1993 Toyota Celica problems

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The Toyota Celica (/ˈsɛlɪkə/ or /sɛˈliːkə/) (Japanese: トヨタ・セリカ, Hepburn: Toyota Serika) 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 the Toyota Corolla Store dealer chain. Produced across seven generations, the Celica was powered by various four-cylinder engines, and bodystyles included convertibles, liftbacks, coupés and notchback coupés.

In 1973, Toyota coined the term liftback to describe the Celica fastback hatchback, and used the name Liftback GT for the North American market. Like the Ford Mustang, the Celica concept was to attach a coupe body to the chassis and mechanicals from a high volume sedan, in this case the Toyota Carina. Some journalists thought it was based on the Corona due to some shared mechanical parts.

The first three generations of North American market Celicas were powered by variants of Toyota's R series engine. In August 1985, the car's drive layout was changed from rear-wheel drive to front-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive turbocharged models were offered from 1986 to 1999. Variable valve timing came in certain Japanese models starting from December 1997 and became standard in all models from the 2000 model year. In 1986, the six-cylinder Celica Supra variant was spun off as a separate model, becoming simply the Supra. Lightly altered versions of the Celica were also sold through as the Corona Coupé through the Toyopet dealer network in the 1980s and as the Toyota Curren through the Vista network in the 1990s.

The Toyota Celica Liftback GT won Motor Trend Car of the Year (Imported Vehicle) in 1976.

1993 Toyota Celica

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Common 1993 Toyota Celica problems

The Toyota Celica, particularly the 1993 model, has been reported to have several common issues, primarily related to the engine. The 1993 Toyota Celica is part of the sixth generation of this vehicle, which spans from 1994 to 1999.

Oil sludge buildup is a problem that affects many Toyota engines, including those found in the Celica. This issue arises when the engine's oil is not changed regularly, leading to the formation of sludge in the engine.

Another engine-specific issue reported by Toyota Celica owners is related to the timing belt tensioner. The timing belt tensioner is responsible for maintaining the correct tension on the timing belt, which synchronizes the engine's camshaft and crankshaft.

The valve cover gasket is another component of the Toyota Celica's engine that has been reported to cause problems. The valve cover gasket is responsible for sealing the engine's valve cover, preventing oil from leaking out.

In addition to engine-specific issues, the Toyota Celica has also been reported to have problems with its automatic transmission. Some owners have reported that their Celica's automatic transmission may not shift correctly at high mileages, leading to reduced performance and increased wear on the transmission.

While these issues may be concerning, it's important to note that many Toyota Celica models have proven to be reliable and long-lasting with proper maintenance and care.

1993 Toyota Celica engine

Is the 1993 Celica reliable?

Overall, the car is pretty reliable and is pretty cheap to maintain.

What is the most common problem with the Toyota Celica?

The belt problem is common, especially when it rains, for Celica. If you still under the warranty, just go change a new one for free from your dealer.

Is the Toyota Celica a reliable car?

Yes, Toyota Celicas are generally reliable cars. They are well-regarded for their durability, sporty performance, and long lifespan. In fact, many owners of Toyota Celicas report that with regular maintenance and care, these cars can easily exceed 200,000 miles.

What is the gas mileage on a 1993 Toyota Celica?

Based on data from 8 vehicles, 252 fuel-ups and 80,305 miles of driving, the 1993 Toyota Celica gets a combined Avg MPG of 29.67 with a 0.53 MPG margin of error.

1993 Toyota Celica car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Toyota Celica problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Seat belts problems
  • Air bags problems
  • Tires problems
  • Visibility problems
  • Suspension problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1993 Toyota Celica vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1993 Toyota Celica complaints

The NHTSA has received 16 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1993 Toyota Celica.

2011-12-18

VISIBILITY,SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2010-08-13
  • VIN: JT2AT86F2P0
  • Components: VISIBILITY,SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT BELTS DO NOT RETRACT OR IF THEY DO, SLOWLY AND NOT FULLY. LEAVING BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER TO MORE BODILY INJURY IN CASE OF ACCIDENT. HAS BEEN LIKE THIS SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. I CALLED TOYOTA BUT WAS TOLD I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. NOT CHEAP! THE WIPERS ARE ALSO PRONE TO RUST... THE METAL RODS THAT HOLD WIPERS ARMS IN PLACE TEND TO COME LOOSE MAKING THE WIPER ARMS FALL OFF. HAVE TRIED TO CONVERT ARMS TO ACCEPT NEWER BLADES BUT THEY ARE TOO THICK FOR THE RETROFIT ATTACHMENTS FOUND IN ANSCO WIPERS. TOYOTA CHARGES ALMOST $200 A PIECE FOR NEW OEM WIPER ARMS FOR THIS MODEL. REMEDIED THIS USING CRAZY GLUE AND ELECTRICAL TAPE TO KEEP NEW ARMS IN PLACE. *TR
2010-11-09

SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2010-11-09
  • VIN: JT2AT86FXP0
  • Components: SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN
  • Summary: I HAVE HAD TWO FRONT END SHAFTS SHEER OFF THE RETAINING NUT ON MY CAR. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS LAST SUMMER (2009) AND THE LATEST INCIDENT OCCURRED LAST NIGHT. AT THE OUTBOARD END OF THE DRIVE SHAFT, THERE IS A THREADED SHAFT THAT ACCEPTS A (I BELIEVE) 22 OR 24MM NUT. IN BOTH CASES, THE SHAFT SNAPPED AND THE RETAINING NUT FELL TOTALLY OFF THE SHAFT, LEAVING ONLY THE DISC BRAKE CALIPER TO KEEP THE TIRE FROM FALLING OFF. YESTERDAYS INCIDENT OCCURRED WHEN BACKING OUT OF A PARKING PLACE, SO THIS WAS NOT A HIGH SPEED INCIDENT, BUT ONE THAT OCCURRED WHEN MINIMUM FORCES WERE AT PLAY ON THE CAR. ONCE MIGHT HAVE BEEN A FLUKE, BUT TWICE ON THE SAME VEHICLE? *TR
2004-03-09

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,EQUIPMENT PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2004-03-09
  • Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,EQUIPMENT
  • Summary: WHEN USING THE AIR CONDITIONER AIR COMPRESSOR ENGAGES, AND CAUSES VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, WHO COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
2004-01-19

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2004-01-17
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: BOTH OF MY FRONT SEAT BELTS DO NOT LOCK OR RETRACT PROPERLY ON MY 1993 CELICA GT AND I KNOW THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL YEAR. IT IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE ON THE CELICA ENTHUSIAST WEB BOARD THAT I REQUEST AND I'VE FOUND COMPLAINTS LOGGED ON THE DOT'S WEBSITES. WAS THERE A RECALL FOR THESE SEAT BELTS AND CAN I GET THEM REPLACED? *CB
2003-11-10

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2003-11-09
  • Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
  • Summary: WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES ROTORS PRODUCED A GRINDING NOISE. AS RESULT, AN ODOR SEEPED THROUGH THE VENTS. *AK
2002-12-06

TIRES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2002-11-21
  • VIN: JT5YN94T3P0
  • Components: TIRES
  • Summary: CONSUMER STATED THAT ALL SIX TIRES SEPARATED WHILE DRIVING. THE TIRE TURNED INTO AN EGG AND WERE NOT DRIVABLE. TIRE INFO: YOKOHAMA-185R-14D/DOT #NOT AVAILABLE. THERE WAS PLENTY OF TREAD REMAINING AT THE TIME OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL WHEN THE TIRES SEPARATED. (TOYOTA MOTOR HOME) SCC *JB
2001-04-10

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2001-03-28
  • VIN: JT2ST87F1T0
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT WILL NO LONGER PULL OUT. *AK *SLC
2000-12-26

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
  • VIN: JT2ST87F6P0
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: PASSENGER SIDE SEATBELT IS LOOSE. *SLC
2000-10-04

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1999-10-01
  • VIN: JT2ST87F6P0
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: OWN 2 TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT HAVE SEATBELT RETRACTORS THAT LOCK UP/WON'T RELEASE OR WONT RETRACT CAUSING LOOSE FIT. I SEE THAT NHTSA HAS LOGGED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT SEATBELTS ON TOYOTA.
1999-04-14

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1999-02-01
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATBELT SYSTEM DOES NOT RETRACT WHICH WON'T PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. DEALER SAID THE SEATBELT SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK
1998-03-05

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1997-11-01
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS DURING ACCIDENT.
1998-03-05

TIRES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1992-07-01
  • Components: TIRES
  • Summary: VEHICLE TWO DAYS OLD WHEN RADIAL XMTS TIRE BLEW OUT.
1997-10-07

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1997-08-08
  • VIN: JT2AT86F0P0
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: DRIVERS AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER $5214.19 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE.
1997-10-07

AIR BAGS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1997-08-05
  • VIN: JT2AT86F0P0
  • Components: AIR BAGS
  • Summary: NO DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS AIRBAG IN A VEHICLE COLLISION, ONLY PASSENGERS AIRBAG DEPLOYED, FRONT END DAMAGE WAS ON PASSENGERS SIDE, HOWEVER CONSUMER FEELS DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE ENOUGH TO WARRANT BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYMENT.
1996-12-30

SEAT BELTS PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1996-10-04
  • VIN: PLEASE FILL
  • Components: SEAT BELTS
  • Summary: THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT BACK INTO PLACE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE SEAT BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
1996-12-18

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 1996-10-18
  • Fire: 1
  • VIN: JT2ST87N4P0
  • Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
  • Summary: VEHICLE FIRE.

1993 Toyota Celica recalls

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has issued 1 recalls for different components of the 1993 Toyota Celica.

2010-02-11
  • Manufacturer: RIDE CONTROL, LLC
  • Components: SUSPENSION
  • Summary: 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.
  • Consequence: 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 OF A CRASH.
  • Remedy: 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.

Negative 1993 Toyota Celica car reviews

  1. Christian Okuneva 2025-01-04

    My GT coupe 2-door, which I purchased two years ago, was recently totalled. While it was not a bad car, I am confident that there are better options available. The brakes were a standout feature, and the pleasing interior was a nice touch. However, as a 6'6 driver, I found the seat to be uncomfortable before the accident occurred (I was rear-ended). While the car can fit two adults up front, the rear can be cramped. Overall, I am confident that I can find a better car that suits my needs and preferences.

Positive 1993 Toyota Celica car reviews

  1. Ricardo Hudson 2024-11-20

    Solid and reliable, and also fun to drive!

  2. Devante Schmeler 2024-11-02

    This is a great car, and it's fun to drive and reliable.

  3. Kacey Bogan 2024-11-01

    I've had my Celica for about a year and a half now and I absolutely love it! The curves of the body and the feel of the drive make it one of the best cars of its time. I've seen other cars in the same price range in '93 and I truly believe that the Celica is among the highest quality.

  4. Cletus Franecki 2024-08-21

    The fifth generation Celica is such a fantastic car! I'm actually on my third one now and I couldn't be happier with it. As someone who drives around 30 to 40K miles per year for work, I need a car that's reliable, fuel-efficient, and looks great - and the Celica ticks all those boxes. Gracie, my current Celica, is especially beautiful with her white ragtop. What's even better is that I've been able to purchase all three of my Celicas used, and I've driven two of them past 200K miles without any major breakdowns or issues. Plus, my insurance costs are super low. I feel so lucky to have found such a great car! :)

  5. Monte Ankunding 2024-08-04

    I really enjoy the feeling of driving this car. It's so powerful and always puts a smile on my face. Taking a drive at night is especially enjoyable, seeing people look at the car in awe as I drive by. Overall, I just love everything about this car - it's truly awesome!

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Additional sources

More sources of information about 1993 Toyota Celica problems:

1993 Toyota Celica Problems and Complaints - 34 Issues
1993 Toyota Celica Problems and Complaints - 34 Issues
https://repairpal.com/1993-toyota-celica/problems

Problem with your 1993 Toyota Celica? Our list of 34 known complaints reported by owners can help you fix your 1993 Toyota Celica.

Common Problems with 5th gen Celica | Toyota Celica Forum
Common Problems with 5th gen Celica | Toyota Celica Forum
https://www.toyotacelicas.com/threads/common-problems-with-5th-gen-celica.50498/

Jan 8, 2013 ... Red 1991 Toyota Celica GT convertible - project/winter - RIP Red 1993 Mitsubishi 3000GT SL - ugggghhhhhh-project/winter. Black 2012 Hyundai ...

All my crazy Lexus issues SOLVED!! (ECU-leaking capacitor ...
All my crazy Lexus issues SOLVED!! (ECU-leaking capacitor ...
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-1st-and-2nd-gen-1990-2000/656360-all-my-crazy-lexus-issues-solved-ecu-leaking-capacitor.html

Sep 20, 2012 ... ○ Toyota Celica GT - 1985 -1998 ○ Toyota Supra Mark III (JDM) - 1986-1993 ○ Toyota Supra GT - 1995-1997 ○ Toyota Supra Mark IV - 1993-2002

Inform me of the problems the 92 has? | Toyota Celica Forum
Inform me of the problems the 92 has? | Toyota Celica Forum
https://www.toyotacelicas.com/threads/inform-me-of-the-problems-the-92-has.52177/

May 24, 2013 ... Any common problems, any specific things wrong with this car? ... A toyota celica ... Recently I bought a 1993 celica gt automatic and the only ...

Q&A: Toyota T100 93 - Symptoms of Bad Igniter & Common Problems
Q&A: Toyota T100 93 - Symptoms of Bad Igniter & Common Problems
https://www.justanswer.com/toyota/0l42g-1993-toyota-t100-v6-only-run-off-checked-igniter-coil.html

Feb 9, 2007 ... I HAVE A 1993 TOYOTA T100 V6 3.0EFI THE PROBLEM IS IT WILL ONLY RUN FOR THREE TO FIVE MINUTES AND IT JUST SHUTS OFF.

Other years of Toyota Celica

toyota celica 1994 photo
Celica 1994
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20

0

22

  • 5
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  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
toyota celica 1995 photo
Celica 1995
Toyota

24

0

18

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
toyota celica 1996 photo
Celica 1996
Toyota

9

1

27

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
toyota celica 1997 photo
Celica 1997
Toyota

8

0

18

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
toyota celica 1998 photo
Celica 1998
Toyota

5

1

23

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
toyota celica 1999 photo
Celica 1999
Toyota

11

1

26

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1

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1993 Toyota Celica photo