AI Damage1987 Toyota Celica: common problems
Owners of the 1987 Toyota Celica filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and seats. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 20% of all complaints
- 2 Seats 20% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- 4 Steering 20% of all complaints
- 5 Vehicle speed control 20% of all complaints
- 6 Visibility 20% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Seats: 1 complaints (20% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 5 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
The vehicle was rear ended and the drivers seatback collapsed.
Steering wheel locked and the brakes locked while driving the vehicle down a hill. Consumer down shifted, and was able to pull off the road. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealership, and the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem.
While controlling the passenger's window electronically the passenger's door opens wide unexpectedly. If the occupant was not seat belted, the occupant may fall out. Vehicle door opens when putting the window down vehicle unsafe to operate at this time.
Traveling south on the interstate, driver pressed the accelerator fully down to pass another car when the accelerator stuck, causing vehicle to accelerate. When standing on the brakes the vehicle still accelerated.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 14,282 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Celica has 14 complaints (30 years in the data). This year has 5, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seats. Occupant sensor, power adjustment, seat mounts.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
- Celica 19824 sources
- Celica 19833 sources
- Celica 19843 sources
- Celica 19857 sources
- Celica 19869 sources
- Celica 19886 sources
- Celica 198911 sources
- Celica 199029 sources
- Celica 199127 sources
- Celica 199221 sources
- Celica 199313 sources
- Celica 199414 sources
- Celica 199522 sources
- Celica 19969 sources
- Celica 19978 sources
- Celica 19985 sources
- Celica 199910 sources
- Celica 2000106 sources
- Celica 200147 sources
- Celica 200229 sources
- Celica 200317 sources
- Celica 20044 sources
- Celica 20054 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1987 Toyota Celica?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, seats, service brakes. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (20%), steering or power steering problems (20%), windows, sunroof (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1987 Toyota Celica?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1987 Toyota Celica from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1987 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.