1993 Toyota Celica recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• Seat belts

  THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT OR IF THEY DO, SLOWLY AND NOT FULLY. LEAVING BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER TO MORE BODILY INJURY IN CASE OF ACCIDENT. HAS BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I CALLED TOYOTA BUT WAS TOLD I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. NOT CHEAP! THE WIPERS ARE ALSO PRONE TO RUST... THE METAL RODS THAT HOLD WIPERS ARMS IN PLACE TEND TO COME LOOSE MAKING THE WIPER ARMS FALL OFF. HAVE TRIED TO CONVERT ARMS TO ACCEPT NEWER BLADES BUT THEY ARE TOO THICK FOR THE RETROFIT ATTACHMENTS FOUND IN ANSCO WIPERS. TOYOTA CHARGES ALMOST $200 A PIECE FOR NEW OEM WIPER ARMS FOR THIS MODEL. REMEDIED THIS USING CRAZY GLUE AND ELECTRICAL TAPE TO KEEP NEW ARMS IN PLACE. *TR

  Aug 13, 2010
• Suspension › Front

  I HAVE HAD TWO FRONT END SHAFTS SHEER OFF THE RETAINING NUT ON MY CAR. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS LAST SUMMER (2009) AND THE LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED LAST NIGHT. AT THE OUTBOARD END OF THE DRIVE SHAFT, THERE IS A THREADED SHAFT THAT ACCEPTS A (I BELIEVE) 22 OR 24MM NUT. IN BOTH CASES, THE SHAFT SNAPPED AND THE RETAINING NUT FELL TOTALLY OFF THE SHAFT, LEAVING ONLY THE DISC BRAKE CALIPER TO KEEP THE TIRE FROM FALLING OFF. YESTERDAYS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING PLACE, SO THIS WAS NOT A HIGH SPEED INCIDENT, BUT ONE THAT OCCURRED WHEN MINIMUM FORCES WERE AT PLAY ON THE CAR. ONCE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FLUKE, BUT TWICE ON THE SAME VEHICLE? *TR

  Nov 9, 2010 · 230,791 miles
• Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner

  WHEN USING THE AIR CONDITIONER AIR COMPRESSOR ENGAGES, AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

  Mar 9, 2004
• Seat belts › Front › Retractor

  BOTH OF MY FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK OR RETRACT PROPERLY ON MY 1993 CELICA GT AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR. IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE ON THE CELICA ENTHUSIAST WEB BOARD THAT I REQUEST AND I'VE FOUND COMPLAINTS LOGGED ON THE DOT'S WEBSITES. WAS THERE A RECALL FOR THESE SEAT BELTS AND CAN I GET THEM REPLACED? *CB

  Jan 17, 2004
• Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Rotor

  WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES ROTORS PRODUCED A GRINDING NOISE. AS RESULT, AN ODOR SEEPED THROUGH THE VENTS. *AK

  Nov 9, 2003 · 92,000 miles
• Seat belts › Front › Retractor

  FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL NO LONGER PULL OUT. *AK *SLC

  Mar 28, 2001
• Seat belts › Front › Anchorage

  PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT IS LOOSE. *SLC

  Dec 26, 2000
• Seat belts › Front › Retractor

  OWN 2 TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT HAVE SEATBELT RETRACTORS THAT LOCK UP/WON'T RELEASE OR WONT RETRACT CAUSING LOOSE FIT. I SEE THAT NHTSA HAS LOGGED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT SEATBELTS ON TOYOTA.

  Oct 1, 1999

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.