Model year guide

1999 Toyota Celica

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1999 Toyota Celica is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 1 on record.

1999 Toyota Celica — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

1999 Toyota Celica at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints11
Combined22 mpg

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

1999 Toyota Celica recalls 1

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module NHTSA Campaign #20V033000 · 22/01/2020

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 1998-2000 RAV4, 1998-1999 RAV4 EV and Celica and 1997-1998 Supra vehicles. These vehicles were equipped with Non-Azide Driver air bag Inflators (NADI) and do not contain phase stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. Due to a manufacturing issue, the NADI inflators may absorb moisture, causing the inflators to rupture or the air bag cush…

Fix: Toyota will notify owners, and owners will have the option to self-inspect, or have a dealer inspect the steering wheel on their vehicle to determine if their vehicle may be equipped with an affected inflator. Potentially affected steering wheel serial numbers will be inspected by a dealer. Based…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

1999 Toyota Celica common problems

The most-reported problem areas across all 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Tires
Check tread depth, the DOT age date, and that all four tires match with even wear. Look for bulges or cracks.
Seat Belts
Check that every belt latches, retracts and locks under a sharp tug, and that none are frayed.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Fuel System
Sniff for fuel odor, check for leaks, hard starts or stalling, and confirm the fuel gauge reads correctly.
Gasoline
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.

1999 Toyota Celica MPG & running costs

Combined22 mpg
City20 mpg
Highway26 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,050
EPA size classSubcompact Cars
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd or Manual 5-spd
Passenger volume78 cu ft
Cargo volume16 cu ft
5-yr fuel cost vs average new car$3,250 more

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 2 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 1999 Toyota Celica costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$15,250
Fuel only$15,250
Per mile$0.20

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

1999 Toyota Celica trims & engines on record

Trims
GT
Engines
2.2L 4-cyl 130 hp

1999 Toyota Celica vehicles on record

1999 Toyota Celica 1999 Toyota Celica GTJT5FG02T6X0052994

Other Toyota Celica model years

2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1997 1995 1994 1992 1991

1999 Toyota Celica — frequently asked questions

Does the 1999 Toyota Celica have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1999 Toyota Celica. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 1999 Toyota Celica?

Across all 11 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are tires, seat belts, air bags.

What gas mileage does the 1999 Toyota Celica get?

The 1999 Toyota Celica has a U.S. EPA estimate of 22 mpg combined (20 city / 26 highway).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.