2001 Toyota CELICA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
47 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 8 of 47 complaints (17.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 10.6% |
| Braking behavior | 5 | 10.6% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 6.4% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 6.4% |
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 | 8 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 7 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Tires | 4 |
| Air Bags | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Power Train | 3 |
| Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut | 3 |
Engine: 8; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 7; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Tires: 4; Air Bags: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Power Train: 3; Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate:Support Device/Strut: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 5 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 5
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 16 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 | 1 |
| 2001 | 2 |
| 2002 | 6 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 7 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 3 |
2000: 1; 2001: 2; 2002: 6; 2003: 2; 2004: 4; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 7; 2011: 2; 2013: 4; 2014: 4; 2015: 1; 2018: 1; 2019: 3
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 5 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 5 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 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 10129423 · 2005-07-20 (July 20, 2005)
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 THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM...CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON...ASSUMING THE PROBLEM HAD WORKED ITSELF OUT...WE CONTINUED TO GET BACK ON THE HIGHWAY...IT STARTED AGAIN...THE RPMS DROPPED THROWING THE CAR OUT OF GEAR SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL WE COULD GET …
Owner-reported narrative. 74,837 miles reported. Look up ODI 10129423 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10169524 · 2006-09-28 (September 28, 2006)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 96,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10169524 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276049 · 2009-07-08 (July 8, 2009)
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. ALSO, I DECIDED TO DO A FULL CHECK ON THE CAR (BRAKES, OIL, FILTERS, ETC). HOWEVER AFTER 4 WEEKS THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I WOULD LET GO OF THE GAS AND I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE RED OIL LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD WOULD BLINK FOR A SEC…
Owner-reported narrative. 98,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10276049 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293482 · 2009-11-25 (November 25, 2009)
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 REDLINE. FORTUNATELY THE FREEWAY WAS QUITE CLEAR AS I JUST KEPT GOING FASTER AND FASTER. I'M A "CAR-GUY" AND I'M ALSO A MECHANIC AND SINCE THIS WAS MY FIRST NEW CAR I EVER BOUGHT, I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE ENGINE BLOWING UP MORE THAN I WAS ABOUT HITTING SOME…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293482 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086362 · 2004-08-07 (August 7, 2004)
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 SUYDDEN AND SEVERE. THE DEALER SIAD THE CLUTCH WAS BURNT, BUT IT WAS SO SUDDEN AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 32,330 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10515868 · 2013-06-09 (June 9, 2013)
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 IT IN AND DROVE TO WORK. WHEN I CHECKED IT AGAIN, I WAS STILL UNABLE TO SEE OIL ON THE DIP STICK, I PUT ANOTHER QT IN. I DOVE HOME AND CHECKED AGAIN, I COULD JUST SEE THE OIL ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DIP STICK, I PUT ANOTHER QT IN. THIS BROUGHT IT ALMO…
Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10198680 · 2007-08-06 (August 6, 2007)
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 WHEEL AND I REQUIRED 14 STITCHES BELOW MY MOUTH AND CHIN ON THE OUTSIDE AND 12 ON THE INSIDE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 61,055 miles reported. Look up ODI 10198680 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10311395 · 2010-02-17 (February 17, 2010)
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 DAMAGE. WHEN FURTHER INSPECTED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN AWAY FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHETHER THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE 2000+ YEAR MODELS OF THE TOYOTA CELICA'S. THE CONDENSER, AND RADIATOR …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10311395 at NHTSA ↗