1995 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 1995 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
- Airbags730.4%
- Interior & seats417.4%
- Visibility313.0%
- Fuel system28.7%
- Electrical14.3%
- Other / unspecified14.3%
- Powertrain (other)14.3%
- Suspension14.3%
- Tires & wheels14.3%
- Transmission14.3%
- Body & structure14.3%
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
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
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
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING CAR STALLS OUT WITH NO WARNING AFTER 3RD TIME A CRACKLING AND SIZZLING SOUND WAS HEARD. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
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 INFORMED BY A TOYOTA EMPLOYEE, WHO RETRIEVED MY CAR AFTER THE SERVICE WAS COMPLETE, THAT MY CAR DIED WHEN HE STARTED IT. I HAD HIM TALK TO THE RED TEAM REPRESENTATIVE FREDDIE VALENCIA AND HE MADE A NOTE OF IT IN MY FILE. HE ASKED ME TO PROVIDE HIM MY OLD INVOICES SHOWING THE IDLE SPEED CONTROL VALVE REPLACEMENTS SO THAT HE COULD SHOW HIS MANAGER, JULIAN SARKASSIAN (SEE ATTACHED). TO MY DISMAY, JULIAN REVIEWED THE INFORMATION AND INFORMED ME THAT TOYOTA WOULD NOT COVER ANOTHER REPLACEMENT. I HAVE ALWAYS HAD HIGH OPINIONS OF TOYOTA QUALITY AND CUSTOMER SERVICE UNTIL NOW. TO HAVE THIS COSTLY REPAIR OCCUR EVERY THREE YEARS DOES NOT LIVE UP TO TOYOTAS HIGH-QUALITY REPUTATION THAT I, MY FAMILY, AND FRIENDS RELY ON. I HOPE THAT THE TOYOTA CORPORATION WILL CAREFULLY REVIEW MY ATTACHED SERVICE RECORDS AND COVER AN APPROPRIATE REPAIR TO PERMANENTLY SOLVE THIS PROBLEM.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
FIRST THERE WAS A NOISE AND THE TIRES ARE CHOPPY AND CUFFED AND WORN UNEAVENLY, NOT A CAUSE OF THE ALIGNMENT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
CLUTCH SLIPPING. DEALER REFUSES TO FIX IT BECAUSE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK
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
HOOD BOLT FAILED. NLM
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 .