2002 Toyota CELICA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
29 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
35,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 19 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags:Frontal is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 29 complaints (20.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 13.8% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 6.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 6.9% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 3.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 2 |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 |
Air Bags:Frontal: 6; Air Bags: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 2; Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module: 1; Air Bags:Side/Window: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 2 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 2
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (8). 10 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 3 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
2002: 4; 2003: 7; 2004: 6; 2005: 3; 2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags:Frontal leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 2 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 10068970 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)
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.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10068970 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174532 · 2006-11-28 (November 28, 2006)
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 LE…
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10174532 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10024928 · 2003-06-25 (June 25, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10024928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095894 · 2004-10-17 (October 17, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10095894 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049345 · 2003-12-07 (December 7, 2003)
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 …
Owner-reported narrative. 14,573 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049345 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10248788 · 2008-11-14 (November 14, 2008)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10248788 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10007907 · 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)
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, …
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007907 at NHTSA ↗