Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 Celica.
The 1981 Toyota Celica, the subject of this reference entry, sits within a model line whose owner-reported complaint record, tracked from 1990 through 2005, has spanned an unusually wide range. Across that fifteen-year window, complaints peaked at 108 in model-year 2000 and fell to a low of just 4 in 2004 — a spread of more than twenty-five-fold that frames the 1981 car against a backdrop of meaningful fluctuation rather than steady reliability. For a researcher, the practical implication is that any reading of this model year should be situated within the line's full complaint arc, recognizing that the same nameplate has produced both heavily-flagged and largely quiet years within the tracked period.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 175.6 in |
| Overall width | 64.6 in |
| Overall height | 50.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 98.4 in |
| Curb weight | 2643 lb |
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 |
| 1989 | GT-S Coupe 2.0L I-4 | 8.10 sec | 16.00 sec | 135 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 |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.
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 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.