2002 Toyota CELICA: complaints, problems and recalls
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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
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 ↗
Owner report 10016128 · 2003-04-17 (April 17, 2003)
THE GASOLINE TANK HAD A HOLE INSIDE WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016128 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020367 · 2003-05-21 (May 21, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020367 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 10038058 · 2003-09-03 (September 3, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10038058 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10042436 · 2003-10-07 (October 7, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042436 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 10053755 · 2004-01-09 (January 9, 2004)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10053755 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.
03V074000 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Reported: 2003-03-05 (March 5, 2003)
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK CHECK VALVE, LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK INLET PIPE, MAY BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE INLET PIPE AND FALL INTO THE FUEL TANK. IF THE CHECK VALVE FALLS INTO THE TANK, FUEL MAY SPILL FROM THE FUEL INLET PIPE WHEN THE FUEL PUMP AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF DURING FUELING.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT A FIRE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPAIR THE FUEL TANK CHECK VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 4, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA campaign record ↗