1990 Toyota Celica problems, recalls, safety rating, MPG & value

Q: Does the 1990 Toyota Celica have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1990 Toyota Celica. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

Q: What is the 1990 Toyota Celica safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 1990 Toyota Celica crash-test ratings of frontal 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

Q: What gas mileage does the 1990 Toyota Celica get?

The 1990 Toyota Celica has U.S. EPA estimates of 19–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (6 versions).

1990 Toyota Celica at a glance

Safety recalls2

Owner complaints34

Combined19–26 mpg

Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1990 Toyota Celica recalls 2

Suspension NHTSA Campaign #10E002000 · 11/02/2010

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.

Fix: 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.

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #90V078000 · 20/04/1990

AIR BAG INFLATOR CASE WAS INCORRECTLY MACHINED.

Fix: REPLACE AIR BAG INFLATOR UNIT.

Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1990 Toyota Celica common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Air Bags

Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

Seat Belts

Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.

Electrical System

Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.

Engine And Engine Cooling

Check coolant level and color, look for leaks, and confirm the engine reaches normal temperature without overheating.

Tires

Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.

Vehicle Speed Control

Test cruise control and throttle response, and watch for any hesitation or unintended acceleration.

1990 Toyota Celica safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★

Frontal — driver★★★★★

Frontal — passenger★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 1990 Toyota Celica 2-DR. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

1990 Toyota Celica MPG & running costs

Combined19–26 mpg

City21 mpg

Highway27 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$3,092

EPA size classSubcompact Cars

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd

Forced inductionTurbocharged

Passenger volume75 cu ft

Cargo volume13 cu ft

5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$3,458 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 6 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1990 Toyota Celica costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$15,460

Fuel only$15,460

Per mile$0.21

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

Dimensions & weight

Length

173.6–176.0 in

Width

67.3–68.9 in

Height

50.4–50.8 in

Wheelbase

99.6 in

Curb weight

2,674–3,272 lb

Front track

57.9–58.3 in

Rear track

56.7–57.1 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1990 Toyota Celica — ranges cover the 4 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 28

Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 28.

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 crit…

Bulletin TSB003220 · Air Bags, Vehicle Speed Control, Equipment · Aug 2023

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.…

Bulletin Toyota PRO19-02 · Tires, Wheels, Equipment · Jan 2022

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 crit…

Bulletin T-SB-0032-20 Rev · Equipment · Feb 2021

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

Bulletin T-SB-0304-17 Obs · Equipment · Apr 2020

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 bulleti…

Bulletin T-SB-0032-20 · Equipment · Apr 2020

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

Bulletin PG004-97-Obsolet · Equipment · Aug 2018

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

Bulletin PG006-01-Obsolet · Equipment · Aug 2018

TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 31, 2018 Rev2: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. January 11, 2018 Rev1: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information cont…

Bulletin T-SB-0304-17_Rev · Equipment · Jul 2018

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, and T-SB-0144-08. Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-9…

Bulletin T-SB-0304-17_Rev · Equipment · Jan 2018

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE November 21, 2017: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

Bulletin T-SB-0144-08_Obs · Equipment · Nov 2017

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the CELICA. Model-year data, not specific to one car.

About the Toyota Celica

The Toyota Celica is an automobile produced by Toyota from 1970 until 2006. The Celica name derives from the Latin word coelica meaning heavenly or celestial. In Japan, the Celica was exclusive to Toyota Corolla Store dealer chain. Produced across seven generations, the Celica was powered by various four-cylinder engines, and body styles included convertibles, liftbacks, and notchback coupé.

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.

1990 Toyota Celica vehicles on record

1990 Toyota CelicaJT164STJ200039451

1990 Toyota CelicaJT164ATJ000037565

1990 Toyota CelicaJT164STJ200026684

1990 Toyota CelicaJT164STJ200029743

1990 Toyota CelicaJT164ATJ000050849

1990 Toyota CelicaJT164STJ200028000

1990 Toyota CelicaJT100ST1840026164

1990 Toyota CelicaJT2AT86F3L0025347 1990 Toyota CelicaJT164STJ200030882

1990 Toyota CelicaJT2ST85N6L0054290

1990 Toyota CelicaJT164STJ200009697

1990 Toyota CelicaJT164STJ200022233

1990 Toyota CelicaJT164STJ5N0010824

1990 Toyota CelicaJT164STJ200002103

1990 Toyota CelicaJT164STJ200001206

1990 Toyota CelicaJT164STJ200005251

Other Toyota Celica model years

1990 Toyota Celica — frequently asked questions

Does the 1990 Toyota Celica have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for the 1990 Toyota Celica. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are done at no charge.

What are the most common problems with the 1990 Toyota Celica?

Across all 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are air bags, seat belts, electrical system.

What is the 1990 Toyota Celica safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 1990 Toyota Celica crash-test ratings of frontal 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 1990 Toyota Celica get?

The 1990 Toyota Celica has U.S. EPA estimates of 19–26 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (6 versions).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.