vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

1990 Toyota CELICA problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

20 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

109,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1990 model year. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 20 complaints (25.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior315.0%
Engine operation210.0%
Electrical and battery issues15.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Air Bags:Frontal
5
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
2
Structure:Body:Trunk Lid
2
Air Bags
1
Electrical System
1
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
1
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
1
Engine And Engine Cooling
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags:Frontal5
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly2
Structure:Body:Trunk Lid2
Air Bags1
Electrical System1
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood1
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash1
Engine And Engine Cooling1

Air Bags:Frontal: 5; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 2; Structure:Body:Trunk Lid: 2; Air Bags: 1; Electrical System: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 1; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
2
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9992
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 15 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
5
1996
2
2000
3
2001
1
2002
1
2003
2
2004
2
2006
1
2011
2
2016
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19955
19962
20003
20011
20021
20032
20042
20061
20112
20161

1995: 5; 1996: 2; 2000: 3; 2001: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2006: 1; 2011: 2; 2016: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10044815 · 2003-12-03 (December 3, 2003)

THE CONSUMER PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO DECELERATE. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO ACCELERATE TO 90 MPH UNTIL OWNER PRESSED ON BRAKE PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES TO STOP VEHICLE. *AK THE CONSUMER STEPPED ON THE BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES BUT HAD NO BOOSTER. *SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 12,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044815 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10060756 · 2004-03-08 (March 8, 2004)

MY 1990 TOYOTA CELICA HAS 'SURGED FORWARD' FREQUENTLY, ALWAYS WHEN USING THE BRAKE. IT CAUSED ME TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE EARLY 90'S, NO PEOPLE WERE HURT, BUT THERE WAS VEHICLE DAMAGE. THE BRAKE CAN BE COMPLETLY DEPRESED, WHEN THE CAR WILL LURCH FORWARD AND THE BRAKE TENSION WILL REDUCE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060756 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10101789 · 2004-11-29 (November 29, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE, AND IT WAS TOWED TO A GARAGE FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10101789 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10399363 · 2011-05-06 (May 6, 2011)

TL*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.

Owner-reported narrative. 125,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399363 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 736928 · 2000-11-27 (November 27, 2000)

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. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 736928 at NHTSA ↗