1989 Toyota Celica: common problems

Owners of the 1989 Toyota Celica filed 11 complaints with NHTSA, most often about fuel system and visibility. Details by component below, with sources.

Key figures

Owner complaints: 11

What fails most often

1 Fuel system 36% of all complaints
2 Visibility 27% of all complaints
3 Electrical system 18% of all complaints
4 Service brakes 18% of all complaints
5 Vehicle speed control 18% of all complaints
6 Engine and cooling 9% of all complaints
7 Latches, locks, linkages 9% of all complaints
8 Seat belts 9% of all complaints

Circle size and colour show each component’s share of NHTSA complaints. Schematic only, not a drawing of the exact model.

Fuel system: 4 complaints (36% of all).
Visibility: 3 complaints (27% of all).
Electrical system: 2 complaints (18% of all).
Service brakes: 2 complaints (18% of all).
Vehicle speed control: 2 complaints (18% 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
2 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cyl
automatic, 4-speed
manual, 5-speed

Drive: FWD, AWD

Symptoms owners describe

How many of the 11 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).

A/C or heater1 · 9%
door locks, latches, handles1 · 9%
engine failure or replacement1 · 9%
seat belts1 · 9%
smoke, burning smell, fire1 · 9%
stalls while driving1 · 9%
windows, sunroof1 · 9%

Components owners complain about

Component	Owner complaints	involving a crash	Technical service bulletins (TSB)
Fuel system	4	0	0
Visibility	3	0	0
Electrical system	2	0	0
Service brakes	2	0	0
Vehicle speed control	2	0	0
Engine and cooling	1	0	0
Latches, locks, linkages	1	0	0
Seat belts	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 consumer had the vehicles engine replaced with a new one. While driving the engine stalled with less that 2153 miles on it. The vehicle engine eventually blew. The consumer requested reimbursement from the mechanic who replaced the engine. Ph
Engine and cooling · 2003-03-26 · NHTSA complaint #10011473
When driving the accelerator gets stuck, and the consumer thinks there is a leakage. When appying the brakes, the vehicle slows down and engine starts to ran fas due to the gas pedal being stuck.
Vehicle speed control · 1999-03-25 · NHTSA complaint #829601
Gas pedal stuck, engine would not decelerate when foot was removed from accelerator.
Fuel system · 1999-03-05 · NHTSA complaint #523778
The consumer has been experiencing problems with heater control panel. When the consumer turns the heat on, it blows out cold air. The manufacturer has not been contacted.
Visibility · 1998-11-13 · NHTSA complaint #830755
Door lock froze during inclement weather, causing improper balancing of locks/difficulty opening.
Fuel system · 1996-04-17 · NHTSA complaint #502320
Consumer pulled into her driveway and her neighbor saw that vehicle was on fire, fire department report stated electrical fire, toyota has not sent anyone to examine vehicle.
Fuel system · 1995-11-28 · NHTSA complaint #975608
Poor visibility from rear plastic window. (other vehicle on 479652).
Visibility · 1995-10-05 · NHTSA complaint #481527
When driving and then turning off the car. The car will not restart unless the hood is raised for about ten minutes. Please describe. Tt
Electrical system · 1995-07-17 · NHTSA complaint #968868

When owners complained

NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.

19953
19962
19971
19982
19992
20031

Comparison

By complaint count this model year ranks 10,520 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 29% most complained about).

On average one model year of the Celica has 14 complaints (30 years in the data). This year has 11, below average.

What to check before buying

Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.

Questions and answers

What are the most common problems with the 1989 Toyota Celica?

Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: fuel system, visibility, electrical system. Total complaints: 11. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: A/C or heater (9%), door locks, latches, handles (9%), engine failure or replacement (9%).

How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1989 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 1989 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 1989 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.