2003 Toyota CELICA: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
17 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
47,800 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2003 model year. Data snapshot: . 7 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Gasoline is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 17 complaints (17.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 29.4% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 17.6% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 5.9% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 5.9% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 |
| Air Bags | 2 |
| Engine | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Fuel System, Diesel:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch | 1 |
| Power Train:Manual Transmission | 1 |
Fuel System, Gasoline: 3; Air Bags: 2; Engine: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Fuel System, Diesel:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 1; Latches/Locks/Linkages:Hood:Latch: 1; Power Train:Manual Transmission: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 1 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 1; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 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 |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 3 |
| 2004 | 4 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2003: 3; 2004: 4; 2005: 1; 2006: 2; 2008: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 1; 2017: 1; 2018: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Gasoline leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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 10007218 · 2003-02-12 (February 12, 2003)
THE HOOD LATCH FAILED, WHICH CAUSED INJURY TO THE CONSUMER.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10007218 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026568 · 2003-08-07 (August 7, 2003)
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL #03V074000 CONCERNING THE FUEL TANK CHECK VALVE. THE DEALER HAD THE VEHICLE FOR FOUR HOURS, AND THEN TOLD CONSUMER THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE DEALER WAS SUPPOSE TO CALL WHEN THE PARTS BECAME AVAILABLE.*AK THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THE CONSUMER WASN'T WELCOMED BACK AND HIS VEHICLE WASN'T FIXED. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10026568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10027317 · 2003-07-15 (July 15, 2003)
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 03V074000 FOR THE FUEL TANK CHECK VALVE. MS. RICHARDSON HAD 2 CONFIRMED APPOINTMENTS WITH DEALER FOR REMEDY. FOR EACH APPOINTMENT DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR THE ENTIRE DAY, ONLY TO INFORM MS. RICHARDSON THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE PART WHEN SHE RETURNED TO PICK UP THE CAR. NOW IT HAS BEEN OVER 2 MONTHS AND THE DEALER ADVISED THEY WOULD CONTACT MS. RICHARDSON ONCE THE PART WAS AVAILABLE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10027317 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10067954 · 2004-04-28 (April 28, 2004)
THIS CONCERNS A 2003 TOYOTA CELICA GT WITH A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN BACKING AND TURNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT; NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. IT DEVELOPED A HUM FROM THE RIGHT FRONT AND A SQUEEK IN THE REAR. A NON-TOYOTA MECHANIC RODE WITH ME AND DIAGNOSED A BAD FRONT WHEEL HUB/BEARING. TOYOTA REPLACED IT. IT STOPPED THE HUM AND THE SQUEEK, BUT NOT THE POP. WE TOOK IT FOR A TIRE ROTATION, BUT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS WORN DOWN TO THE STEEL BELT SO THE TIRE SHOP WOULDN'T DO THE ROTATION. THE CAR HAD A PROBLEM IN T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10067954 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086243 · 2004-08-05 (August 5, 2004)
MY CRUISE CONTROL DOSE NOT WORK IM MY 2003 TOYOTA CELICA GTS. ALSO I BELIVE THIS I A RESULT OF SOMETHING HAPPENING TO MY CAR 3 MONTHS EARLIER MAKE : TOYOTA MODEL : CELICA YEAR : 2003 SERVICE BULLETIN NUM : TC03015 DATE OF BULLETIN: JUL 24, 2003 NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 10003486 I WAS TOLD BY TOYOTA THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE THROTTLE BODY ON THE 03 CELICA . NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT THE CRUISE CONTROL. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10086243 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10090183 · 2004-09-01 (September 1, 2004)
CONSUMER RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL 03V704000 REGARDING THE FUEL TANK. DEALERSHIP URGED CONSUMER TO BRING THE VEHICLE WITH THE FUEL TANK EMPTY. CONSUMER ARRIVED TO THE APPOINTMENT AT 7 AM AND WAITED FOR ABOUT TWO HOURS. THE FLOOR MANAGER INDICATED TO CONSUMER STILL PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO CONDUCT RECALL REPAIRS. CONSUMER WAS UPSET WITH TOYOTA MANUFACTURER, NOT WITH THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10090183 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10091622 · 2004-12-08 (December 8, 2004)
WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO RESTART VEHICLE. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE GAS WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER, WHO INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VALVE CLAMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER TOLD DEALER THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE AND HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE GAS TANK HAD NOT BEEN PUT IN PROPERLY. *TC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10091622 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144745 · 2005-12-08 (December 8, 2005)
DT: THE CONTACT STATES WHILE DRIVING THE TREAD SEPARATED FROM THE SIDEWALL ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. THE SEPARATION WAS APPROXIMATELY TEN INCHES LONG. THE CONTACT REPLACED THE TIRE, BUT NO ONE HAS LOOKED AT THE TIRE TO DETERMINE WHY THIS OCCURRED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 47,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10144745 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 ↗