1998 Toyota CELICA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
5 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
106,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 5 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 1 | 20.0% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 1 |
| Structure:Body:Hood | 1 |
| Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars | 1 |
| Tires | 1 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 1 |
Air Bags: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Fuel/Propulsion System: 1; Structure:Body:Hood: 1; Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars: 1; Tires: 1; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 3 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 1; 2002: 1; 2003: 1; 2010: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Engine operation 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10041724 · 2003-10-13 (October 13, 2003)
THE REAR WINDOW OF THE CONVERTIBLE WAS DESIGNED SUCH THAT RAISING AND LOWERING THE AUTOMATIC TOP WAS NOT GIVEN ENOUGH CLEARANCE. AS A RESULT THE BACK WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE REPEATEDLY RUBS AGAINST THE SHARP TOP OF THE REAR SEAT UPON OPENING AND CLOSING. THIS CAUSES THE REAR WINDOW TO DISENGAGE FROM THE GLUE THAT ADHERES IT IN PLACE AND CONSEQUENTLY FALL OUT. MANY REPORTS HAVE BEEN FILED TO TOYOTA DEALERS AND THEY REFUSE TO COVER ANY SUCH DEFECTS. THE ONLY SOLUTION THEY PROPOSE IS TAKING THE CAR TO A THIRD PARTY AUTO TOP REPAIR SERVICE TO HAVE TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10041724 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10355714 · 2010-09-15 (September 15, 2010)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS COOPER LIFE LINER SLE TIRES P205/55R 15 ON A 1998 TOYOTA CELICA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING RANDOMLY, SO THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT LOOKED AT THE TIRES AND SAW NO DAMAGES. THE CONTACT RUBBED HER HAND ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND NOTICE A BUBBLE HAD DEVELOP ON THE INSIDE TREAD. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE DEALER NOTICE THE TREAD SEPARATION ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND RECOMMEND…
Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10355714 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11317138 · 2020-03-09 (March 9, 2020)
TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO NOTIFY ME OF THE FAULTY AIRBAG RECALL AND HAS FAILED TO FIX THE FAULTY AIRBAG AND IN ADDITION, MY CAR IS STALLING WITHOUT CAUSE.
Owner-reported narrative. 188,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11317138 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 767839 · 2002-09-28 (September 28, 2002)
DRIVING FOR 10 MINUTES IN THE CAR THREW A ROD, CRACKED THE BLOCK, SHEARDS OF METAL THRU OIL PAN & WATER COOLANT SYSTEM. ALSO ROD DENTED HOOD SO BODY WORK BEING REQUIRED. OVER $5500 DAMAGE ON A 4 YEAR OLD CAR! MR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 767839 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 860369 · 2000-04-14 (April 14, 2000)
WINDSHIELD MOTOR WAS WORKING BUT THE WIPER BLADES WERE NOT OPERABLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HER THAT WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 860369 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
20V033000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2020-01-22 (January 22, 2020)
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 1998-2000 RAV4, 1998-1999 RAV4 EV and Celica and 1997-1998 Supra vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cushion to underinflate.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment, an inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants. An underinflated air bag may not properly protect the occupant, and increases the risk of serious injury or death.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and owners will have the option to self-inspect, or have a dealer inspect the steering wheel on their vehicle to determine if their vehicle may be equipped with an affected inflator. Potentially affected steering wheel serial numbers will be inspected by a dealer. Based on the inspection, dealers will replace the front driver air bag inflator with an alternate one, as necessary. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began August 28, 2020. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's numbers for this recall is 20TB01 and 20TA01.
NHTSA campaign record ↗