2002 TOYOTA CELICA Problems & Recalls
Detailed safety information and owner complaints
Problem Breakdown
Compare to Other Years
Common Problems
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 AIRBA...
Mileage: 165,000
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 GIR...
Mileage: 118,000
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 GIR...
Mileage: 118,000
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 GIR...
Mileage: 118,000
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 ST...
Mileage: 165,000
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 ...
Mileage: 105,000
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 TH...
Mileage: 65,000
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 T...
Mileage: 85,000
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 T...
Mileage: 85,000
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 T...
Mileage: 85,000
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
Mileage: 89,000
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
Mileage: 89,000
2002 TOYOTA CELICA GT SUDDEN STANDARD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB
Mileage: 85,000
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 STANDAR...
Mileage: 65,000
2002 TOYOTA CELICA STARTED TO BURN OIL.*MR
,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
Mileage: 35,000
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB
Mileage: 21,000
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 CADILLA...
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 CADILLA...
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...
Mileage: 13,000
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TIMING BELT PROBLEM. DEALER REPLACED THE TIMING BELT A YEAR AGO. *AK
Mileage: 32,000
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.
Mileage: 24,770
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.
Mileage: 24,770
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 HE...
Mileage: 3,500
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
Mileage: 15,000
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 D...
Mileage: 14,573
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
Mileage: 14,000
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
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
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
THE GASOLINE TANK HAD A HOLE INSIDE WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM
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 DEP...
Mileage: 15,000
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....
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....
DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, BUT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. MAYBE I NEEDED TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED? DT
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 ...
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