Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1978 Celica.
The 1978 Toyota Celica is characterized by zero recalls and a single owner complaint centered on the seats. This performance is notable when compared to the model's broader complaint history from 1990 to 2005, which peaked at 108 complaints in 2000 and reached a low of 4 in 2004. Positioned well below these later figures, the 1978 model year reflects a period of high reliability for the vehicle.
0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.
Independent road tests for the Celica of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | ST Coupe 1.9L I-4 | 11.50 sec | 18.20 sec | 97 hp | RWD |
| 1971 | ST Coupe 1.9L I-4 | 12.70 sec | 19.00 sec | 97 hp | RWD |
| 1988 | Turbo All-Trac Coupe 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 7.30 sec | 15.60 sec | 190 hp | AWD |
| 1988 | Turbo All-Trac Coupe 2.0L Turbo I-4 | 7.90 sec | 15.90 sec | 190 hp | AWD |
| 1988 | GT-S Coupe 2.0L I-4 | 8.60 sec | 16.50 sec | 135 hp | FWD |
| 1988 | GT Convertible 2.0L I-4 | 10.40 sec | 17.70 sec | 116 hp | FWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The federal record supplied covers only model years 1990 through 2005, providing no complaint, recall, investigation, or TSB figures for the 1978 Toyota Celica. Consequently, we cannot place the target year within any observable trend of increasing or decreasing issues across the generation, as the data arc begins well after 1978. Without any reported numbers for 1978, the root cause of any potential problems cannot be inferred from this dataset. The absence of data means we have no basis to judge whether the 1978 model exhibits higher or lower reliability relative to the later years shown. Therefore, based solely on the available federal record, there is insufficient evidence to deem the 1978 Celica a good or bad purchase; a prospective buyer should seek additional sources or a pre‑purchase inspection to assess its condition.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
Showing 4 of 4 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota PRO19-02 | 2022-01-12 | Tires | POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all… |
| Safety Recall an | 2016-07-21 | Equipment | Update on Technician Certification Requirements. |
| T-PG007-01 | 2001-05-04 | Equipment | Replacement vin plates. |
| T-PG002-91 | 1991-01-18 | Equipment | Product general information. |
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.