2000 Toyota CELICA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
106 owner complaints analyzed
2 distinct recall campaigns
68,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 106 complaints (14.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 13.2% |
| Braking behavior | 11 | 10.4% |
| Engine operation | 9 | 8.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.8% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 15 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 9 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 9 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 8 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 15; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys: 9; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 9; Engine And Engine Cooling: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 8; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Air Bags: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 7 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 2
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (10). 67 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 15; 2001: 18; 2002: 10; 2003: 14; 2004: 9; 2005: 6; 2006: 2; 2007: 5; 2008: 4; 2009: 5; 2010: 8; 2011: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 3; 2019: 1; 2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 11 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10228201 · 2008-05-19 (May 19, 2008)
ON MAY 3RD, 2008 I HAD AN INCIDENT WITH MY 2000 CELICA GTS. I WAS USING CRUISE CONTROL AT 65MPH. I TAPPED MY BRAKES TO DISENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AS I EXITED ONE HIGHWAY ONTO ANOTHER. WHEN I CLICKED RESUME ON MY CRUISE CONTROL MY CAR ACCELERATED PAST 65MPH AND CONTINUED CLIMBING. I TAPPED MY BRAKES BUT MY CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I TURNED OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE PAST 85MPH. I PUSHED MY CLUTCH PETAL IN AND THE ENGINE REV'D NEAR REDLINE. I RELEASED THE CLUTCH AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 123,003 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228201 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10644757 · 2014-10-15 (October 15, 2014)
I TOWED MY VEHICLE TO NEWBOLD TOYOTA ON JULY 28, 2014, AND ON JULY 29, I SPOKE TO [XXX], A SERVICE ADVISOR AND EXPLAINED WHY MY VEHICLE WAS THERE. HE INDICATED THEY WOULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND GET BACK TO ME. AT 3:28 PM [XXX] CALLED ME BACK INDICATING THAT THE ENGINE WAS DONE DUE TO THE OVER-REV WHICH BLEW THE ENGINE. HERE IS MY STATEMENT ON WHAT HAPPENED: ON JULY 28 2014 AT ABOUT 7 A.M., I WAS TRAVELING TO WORK ON I-255 SOUTHBOUND WHEN MY GAS PEDAL SUNK TO THE FLOOR WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH IN FIFTH GEAR. THE CAR SPED UP, SO HAVING A MANUA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10644757 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149847 · 2006-02-09 (February 9, 2006)
BAD CAR SERVICES REPAIR HAD 2000 CELICA TOYOTA SERVICE NUMEROUS TIMES FOR ENGINE AND BRAKES PROBLEMS, STILL HAVING PROBLEMS. TOYOTA SERVICES WANT TO TEAR DOWN ENGINE FOR FURTHER CHECK NOISE. IN WHICH I HAVE COMPLAINED SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT HEARING NOISE FROM THE ENGINE, THEY STATED COULD NOT HEAR ANY NOISE. I HAD THE CAR SERVICE 04/09/2005 FOR ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON THEY FIX THE GASKET, BUT CONT TO HAVE PROBLEM WITH THE AUTO. I THINK I HAVE BAD LEMON CAR I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO. I HAVE A MECHANICAL BREAKDOWN INSURANCE WARRANTY BUMPER TO BUM…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10149847 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10190342 · 2007-05-09 (May 9, 2007)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 TOYOTA CELICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE BURNS AT LEAST A QUART OF OIL EVERY 500 MILES WITH NO SIGNS OF LEAKAGE. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 1999 CELICA, BUT NOT FOR THE 2000 MODELS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S MASTER CYLINDER WAS RECALLED. HE WAS PREVIOUSLY INVOLVED IN A CRASH DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS OPERATING NORMALLY, HOWEVER THE BRAKE FUEL WAS CONTAMINATED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT HE WAS 100% LIABLE. TOYOTA STATED THAT THE MASTER C…
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10190342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023886 · 2003-06-27 (June 27, 2003)
FROM THE DAY OF PURCHASE THE BELT TENSIONER HAS BEEN SQUEAKING. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AT LEAST 10 TIMES. INITIALLY THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY TIGHTENED AND THAT IT WAS FIXED. AFTER ABOUT A YEAR THEY AGREED TO REPLACE THE BELT. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY EVER HAVE. AFTER I MOVED TO ST. PAUL I TOOK IT TO A NEW DEALER, AND WAS TOLD THAT IT IS A SELF TIGHTENING BELT AND CANNOT BE TIGHTENED. FOR THE PAST 2 1/2 YEARS IT HAS GOTTEN CONSISTENTLY WORSE, AND NO ONE WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ALSO, UPON STARTING, THE CAR BOGS, HAS SOME SORT OF LOSS OF…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10023886 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10186134 · 2007-03-26 (March 26, 2007)
THIS IS FOR A AUTOMATIC GTS MODEL. WHEN DRIVING AT A SPEED SAY 40 MPH TO A REDLIGHT STOP, THE ENGINE RPM GETS REALLY UNSTABLE AND THEN SHORTLY STALLS, MEANING HAVE TO PARK THE CAR AND RESTART THE ENGINE ON AN AUTOMATIC CAR. ENGINE LIGHT MAY OR MAY NOT LIT UP/ STORE A CODE AFTER RESTARTING ENGINE. DIAGNOSIS FROM DEALERSHIP IS NO PROBLEM MOST OF THE TIME, EXCEPT RECENTLY HAVING A DETECTION OF PROBLEM WITH THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. THE SENSOR WAS REPLACED BUT THE SAME PROBLEM REMAINS. THE CAR HAS BEEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED THROUGHOUT, AND THE STA…
Owner-reported narrative. 3,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10186134 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10298242 · 2010-01-05 (January 5, 2010)
WE BOUGHT A 2000 TOYOTA CELICA FOR OUR 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. THE CAR WAS USED WITH ABOUT 80K MILES. THE CAR WAS IN EXCELLENT SHAPE, AND HAD NOT BEEN ALTERED IN ANY WAY. ON JANUARY 2ND, OUR DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK AND THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. SHE WAS ABLE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND CALL 911. THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS, AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. THE WEATHER THAT DAY WAS CLEAR, BUT VERY COLD. SHE STATED THAT THE ONLY THING ON IN THE CAR WAS THE HEATER. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY WORK DONE THIS CAR EXCEPT AN OIL C…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10298242 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10310230 · 2010-02-13 (February 13, 2010)
THE 2000 TOYOTA CELICA HAS A DEFECTIVE BELT TENSIONER MECHANISM THAT RESULTS IN A DEAD BATTERY AND ULTIMATE LOSS OF ALL ELECTRICAL STARTER, ETC. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACE THE TENSIONER (AND BATTERY) TWICE COSTING $500. NOW THIS HAS HAPPENED FOR THE 3RD TIME SAME CAR. IN MY OPINION THIS IS DANGEROUS SINCE IT LEADS TO PEOPLE BEING STRANDED OR WORSE LOSS OF POWER ON THE FREEWAY. SUNNYSIDE TOYOTA, IN NORTH OLMSTED, OHIO SAYS THE TENSIONER "SHOULD BE REPLACED EVERY 40 - 50K MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10310230 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10062602 · 2004-03-19 (March 19, 2004)
MY 2000 CELICA GT-S (BOUGHT NEW) HAS EXHIBITED A SQUEALING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMRNT SINCE ABOUT 12,000 MILES. A PULLEY BELT TENSIONER AND THE BELT HAVE BEEN COMPLETEY REPLACED AT LEAST 5 TIMES (I LOST COUNT), AS WELL AS "REPAIRED" BY TOYOTA AT LEAST 3 ADDITONAL TIMES. IN JUNE 2003, AT ABOUT 72,000 MILES, 2 MONTHS AFETR I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR YET ANOTHER REPAIR OF THIS ITEM, THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY FAILED WHEN THE CONNECTOR COLT SHEARED OFF AT THE ENGINE BLOCK, REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE REMOVED TO DRILL OUT THE BOLT AND REMOUNT …
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10062602 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 751381 · 2001-08-30 (August 30, 2001)
1. ENGINE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40MPH A LOUD NOISE (SNAP OR POP) FOLLOWED BY OTHER ODD NOISES WERE EXHIBITED BY THE ENGINE. AT THAT TIME ALL ENGINE POWER (INCLUDING POWER ASSISTED STEERING AND BRAKES) WAS LOST. 2. TRANSMISSION. SHIFTER NOISES ARE EXHIBITED WHILE SELECTING GEARS. THE NOISE, A LOUD SQUEAKING WHILE MOVING SHIFTER INTO OR OUT OF GEAR, INITIALLY STARTED AT AROUND 1000 MILES AND WAS ONLY PRESENT DURING REVERSE, 1ST, OR 2ND SHIFT. THE SYMPTOM HAS WORSENED AND IS NOW PRESENT WHEN SELECTING ANY GEAR (1-6 OR REVERSE)…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 751381 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 865846 · 2000-07-21 (July 21, 2000)
THERE IS A FUEL LEAK DUE TO A BROKEN HOSE. DEALER HAS NOT REMEDIED PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 865846 at NHTSA ↗