Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1980 Celica.
The 1980 Toyota Celica Overview logged only two owner complaints, with the top complaint area identified as Engine & Engine Cooling, and was subject to a single recall. By comparison, the model's complaint history from 1990 through 2005 shows a high of 108 complaints in 2000 and a low of just four complaints in 2004. Positioning the 1980 example at the low‑end of that range indicates comparatively strong reliability for its era.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 1989 | GT-S Coupe 2.0L I-4 | 8.10 sec | 16.00 sec | 135 hp | FWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
In 1980 the federal complaint database recorded only two complaints, both categorized under Engine & Engine Cooling, with zero crash‑related or fire‑related complaints. The complaint trajectory for this model line shows a prolonged low‑volume period from the early 1990s through the mid‑1990s, with annual complaints ranging from 5 to 34, before escalating sharply in the early 2000s (e.g., 108 complaints in 2000). Consequently, the 1980 model falls within the early, low‑complaint segment of the generation, preceding the later spike observed in later model years. No recall or investigation data are listed for 1980, and the limited complaint count suggests modest early‑life concerns. For a prospective buyer, the evidence points to a generally reliable 1980 Celica, though attention to engine cooling performance is advisable.
All 2 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
DUE TO A FAULTY PRESS DIE USED IN MANUFACTURING ALTERNATOR PULLEYS, PULLEYS INSTALLED ON CERTAIN VEHICLES MAY CRACK AND BREAK DURING VEHICLE OPERATION. THE BATTERY WOULD THEN BE CONSTANTLY DRAINED WITHOUT RECHARGING. Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE ENGINE ALTERNATOR PULLEYS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNERS.
Showing 5 of 15 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSB003220 | 2023-08-17 | Air Bags | TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or… |
| Toyota PRO19-02 | 2022-01-12 | Tires | POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all… |
| T-SB-0032-20 Rev | 2021-02-03 | Equipment | TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or… |
| T-SB-0304-17 Obs | 2020-04-07 | Equipment | TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see… |
| T-SB-0032-20 | 2020-04-06 | Equipment | TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service… |
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 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.