1996 Toyota Celica
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Driver Assistance & Speed Control
Driver Assistance & Speed Control leads by volume: 4 of 9 complaints (44%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Brakes include more reported injuries (3) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 22 in 1995 to 9 in 1996.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | vs. 1996 Subcompact Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,300–2,850 | 2,300–2,950 | 2,250–2,850 | 2,700–2,850 | |
| Combined MPG | 22–27 | 21–27 | 22–28 | 22–23 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 19–24 / 26–31 | 18–25 / 26–31 | 19–25 / 26–32 | 19–20 / 26–27 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 329–404 | 329–423 | 317–404 | 386–404 | |
| Complaints filed | 22 | 9 | 8 | 5 | |
| Recalls issued | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 7 | 3 | 1 | 0 | |
| Deaths reported | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 1996 Toyota Celica have?
1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 1996 Toyota Celica?
Driver Assistance & Speed Control: 4 of 9 NHTSA complaints (44%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 1996 Toyota Celica get?
EPA rates it 21–27 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 1996 Toyota Celica?
EPA estimates $2,300–$2,950 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (6)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.2L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Minicompact Cars | 18 mpg (low) | 26 mpg (low) | 21 mpg (low) | $2,950 (high) | 423 g/mi (high) |
| Configuration 2 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.2L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Minicompact Cars | 19 mpg | 26 mpg (low) | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 404 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 23 mpg | 31 mpg (high) | 26 mpg | $2,400 | 342 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 1.8L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 25 mpg (high) | 31 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | $2,300 (low) | 329 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic 4-spd | 4 | 2.2L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 19 mpg | 26 mpg (low) | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 404 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Manual 5-spd | 4 | 2.2L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Subcompact Cars | 19 mpg | 26 mpg (low) | 22 mpg | $2,850 | 404 g/mi |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 3 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 4 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (1)
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · Campaign 96E001000 · Jan 22, 1996
Defect: THESE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEMS FAIL TO HOLD THE SPEED SET BY THE DRIVER AND CAN ACCELERATE ABOVE THE INTENDED SET SPEED.
Consequence: UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAN INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE CRUISE CONTROL ASSEMBLIES.