← New search

2002 Toyota Celica

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Celica years →

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

Structure complaints

4 reports
Clear category filter
118,000 miles · May 7, 2013
Air BagsStructureWheelsCrash

DAUGHTER (17) LOST CONTROL OF CAR IN A CURVE DUE TO WET ROADS AND SPEED. THE CAR SPUN THEN STRUCK A TREE HEAD ON. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE IMPACT WAS GREAT ENOUGH TO BUST THE RADIATOR AND KILL THE MOTOR BUT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MY YOUNGER DAUGHTER (15) WAS IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. BOTH GIRLS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS. LUC…

Read full complaint

DAUGHTER (17) LOST CONTROL OF CAR IN A CURVE DUE TO WET ROADS AND SPEED. THE CAR SPUN THEN STRUCK A TREE HEAD ON. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE IMPACT WAS GREAT ENOUGH TO BUST THE RADIATOR AND KILL THE MOTOR BUT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MY YOUNGER DAUGHTER (15) WAS IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. BOTH GIRLS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO MAJOR INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10510939

35,000 miles · Mar 2, 2005
Structure

,FRONT GRILL OF MY 2002 TOYOTA CELICA GTS FELL OFF. ALSO THE PLASTIC THAT'S ON THE BOTTOM FRONT WAS SCRAPING ON THE FLOOR. I RIPPED OFF THE PART OF PLASTIC THAT WAS DRAGGING ON THE FLOOR AND I HAVEN'T REPLACED THE GRILL. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10112420

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2002
Air BagsStructureCrash

CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE, CONSUMER FEELS FOR SUCH A MINOR ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE OTHER VEHICLE SUFFERED NO DAMAGE , THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE INCURRED SO MUCH DAMAGE, ALSO THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.*JB

NHTSA ODI #568475

Mileage unknown · Dec 3, 2002
StructureInjury

DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM, BUT INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. MAYBE I NEEDED TO BE SERIOUSLY INJURED? DT

NHTSA ODI #770391

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.