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1998 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 →
5Owner complaints

Model-year median: 7

1Recall campaigns

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1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
22
19959
19968
19975
199810
1999106
200047
2001
Compare all Celica years →

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

What owners reported most

Structure
2Air Bags
1Engine And Engine Cooling
1Fuel/propulsion System
1Tires
1
All reported categories
Visibility
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: 2 of 5 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.

  • Structure. 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 →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. 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

Tires complaints

1 reports
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24,000 miles · Sep 15, 2010
Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS COOPER LIFE LINER SLE TIRES P205/55R 15 ON A 1998 TOYOTA CELICA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING RANDOMLY, SO THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT LOOKED AT THE TIRES AND SAW NO DAMAGES. THE CONTACT RUBBED HER HAND ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIR…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS COOPER LIFE LINER SLE TIRES P205/55R 15 ON A 1998 TOYOTA CELICA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING RANDOMLY, SO THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT LOOKED AT THE TIRES AND SAW NO DAMAGES. THE CONTACT RUBBED HER HAND ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND NOTICE A BUBBLE HAD DEVELOP ON THE INSIDE TREAD. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE DEALER NOTICE THE TREAD SEPARATION ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND RECOMMENDED THE TIRE BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THEY DO NOT SUPPLY A WARRANTY ON COOPER TIRES DUE TO THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE AND THEY DO NOT SALE THAT BRAND. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE TIRES AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WILL ONLY COVER WHAT IS LEFT OF THE TREAD ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACED THE TIRES SINCE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND DOES NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH THE THREE REMAINING TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA ODI #10355714

Official recalls

1

20V033000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jan 22, 2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 1998-2000 RAV4, 1998-1999 RAV4 EV and Celica and 1997-1998 Supra vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant, and increases the risk of serious injury or death.

Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and owners will have the option to self-inspect, or have a dealer inspect the steering wheel on their vehicle to determine if their vehicle may be equipped with an affected inflator. Potentially affected steering wheel serial numbers will be inspected by a dealer. Based on the inspection, dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate one, as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall is 20TB01 and 20TA01.

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.