Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA about the 1991 Toyota Celica, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 11 | 35% |
| Seat belts | 6 | 19% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 6% |
| Electrical system | 2 | 6% |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% |
| Suspension | 1 | 3% |
| Tires | 1 | 3% |
| Service brakes | 1 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
VEHICLE STARTED MAKING SOUNDS SIMILAR TO THAT OF ONE DRAGGING A METALLIC OBJECT AND THE BRAKE PEDAL BECAME LOOSE. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
FRONT STABILIZER BAR SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. CONSUMER STATED THAT A 1990 TOYOTA, CELICA EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT. *AK BOTH VEHICLES HAD THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE STABILIZER BAR BRACKET MOUNT FAILED DUE TO CORROSI
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
VEHICLE TRAVELING AT APPROX. 40 M.P.H., REAR ENDED STOPPED VEHICLE CAUSING FRONT END IMPACT TO CELICA, DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY, DRIVER'S HEAD STRUCK WINDSHIELD CAUSING INJURY. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT WILL NOT FASTEN. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN. *AK CONSUMER PAID FOR REPLACEMENT. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
SEAT BELT WAS PULLED ALL WAY OUT AND WOULD NOT RETRACT AFTER CONSUMER WAS PUTTING ON BELT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THEY WILL REPLACE SEAT BELT FOR $196.00.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE DRIVERS FRONTAL AIR BAG DURING VEHICLE COLLISION (FARMER INSURANCE AGENCY CLAIM NUMBER N9089425). *MJS
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
REAR RIGHT TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE OFF THE ROAD, AND IT HAPPENED WITHOUT A WARNING. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Tires
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, AT APPROX. 30-35 MPH VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND DRIVER'S AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED. CONSUMER WOULD LIKE NHTSA TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON WHY AI
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1991 Toyota Celica. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
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
Risk: THE ABSENCE OF THE WELD CAN ALLOW THE STRUT TO COME OUT OF ITS MOUNTING POSITION UNDER CERTAIN EXTREME DRIVING CONDITIONS WHICH COULD CAUSE DAMAGE TO SURROUNDING VEHICLE COMPONENTS INCREASING THE RISK
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.
| Reliability raw | 88 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 87 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 90 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 67 | good |
| Performance | 41 | below average |
| Efficiency | 46 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 31 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 11 of them (35%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 88/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 87/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1991 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 76/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.