Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1981 Celica.
The 1981 Toyota Celica is documented here as part of the model's broader overview, with the available complaint history for the nameplate spanning model years 1990 through 2005 — a window that, while not encompassing the 1981 model year itself, provides useful context for understanding the Celica's long-term reliability trajectory. Across that tracked period, complaint volume peaked at 108 reports for the 2000 model year and dropped to just 4 for 2004, suggesting that the generation closing out the recorded history returned to a level of owner-reported issues far below its worst point. For a researcher approaching the 1981 Celica, this data frames the car as part of a lineage whose later years saw significant fluctuation in reported problems, meaning the early-eighties model occupies a position in the nameplate's history that predates the tracked complaint window entirely and cannot be directly compared using the available figures.
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.