Total Complaints
24 filings
TOYOTA CELICA · model year
1992 TOYOTA CELICA
24 NHTSA complaints, 13 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1992TOYOTACELICA carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 13 crashes, 2 fires, 8 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 1992 CELICA is air bags:frontal with 12 filings, followed by vehicle speed control (2) and seat belts:front:retractor (2). 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 1992 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.
24
Complaints
13
Crashes
2
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
13 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 |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 12 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR | 1 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID | 1 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 1 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| ENGINE | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20181025ENGINE
TOYOTA MOTOR SALES STARTED A SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN (V06) FOR 1990 - EARLY 1995 TRUCKS, 4 RUNNERS & T100S WITH 3VZ-E V6 ENGINES. THIS CAMPAIGN WAS TO REPLACE THE 3VZ-E HEAD GASKET ON CERTAIN IDENTIFIED VIN NUMBERS THAT TOYOTA IDENTIFIED AS HAVING DEFECTS FROM THE FACTORY. THIS SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN CAN BE VIEWED AT HTTPS://TECHINFO.TOYOTA.COM AND IS PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE. ON PAGE TWO, TOYOTA'S SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN (V06) FOR 1990-EARLY 1995 TRUCKS, 4RUNNERS, & T100 WITH 3VZ-E V6 ENGINES STATES: "UNDER THE SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN PROGRAM, THE HEAD GASKETS WILL BE REPLACED ON ALL THE AFFECTED VEHICLES REGARDLESS OF LEAKAGE OR NOT, AND THERE WILL NOT BE ANY AGE, MILEAGE OR TIME RESTRICTIONS UNDER THE SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN." MY VEHICLE VIN HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED BY TOYOTA AS FALLING UNDER THIS SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN. TOYOTA HAS AS OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2018, STATED THAT THIS SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN HAS EXPIRED AND REFUSES TO HONOR THEIR HEAD GASKET REPAIR UNDER THIS SPECIAL S
Mileage: 103,513
20100324CrashTIRES
1992 TOYOTA CELICA HAD A FRONT TIRE BLOW OUT. *BF THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROADWAY INTO A DITCH. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0551-89 UPDATED 04/14/10 *BF
20100301VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL*THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 1992 TOYOTA CELICA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY BETWEEN 50-55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. UNEXPECTEDLY, THE VEHICLE INCREASED ACCELERATION AT THE SPEED RATE BETWEEN 75-80 MPH. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND GAIN CONTROL AFTER A PERIOD OF TWO MINUTES. THE VEHICLE RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND TRADED IN FOR A NEW VEHICLE DUE TO THE POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE.
Mileage: 35,000
20040123SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. *LA
20040115AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHEN THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FORCE THE FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
20030828CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS INVOVLED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
20030623CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON ACCIDENT. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
19990804CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE SITTING AT A STOP LIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR END THE CONSUMER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK
19990411FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR IT STARTED FILLING UP WITH SMOKE. THE SMOKE WAS COMMING OUT OF THE AMPLIFIER, LOCATED UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT OF MY VEHICLE. TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP THE ELECTRICAL CURRENT, THE CAR KEPT FILLING UP WITH SMOKE AND STRANGE NOISES WERE COMMING OUT OF THE SPEAKERS. ALSO, THE RADIO WOULD NOT TURN OFF. NO FUSES BLEW. DISCONNECTING THE BATTERY CABLE FINALLY STOPPED THE CURRENT AND EVERYTHING SHUT OFF . LUCKLY I WAS CLOSE TO HOME, AS THE VEHICLE DID NOT COME EQUIPPED WITH A WRENCH TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY CABLE IN THE EVENT OF A ROGUE ELECTRICAL CURRENT. PART OF THE CIRCUT BOARD INSIDE THE AMP WAS MELTED. I WOULD LIKE TO WARN OTHERS, WITH THIS PART IN THEIR TOYOTA, OF WHAT TO DO IN THE EVENT THIS HAPPENS TO THEM. THE SITUATION COULD DEFINATELY HAVE TURNED OUT MORE DAMAGING. I WAS LUCKY. I HAVE CONTATCTED TOYOTA AND THEY HAVE LET ME KNOW THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL OR SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN FOR THE AMPLIFIER. THEY APOLOGIZED THAT THERE WAS NO FUR
19970721STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
LIFTED UP TRUNK & TRUNK HINGE NEAR DRIVER SIDE SNAPPED OFF IN DRIVER'S HAND; LOOKED LIKE IT WAS RUSTY OR CORRODED. TOOK TO DEALER FOR ESTIMATE & INFORMED OTHER CELICAS EXPERIENCED SAME PROBLEM. *AK
19970313CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
BLAZER IN FRONT HAD STOPPED; SUN OBSTRUCTED DRIVER'S VIEW (TOYOTA) & REARENDED THE BLAZER; THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
19961231SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR INOPERATIVE.
19960626CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, UPON BRAKING SUDDENLY, VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING FRONT END ACCIDENT, ALSO PREVIOUSLY WHEN WENT THROUGH A GARAGE.*AK
19960626CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC, UPON BRAKING SUDDENLY, VEHICLE ACCELERATED OUT OF CONTROL, RESULTING FRONT END ACCIDENT, ALSO PREVIOUSLY WHEN WENT THROUGH A GARAGE.*AK
19960321CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG; THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND THE DRIVER SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
19960220AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, DEALER SAID THE SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED THE BE REPLACED, NO ACCIDENT. TT
19960220AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
AIR BAG LIGHT CAME ON, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, DEALER SAID THE SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED THE BE REPLACED, NO ACCIDENT. TT
19951005CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HIT WOODEN FENCE,PROCEEDED TO HIT CONCRETE WALL; AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT
19951005CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, HIT WOODEN FENCE,PROCEEDED TO HIT CONCRETE WALL; AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT
19950725CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
DRIVING VEHICLE AT SPEED OF 45 MPH HITTING AN ANIMAL ON HWY CAUSING A FRONTAL IMPACT 12:00, THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. TT
Compare 1992TOYOTACELICA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1992 TOYOTA CELICA have?▼
The 1992 TOYOTA CELICA has 24 NHTSA complaints, 13 crashes, 2 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1992 TOYOTA CELICA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1992 TOYOTA CELICA is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 12 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR.
Is the 1992 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.