2001 Toyota CELICA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002416 · 2003-01-09 (January 9, 2003)
CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 04/01. WHILE DRIVING ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A "CLICKING" NOISE. DEALER DIAGNOSED OIL SLUDGE IN ENGINE. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002416 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002724 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)
STRUTS HOLDING UP REAR HATCH FAILURE, CAUSING HATCH TO COME DOWM
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002724 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052377 · 2004-01-05 (January 5, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10052377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067884 · 2004-04-27 (April 27, 2004)
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 ARE CHARGING ME 25 DOLLARS A DAY TO HOLD MY CAR .I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE A WARRENTY THATS NO USE TO ME OR MY CAR .*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067884 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 10094577 · 2004-09-29 (September 29, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 47,990 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114466 · 2005-03-22 (March 22, 2005)
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 NEEDS TO BE REPLACED??
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10114466 at NHTSA ↗
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 ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
04V566000 · Exterior Lighting:Headlights
Reported: 2004-11-29 (November 29, 2004)
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, 'LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.' THE LUMINOUS INTENSITY OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP (DRL) WILL BE MODIFIED TO MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR, WHICH WILL DECREASE THE LUMINOUS INTENSITY OF THE DRL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 16, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA campaign record ↗