Total Complaints
24 filings
TOYOTA CELICA · model year
1994 TOYOTA CELICA
24 NHTSA complaints, 7 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994TOYOTACELICA carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 7 crashes, 0 fires, 6 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 1994 CELICA is air bags:frontal with 5 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (3) and suspension:front (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 1994 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
7
Crashes
0
Fires
6
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
7 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 | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 2 |
| AIR BAGS | 2 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE | 2 |
| TIRES:SIDEWALL | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV) | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE | 1 |
| STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | 1 |
| TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS | 1 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20160106CrashAIR BAGS
I WAS IN A FRONT ON COLLISION ON A CITY STREET. I WAS TRAVELING 25 AND OTHER CAR 35 HIT ME HEAD ON. MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG EXPLODED WHEN IT DEPLOYED TAKING OUT WINDSHIELD SCATTERING GLASS EVERYWHERE WHICH CUT ME. I BREATHED IN THE POWDER FROM THE AIRBAG AND HAD DIFFICULTY BREATHING FOR SOME TIME. I INITIALLY SUFFERED ALMOST TOTAL HEARING LOSS RIGHT EAR AND PERMANENT DIMINISHED HEARING. REPORTED TO TOYOTA WHEN OCCURRED AND NEVER RECEIVED ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF MY CONCERN AND COMPLAINT. I COMPLAINED THAT ABOUT MY INJURIES AND CONCERN THAT HAD SOMEONE BEEN IN PASSENGER SEAT THEY MOST PROBABLY WOULD HAVE DIED OR BEEN SEVERELY INJURED. I HAVE MANY PICTURES AND DOCUMENTATION OF MY INJURY IF THIS IS OF INTEREST TO NHTSA SO MANY YEARS POST OCCURRENCE.
20150210POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 TOYOTA CELICA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE, THE GEAR LEVER WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILED RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.
Mileage: 24,000
20050126ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
STEERING, SUSPENSION, CLUTCH AND BRAKES, COOLING SYSTEM AND DRIVEABILITY, FUEL AND FLUID BREAKDOWN. SEVERE COMPONENT FAILURE LEADING BACK TO ECU AND EMISSION SYSTEM SENSORS NOT ACTIVATING WARNING LIGHTS NOR SENDING TROUBLE CODES. ENGINE COMPRESSION FANTASTIC, ENGINE SENSORS CHECK OK BUT CAR IS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE NOR RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.*AK
Mileage: 108,000
20050126ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CRANKCASE (PCV)
STEERING, SUSPENSION, CLUTCH AND BRAKES, COOLING SYSTEM AND DRIVEABILITY, FUEL AND FLUID BREAKDOWN. SEVERE COMPONENT FAILURE LEADING BACK TO ECU AND EMISSION SYSTEM SENSORS NOT ACTIVATING WARNING LIGHTS NOR SENDING TROUBLE CODES. ENGINE COMPRESSION FANTASTIC, ENGINE SENSORS CHECK OK BUT CAR IS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE NOR RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.*AK
Mileage: 108,000
20050126POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)
STEERING, SUSPENSION, CLUTCH AND BRAKES, COOLING SYSTEM AND DRIVEABILITY, FUEL AND FLUID BREAKDOWN. SEVERE COMPONENT FAILURE LEADING BACK TO ECU AND EMISSION SYSTEM SENSORS NOT ACTIVATING WARNING LIGHTS NOR SENDING TROUBLE CODES. ENGINE COMPRESSION FANTASTIC, ENGINE SENSORS CHECK OK BUT CAR IS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE NOR RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.*AK
Mileage: 108,000
20050126POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE
STEERING, SUSPENSION, CLUTCH AND BRAKES, COOLING SYSTEM AND DRIVEABILITY, FUEL AND FLUID BREAKDOWN. SEVERE COMPONENT FAILURE LEADING BACK TO ECU AND EMISSION SYSTEM SENSORS NOT ACTIVATING WARNING LIGHTS NOR SENDING TROUBLE CODES. ENGINE COMPRESSION FANTASTIC, ENGINE SENSORS CHECK OK BUT CAR IS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE NOR RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.*AK
Mileage: 108,000
20050126SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
STEERING, SUSPENSION, CLUTCH AND BRAKES, COOLING SYSTEM AND DRIVEABILITY, FUEL AND FLUID BREAKDOWN. SEVERE COMPONENT FAILURE LEADING BACK TO ECU AND EMISSION SYSTEM SENSORS NOT ACTIVATING WARNING LIGHTS NOR SENDING TROUBLE CODES. ENGINE COMPRESSION FANTASTIC, ENGINE SENSORS CHECK OK BUT CAR IS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE NOR RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.*AK
Mileage: 108,000
20050126STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
STEERING, SUSPENSION, CLUTCH AND BRAKES, COOLING SYSTEM AND DRIVEABILITY, FUEL AND FLUID BREAKDOWN. SEVERE COMPONENT FAILURE LEADING BACK TO ECU AND EMISSION SYSTEM SENSORS NOT ACTIVATING WARNING LIGHTS NOR SENDING TROUBLE CODES. ENGINE COMPRESSION FANTASTIC, ENGINE SENSORS CHECK OK BUT CAR IS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE NOR RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.*AK
Mileage: 108,000
20050126SUSPENSION:FRONT
STEERING, SUSPENSION, CLUTCH AND BRAKES, COOLING SYSTEM AND DRIVEABILITY, FUEL AND FLUID BREAKDOWN. SEVERE COMPONENT FAILURE LEADING BACK TO ECU AND EMISSION SYSTEM SENSORS NOT ACTIVATING WARNING LIGHTS NOR SENDING TROUBLE CODES. ENGINE COMPRESSION FANTASTIC, ENGINE SENSORS CHECK OK BUT CAR IS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE NOR RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.*AK
Mileage: 108,000
20050126TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
STEERING, SUSPENSION, CLUTCH AND BRAKES, COOLING SYSTEM AND DRIVEABILITY, FUEL AND FLUID BREAKDOWN. SEVERE COMPONENT FAILURE LEADING BACK TO ECU AND EMISSION SYSTEM SENSORS NOT ACTIVATING WARNING LIGHTS NOR SENDING TROUBLE CODES. ENGINE COMPRESSION FANTASTIC, ENGINE SENSORS CHECK OK BUT CAR IS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE NOR RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.*AK
Mileage: 108,000
20050126VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
STEERING, SUSPENSION, CLUTCH AND BRAKES, COOLING SYSTEM AND DRIVEABILITY, FUEL AND FLUID BREAKDOWN. SEVERE COMPONENT FAILURE LEADING BACK TO ECU AND EMISSION SYSTEM SENSORS NOT ACTIVATING WARNING LIGHTS NOR SENDING TROUBLE CODES. ENGINE COMPRESSION FANTASTIC, ENGINE SENSORS CHECK OK BUT CAR IS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE NOR RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.*AK
Mileage: 108,000
20050126POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
STEERING, SUSPENSION, CLUTCH AND BRAKES, COOLING SYSTEM AND DRIVEABILITY, FUEL AND FLUID BREAKDOWN. SEVERE COMPONENT FAILURE LEADING BACK TO ECU AND EMISSION SYSTEM SENSORS NOT ACTIVATING WARNING LIGHTS NOR SENDING TROUBLE CODES. ENGINE COMPRESSION FANTASTIC, ENGINE SENSORS CHECK OK BUT CAR IS TOO UNSAFE TO DRIVE NOR RELIABLE TRANSPORTATION.*AK
Mileage: 108,000
20030902TIRES:SIDEWALL
ON 11/02/02 WE PURCHASED 4 KELLY SPRINGFIELD 185/70R14 METRIC TIRES WITH A MFGS 50,000 MILE WARRANTY FOR OUR TOYOTA CELICA. ON 11/25/2002, THE DEALER REPLACED THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WHICH DEVELOPED A BULDGE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE TIRE. ON 08/30/03 MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CELICA ON THE FREEWAY AND THE LEFT FRONT TIRE EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT. INSPECTION OF THE TIRE REVEALS THAT THAT THE BLOWOUT PRODUCED A VERTICAL GASH FROM THE RIM TO THE TIRE TREAD. THE TIRE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPLACEMENT ON 09/04/03. THE TIRES HAVE LESS THAN 12,000 MILE OF WEAR ON THEM. *AK
Mileage: 180,000
20020809SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
BOTH OF MY REAR SEATBELTS, WHICH HAVE NOT BEEN USED VERY OFTEN, HAVE BROKE. THE FIRST BROKE A WHILE BACK. WE DON'T USE THIS CAR TO TRANSPORT OUR CHILDREN VERY MUCH, AND I'M SURPRISED THAT THEY BOTH BROKE. PART OF ME SUSPECTS THAT TOYOTA PUT IN A CHEAPER SEATBELT ASSEMBLY ASSUMING THAT THE BACK SEAT IN A SPORTS CAR WOULD NOT BE USED ALL THAT OFTEN. THE DEALERSHIP I WENT TO(BRUNSWICK AUTO MART) WANTED TO REPLACE THE SEAT BELTS, CITING IT AS A SAFETY ISSUE, BUT TOYOTA SAYS NO. MY IMPRESSION WAS THAT IT WAS NOT THAT UNCOMMON OF A PROBLEM, AND I THINK IT SHOULD BE BROUGHT TO YOUR ATTENTION.*AK
20000207CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
UPON A FRONT END COLLISION AT 45 MPH WITH OVER 4500.00 WORTH OR DAMAGE THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHICH CAUSED SERIOUS INJURIES TO MYSELF. THEN AFTER REPAIRS THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD NOT GO OFF SHOWING A FAILURE THAT THEY WERE NOW INOPERABLE YOU TAKE YOUR PICK WHICH IS WORSE!
19990809SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT ANCHOR LOOSENED AND DETACHED. AND MY THROTTLE STICKS IN THE CLOSED POSITION MAKING CITY-TRAFFIC DRIVING A REAL MOTHER. CHEERS AND HAVE A NICE DAY NOW!
19990723AIR BAGS
THE AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON DUE TO A DEFECTIVE AIRBAG UNIT WHICH BURNED OUT AND WON'T DEPLOY IN EVENT OF A CRASH, SO IT WONT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
19990326CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH HAD A DIRECT FRONTAL IMPACT IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT NOT THE PASSENGER'S AIRBAG WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
19981020SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
RIGHT REAR ABS BRAKES FAILED.
19980916SUSPENSION:FRONT
VEHICLE SEVERELY PULLS TO THE LEFT, EVEN AFTER FRONT END ALIGNMENTS.
Compare 1994TOYOTACELICA to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1994 TOYOTA CELICA have?▼
The 1994 TOYOTA CELICA has 24 NHTSA complaints, 7 crashes, 0 fires, 6 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1994 TOYOTA CELICA?▼
The most-complained component for the 1994 TOYOTA CELICA is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 5 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and SUSPENSION:FRONT.
Is the 1994 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.