Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Toyota Celica problems
Owners filed 5 complaints about the 1998 Toyota Celica with NHTSA between Apr 2000 and Mar 2020. The most-cited component is structure (2).
Complaints
5
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Structure2
- Air bags1
- Fuel/propulsion system1
- Tires1
- Engine and engine cooling1
- Visibility1
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
1
0
1
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2001 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 1 |
| 2004 | 0 |
| 2005 | 0 |
| 2006 | 0 |
| 2007 | 0 |
| 2008 | 0 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 0 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Structure
2 reports
“THE REAR WINDOW OF THE CONVERTIBLE WAS DESIGNED SUCH THAT RAISING AND LOWERING THE AUTOMATIC TOP WAS NOT GIVEN ENOUGH CLEARANCE. AS A RESULT THE BACK WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE REPEATEDLY RUBS AGAINST THE SHARP TOP OF THE REAR SEAT UPON OPENING AND CLOSING. THIS CAUSES THE REAR WINDOW TO DISENGAGE FROM THE GLUE THAT ADHERES IT IN PLACE AND CONSEQUENTLY FALL OUT. MANY REPORTS HAVE BEEN FILED TO TOYOTA DEALERS AND THEY REFUSE TO COVER ANY SUCH DEFECTS. THE ONLY SOLUTION THEY PROPOSE IS TAKING THE CAR TO A THIRD PARTY AUTO TOP REPAIR SERVICE TO HAVE THE ENTIRE WINDOW REPLACED FOR A FEE OF $700 DOLLARS. *LA”
Air bags
1 report1 related recall
“TOYOTA HAS FAILED TO NOTIFY ME OF THE FAULTY AIRBAG RECALL AND HAS FAILED TO FIX THE FAULTY AIRBAG AND IN ADDITION, MY CAR IS STALLING WITHOUT CAUSE.”
Fuel/propulsion system
1 report
Tires
1 report
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS COOPER LIFE LINER SLE TIRES P205/55R 15 ON A 1998 TOYOTA CELICA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING RANDOMLY, SO THE CONTACT PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CONTACT LOOKED AT THE TIRES AND SAW NO DAMAGES. THE CONTACT RUBBED HER HAND ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND NOTICE A BUBBLE HAD DEVELOP ON THE INSIDE TREAD. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRE WITH THE SPARE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER. THE DEALER NOTICE THE TREAD SEPARATION ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE AND RECOMMENDED THE TIRE BE REPLACED. THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THEY DO NOT SUPPLY A WARRANTY ON COOPER TIRES DUE TO THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE AND THEY DO NOT SALE THAT BRAND. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER REGARDING THE TIRES AND THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WILL ONLY COVER WHAT IS LEFT OF THE TREAD ON THE TIRES. THE CONTACT STATED THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD REPLACED THE TIRES SINCE THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND DOES NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING WITH THE THREE REMAINING TIRES ON THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.”
Engine and engine cooling
1 report
“DRIVING FOR 10 MINUTES IN THE CAR THREW A ROD, CRACKED THE BLOCK, SHEARDS OF METAL THRU OIL PAN & WATER COOLANT SYSTEM. ALSO ROD DENTED HOOD SO BODY WORK BEING REQUIRED. OVER $5500 DAMAGE ON A 4 YEAR OLD CAR! MR”
Visibility
1 report
“WINDSHIELD MOTOR WAS WORKING BUT THE WIPER BLADES WERE NOT OPERABLE. CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD HER THAT WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. *AK”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.