Major Problems with Toyota Celica Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Toyota Celica to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

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Best and Worst Years for Toyota Celica

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Toyota Celica.

Model Year	Complaints
2005 Celica	3
2004 Celica	4
2003 Celica	15
2002 Celica	29
2001 Celica	47
2000 Celica	102
1999 Celica	9

Worst 3 Toyota Celica complaints

2000 Toyota Celica AIR BAGS Victims: 3

2000 Toyota Celica AIR BAGS Victims: 2 Mileage: 110000 miles

2002 Toyota Celica AIR BAGS Victims: 2 Mileage: 165000 miles

Browse Toyota Celica complaints by category

Problems with ENGINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL and AIR BAGS are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Toyota Celica owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING consumer complained about engine check light coming on and staying on. consumer had a diagnostic test done. took vehicle back	24 ~ 49903 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota celica. the contact was driving 65 mph when the accelerator pedal became stuck...	17 ~ 54954 miles
AIR BAGS air bag light stays on. car has never been in a crash. i've had the sensor reset 4 x it	16 ~ 52456 miles
MANUAL TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN at around 70 000 miles (around jan 2012) my celica (manual transmission) began slipping out of 3rd gear sporadically. i...	15 ~ 28140 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota celica. the contact stated that the vehicle would exhibit an abnormal and continual squeaking...	12 ~ 54890 miles
ENGINE i have a 2001 toyota celica gt about 10 000 miles ago i took my car in for an oil...	11 ~ 94441 miles
BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS > GASOLINE > ENGINE consumer complained about a timing belt problem. dealer replaced the timing belt a year ago. *ak...	11 ~ 8545 miles
GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2002 celica gt is consuming 3/4 of a quart of oil every 1000 miles. toyota says that there is not...	11
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS consumer's daughter was involved in a minor traffic accident in which the vehicle suffered a considerable amount of damage consumer...	10 ~ 38101 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN transmission will not shift into overdrive after hours of driving. *ak...	9
TIRES the passenger side rear tire blew out causing the car to spin out while driving n on i-55 between jackson...	8 ~ 45231 miles
SEAT BELTS my drivers side seat belt does not retract easily. if i extend it out to put it on with slack...	7 ~ 40000 miles
TREAD/BELT > TIRES dt: the contact states while driving the tread separated from the sidewall on the front driver's side tire. the separation...	6 ~ 25833 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE daughter (17) lost control of car in a curve due to wet roads and speed. the car spun then struck...	5 ~ 65600 miles
SUPPORT DEVICE/STRUT > HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE > BODY i have a 2003 toyota celica and the hatchback will not stay up. toyota has tried to fix it but	5 ~ 10006 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE the vehicle was taken to the dealer for recall #03v074000 concerning the fuel tank check valve. the dealer had the...	5 ~ 29055 miles
POWER TRAIN i was driving my 2002 toyota celica and i went to shift into third gear and missed and went into...	5 ~ 98023 miles
FRONT > SUSPENSION this concerns a 2003 toyota celica gt with a popping noise in the front end when backing and turning. the...	4 ~ 5250 miles
ACCELERATOR PEDAL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL several times accelerator has stuck had problem fixed and has begun happening again after short time (fixed 6 months ago).*ak...	4 ~ 13900 miles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM we bought a 2000 toyota celica for our 16 year old daughter. the car was used with about 80k...	3 ~ 46667 miles
STRUCTURE purchased new 2003 celica gts. from dealer. 26 398 miles paint bubbling on all wheels. dealer/factory rep. would not replace...	3 ~ 8561 miles
WHEELS purchased new 2003 celica gts. from dealer. 26 398 miles paint bubbling on all wheels. dealer/factory rep. would not replace...	3 ~ 47895 miles
HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING front headlight seals have failed on both lights two years after the purchase of my 2000 toyota celica gts. on...	3 ~ 13333 miles
FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC while driving at any speed and when applying brakes they make a loud noise. contacted dealer. *ak consumer state that	3
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2001 toyota celica unit 1 was traveling in the right lane on the ohio turnpike. unit 2 was disabled from...	2 ~ 32000 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 2/5 had calipers rotors brake pads replaced. 11/30/05 took it to a repair shop said i needed all this repaired...	2 ~ 7000 miles
SIDEWALL > TIRES the problem arose one day when i was at my aunts house. my uncle went out side to look a...	2 ~ 26150 miles
TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE while consumer was driving vehicle stalled. consumer was unable to restart vehicle. consumer noticed that the gas was leaking from...	2
ANCHORAGE > FRONT > SEAT BELTS 1. engine failure. while driving at approximately 40mph a loud noise (snap or pop) followed by other odd noises were...	2
MASTER CYLINDER > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC brake were making a grinding noise took the car to service they stated that nothing with the brake 7-2000. again...	2 ~ 35000 miles
SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY > VISIBILITY sunroof will leak when its raining or being washed. interior paneling is separating. the vehicle would shake & nearly stall	2
EXTERIOR LIGHTING i am trying to renew my registration for my 2000 toyota and it doesn't let me and it might have	1
COLUMN > STEERING tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota celica. while operating the vehicle the horn was not always audible when pressing...	1 ~ 160476 miles
COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING on march 2008 i decided to purchase a 5 speed manual 2001 toyota celica gt from a third party. after...	1 ~ 98000 miles
STEERING we own 2002 celica gt-s. it has had to have 4 sets of tires in 85 000 miles. at the...	1 ~ 85000 miles
REAR > SUSPENSION we own 2002 celica gt-s. it has had to have 4 sets of tires in 85 000 miles. at the...	1 ~ 85000 miles
SIDE/WINDOW > AIR BAGS air bags did not deploy. i hit a snow bank at 50mph and the air bags did not deploy i...	1 ~ 89000 miles
FRONT > SEAT BELTS as i was pulling into my parking spot in the ramp my car 'unexpectedly' lurched forward into a concrete pillar...	1 ~ 61055 miles
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC a 2002 toyota celica driven by our 16 year old daughter exiting off of i-295-designated speed- 65 mph was exiting...	1
TANK ASSEMBLY > STORAGE > FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL consumer received nhtsa recall 03v704000 regarding the fuel tank. dealership urged consumer to bring the vehicle with the fuel tank...	1
CRUISE CONTROL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL my cruise control dose not work im my 2003 toyota celica gts. also i belive this i a result of...	1
FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE vehicle sputters while driving when gears shift. this occurs because the 1st cylinder is only operating at 1/2 its pressure	1 ~ 60000 miles
BUMPERS > BODY > STRUCTURE front grill of my 2002 toyota celica gts fell off. also the plastic that's on the bottom front was...	1 ~ 35000 miles
SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE > FRONTAL > AIR BAGS my airbags failed to deploy after i hit a gaurd rail head on doing 45-50 mph. i have also seen	1 ~ 24770 miles
EQUIPMENT i own a 2000 toyota celica gts i bought it in 2001and ever sence then the belt has squealed. i...	1 ~ 25000 miles
LOCK > TRUNK LID > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2000 toyota celica hatchback. the hatchback hydraulic hinges are defective. the rear door doesn't remain open when it gets warm...	1 ~ 1000 miles
DOOR > BODY > STRUCTURE vehicle leaks on drivers side when it rains. nothing noticeable on weatherstrip of door...	1
CONCEALMENT DEVICES > HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING moisture in the headlights and squeaking belt tensioner. *jb...	1
MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING my engine in my car has had an oil sludging and dissapearing problem for about two years. the first time	1 ~ 20000 miles
COIL SPRINGS > SPRINGS > FRONT i took my car to the dealer where i purchased the car b/c of recent problems. the car was riding...	1 ~ 15000 miles
LATCH > HOOD > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES the hood latch failed which caused injury to the consumer.*jb...	1
DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE nar 05/21/2003 *mr the consumer experienced problems with the gasoline spilling back out of the filler pipe and running down	1
LOCK > HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE > LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES the trunk doesn't stay open in cold weather hit me in the head with the center latch.*ak...	1
ROOF AND PILLARS > BODY > STRUCTURE the convertible top leaks when washed. also the pins that hold the top together have come apart.*ak...	1
DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM > VISIBILITY while driving at any speed and when applying brakes they make a loud noise. contacted dealer. *ak consumer state that	1
PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE) > CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN while merging the clutch pedal stuck to the floor. the shifter was pulled out of gear (3rd) and resulted in...	1
12V/24V/48V BATTERY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM brake were making a grinding noise took the car to service they stated that nothing with the brake 7-2000. again...	1
GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION) > STEERING gearbox poor design permits unsafe & dangerous highspeed downshifts to lower gears causing engine failure.*ak...	1
STEERING WHEEL/HANDLE BAR > STEERING consumer was driving when lost control of vehicle due to play in steering wheel. traveling at approximately 50 to 55	1
DRIVESHAFT > DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN drive axles make cracking noise when backing up and applying the brake. dealer claims they did not hear any noises....	1
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM while driving about 65 mph and getting off highway vehicle started vibrating and jumping withou prior warning and stalled. also	1
CLUTCH ASSEMBLY > POWER TRAIN transmission is too easy to shift into wrong gears. same four valves have been bent twice once as a result...	1
AIR CONDITIONER > APPLIANCE > EQUIPMENT while driving 55-60 mph bottom of vehicle was scrapping. mechanic stated shield that protects wires/ fuel lines and hose came	1
SUSPENSION while driving about 60mph driver lost control. vehicle started pulling to right and ended up on 2 right wheels. then	1
DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC when vehicle is in reverse a clicking in brakes occurs. dealer replaced front brakes. also resurfaced rotors. however it did	1
HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE there is a fuel leak due to a broken hose. dealer has not remedied problem. *ak...	1
CALIPER > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS consumer noticed while traveling on wet roads 30-35 mph and making a sudden stop brakes locked tires did not grape	1
TRUNK LID > BODY > STRUCTURE dealer was notified of the problem but indicated that there was nothing they could do. maybe i needed to be	1
UNDERBODY SHIELDS > FRAME AND MEMBERS > STRUCTURE while driving 55-60 mph bottom of vehicle was scrapping. mechanic stated shield that protects wires/ fuel lines and hose came	1

FAQ

What year Toyota Celica is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 7 years, Toyota Celica models of 2005, 2004, 1999 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Toyota Celica?

Toyota Celica models of 2000 and 2001 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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