The Toyota Celica has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns on record covering 1982–2005. On average a defect was admitted 11.7 years after the car was built, the slowest took 24 years. The most recalled system is Exterior Lighting (2 campaigns). Owners also filed 291 complaints on this model — see what breaks.
What was recalled on the Toyota Celica
Grouped by system. Open any row for the campaigns themselves — what failed, what it risks and how the dealer fixes it, straight from the NHTSA filing.
Exterior Lighting 2 Read
What's wrong. Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, 'lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.' the luminous intensity of the daytime running lamp (drl) will be modified to meet the standard requirements
Fix. Dealers will install a resistor, which will decrease the luminous intensity of the drl. The recall began on march 16, 2005. Owners should contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331
What's wrong. Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, 'lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.' the luminous intensity of the daytime running lamp (drl) will be modified to meet the standard requirements
Fix. Dealers will install a resistor, which will decrease the luminous intensity of the drl. The recall began on march 16, 2005. Owners should contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331
What's wrong. Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment
Risk. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning
Fix. Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on july 1, 2006. Owners may contact ck motorsport at 1-909-610-7211
Air Bags 2 Read
What's wrong. 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
Risk. 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
Fix. 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,…
What's wrong. 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
Risk. 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
Fix. 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,…
What's wrong. Air bag inflator case was incorrectly machined
Risk. In an accident, the air bag may not deploy, which could result in increased injury to the driver
Fix. Replace air bag inflator unit
Vehicle Speed Control 2 Read
What's wrong. These cruise control systems fail to hold the speed set by the driver and can accelerate above the intended set speed
Risk. Unintended acceleration can increase the potential for a vehicle accident
Fix. Dealers will replace these cruise control assemblies
What's wrong. Soldered terminals of the cruise control computer may develop cracks due to improper application of the coating to the printed circuit board. Consequence of defect: continued use of cruise control could lead to complete separation of soldered terminals and circuit failure; engine speed would instantly race and vehicle could suddenly accelerate, possibly resulting in an accident
Fix. Replace cruise control computer, if necessary
Equipment 1 Read
What's wrong. Gulf states toyota is recalling certain model year 2005-2010 vehicles for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." these vehicles were sold between september 1, 2005 and june 2, 2008 without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels
Risk. This does not meet the standard requirements
Fix. Dealers will mail to consumers the corrected label or the customer will have the option for dealers to install the label free of charge. Dealers will also correct the owner's manual. The safety recall began on may 27, 2010. Owners may contact gulf states toyota at 713-580-3300
Fuel System, Gasoline 1 Read
What's wrong. On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel tank check valve, located in the fuel tank inlet pipe, may become separated from the inlet pipe and fall into the fuel tank. If the check valve falls into the tank, fuel may spill from the fuel inlet pipe when the fuel pump automatically shuts off during fueling
Risk. This condition may result a fire in the presence of an ignition source
Fix. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair the fuel tank check valve. Owner notification began april 4, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331
What's wrong. On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel tank check valve, located in the fuel tank inlet pipe, may become separated from the inlet pipe and fall into the fuel tank. If the check valve falls into the tank, fuel may spill from the fuel inlet pipe when the fuel pump automatically shuts off during fueling
Risk. This condition may result a fire in the presence of an ignition source
Fix. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair the fuel tank check valve. Owner notification began april 4, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 1 Read
What's wrong. Certain passenger vehicles have the possibility that the recess retains a rubber seal ring, which is located at the end of the cylinder body, and may be corroded due to an improper washing process
Risk. In this condition, brake fluid may leak from the seal, or a small amount of air may enter the master cylinder, which could lead to an increase of vehicle stopping distance
Fix. Dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder and, if necessary, replace the brake master cylinder and booster. The recall began on november 29, 2004. Owners should contact toyota at 1-888-270-9371
Suspension 1 Read
What's wrong. Ride control is recalling certain front strut mounts branded as gabriel ride control or arvinmeritor, p/nos. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, sold as replacement equipment for the vehicles listed above. The affected front strut mounts did not contain a weld joint between the bearing housing and the rate plate
Risk. The absence of the weld can allow the strut to come out of its mounting position under certain extreme driving conditions which could cause damage to surrounding vehicle components increasing the risk of a crash
Fix. Ride control will notify owners of record and replace the affected parts free of charge. The safety recall began on march 15, 2010. Owners may contact ride control at 1-248-458-1396
What's wrong. Ride control is recalling certain front strut mounts branded as gabriel ride control or arvinmeritor, p/nos. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, sold as replacement equipment for the vehicles listed above. The affected front strut mounts did not contain a weld joint between the bearing housing and the rate plate
Risk. The absence of the weld can allow the strut to come out of its mounting position under certain extreme driving conditions which could cause damage to surrounding vehicle components increasing the risk of a crash
Fix. Ride control will notify owners of record and replace the affected parts free of charge. The safety recall began on march 15, 2010. Owners may contact ride control at 1-248-458-1396
What's wrong. Ride control is recalling certain front strut mounts branded as gabriel ride control or arvinmeritor, p/nos. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, sold as replacement equipment for the vehicles listed above. The affected front strut mounts did not contain a weld joint between the bearing housing and the rate plate
Risk. The absence of the weld can allow the strut to come out of its mounting position under certain extreme driving conditions which could cause damage to surrounding vehicle components increasing the risk of a crash
Fix. Ride control will notify owners of record and replace the affected parts free of charge. The safety recall began on march 15, 2010. Owners may contact ride control at 1-248-458-1396
How long a defect stays unadmitted
Campaign numbers encode the year of the announcement, so each recall on this model can be dated against the car it applies to.
| Measure | Value |
|---|---|
| Average gap before admission | 11.7 years |
| Slowest campaign | 24 years |
| Admitted 5+ years later | 60% |
| Campaigns on record | 10 |
Which Celica years were recalled most
Campaigns per model year. A year with more campaigns is not automatically worse — it may simply have sold in far greater numbers.
| Model year | Campaigns | Most recalled system |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Equipment | |
| 2003 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 2002 | Fuel System, Gasoline | |
| 2001 | Exterior Lighting | |
| 2000 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | |
| 1999 | Air Bags | |
| 1998 | Air Bags | |
| 1996 | Vehicle Speed Control | |
| 1993 | Suspension | |
| 1992 | Suspension | |
| 1991 | Suspension | |
| 1990 | Suspension | |
| 1989 | Suspension | |
| 1988 | Suspension | |
| 1987 | Suspension | |
| 1986 | Suspension | |
| 1982 | Vehicle Speed Control |
Check your own car
A campaign applies to a range of production, not to every car of the model. The only way to know whether yours is affected — and whether the repair was already done — is by VIN.
| Step | What you get |
|---|---|
| Enter the VIN above | Open campaigns for that exact vehicle, straight from NHTSA |
| Check the repair status | Whether the free fix has already been carried out on this car |
| Book at any franchised dealer | Recall work is free regardless of age, mileage or owner |
Go deeper
A campaign covers a production range. Yours is one car.
- Check whether this exact VIN is affected — and whether the fix was done
- Alerts if a new campaign lands on a car in your garage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Decode a whole list of VINs at once
- No ads, on every page
- No ads, no tracking — and much more
Frequently asked questions
How many recalls does the Toyota Celica have?
10 NHTSA campaigns on record, covering 1982–2005. Not every campaign applies to every car — coverage is by production range, so check your VIN.
Is recall work free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer regardless of the car's age, mileage or how many owners it has had. That is a federal requirement, not a courtesy.
How do I know if my Celica still has an open recall?
Enter its VIN above. We show campaigns that apply to that exact vehicle and whether the repair has already been recorded as done.
Why did a defect take years to be recalled?
On this model the average gap between the car being built and the defect being admitted is 11.7 years, and the slowest campaign came 24 years later. Defects usually surface as they accumulate in the field: complaints pile up, an investigation opens, and only then is a campaign issued.