Total Complaints
25 filings
TOYOTA CELICA · model year
25 NHTSA complaints, 9 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1995TOYOTACELICA carries 25 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 9 crashes, 0 fires, 8 injuries, and 1 fatality. 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 1995 CELICA is air bags:frontal with 7 filings, followed by visibility:windshield (2) and electrical system:ignition (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 1995 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.
Total Complaints
25 filings
Crashes Reported
9 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 7 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 1 |
| INTERIOR LIGHTING | 1 |
| VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | 1 |
| AIR BAGS | 1 |
| TIRES | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SUSPENSION | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 1 |
| LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:HOOD:LATCH | 1 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 1 |
| SEATS | 1 |
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT | 1 |
THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HAD A LOT OF SCRATCHES ON THE OUTER SIDE WHICH MAKES IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE DURING NIGHT BECAUSE OF GLARE FROM ONCOMING VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS. MY MOM'S 98' TOYOTA CAMRY HAS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *JB
Mileage: 92,000
WHEN TRYING TO FILL THE CAR UP WITH GAS, THE GAS GUN SHUTS OFF BECAUSE THERE IS SOMETHING BLOCKING THE FLOW OF GAS INTO THE GAS TANK WHICH ACTIVATES ANTI-SPILL MECHANISM IN THE GAS GUN. *JB
Mileage: 92,000
I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT TOYOTA CORPORATION COVER REPLACEMENT OF THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE AND FIND A PERMANENT RESOLUTION OF MY ONGOING PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVERY 3 YEARS, STARTING IN 1999. THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE WAS INITIALLY REPLACED JULY 28, 1999 (INVOICE #C10120). APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS LATER (APRIL 8, 2002), THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN (INVOICE #W66160). TOYOTA OF BERKELEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE AS OUT OF WARRANTY GOODWILL. APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AFTER THE SECOND REPLACEMENT (BEGINNING OF 2005), I STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT (TOYOTA OF SANTA MONICA) TO LOOK INTO IT WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICING. THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. AFTER NEARLY SPENDING $800 ON NORMAL MAINTENANCE OF MY CAR (60,000 MILE MAJOR SERVICE, TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT AND BRAKE REPLACEMENT), I WAS IN
Mileage: 33,409
I WOULD LIKE TO REQUEST THAT TOYOTA CORPORATION COVER REPLACEMENT OF THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE AND FIND A PERMANENT RESOLUTION OF MY ONGOING PROBLEM WHICH HAS BEEN OCCURRING EVERY 3 YEARS, STARTING IN 1999. THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE WAS INITIALLY REPLACED JULY 28, 1999 (INVOICE #C10120). APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS LATER (APRIL 8, 2002), THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AND THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE HAD TO BE REPLACED AGAIN (INVOICE #W66160). TOYOTA OF BERKELEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE AS OUT OF WARRANTY GOODWILL. APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS AFTER THE SECOND REPLACEMENT (BEGINNING OF 2005), I STARTED EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. I ASKED THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT (TOYOTA OF SANTA MONICA) TO LOOK INTO IT WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR SERVICING. THE SERVICE EMPLOYEES CHECKED IT OUT AND SAID THE CAR STARTED WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. AFTER NEARLY SPENDING $800 ON NORMAL MAINTENANCE OF MY CAR (60,000 MILE MAJOR SERVICE, TIMING BELT REPLACEMENT AND BRAKE REPLACEMENT), I WAS IN
Mileage: 33,409
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HER 1995 TOYOTA CELICA AND SHE SAID THAT ON HER WAY TO WORK SHE HEARD A LOUD POP AND THEN IT WOULD MAKE A GRINDING SOUND WHEN YOU CUT THE STEERING WHEEL EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. I WENT WENT AND GOT THE CAR AND TEST DROVE IT AND IT WAS MAKING THESE TERRIBLE NOISES, BUT ALSO, WHEN I WOULD BRAKE, SOMETIMES, NOT EVERYTIME, THE BRAKE PEDEL WOULD FADE BEFORE CATCHING. I BROUGHT THE CAR HOME AND PULLED THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL AND NOTICED THAT IT HAD A BAD FRONT WHEEL BEARING. I INSTALLED A NEW FRONT WHEEL BEARING AND SEALS AND WHEN I STARTED TO REINSTALL THE AXLE, I NOTICED IT WAS BROKE, EVEN WITH THREADS ENDS AND THE SHOULDER BEGINS. I PULLED THE AXLE AND INSTALLED AN NEW AXLE. I HAD TO GIVE THE OLD AXLE TO ADVANCE AUTO AS A CORE. BUT THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE BROKEN, BECAUSE IT COULD CAUSE A AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.*AK
Mileage: 98,500
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED. THE IMPACT CAUSED THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO BREAK COMPLETELY WITH THE BACK OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT RESTING ON THE REAR SEAT CUSHION. THIS BROKEN SEAT CAUSED CONSUMER TO BE UNABLE TO PROPERLY CONTROL THE VEHICLE AND MADE THE SEAT BELT INEFFECTIVE. CONSUMER SUSTAINED MAJOR INJURIES AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. CONSUMER FEELS SEAT WAS DEFECTIVE. *TT
I WAS TURNING INTO A DRIVEWAY. A PICKUP TRUCK STRUCK THE CAR IN THE REAR CAUSING THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO BREAK. THE CAR RAN INTO A STEEL POLE. I WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE CAR AND SEAT BELT WAS INEFFECTIVE WITH A BROKEN SEAT.
WE TOOK THE CAR TO A IMPORT CAR SPECIALIST AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THE FUEL TANK LOOKED TO BE A MANUFACTURER OR PART DEFECT. THEY USED THE CHEVROLET, S-10 RECALL AS AN EXAMPLE. ACCORDING TO THEM, A FUEL TANK DOESN'T LEAK UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND AFTER INSPECTING THE FUEL TANK THEY SAW THAT IT HAD NOT BEEN HIT OR DAMAGED IN ANYWAY.
HOOD LATCH IS RUSTED AND CORRODED. THIS CAUSED THE SECONDARY SAFETY LATCH TO REMAIN IN THE OPEN POSITION WHICH PREVENTED IT FROM FUNTIONING PROPERLY. SUBSEQUENTLY, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR DOWN THE INTERSTATE, THE HOOD FLEW OPEN AND SMASHED INTO THE WINDSHIELD. DUE TO AN ONGOING DISPUTE WITH AAA OF THE MID-ATLANTIC REGION, IT IS UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME WHETHER THE PRIMARY LATCH IS WORKING PROPERLY. *AK
HOOD BOLT FAILED. NLM
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THERE WAS POOR STEERING AND LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WAS LEANING TO THE LEFT. CONSUMER HIT SOMETHING ON THE ROAD, AND THERE WAS A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. *AK
THE VEHICLE SLID OFF AN EXIT IN THE RAIN AT ABOUT30-50MPH INTO A SIGN, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S NOR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
CLUTCH SLIPPING. DEALER REFUSES TO FIX IT BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK
HAD JUST PULLED UP TO STOP LIGHT; SUV PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF CELICA; CELICA GOING ABOUT 2-3MPH & HIT SUV; DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. HEADLIGHT PUSHED INTO FRAME OF VEHICLE (CELICA). DRIVER HAD INJURIES TO CHEST (BRUISES), FACE & ARMS. WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS. *AK
FIRST THERE WAS A NOISE AND THE TIRES ARE CHOPPY AND CUFFED AND WORN UNEAVENLY, NOT A CAUSE OF THE ALIGNMENT. *AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT AIRBAGS PRESENT A SAFETY HAZARD FOR SHORT PEOPLE.
VICTIM WAS A PASSENGER IN A TOYOTA CELICA WHICH SKIDDED WHILE TRYING TO AVOID HITTING A DEER IN THE ROAD AND HIT A TREE, AIR BAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING DEATH TO MS NATTER'S DAUGHER, THE PASSENGER OF THE VEHICLE. *AK
EVERYTIME IT RAINS THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOP WORKING, HAD TAKEN THEM BACK THREE TIMES-EACH TIME THEY WORK IN THE SHOP BUT WHEN THEY ARE NEEDED THEY FAILED, AFRAID GRANDDAUGHTER WILL HAVE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35 MPH. *AK
DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT 35 MPH. *AK
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.