2001 TOYOTA CELICA Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
THIS ENGINE HAS A KNOWN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. IT CAN CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I HAVE HAD A MOTOR COMPLETELY FAIL WHILE ON THE FREEWAY WITH A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO OIL LEVELS RUNNING DRY. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTAS RECALL DEPARTMENT ANT THEY SAID UNLESS NHTSA MAKES THIS A RECALL TH...
Mileage: 85,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CELICA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE GEAR SHIFTIER DID NOT WORK AND MADE A GRINDING NOISE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER APPROXIMATE...
Mileage: 72,000
SINCE THE RECALLS HAVE CAME OUT FOR THE CELICA OIL ISSUES MY WIFE HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET A SOLUTION FROM TOYOTA. TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT HER CAR IS NOT PART OF THE ISSUE HOWEVER TSB EG 6020 HER CAR IS A PART OF THE ISSUE. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE OF THE CARS THAT WERE RECALLED...
Mileage: 40,000
AS SOON AS I BOUGHT MY CAR IN MAY 2017, I REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS RUNNING OUT OF OIL SUPER FAST. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY LEAKS OR PROBLEMS, BUT THERE WERE NONE. TO THIS DAY DEC 2018 I'VE SPENT ABOUT 2K ON OIL ALONE. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IN THE CELICAS. I R...
Mileage: 210,000
AS SOON AS I BOUGHT MY CAR IN MAY 2017, I REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS RUNNING OUT OF OIL SUPER FAST. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY LEAKS OR PROBLEMS, BUT THERE WERE NONE. TO THIS DAY DEC 2018 I'VE SPENT ABOUT 2K ON OIL ALONE. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IN THE CELICAS. I R...
Mileage: 210,000
NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANYTHING NOT WORKING BUT SINCE I'VE NOTICED THE FRONT AIRBAG LIGHTS ON THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN HAS STOPPED WORKING DON'T KNOW IF IT COULD HAVE BEEN A RELATED ISSUE TO THE AIRBAG HAVE CHECKED THE FUSES AND ALL OF THEM WAS GOOD BUT MY HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WO...
Mileage: 150,000
NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANYTHING NOT WORKING BUT SINCE I'VE NOTICED THE FRONT AIRBAG LIGHTS ON THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN HAS STOPPED WORKING DON'T KNOW IF IT COULD HAVE BEEN A RELATED ISSUE TO THE AIRBAG HAVE CHECKED THE FUSES AND ALL OF THEM WAS GOOD BUT MY HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WO...
Mileage: 150,000
JUST ANOTHER BURNING OIL COMPLAINT HERE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO MY TAHOE FOR WHEN I DRIVE 1.5 HOUR AWAY FOR WORK. I WASN'T EXPECTING TO HAVE TO PUT IN NEARLY A QUART OF OIL WITH EVERY TRIP. SEEMS TO ME LIKE THIS PISTON ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN, WELL DOCUMENTED, HEAVILY COMPLAINED ABOUT, A...
Mileage: 150,000
THE ENGINE MAKES A HORRIBLE TICKING SOUND AND CONSUMES ALMOST 4 QUARTS OF OIL FOR EVERY FOUR HUNDRED MILES I DRIVE, SO BASICALLY EVERY TIME I FILL UP WITH GAS I'M ALSO FILLING MY CAR WITH OIL. WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THIS IN 2011 I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG W...
Mileage: 98,000
I PURCHASED A TOYOTA CELICA 2001 WITH A 1ZZ-FE ENGINE IN MAY OF THIS YEAR 2014 AFTER ANOTHER DRIVER TOTALED MY CAR. IT GOT A FRESH OIL CHANGE FROM PEPBOYS AND CONSUMED THE OIL IN ABOUT 3 WEEKS. THIS HAS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO CREATE A LOUD CONSTANT KNOCKING SOUND OVER TIME WHICH IS ANY TIME I'M NOT GO...
Mileage: 159,000
1ZZ FE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE BURNING 1L PER FULL TANK WEEKLY DEPENDING ON HOW I DRIVE FAILURE TO TOP UP WEEKLY WOULD RESULT IN MASSIVE ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND SEIZE OR BLOW CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT MAY NOT LAST ON HWY AT 100KM/HR FOR MORE THAN 2-3 HOURS STRAIGHT WITHOUT STOPPING OIL IS EX...
Mileage: 167
ON 8/30/2013, WE PURCHASED A NEW SET OF 4 TIRES FROM COSTCO, IWILEI HAWAII. ON 9/28, THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD. NO PUNCTURES PER GOODYEAR OF KAILUA. ON 10/6, THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT AT A RESIDENTIAL ROAD. NO PUNCTURES PER COSTCO, IWILEI. ON 11...
Mileage: 69,547
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CELICA EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE PRIMEWELL TIRES, SIZE 195-60-15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MANUFACTURER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CUP...
I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA CELICA GT, ABOUT 10,000 MILES AGO I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY SAID THAT MY OIL WAS A QT LOW. SO I TOOK NOTE. THE OTHER DAY MY ENGINE SOUNDED DIFFERENT, SO I PULLED OVER AT A GAS STATION AND CHECKED THE OIL. THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE DIP STICK. I BOUGHT A QT, PUT ...
Mileage: 160,000
I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2001 TOYOTA CELICA. I BOUGHT IT FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO HAVE AS A FIRST CAR, BUT RECENTLY I'VE NOTICED THE FLIMSY FIT THAT THE SEAT BELTS HAVE SEEMED TO HAD AGAINST THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SEAT. I AM UNHAPPY ABOUT IT BECAUSE IF ANOTHER DRIVER CRASHES INTO...
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CELICA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS SHE HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WA...
Mileage: 50,000
2001 TOYOTA CELICA, UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT LANE ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. UNIT 2 WAS DISABLED FROM A PRIOR CRASH IN THE RIGHT LANE FACING NORTHEAST . UNIT 1 STRUCK UNIT 2 ON THE LEFT SIDE. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0796-91) UPDATED 02/15/11 *BF
I PURCHASED MY CELICA NEW IN 2001. THIS YEAR I HAD A NEW CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION PUT IN. IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS I NOTICED THAT I WAS PUTTING OIL IN ON A REGULAR BASIS, NO LEAKS AND NO SMOKE FORM THE EXHAUST. I HAVE 128 THOUSAND MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL ON SCHEDULE. I CONTACTED T...
Mileage: 128,614
I PURCHASED MY CELICA NEW IN 2001. THIS YEAR I HAD A NEW CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION PUT IN. IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS I NOTICED THAT I WAS PUTTING OIL IN ON A REGULAR BASIS, NO LEAKS AND NO SMOKE FORM THE EXHAUST. I HAVE 128 THOUSAND MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL ON SCHEDULE. I CONTACTED T...
Mileage: 128,614
I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW TOYOTA CELICA IN 2001. IN 2006 IT BEGAN SOUNDING STRANGE WHEN ACCELERATING AND ALSO WHEN I WOULD BACK UP AND USE THE BRAKES. IT WOULD MAKE A VERY STRANGE SOUND AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK THE SAME AS THEY USED TO. I REPORTED THIS TO MECHANICS AT TOYOTA BUT THEY SAID THE CAR...
Mileage: 121,000
2001 TOYOTA CELICA GTS. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY I ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN I TRIED TO DISENAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY STEPPING ON THE BREAK PEDAL THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL. I TRIED TURNING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL WITH THE SWITCH BUT THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. I HAD TO SL...
Mileage: 44,300
I HAD PURCHASED A 2001 TOYOTA CELICA GT IN OCTOBER 2005 TO INITIALLY GET TO AND FROM WORK, AND IN 2007 I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING MORE OIL THEN NORMAL (1 QUART OIL = 500MILES) AFTER THE OIL WAS CHANGED AT 96,000 MILES, I ALSO STARTED NOTICING A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPA...
Mileage: 96,000
I HAD PURCHASED A 2001 TOYOTA CELICA GT IN OCTOBER 2005, AND IN 2006 I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING MORE OIL THEN NORMAL (1 QUART OIL = 500MILES) AFTER THE OIL WAS CHANGED AT 96,000 MILES, I ALSO STARTED NOTICING A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I'VE TAKEN IT TO ROSEVILLE...
Mileage: 96,000
IT IS COMMONLY KNOWN THE 1998 TO 2005 1.8L 1ZZ-FE ENGINES IN TOYOTA CELICA'S BURN MASS AMOUNTS OF OIL AFTER 100,000 MILES. (1 QUART OR MORE EVERY 500 TO 1000 MILES). THE DEFECT IS IN THE PISTON. PRIOR TO 2005 THERE ARE ONLY 4 HOLES IN THE PISTON BEHIND THE OIL RINGS FOR OIL TO FLOW. AFTER 2005 THERE...
Mileage: 100,000
I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA CELICA GT WHEN I HIT A PATCH OF ICE AND SLID OFF THE ROAD, I SLID OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND HIT A FIRE HYDRANT HEAD ON AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENTIRE LOWER HALF OF MY BODY JAMMED INTO MY SPINE, CAUSING PERMANENT DA...
I WAS DRIVING WEST BOUND ON I-10 NEAR DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, TX WHEN I WENT TO PASS A TRUCK AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN I RELEASED THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING AND THE ENGINE WENT TO THE REDLINE. I TRIED THE BRAKES WHICH WORKED A LITTLE BIT BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL SCREAMING AT THE REDLIN...
Mileage: 72,400
ON MARCH 2008 I DECIDED TO PURCHASE A 5 SPEED MANUAL 2001 TOYOTA CELICA GT FROM A THIRD PARTY. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE WITH A CERTIFIED MECHANIC I BOUGHT IT WITH 98,000 MILES. THE NEXT DAY, AS MASSACHUSETTS LAW STATES I WENT TO GET THE INSPECTION STICKER FOR THE VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING WENT OK. ...
Mileage: 98,000
I PURCHASED MY 2001 TOYOTA CELICA IN SEPTEMBER 2009 WITH ONLY 62,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND ENGINE. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT IT WAS BURNING A QUART OF OIL ABOUT EVERY 800 MILES. I CONTINUED TO ADD OIL AND KEEP REGULAR OIL CHANGES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I W...
Mileage: 64,000
EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, 1.5 QUART OF OIL EVERY 500 MILES, STARTED AT 96,000 MILES, AT 114,000 MILES NOW. *TR
Mileage: 96,000
I NOTICE SOMETHING WRONG WHEN I HAD TO CHANGE THE OIL TWICE IN ONE MONTH, I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND NOTICED THAT IT WAS BURNING OIL. I HAVE ALWAYS FOLLOWED THE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE AS SHOWN. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP AND HAD THE ENGINE CHECKED, AND THE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME THAT IT HAD "WEAK VALVES" AFT...
Mileage: 121,500
AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPOT IN THE RAMP, MY CAR 'UNEXPECTEDLY' LURCHED FORWARD INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR ON THE LEFT AND A WIRE BARRIER AND CONCRETE WALL AHEAD. DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS $5,647.92. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID MY SEAT BELT HOLD ME. MY HEAD FLEW FORWARD ONTO THE STEERING WH...
Mileage: 61,055
AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPOT IN THE RAMP, MY CAR 'UNEXPECTEDLY' LURCHED FORWARD INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR ON THE LEFT AND A WIRE BARRIER AND CONCRETE WALL AHEAD. DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS $5,647.92. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID MY SEAT BELT HOLD ME. MY HEAD FLEW FORWARD ONTO THE STEERING WH...
Mileage: 61,055
AS I WAS PULLING INTO MY PARKING SPOT IN THE RAMP, MY CAR 'UNEXPECTEDLY' LURCHED FORWARD INTO A CONCRETE PILLAR ON THE LEFT AND A WIRE BARRIER AND CONCRETE WALL AHEAD. DAMAGE TO THE CAR WAS $5,647.92. MY AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY NOR DID MY SEAT BELT HOLD ME. MY HEAD FLEW FORWARD ONTO THE STEERING WH...
Mileage: 61,055
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.
Mileage: 96,000
REAR HATCH CLOSES BY ITSELF. DEALER ACKNOWLEDGES PROBLEM BUT WILL NOT REPLACE BECAUSE IT WAS NOT REPORTED WHILE STILL IN WARRANTY.THE SUPPORT ARMS ARE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE HATCH .THEY HAVE BEEN DISCONTINUED AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED WITH STRONGER ONES.THE HATCH COMES DOWN WITHOUT WARNING AN...
Mileage: 30,000
DRIVING HOME AT APPROX. 70 MPH THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISS...CAUSING A LOSS IN RPMS AND A LOUD KNOCKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE FOLLOWED BY A HIGH PITCH SQUEALLING (ALMOST LIKE THE FAN BELT WAS GOING OUT)...AFTER PULLING OFF THE ROAD AND TURNING THE CAR OFF TO INSPECT THE NOISES...NO SIGNS WHERE SHOWING...
Mileage: 74,837
BELT TENSIONER SQUEALS AND MAKES NOISE AS EVIDENCED SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF MILES AGO ( CURRENTLY 46K MILES), ESPECIALLY WHEN HUMID, AND WILL EVENTUALLY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS WILL BE THE FOURTH TIME SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DEC. 2000. WHY IS THIS A DEFECTIVE PART WHICH CONTINUALLY N...
BELT TENSIONER SQUEALS AND MAKES NOISE AS EVIDENCED SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF MILES AGO ( CURRENTLY 46K MILES), ESPECIALLY WHEN HUMID, AND WILL EVENTUALLY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS WILL BE THE FOURTH TIME SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DEC. 2000. WHY IS THIS A DEFECTIVE PART WHICH CONTINUALLY N...
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT AN IMPACT OF 30 MPH, AND NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. *AK
Mileage: 47,990
AFTER ONLY 32000 MILES, I HAD A SUDDEN AND SEVERE LOSS OF POWER IN ENGINE ALMOST LEADING TO STALLING. THE ENGINE WENT TO HIGH REVVING ABOUT 8K RPMS AND A BURNING OIL SMELL. WITH THIS, CLIMBING HILLS, EVASIVE MANUEVERS, AND OTHER ACCELERATION ISSUES ALMOST CAUSED CRASHES BECAUSE THEY WERE SO SUYDD...
Mileage: 32,330
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN I HEARD A BANG AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IHAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN HARRISNBURG VA . THEY TOLD ME MY ENGINE HAD BLOWN .MY WARRENTY REFUSES TO PAY THE REPAIRS.SO NOW I HAVE NO CAR.AND A BILL FOR 4100 .THAT I CANT PAY .AND NOW THEY...
THE ACCESSORY BELT TENSIONER IN MY 2001 TOYOTA CELICA HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, CAUSING SQUEELING AND RATTLING NOISES AND A BOLT TO BREAK OFF INTO MY ENGINE.*AK
STRUTS HOLDING UP REAR HATCH FAILURE, CAUSING HATCH TO COME DOWM
Mileage: 20,000
CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 04/01. WHILE DRIVING ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A "CLICKING" NOISE. DEALER DIAGNOSED OIL SLUDGE IN ENGINE. *NLM
Mileage: 25,000
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE IN HOT OR INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THE MECHANIC OF THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T REPEAT THE PROBLEM. TS
THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AT APPROXIMATELY 8000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 14132 MILES.THE DEALER SAID HE SUSPECTS ABUSE BUT THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN IN A NORMAL MANNER.*AK
WHILE BRAKING AT 25 MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO SLIDE TO LEFT, AND RESULTED IN A REAR END COLLISION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
THIS CLAIM IS AT MY NAME NOT THE CUSTOMER. THE CUSTOMER'S NAME IS [XXX]. WE HAVE A CLAIM OF HIS VEHICLE AND WOULD WANT TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE MORE CLAIMS OF THIS MODEL FOR ENGINES. THE CUSTOMER WON'T GIVE ME THE INTERNET ADDRESS WHERE HE FOUND INFORMATION POSTED FROM OTHER CUSTOMERS ABOUT HIS CLAIM....
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES,THEY MAKE A LOUD NOISE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATE THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER IN THE CAR WASN'T BRING IN ENOUGH AIR.*MJ
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES,THEY MAKE A LOUD NOISE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATE THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER IN THE CAR WASN'T BRING IN ENOUGH AIR.*MJ
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WHEN APPLYING BRAKES,THEY MAKE A LOUD NOISE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATE THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER IN THE CAR WASN'T BRING IN ENOUGH AIR.*MJ
"DING" FROM A CAR DOOR THRU BUMPER OUT OF ALIGNMENT. *AK
ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO WEAK VALVES. *AK
VEHICLE CAME WITH DIRECTIONAL TIRES THAT WERE PUT ON THE WRONG WAY. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THIS WAS VERY DANGEROUS, AND THAT THE TIRES COULD DISINTEGRATE WHEN DRIVING OVER 50 MPH. *AK
WHILE DRIVE AT 72 MPH ON A STRAIGHT, DRY INTERSTATE, I MOVED MY SEAT BACKWARD. SOMEHOW DURING THE PROCESS, I MUST HAVE TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL. BECAUSE THE CAR BEGAN TO FISHTAIL. FOR SEVERAL SECONDS THE CAR FISHTAILED, WHILE I HELD THE WHEEL STEADY UNTIL IT RETURNED TO NORMAL STEERING. I HAVE BEEN...