Model year guide

1996 Toyota Celica

Q: Does the 1996 Toyota Celica have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1996 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 gas mileage does the 1996 Toyota Celica get?

The 1996 Toyota Celica has U.S. EPA estimates of 22–27 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1996 Toyota Celica is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 9 on record.

1996 Toyota Celica — representative photo — Representative photo

1996 Toyota Celica at a glance

Safety recalls1

Owner complaints9

Combined22–27 mpg

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

1996 Toyota Celica recalls 1

Vehicle Speed Control NHTSA Campaign #96E001000 · 03/01/1996

THESE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEMS FAIL TO HOLD THE SPEED SET BY THE DRIVER AND CAN ACCELERATE ABOVE THE INTENDED SET SPEED.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE CRUISE CONTROL ASSEMBLIES.

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.

1996 Toyota Celica common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Vehicle Speed Control

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

Service Brakes

Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.

Hydraulic

Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

Electrical System

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

Steering

Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.

Fuel System

Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.

1996 Toyota Celica MPG & running costs

Combined22–27 mpg

City22 mpg

Highway29 mpg

Est. annual fuel cost$2,800

EPA size classSubcompact Cars

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd

Passenger volume78 cu ft

Cargo volume16 cu ft

5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$2,000 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 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 1996 Toyota Celica costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$14,000

Fuel only$14,000

Per mile$0.19

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

174.4 in

Width

68.9 in

Height

51.6 in

Wheelbase

100.0 in

Curb weight

2,579 lb

Front track

59.8 in

Rear track

59.1 in

Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1996 Toyota Celica. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.

Investigations & service bulletins

Manufacturer service bulletins 32

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 32.

TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions

Bulletin TTT063620 · Back Over Prevention, Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Mar 2022

TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.

Bulletin T-TT-0636-20 Rev · Service Brakes, Back Over Prevention · Mar 2021

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

TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.

Bulletin T-TT-0636-20 · Back Over Prevention, Service Brakes · Dec 2020

TT: Some Toyota vehicles installed with Toyota Complete Maintenance Care (TCMC) brake pads may exhibit a groan or squeak noise in various driving conditions.

Bulletin T-TT-0636-20 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Dec 2020

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

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.

1996 Toyota Celica vehicles on record

1996 Toyota CelicaJT164STL200113999

1996 Toyota CelicaJT164ATL000059859

1996 Toyota CelicaJT164ATL000038025

1996 Toyota CelicaJT164STL200115218

1996 Toyota CelicaJT164ATL000060723

1996 Toyota CelicaJT164ATL000058885

1996 Toyota CelicaJT1LBRA6100012623

1996 Toyota CelicaJT164ATL000054464

1996 Toyota CelicaJT164ATL000045840

Other Toyota Celica model years

1996 Toyota Celica — frequently asked questions

Does the 1996 Toyota Celica have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1996 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 1996 Toyota Celica?

Across all 9 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are vehicle speed control, service brakes, hydraulic.

What gas mileage does the 1996 Toyota Celica get?

The 1996 Toyota Celica has U.S. EPA estimates of 22–27 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

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