RoadVitals

1993 Toyota Celica

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
13
Latest Dec 18, 2011
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Latest Feb 11, 2010
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 13 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1993 Toyota Celica, most frequently naming the seat belts, engine and airbags categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 29 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Seat belts738.9%
  • Engine211.1%
  • Airbags211.1%
  • Driver assistance15.6%
  • Powertrain (other)15.6%
  • Suspension15.6%
  • Tires & wheels15.6%
  • Visibility15.6%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

1 campaign cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
10E002000

SUSPENSION

Feb 11, 2010
12,657 units potentially affected
The defect: RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FRONT STRUT MOUNTS DID NOT CONTAIN A WELD JOINT BETWEEN THE BEARING HOUSING AND THE RATE PLATE.
The risk: THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT 1-248-458-1396.
RIDE CONTROL, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 13
Seat beltsVisibility
Filed Dec 18, 2011

THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT OR IF THEY DO, SLOWLY AND NOT FULLY. LEAVING BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER TO MORE BODILY INJURY IN CASE OF ACCIDENT. HAS BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I CALLED TOYOTA BUT WAS TOLD I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. NOT CHEAP! THE WIPERS ARE ALSO PRONE TO RUST... THE METAL RODS THAT HOLD WIPERS ARMS IN PLACE TEND TO COME LOOSE MAKING THE WIPER ARMS FALL OFF. HAVE TRIED TO CONVERT ARMS TO ACCEPT NEWER BLADES BUT THEY ARE TOO THICK FOR THE RETROFIT ATTACHMENTS FOUND IN ANSCO WIPERS. TOYOTA CHARGES ALMOST $200 A PIECE FOR NEW OEM WIPER ARMS FOR THIS MODEL. REMEDIED THIS USING CRAZY GLUE AND ELECTRICAL TAPE TO KEEP NEW ARMS IN PLACE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10440350
Incident
Aug 13, 2010
Powertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Nov 9, 2010

I HAVE HAD TWO FRONT END SHAFTS SHEER OFF THE RETAINING NUT ON MY CAR. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS LAST SUMMER (2009) AND THE LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED LAST NIGHT. AT THE OUTBOARD END OF THE DRIVE SHAFT, THERE IS A THREADED SHAFT THAT ACCEPTS A (I BELIEVE) 22 OR 24MM NUT. IN BOTH CASES, THE SHAFT SNAPPED AND THE RETAINING NUT FELL TOTALLY OFF THE SHAFT, LEAVING ONLY THE DISC BRAKE CALIPER TO KEEP THE TIRE FROM FALLING OFF. YESTERDAYS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING PLACE, SO THIS WAS NOT A HIGH SPEED INCIDENT, BUT ONE THAT OCCURRED WHEN MINIMUM FORCES WERE AT PLAY ON THE CAR. ONCE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FLUKE, BUT TWICE ON THE SAME VEHICLE? *TR

NHTSA ID
10365195
Incident
Nov 9, 2010
Mileage
230,791 mi
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistance
Filed Mar 9, 2004

WHEN USING THE AIR CONDITIONER AIR COMPRESSOR ENGAGES, AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10061739
Incident
Mar 9, 2004
Seat belts
Filed Jan 19, 2004

BOTH OF MY FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK OR RETRACT PROPERLY ON MY 1993 CELICA GT AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR. IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE ON THE CELICA ENTHUSIAST WEB BOARD THAT I REQUEST AND I'VE FOUND COMPLAINTS LOGGED ON THE DOT'S WEBSITES. WAS THERE A RECALL FOR THESE SEAT BELTS AND CAN I GET THEM REPLACED? *CB

NHTSA ID
10054434
Incident
Jan 17, 2004
Brakes
Filed Nov 10, 2003

WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES ROTORS PRODUCED A GRINDING NOISE. AS RESULT, AN ODOR SEEPED THROUGH THE VENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID
10046655
Incident
Nov 9, 2003
Mileage
92,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Apr 10, 2001

FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL NO LONGER PULL OUT. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
885540
Incident
Mar 28, 2001
Seat belts
Filed Dec 26, 2000

PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT IS LOOSE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
785168
Seat belts
Filed Oct 4, 2000

OWN 2 TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT HAVE SEATBELT RETRACTORS THAT LOCK UP/WON'T RELEASE OR WONT RETRACT CAUSING LOOSE FIT. I SEE THAT NHTSA HAS LOGGED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT SEATBELTS ON TOYOTA.

NHTSA ID
733478
Incident
Oct 1, 1999

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB003220

AIR BAGS; EQUIPMENT; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.

Toyota PRO19-02

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; TIRES; WHEELS

POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Toyota.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.

T-SB-0032-20 Rev

EQUIPMENT

TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2021 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.

T-SB-0304-17 Obs

EQUIPMENT

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

T-SB-0032-20

EQUIPMENT

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, T-SB-0144-08, and T-SB-0304-17. The aforementioned bulletins are obsolete, and any printed versions should be discarded. Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2020 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.

PG004-97-Obsolet

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Toyota Celica by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2006000—
2005410—
2004400—
2003171040.2
2002291052.3
2001471045.5
20001063158.8
1999101135.7
1998511—
1997801—
1996911—
1995220046.0
1994140046.6
1993Viewing131038.6
1992211054.0
1991271053.2
1990292060.4
1989111246.9
1988612—
1987512—
1986910—
1985700—
1984300—
1983300—
1982411—
1981000—
1980210—
1979100—
1978100—
1977100—
1976000—
1975000—
1974100—
1973010—
1972010—

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. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.