5th gen Toyota Celica 1990–1993

This page is a draft. It has not been approved yet, so read it with care.

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

Rust in the sills, arches and strut mounts All years One source so far

What to check: Look under the car at the sills and wheel arches, around the strut towers and at any sunroof panel.

Named by a buyer's guide written for Japanese cars, which draws on a UK guide; some checks may differ for US cars.

Sources ¹
Tuned engine and overdue cambelt All years One source so far

What to check: Ask for dated invoices for the cambelt, and for the history of any tuning, and check the clutch's bite.

The same guide says tuned cars are more likely to fail, that the 3S-GTE's cambelt needs regular replacement, and that a clutch change is a heavy job.

Sources ¹
Clonks from the rear All years One source so far

What to check: Listen for clonks from the rear, and check the differential mountings first.

The guide says the differentials are strong but their mountings are not.

Sources ¹