Total Complaints
16 filings
TOYOTA CELICA · model year
1989 TOYOTA CELICA
16 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989TOYOTACELICA carries 16 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 2 fires, 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 1989 CELICA is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittings with 2 filings, followed by electrical system:ignition (1) and visibility:glass, side/rear (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 1989 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.
16
Complaints
0
Crashes
2
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 |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20030326ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLES ENGINE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE STALLED WITH LESS THAT 2153 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE ENGINE EVENTUALLY BLEW. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE ENGINE. PH *NLM
19990325VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHEN DRIVING THE ACCELERATOR GETS STUCK, AND THE CONSUMER THINKS THERE IS A LEAKAGE. WHEN APPYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN AND ENGINE STARTS TO RAN FAS DUE TO THE GAS PEDAL BEING STUCK. *AK
19990305SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CONSUMER BELIEVES THE BODY AND FRAME DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE CAUSES WATER AND SLUDGE TO BECOME TRAPPED AROUND THE FUEL AND BRAKE LINES CAUSING THE LINES TO ROT OUT AND THE BRAKES TO FAIL.
19990305FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
CONSUMER BELIEVES THE BODY AND FRAME DESIGN OF THE VEHICLE CAUSES WATER AND SLUDGE TO BECOME TRAPPED AROUND THE FUEL AND BRAKE LINES CAUSING THE LINES TO ROT OUT AND THE BRAKES TO FAIL.
19981113VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH HEATER CONTROL PANEL. WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNS THE HEAT ON, IT BLOWS OUT COLD AIR. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
19980205FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
STEEL FUEL LINES FAILED, CAUSING GAS TO LEAK ONTO PAVEMENT AND FUMES TO ENTER VEHICLE.
19980205SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKE HYDRAULIC STEEL LINE FAILED, CAUSING PEDAL TO GO TO FLOOR/BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.
19970325VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
THROTTLE CABLE BINDING, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
19970325VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WINDSHIELD REPLACED.
19960626SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEATBELTCTING SPRING BROKE/BELT NO LONGER RETRACTS. *AK
19960417LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR LOCK FROZE DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, CAUSING IMPROPER BALANCING OF LOCKS/DIFFICULTY OPENING.*SD
19960417FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS
FUEL INJECTOR FAILED.*SD
19951128FireFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CONSUMER PULLED INTO HER DRIVEWAY AND HER NEIGHBOR SAW THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT STATED ELECTRICAL FIRE, TOYOTA HAS NOT SENT ANYONE TO EXAMINE VEHICLE. *SLC
19951128FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
CONSUMER PULLED INTO HER DRIVEWAY AND HER NEIGHBOR SAW THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, FIRE DEPARTMENT REPORT STATED ELECTRICAL FIRE, TOYOTA HAS NOT SENT ANYONE TO EXAMINE VEHICLE. *SLC
19951005VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
POOR VISIBILITY FROM REAR PLASTIC WINDOW. (OTHER VEHICLE ON 479652). *SKD
19950717ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN DRIVING AND THEN TURNING OFF THE CAR. THE CAR WILL NOT RESTART UNLESS THE HOOD IS RAISED FOR ABOUT TEN MINUTES. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
Compare 1989TOYOTACELICA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 TOYOTA CELICA have?▼
The 1989 TOYOTA CELICA has 16 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 TOYOTA CELICA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 TOYOTA CELICA is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS with 2 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION and VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR.
Is the 1989 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.