Total Complaints
9 filings
TOYOTA CELICA · model year
1986 TOYOTA CELICA
9 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1986TOYOTACELICA carries 9 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 1 fire, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1986 CELICA is seat belts:front:buckle assembly with 3 filings, followed by engine and engine cooling:engine (1) and engine and engine cooling (1). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 51 investigation files overlapping the 1986 CELICA, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
9
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20010530FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
AFTER INSTALLATION OF THE NEW FUEL FILTER THE VEHICLE BEGAN LEAKING FUEL, THE HONEYWELL FUEL FILTER NUT DOES NOT TIGHTEN ADEQUATELY (HONEYWELL FUEL FILTER FRAM G6476). NLM
19990720VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
ACCELERATOR PEDAL STUCK, AND ENGINE WAS REVVING HIGH. WOULD NOT RETURN TO NORMAL. TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED THE CABLE HAD CRACKED DUE TO VEHICLE GETTING OLDER.*AK
19980806ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
STARTER FAILURES. OWNER BANGS IT AND IT WORKS FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS.
19980504FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY AND THE SHELF THAT BATTERY SAT ON FELL INTO ENGINE AND CAUGHT ON FIRE.
19980424ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE FAILED.
19971009ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE HEAD CYLINDER FAILURE. *AK
19960601SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
WHILE INSTALLING CHILD SAFETY SEAT, SEAT BELT BUCKLE SNAPPED OFF. *SD
19950613SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE DRIVERS SIDE SEATBELT DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY. THE FEMALE END WILL NOT RECIEVE THE MALE PART AND THE RED BUTTON IS BROKEN. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
19950404SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
PLASTIC SEAT BELT BUCKLE ON DRIVERS SIDE SPLIT, ALLOWING TO SLIP OUT OF BUCKLE THROUGH SPLIT. *AK
Compare 1986TOYOTACELICA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1986 TOYOTA CELICA have?▼
The 1986 TOYOTA CELICA has 9 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 TOYOTA CELICA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1986 TOYOTA CELICA is SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE and ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.
Is the 1986 TOYOTA CELICA safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.