Model year record
The 1996 Toyota Celica has 1 safety recall and 9 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is vehicle speed control (4 complaints).
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.
| City / highway | 25 / 31 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,500/year to fuel
| City / highway | 23 / 31 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel
| City / highway | 19 / 26 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
| City / highway | 19 / 26 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
| City / highway | 19 / 26 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.2 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,050/year to fuel
| City / highway | 18 / 26 mpg |
|---|---|
| Fuel | Regular Gasoline |
2.2 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,200/year to fuel
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.
| Problem area | Complaints | Typical mileage* |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed controlCruise control | 4 | — |
| Service brakes, hydraulicPower assist; Foundation components › Disc › Caliper | 3 | — |
| Fuel system, gasolineFuel injection system | 1 | — |
| Electrical systemIgnition | 1 | — |
| SteeringColumn locking › Anti-theft device | 1 | — |
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
THIS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN MY 1996 TOYOTA CELICA MALFUNCTIONED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING ON I-75 SOUTH NEAR PIQUA, OHIO. MY LANE OF TRAFFIC (PASSING LANE) WAS SLOWING DOWN DUE TO CONSTRUCTION, SO I ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN. TO MY SURPRISE, MY BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT RESPOND (EITHER DUE TO A MALFUNCTION OF EITHER THE CRUISE CONTROL OR ACCELERATOR--OR BOTH), AND I HAD TO MOVE TO THE MEDIAN. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN I TRIED TO BRAKE AGAIN, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE AND THE MEDIAN ENDED. MY CAR TRAVELED AIRBORNE OFF THE MEDIAN AND PLUMMETED TO THE ROAD BENEATH I-75. MY CAR TOOK OUT A SET OF CABLE WIRES, JUMPED A FENCE, BEFORE LANDING ON THE BUSY ROAD BELOW AND STOPPED WHEN IT HIT A CONCRETE BRIDGE…
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL 96-E-001-000 CONCERNING SUDDEN ACCELERATION. DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED.*AK
THE IDLE CONTROL VALVE IS DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED; IT GETS CLOGGED, MAKING MY CAR STALL REPEATEDLY WHEN IT IS COLD. IT HAS HAD TO BE REPLACED ABOUT ONCE A YEAR. LAST YEAR THEY TOLD ME THE PART HAD BEEN REDESIGNED AND I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY MORE TROUBLE. THIS YEAR THEY ADMITTED IT IS UNFIXABLE (EXCEPT BY REPLACEMENT EACH YEAR). TOYOTA REFUSES TO PROVIDE A LIFETIME WARRANTY FOR THE DEFECTIVELY DESIGNED PART. I THINK THEY SHOULD EITHER COVER THE PART FOR THE LIFE OF THE CAR, OR BUY THE [XXX] THING BACK. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
IDLE CONTROL VALVE GETS CLOGGED UP, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO START.IDLE CONTROL VALVE WAS REPLACED TWICE, BUT PROBLEM CONTINUES. DEALER CLAIMS THIS PROBLEM APPERA IN THE 1996 AND 1997 MODELS.
DIFFICULTY STARTING VEHICLE.
ALARM FAILED.
BROKEN BOLT ON THE BRAKE CALIPER.
WHENEVER LETTING UP ON ACCELERATOR/VEHICLE COASTING AND JERKS VIOLENTLY, ACCORDING TO DEALER, IT IS A DESIGN FEATURE OF FUEL INJECTION SHUT OFF VALVE SENSOR, NOTHING THEY CAN DO.
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.