SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

1997 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 →
8Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
14
199422
19959
19968
19975
199810
1999106
2000
Compare all Celica years →

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

What owners reported most

Visibility
3Electrical System
2Air Bags
1Service Brakes, Hydraulic
1Structure
1
All reported categories
Tires
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: 3 of 8 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.

  • Visibility. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. 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.

1 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Visibility complaints

3 reports
Clear category filter
175,000 miles · Feb 13, 2013
Electrical SystemVisibilityFire

MY REAR DEFROST HAS NOT WORKED IN YEARS. I LOOK AT THE CONNECTION WHERE THE HATCH MEETS THE CAR AND FIND THAT THE CONNECTOR HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MELTED THE CONNECTOR AND THE WIRE. I AM HAVING TO RECONNECT THE 2 WIRES TO GET MY REAR DEFROST WORKING AGAIN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10498061

Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2005
Visibility

WHILE LOWERING CONVERTIBLE TOP UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND WITH NO OBSTRUCTIONS, BACK GLASS EXPLODED FOR NO APPARENT REASON.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10106136

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1997
Visibility

DURING NORMAL CONDITIONS WHILE LOWERING CONVERTABLE TOP OF CAR THE REAR WINDOW GLASS SHATTERED. THERE WAS NOTHING OBSTRUCTING THE LOWERING OF TOP, SO THERE WAS NO REASON FOR IT TO BREAK. CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #816744

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

1

DP02004 · Engine Seizure

Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling

No summary supplied.