1990 Toyota Celica

This page is a draft. It has not been approved yet, so read it with care.

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What changed

Completely redesigned, with a larger engine for the GT-S and upgraded audio; the All-Trac Turbo carries on with 200 hp.^1,2

Buy

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

Rust in the sills, arches and strut mounts All years One source so far

What to check: Look under the car at the sills and wheel arches, around the strut towers and at any sunroof panel.

Named by a buyer's guide written for Japanese cars, which draws on a UK guide; some checks may differ for US cars.

Sources ¹²
Tuned engine and overdue cambelt All years One source so far

What to check: Ask for dated invoices for the cambelt, and for the history of any tuning, and check the clutch's bite.

The same guide says tuned cars are more likely to fail, that the 3S-GTE's cambelt needs regular replacement, and that a clutch change is a heavy job.

Sources ¹²
Clonks from the rear All years One source so far

What to check: Listen for clonks from the rear, and check the differential mountings first.

The guide says the differentials are strong but their mountings are not.

Sources ¹²

90V078000 1990
The driver's airbag inflator case was machined wrongly, so the airbag may not deploy in a crash. The inflator is replaced.^13,14

Checked against NHTSA records on 21 October 2026.

Reputation: what owners and the press report

Sought after: GT-S All years One source so far

Hagerty credits the GT-S's torquey 2.2L with solid reliability and decent economy.⁹

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.