF SHOWING A FAILURE THAT THEY WERE NOW INOPERABLE YOU TAKE YOUR PICK WHICH IS WORSE!
NHTSA ODI #718421
Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 1999
Seat Belts
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT ANCHOR LOOSENED AND DETACHED. AND MY THROTTLE STICKS IN THE CLOSED POSITION MAKING CITY-TRAFFIC DRIVING A REAL MOTHER. CHEERS AND HAVE A NICE DAY NOW!
NHTSA ODI #709772
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 1999
Air Bags
THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON DUE TO A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG UNIT WHICH BURNED OUT AND WON'T DEPLOY IN EVENT OF A CRASH, SO IT WONT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #843241
Mileage unknown · Mar 26, 1999
Air BagsCrash
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT NOT THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
NHTSA ODI #836164
Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
RIGHT REAR ABS BRAKES FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #781479
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1994 Toyota Celica Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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