ToyotaCelica1989Overview/toyota/celica/1989/base/

1989 Toyota Celica

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1989 Celica.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1989 Toyota Celica, equipped with a four‑speed automatic transmission and a 4.1‑quart oil capacity that requires 15W‑40, 20W‑40 or 20W‑50 API lubricants, achieves EPA fuel economy ratings of 19/26/22 mpg. Overall owner complaints for this model total 14, with Visibility identified as the primary complaint area and only a single recall recorded. Placed at the start of the model’s complaint history, which spans 1990‑2005, the 1989 version records far fewer complaints than the peak 108 reported in 2000, suggesting early‑generation reliability that precedes later quality fluctuations. Its complaint count of 14 sits well below the later low of 4 in 2004, underscoring a relatively stable early period before the model’s complaint trajectory rose and fell.

Model year200019991998199519941989198819871986

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.1 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy19/26/22 mpgEPA · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length173.6 in
Overall width67.3 in
Overall height50 in
Wheelbase99.6 in
Curb weight2445 lb
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined19 / 26 / 22 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

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.

8.1 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 8.10 sec — 1989 GT-S
 Coupe
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1989GT-S
 Coupe 2.0L I-48.10 sec16.00 sec135 hpFWD
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

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.1 qt of 15W-40 / 20W-40 / 20W-50 API engine oil, GL-5 · 80W-90 in the differential.

Lubricants & capacities

Differential Gear OilGL-5 · 80W-90
Differential Gear Oil Capacity2.4 Pints
Engine OilABOVE -10 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity4.1 qt
Engine OilABOVE -10 degrees F
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt
Transfer Case FluidDEXRON
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity3.4 Pints

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 10,000 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 20,000 miAxle Shaft Oil Seal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Steering Gear Box Assembly (inspect) · Suspension System (inspect)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Fuel Evaporative Canister (inspect) · Fuel Tank Filler Cap O-Ring (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)

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 1989 Toyota Celica sits in the middle of a generation that shows a declining trend in complaints and recalls from 1990 through 1998, with 34 complaints in 1990 falling to just 5 by 1998. 1999 sees a slight uptick to 11 complaints, but the spike in 2000—108 complaints and three recalls—marks a sharp outlier before the numbers normalize again in the early 2000s. In 1989 the vehicle’s most frequent issues were visibility (3 complaints), vehicle speed control (2), fuel system (2), and engine cooling (1), with no crash complaints and only one fire complaint recorded. Compared to the 1990–1998 trend, the 1989 model’s complaint volume is modest but higher than the later years, suggesting it is still within the typical range for the generation. Given the relatively low number of complaints and recalls for that year, and the absence of significant safety incidents, the 1989 Celica remains a viable option for a used buyer, provided a thorough mechanical inspection is performed.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
19
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
2
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
14
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 1 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 14 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Visibility3
Vehicle Speed Control2
Fuel System, Gasoline2
Engine & Engine Cooling1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Fuel System, Gasoline1
Seat Belts1
Latches/Locks/Linkages1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

10E002000SuspensionReported 11/02/2010

RIDE CONTROL IS RECALLING CERTAIN FRONT STRUT MOUNTS BRANDED AS GABRIEL RIDE CONTROL OR ARVINMERITOR, P/NOS. 142435, 142193, 142305, 142303, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE AFFECTED… Remedy: RIDE CONTROL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE AFFECTED PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RIDE CONTROL AT…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 19 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.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

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

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1989 Celica take?

4.1 qt of ABOVE -10 degrees F: 15W-40, 20W-40 20W-50 SL OR API, ABOVE -10 degrees F: 10W-30, 10W-40, 10W-50 SL OR API, BELOW 50 degrees F: 5W-30 SL OR API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1989 Celica have open recalls?

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

What gas mileage does the Celica get?

EPA figures are 19 city / 26 highway / 22 combined mpg.