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Toyota CelicaModel year report

1990 Toyota Celica Problems

Complaints
29filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
109,000miles, 5 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
23 mpgcombined, 2.2L 4-cyl FWD · 21 city / 28 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 1990 Toyota Celica (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 29 consumer complaints for the 1990 Toyota Celica. The part named most often is air bags, with 11 complaints (38% of the total), followed by seat belts (5) and electrical system (3). 5 of the complaints include a mileage, and 40% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 109,000 miles. Of all complaints, 9 involved a crash, 2 a fire, 8 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 27 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the inflator module and 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Tires (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “Takata recall I have a 1990 Toyota Celica gt, my airbag light came on back around 2003, I took it to the local Toyota dealership to have it fixed. A service member came out to my car with a handheld device and plugged it into the car. Bottom line, he tried several times to reset the airbag with no success. My airbag light is still on and I have not received any recalls or notices. How do I get this problem fixed?”

NHTSA complaint #10819220, filed 2016-01, 109,000 miles

Seat belts: “I am small, and the seat belt comes across me high on my neck, the dealer says there is no fix but I am afraid that I will be injured by the belt, any suggestions?”

NHTSA complaint #723509, filed 2000-06

Electrical system: “The electrical system seems to have an off-and-on defect. It repeatedly registers the parking brake as being on when the brake is, and has been, in the off position. The dash board lights, including speedometer, radio, heat/air, and all other dashboard lighting components go out without warning, as does the interior passenger compartment light operated by opening or closing the doors.”

NHTSA complaint #736928, filed 2000-11

Engine cooling: “The contact owns a 1990 Toyota Celica. While driving at any speed, the contact stated that the vehicle would stall. He was able to restart the vehicle and then it would perform as normal. The contact did not inform the dealer or manufacturer due to the age of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic where they replaced the engine control module; however, the failure continued to occur. The current mileage was 140,000 and the failure mileage was 125,000.”

NHTSA complaint #10399363, filed 2011-05, 125,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

40% of the 5 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 20,000 and 125,000 miles.

0%0–1040%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–10040%100–15020%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (5 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 109,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’95’976’99’01’03’06’16
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1990 Toyota Celica. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Celica · coupe not rated3 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 1990 Toyota Celica version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Celica FWD1.6L 4-cyl5-speed manual243026$2,600
Celica FWD1.6L 4-cyl4-speed automatic223025$2,700
Celica 4WD/AWD2.0L 4-cyl5-speed manual172219$4,350
Celica FWD2.2L 4-cyl4-speed automatic212924$2,800
Celica FWD2.2L 4-cyl4-speed automatic192622$3,050
Celica FWD2.2L 4-cyl5-speed manual202622$3,050
Celica Convertible FWD2.2L 4-cyl4-speed automatic212823$2,900
Celica Convertible FWD2.2L 4-cyl5-speed manual202622$3,050

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 1990 Toyota Celica → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 27 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 27 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Celica

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20031747,8001—26—Falling
20022935,0001—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20014785,0001—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200010668,0002—26Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199910100,0001—22—Not enough data
19985106,0001—22—Not enough data
19978108,0000—22—Not enough data
19969—0—22—Not enough data
19952292,0000—23—Stable
199414108,0000—25—Not enough data
199313161,3960—22—Not enough data
19922169,2560—22—Stable
199127159,5000—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199029109,0001—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198911—0—25—Not enough data
19886—0—25—Not enough data
19875—0—26—Not enough data
19869—0—22—Not enough data
19857—0—22—Not enough data

All Toyota Celica model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 1990 Toyota Celica have?

NHTSA recorded 29 consumer complaints for the 1990 Toyota Celica as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 1990 Toyota Celica is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 11 complaints (38% of the total), followed by seat belts with 5.

Has the 1990 Toyota Celica been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 1990 Toyota Celica get?

The EPA rates the 1990 Toyota Celica (Celica Convertible, 2.2L 4-cyl) at 23 mpg combined, 21 city and 28 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,900 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 1990 Toyota Celica reported?

Among the 5 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 109,000 miles and the middle half falls between 20,000 and 125,000 miles; 40% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.