ToyotaCelica1982Overview/toyota/celica/1982/base/

1982 Toyota Celica

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1982 Celica.

The 1982 Toyota Celica stands as a remarkably trouble-free vintage, with just four owner complaints on file and a single recall, the top issue being seat belts. This level of reliability is striking even when set against the broader model’s history, where complaint volumes for later generations ranged from a low of 4 in 2004 to a peak of 108 in the 2000 model year. For researchers, the 1982 Celica’s minimal reported problems signal a notably durable entry point in the nameplate’s long-term dependability.

Model year200019991998199519941989198819871982

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length176.4 in
Overall width65.7 in
Overall height52 in
Wheelbase98.4 in
Curb weight2646 lb

Performance & power Independent road tests

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.

7.3–10.4 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.30 sec — 1988 Turbo All-Trac Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1988Turbo All-Trac Coupe 2.0L Turbo I-47.30 sec15.60 sec190 hpAWD
1988Turbo All-Trac Coupe 2.0L Turbo I-47.90 sec15.90 sec190 hpAWD
1988GT-S Coupe 2.0L I-48.60 sec16.50 sec135 hpFWD
1988GT Convertible 2.0L I-410.40 sec17.70 sec116 hpFWD
1989GT-S
 Coupe 2.0L I-48.10 sec16.00 sec135 hpFWD
1992GT-S Coupe 2.2L I-49.10 sec16.90 sec130 hpFWD

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The federal record provided does not include data for 1982—the year-by-year trend spans 1990 to 2005, representing a later generation of the Celica with no direct year-to-year continuity with the target vehicle. The 1982-specific complaint data shows Seat Belts as the top issue area (2 complaints), followed by single complaints in Power Train and Structure, with one crash-related complaint and zero fire complaints on record. Because the trend data excludes the target year entirely, I cannot assess where 1982 falls within its generation's complaint arc or compare it meaningfully to adjacent model years. The available 1982 complaint data is minimal in absolute terms, but without contextual trend information for that generation, the significance of those numbers remains unclear. The takeaway is that while the 1982 Celica shows no major red flags in the isolated complaint areas recorded, the absence of 1982 in the federal trend dataset means you cannot use this record to gauge whether this is a particularly good or problematic model year within its own generation—additional outside research into 1982-specific recalls and known issues would be necessary before purchase.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
15
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
4
Owner complaints
1 involved a crash · 0 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 4 complaints on record, top 3 components.

Seat Belts2
Power Train1
Structure1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

86V132000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 02/10/1986

SOLDERED TERMINALS OF THE CRUISE CONTROL COMPUTER MAY DEVELOP CRACKS DUE TO IMPROPER APPLICATION OF THE COATING TO THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: CONTINUED USE OF CRUISE CONTROL COULD LEAD TO COMPLETE… Remedy: REPLACE CRUISE CONTROL COMPUTER, IF NECESSARY.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 15 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB0032202023-08-17Air BagsTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
Toyota PRO19-022022-01-12TiresPOL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all…
T-SB-0032-20 Rev2021-02-03EquipmentTSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or…
T-SB-0304-17 Obs2020-04-07EquipmentTSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see…
T-SB-0032-202020-04-06EquipmentTSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Celica. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

Does the 1982 Celica have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.