2002 Toyota Celica

Routine

Owners filed 29 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the airbags. It has been recalled 1 time.

Not among the Toyota Celica years to avoid. Which Toyota Celica years to avoid →

Most common 2002 Toyota Celica problems

9 of the 29 complaints (31%) are about the airbags.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Air Bags › Frontal · airbags5
503
Air Bags · airbags4
403
Power Train › Manual Transmission · transmission2
000
Fuel System, Gasoline · fuel system2
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine · engine2
000
Vehicle Speed Control · throttle and acceleration1
000
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs1
000
Suspension › Front1
000
Structure › Body › Trunk Lid · body and frame1
001
Structure › Body › Bumpers · body and frame1
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline03V074000
Filed Mar 5, 200315,048 vehiclesToyota Motor North America, Inc.

Defect. ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK CHECK VALVE, LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK INLET PIPE, MAY BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE INLET PIPE AND FALL INTO THE FUEL TANK. IF THE CHECK VALVE FALLS INTO THE TANK, FUEL MAY SPILL FROM THE FUEL INLET PIPE WHEN THE FUEL PUMP AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF DURING FUELING.

Risk. THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT A FIRE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPAIR THE FUEL TANK CHECK VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 4, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.

All 1 campaign on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Jul 13, 2014165,000 milesNH

CAR WAS TRAVELING @ 50 MPH ( POSTED SPEED FOR THE ROAD). HE SNEEZED, WHEN HE LOOKED UP THE CARS SUDDENLY STOPPED IN FRONT OF HIM. HE REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM GOING 50 MPH. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS CRUSHED. THE ENGINE WAS SHOVED IN. THE CAR IS TOTALED. BUT NOT 1 AIRBAG WENT OFF. BOTH ARE BRUISED FROM THE SEAT BELTS & BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAVE WHIPLASH. I AM THANKFUL THEY WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS BUT VERY CONCERNED THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T PERFORM AS EXPECTED. BOTH THE CLEAN-UP CREW & OFFICER AT THE SEEN WERE SHOCKED THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY....UPDATED 07/23/14 *BF

Structure › BodyCrash
Filed May 7, 2013118,000 milesSC

DAUGHTER (17) LOST CONTROL OF CAR IN A CURVE DUE TO WET ROADS AND SPEED. THE CAR SPUN THEN STRUCK A TREE HEAD ON. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE IMPACT WAS GREAT ENOUGH TO BUST THE RADIATOR AND KILL THE MOTOR BUT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MY YOUNGER DAUGHTER (15) WAS IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. BOTH GIRLS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO MAJOR INJURIES. *TR

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Feb 20, 2010165,000 milesCO

TWICE WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT, MY TOYOTA CELICA CONTINUED TO IDLE AT ABOUT 4000 RPM. I TRIED PULLING THE CAR MAT TOWARD THE SEAT TO BE SURE IT WASN'T INTERFERING WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I ALSO TRIED JIGGLING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BE SURE NOTHING WAS STUCK. NEITHER OF THESE STOPPED THE HIGH RPM IDLE. EACH TIME THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD REDUCE THE RPM WAS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT. THE TOYOTA HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED EACH TIME DURING THE HIGH RPM IDLE. *TR

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 13, 2009105,000 milesGA

WAS TURNING OUT ON A HIGHWAY OUT OF A SIDE ROAD. WHEN STRUCK ON MY FRONT/DRIVERSIDE FENDER AT A HIGH SPEED APPROXIMATE 60MPH, MY CAR IS TOTALED, OR WILL BE TOTALED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY MAKING MY INJURIES WORSE THAN THEY SHOULD BE. IM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY AIRPAD DIDN NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE CAR WAS STRUCK AT THOSE SPEEDS. *TR

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Nov 14, 200865,000 milesMD

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CELICA. EVERY TIME THE CONTACT FINISHES PUMPING FUEL, THE GAS TANK OVERFLOWS. THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE HAD IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V074000 (FUEL SYSTEM :GASOLINE), BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND IT IS CURRENTLY AT A REPAIR SHOP. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,000. UPDATED 12-02-08 *BF UPDATED 12/02/08. *JB

SteeringCrash
Filed Sep 30, 200885,000 milesGA

WE OWN 2002 CELICA GT-S. IT HAS HAD TO HAVE 4 SETS OF TIRES IN 85,000 MILES. AT THE LAST ALIGNMENT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT GET THE 2 REAR TIRES IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE FRONT 2 TIRES. THE PROBLEM WERE THE REAR TIE RODS. HE GOT A SET OF ADJUSTABLE TIE RODS & REPLACED THE FACTORY TIE RODS AND WAS ABLE TO GET ALL 4 TIRES IN PROPER ALIGNMENT. MY SON HAD AN ACCIDENT PREVIOUSLY WHERE HE LOST TRACTION AND SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD BUT WITH NO INJURIES THANK GOD. I TOOK THE TIE RODS TO THE ANDERSON TOYOTA DEALER & THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THAT PROBLEM. BUT THEY DID NOT SHOW ANY CONCERN WHATSOEVER. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRUDENT FOR THEM TO GET SOME INFORMATION & CHECK THEIR SERVICE BULLETINS. BUT I GUESS THE FELLOW HAD FOUND A COMFORTABLE POSITION ON THE STOOL HE WAS OCCUPYING. I AM CONCERNED THIS MAY BE A DEFECT AND WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE WITH THE PROPER KNOWLEDGE TO LOOK INTO THIS. I WAS NOT SEEKING ANYTHING FROM RALPH HAYES TOYOTA. I APPROACHED THEM AS A GENTLEMAN & LEFT WITH THE SAME DEMEANOR. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM COMMON TO THIS PARTICULAR AUTOMOBILE. IT IS A 2002 TOYOTA CELICA GTS. THANK YOU. I DO NOT HAVE A COPY OF THE INCIDENT REPORT TO GIVE CORRECT DATE OF ACCIDENT BUT THE TIE ROD ISSUE BECAME APPARENT ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP UNTIL THAT TIME. *TR

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Aug 30, 200889,000 milesMA

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT A SNOW BANK AT 50MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, I NEEDED TO BE TOWED/PULLED OUT OF THE SNOW BANK. ALSO ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, WITH A CATALYTIC CONVERTER CODE BUT CAT IS STILL GOOD. *TR

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Jul 26, 200785,000 milesOH

2002 TOYOTA CELICA GT SUDDEN STANDARD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

Power Train › Manual Transmission
Filed Nov 28, 200665,000 milesNJ

MY CAR WAS MAKING A NOISE. I TOOK IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS SOMETHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A STANDARD MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND MY CAR HAD 65,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE NOISE BEGAN. THE LAST MECHANIC I TOOK IT TO SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WITH A STANDARD TRANSMISSION AT THE MILEAGE IT'S AT. I OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY TOYOTA MECHANICS. THEY OPENED UP THE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD ME THAT THE BEARINGS INSIDE HAD GONE BAD. THE WORK IS GOING TO COST AT LEAST $1,000. *JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 5, 2005MN

2002 TOYOTA CELICA STARTED TO BURN OIL.*MR

Structure › Body › Bumpers
Filed Mar 2, 200535,000 milesCA

,FRONT GRILL OF MY 2002 TOYOTA CELICA GTS FELL OFF. ALSO THE PLASTIC THAT'S ON THE BOTTOM FRONT WAS SCRAPING ON THE FLOOR. I RIPPED OFF THE PART OF PLASTIC THAT WAS DRAGGING ON THE FLOOR AND I HAVEN'T REPLACED THE GRILL. *AK

Suspension › Front
Filed Jan 25, 200521,000 milesOK

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 17, 2004FL

A 2002 TOYOTA CELICA, DRIVEN BY OUR 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, EXITING OFF OF I-295-DESIGNATED SPEED- 65 MPH,WAS EXITING ONTO I-10 EASTBOUND RAMP, AND UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN, LOST CONTROL OF HER VEHICLE, AND HIT A LIGHT POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB UPON EXAMINATION OF THE CAR AT NIMNICHT CADILLAC ON BLANDING BLVD, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CAR HAD BRAKE FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *JB

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Apr 12, 200413,000 milesFL

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE MERGED OVER TO THE LEFT LANE AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS A TURNING LANE. THEN, OTHER VEHICLE DETOURED BACK IN TO THE LANE IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AT THAT TIME, COLLIDED INTO THE REAR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS WERE WORN, BUT,THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED RIB AND CHEST INJURIES. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Belts and Associated Pulleys
Filed Mar 11, 200432,000 milesCA

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TIMING BELT PROBLEM. DEALER REPLACED THE TIMING BELT A YEAR AGO. *AK

Air BagsCrash
Filed Jan 22, 200424,770 milesNY

MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER I HIT A GAURD RAIL HEAD ON DOING 45-50 MPH. I HAVE ALSO SEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS MODLE OF CAR, BECAUSE THERE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.

Power Train
Filed Jan 15, 20043,500 milesNV

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA CELICA AND I WENT TO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR AND MISSED AND WENT INTO FIRST GEAR AND THE CAR ENGINE BLEW UP. I THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD BECAUSE THEIR WAS NO SAFTEY LOCK PREVENTING ME TO GO INTO FIRST GEAR I SIMPLY JUST PUT IT RIGHT IN AND MY CAR ENGINE BLEW RIGHT UP. I NEED HELP BECAUSE I HAVE PAYMENT ON A BRAND NEW CAR WITH 3500 MILES ON IT AND IT IS SITTING IN THE SHOP AND TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO EVEN TOUCH IT.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 9, 200415,000 milesSC

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON. CONSUMER HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP. THEY JUST LOOKED AT IT AND CHARGED CONSUMER $55.00. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline
Filed Dec 7, 200314,573 milesFL

I GOT A RECALL NOTICE ON MY 1 YEAR OLD 2002 TOYOTA CELICA. NHTSA # 03V-074000. I TOOK THE CAR ON 7/21/03 TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW FUEL TANK WHICH THEY INSTALLED FOR FREE. LESS THAN 90 DAYS LATER MY CELICA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID I HAD GOTTEN SOMETHING LIKE WATER IN MY FUEL SYSTEM. MY FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP, AND FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I SHOWED THEM WHERE THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT HAD WORKED ON MY FUEL SYSTEM LESS THAN 90 DAYS AGO. BUT THEY FAILED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. IN THE END MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAD TO PAY OVER $2,500 BEFORE TOYOTA WOULD RELEASE MY CAR. I AM CONVINCED THE PROCEDURE TOYOTA FOLLOWED TO DO THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE CAUSED THESE PROBLEMS. I OWN 4 CARS AND THIS WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT GOT SOMETHING IN THE FUEL TANK. MOST LIKELY THE FUEL STORAGE CART TOYOTA USED TO STORE MY GAS WHEN THEY REPLACED THE TANK WAS NOT CLEAN. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL ALL CARS WHERE THEY INSTALLED A NEW FUEL TANK UNDER THIS RECALL AND INSPECT THE FUEL PUMPS FOR WATER DAMAGE. *LA

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Oct 7, 200314,000 milesFL

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A "U" TURN IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND CAUSED A COLLISION. CONSUMER WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. POLICE THAT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE CONFIRMED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

Air BagsCrash
Filed Sep 3, 2003ME

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › CaliperCrash
Filed Jun 25, 2003NJ

CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE TRAVELING ON WET ROADS 30-35 MPH AND MAKING A SUDDEN STOP BRAKES LOCKED, TIRES DID NOT GRAPE, VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING UNDER ANOTHER VEHICLE ,RESULTING IN A CRASH. VEHICLE IS NOW ON 2ND REPAIR. *AK

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery
Filed May 21, 2003VT

NAR 05/21/2003 *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE GASOLINE SPILLING BACK OUT OF THE FILLER PIPE AND RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE CAR. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *CB

Fuel System, Gasoline › Storage › Tank Assembly
Filed Apr 17, 2003UT

THE GASOLINE TANK HAD A HOLE INSIDE WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Feb 21, 200315,000 milesOH

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR B/C OF RECENT PROBLEMS. THE CAR WAS RIDING VERY ROUGH (EVEN ON THE SMOOTHEST OF ROADS), THERE WAS A THUMPING IN THE FRONT END, THE CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT, AND AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES CONSIDERABLY. THE SERVICE DEPT. DECIDED THAT IT WAS DEFINATELY AN ISSUE WITH THE TIRES.... WHICH IS FINE, EXCEPT I HAVE ONLY BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR 11 MONTHS AND THERE IS ONLY 16,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I THEN WAITED FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES WHILE THEY CHECKED OUT THE CAR, AND THE SERVICE MAN CAME OUT TO THE WAITING ROOM TO INFORM ME THAT THE SPACERS WHERE NEVER REMOVED FROM MY FRONT SHOCKS. (IE. SPACERS ARE PLACED ON NEW CARS WHEN THEY ARE IN TRANSIT, BEING HAULED ON TRUCKS. THEY KEEP THE CAR FROM BOUNCING AROUND AND GETTING DAMAGED) WELL, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR ALL THIS TIME WITH THE SPACERS STILL IN PLACE, KEEPING MY CAR FROM HANDLING, DRIVING AND PERFORMING LIKE IT SHOULD. THIS HAS CAUSED UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE ALIGNMENT, THE TIRES, ETC. I NOW HAVE BEEN INFORMED I MUST REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES, TWO OF THEM IMMEDIATELY, AND THEY WILL BALANCE THEM FOR A FEE OF $29.95, AND I ALSO WILL NEED AN ALIGNMENT WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS. IT SURE IS GREAT TO HAVE A NEW CAR AND IT'S UNDER WARRANTY, RIGHT?? WRONG! I AM NOW TOLD I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE PROBLEMS, B/C THEY DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ROTATING THE TIRES, WHATEVER THAT HAS TO DO WITH AN ALIGNMENT. AND I AM ALSO RESPONSIBLE FO

StructureCrash
Filed Dec 27, 2002FL

CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE, CONSUMER FEELS FOR SUCH A MINOR ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE OTHER VEHICLE SUFFERED NO DAMAGE , THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE INCURRED SO MUCH DAMAGE, ALSO THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB

Structure › Body › Trunk Lid1 injured
Filed Dec 3, 2002NY

DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, BUT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. MAYBE I NEEDED TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED? DT

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Filed Oct 30, 2002OH

2002 CELICA GT IS CONSUMING 3/4 OF A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT IT MUST CONSUMER 1 QUART EVERY 1200 MILE TO OK A ENGINE TEARDOWN FOR REPAIR. MY CAR IS ON TRACK TO USE 2.63 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY OIL CHANGE OF 3500 MILES. THE RECOMMENDED INTERVAL BY THE DEALER. THE CAR ONLY HOLDS 4.2 QUARTS OF OIL. THIS IS A LOSS OF MORE THAN HALF OF THE ENGINES OIL. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THIS ENGINE WILL BURN SOME OIL. I HAVE SPOKE WITH SERVICE CENTER SAID THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL BUT THEIR HANDS ARE TIED, DUE TO TOYOTA'S CONSUMPTION POLICY. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO THE REGIONAL ZONE MANAGER WITH NO SUCCESS. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DANGER FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS IF THIS ENGINE WAS TO FREEZE UP DUE TO LACK OF OIL, IT CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I WAS NOT INFORMED WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THAT IT WOULD CONSUME OIL AND THAT IT NEED TO BE CHECKED REGULARLY. DT

Air Bags › FrontalCrash
Filed Jul 5, 2002IL

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK *JG

All 29 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20054100Routine
20044000Routine
200317100Routine
2002 — this page29100Routine
200147100Routine
2000106323Fatalities reported
199910100Routine
19985100Routine
19978010Routine
19969100Routine
199522001Fatalities reported
199414000Routine
199313110Routine
199221120Routine
199127120Routine
199029220Routine

Compare every Celica year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Mar 5, 2003. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.