1992 Toyota Celica Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1992 Toyota Celica, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags1150.0%
- Electrical29.1%
- Driver assistance29.1%
- Seat belts29.1%
- Body & structure14.5%
- Engine14.5%
- Visibility14.5%
- Brakes14.5%
- Tires & wheels14.5%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHEN THE CONSUMER PRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WITH FORCE THE FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS INVOVLED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 FURTHER TECHNICAL EXPLANATION FOR MY CONCERN. A SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE AT A STEREO AND ELECTRONICS STORE ASKED ME IF THE AMPLIFIER HAD BEEN SERVICED BEFORE DUE TO THERE BEING A "JUMPER" ON IT. I DID ASK TOYOTA IF THE EVERY CIRCUT BOARD LOCATED IN THIS PART HAD A JUMPER MELDED ON IT, SINCE IT SEEMED TO HAVE BEEN ALTERED FROM ITS ORIGINAL STATE ON MINE. THEY DID NOT ANSWER MY QUESTION IN THEIR RESPONSE.
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELT RETRACTOR DOES NOT WORK, DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. *LA
PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT RETRACTOR INOPERATIVE.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 SERVICE CAMPAIGN. BECAUSE TOYOTA'S DESCRIPTION OF THE SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN INCLUDES THE STATEMENT "THERE WILL NOT BE ANY AGE, MILEAGE OR TIME RESTRICTIONS UNDER THE SPECIAL SERVICE CAMPAIGN", EXPIRING THIS CAMPAIGN ON A RANDOM DATE IS NOT LEGAL. TOYOTA HAS REFUSED TO REPLACE MY HEAD GASKET AS PART OF THIS RECALL. THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND TOYOTA HELD TO THEIR LEGAL OBLIGATION.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
REAR WINDSHIELD IS OXIDIZED; NO VISION IS POSSIBLE; DRIVER CANNOT SEE OUT OF REAR WINDOW; COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .