Toyota

Celica

Subcompact Cars · model years 1984 to 2005

Includes Celica and Celica Convertible as listed by the EPA.

See all 113 Celica trims All Toyota cars

The verdict

Best year: 2004. complaints: 4, below this model's typical 13; recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1.

Worst year: 2000. complaints: 106, about 10.6x this model's typical 10; recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Toyota Celica
Year	Trims	MPG	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Top complaints
1984	4Gas	22.5	$2,975	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1984
1985	2Gas	23	$2,925	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1985
1986	4Gas	23	$2,925	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1986
1987	6Gas	26	$2,600	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1987
1988	7Gas	25	$2,700	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1988
1989	7Gas	25	$2,700	no data	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1989
1990	8Gas	22.5	$2,775	1	29	AIR BAGS 33%, SEAT BELTS 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%
complaints: 29, above this model's typical 26 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 53 of 100, where higher is better.
1991	8Gas	22.5	$2,775	0	27	AIR BAGS 31%, SEAT BELTS 22%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 6%
complaints: 27, above this model's typical 26 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 70 of 100, where higher is better.
1992	7Gas	22	$2,850	0	21	AIR BAGS 50%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%, SEAT BELTS 9%
complaints: 21, below this model's typical 22 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 69 of 100, where higher is better.
1993	7Gas	22	$2,850	0	13	SEAT BELTS 41%, AIR BAGS 12%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 6%
complaints: 13, below this model's typical 22 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 81 of 100, where higher is better.
1994	4Gas	24	$2,600	0	14	AIR BAGS 33%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 14%, POWER TRAIN 10%
complaints: 14, above this model's typical 13 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 5 Score: 73 of 100, where higher is better.
1995	6Gas	22.5	$2,775	0	22	AIR BAGS 29%, VISIBILITY 13%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 8%
complaints: 22, above this model's typical 19 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 Score: 53 of 100, where higher is better.
1996	6Gas	22	$2,850	0	9	VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 40%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 30%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 9, below this model's typical 19 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 85 of 100, where higher is better.
1997	6Gas	22	$2,850	0	8	VISIBILITY 33%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22%, AIR BAGS 11%
complaints: 8, below this model's typical 19 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 83 of 100, where higher is better.
1998	4Gas	22	$2,850	1	5	STRUCTURE 29%, AIR BAGS 14%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 14%
complaints: 5, below this model's typical 13 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 Score: 79 of 100, where higher is better.
1999	4Gas	22	$2,850	1	10	TIRES 30%, SEAT BELTS 20%, AIR BAGS 10%
complaints: 10, below this model's typical 13 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 Score: 73 of 100, where higher is better.
2000	3Gas	23	$3,350	2	106	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 33%, POWER TRAIN 16%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9%
complaints: 106, about 10.6x this model's typical 10 recalls: 2, about 2x this model's typical 1 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2001	4Gas	25	$2,825	1	47	ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 26%, ENGINE 14%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 13%
complaints: 47, about 3.6x this model's typical 13 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 27 of 100, where higher is better.
2002	4Gas	25	$2,825	1	29	AIR BAGS 31%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 11%, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 11%
complaints: 29, about 2.2x this model's typical 13 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 Score: 26 of 100, where higher is better.
2003	4Gas	24.5	$2,875	1	17	FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 19%, AIR BAGS 10%, STEERING 10%
complaints: 17, above this model's typical 13 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 60 of 100, where higher is better.
2004	4Gas	25.5	$2,750	0	4	POWER TRAIN 25%, SEAT BELTS 25%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 25%
complaints: 4, below this model's typical 13 recalls: 0, below this model's typical 1 Score: 90 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	4Gas	25.5	$2,750	1	4	TIRES 50%, AIR BAGS 25%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 25%
complaints: 4, below this model's typical 13 recalls: 1, in line with this model's typical 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 Score: 78 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1984: 22.5 to 2005: 25.5

Owner complaints1990: 29 to 2005: 4

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Toyota Celica to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.