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2002 Toyota Celica

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 19 of 29 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

13 crash reports0 fire reports6 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

4 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jul 5, 2005
Engine And Engine Cooling

2002 TOYOTA CELICA STARTED TO BURN OIL.*MR

NHTSA ODI #10130199

32,000 miles · Mar 11, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TIMING BELT PROBLEM. DEALER REPLACED THE TIMING BELT A YEAR AGO. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10063008

15,000 miles · Jan 9, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

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

NHTSA ODI #10053755

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

2002 CELICA GT IS CONSUMING 3/4 OF A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT IT MUST CONSUMER 1 QUART EVERY 1200 MILE TO OK A ENGINE TEARDOWN FOR REPAIR. MY CAR IS ON TRACK TO USE 2.63 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY OIL CHANGE OF 3500 MILES. THE RECOMMENDED INTERVAL BY THE DEALER. THE CAR ONLY HOLDS 4.2…

Read full complaint

2002 CELICA GT IS CONSUMING 3/4 OF A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000 MILES. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM THAT IT MUST CONSUMER 1 QUART EVERY 1200 MILE TO OK A ENGINE TEARDOWN FOR REPAIR. MY CAR IS ON TRACK TO USE 2.63 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY OIL CHANGE OF 3500 MILES. THE RECOMMENDED INTERVAL BY THE DEALER. THE CAR ONLY HOLDS 4.2 QUARTS OF OIL. THIS IS A LOSS OF MORE THAN HALF OF THE ENGINES OIL. TOYOTA SAYS THAT THIS ENGINE WILL BURN SOME OIL. I HAVE SPOKE WITH SERVICE CENTER SAID THAT THIS IS NOT NORMAL BUT THEIR HANDS ARE TIED, DUE TO TOYOTA'S CONSUMPTION POLICY. I HAVE TAKEN THIS TO THE REGIONAL ZONE MANAGER WITH NO SUCCESS. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE A DANGER FOR MYSELF AND OTHERS IF THIS ENGINE WAS TO FREEZE UP DUE TO LACK OF OIL, IT CAUSE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I WAS NOT INFORMED WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR THAT IT WOULD CONSUME OIL AND THAT IT NEED TO BE CHECKED REGULARLY. DT

NHTSA ODI #769077

Official recalls

1

03V074000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Mar 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 & remedy

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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.