TOYOTA CELICA · model year

2002 TOYOTA CELICA

37 NHTSA complaints, 21 crash reports, and 1 active recall for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002TOYOTACELICA carries 37 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 21 crashes, 0 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 CELICA is air bags:frontal with 6 filings, followed by air bags (5) and fuel system, gasoline (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 1 active recall campaign, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 51 investigation files overlapping the 2002 CELICA, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

37
Complaints
21
Crashes
0
Fires
8
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

37 filings

Crashes Reported

21 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL6
AIR BAGS5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE1
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID1
STRUCTURE1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER1
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE1
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS1
POWER TRAIN1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY1

Recalls (1)

03V07400005/03/2003

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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 FUEL

Recent Complaints

20140713CrashAIR BAGS

CAR WAS TRAVELING @ 50 MPH ( POSTED SPEED FOR THE ROAD). HE SNEEZED, WHEN HE LOOKED UP THE CARS SUDDENLY STOPPED IN FRONT OF HIM. HE REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM GOING 50 MPH. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS CRUSHED. THE ENGINE WAS SHOVED IN. THE CAR IS TOTALED. BUT NOT 1 AIRBAG WENT OFF. BOTH ARE BRUISED FROM THE SEAT BELTS & BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAVE WHIPLASH. I AM THANKFUL THEY WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS BUT VERY CONCERNED THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T PERFORM AS EXPECTED. BOTH THE CLEAN-UP CREW & OFFICER AT THE SEEN WERE SHOCKED THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY....UPDATED 07/23/14 *BF

Mileage: 165,000

20130507CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

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

Mileage: 118,000

20130507CrashWHEELS

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

Mileage: 118,000

20130507CrashAIR BAGS

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

Mileage: 118,000

20100220VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TWICE WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT, MY TOYOTA CELICA CONTINUED TO IDLE AT ABOUT 4000 RPM. I TRIED PULLING THE CAR MAT TOWARD THE SEAT TO BE SURE IT WASN'T INTERFERING WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I ALSO TRIED JIGGLING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BE SURE NOTHING WAS STUCK. NEITHER OF THESE STOPPED THE HIGH RPM IDLE. EACH TIME THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD REDUCE THE RPM WAS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT. THE TOYOTA HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED EACH TIME DURING THE HIGH RPM IDLE. *TR

Mileage: 165,000

20090713CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WAS TURNING OUT ON A HIGHWAY OUT OF A SIDE ROAD. WHEN STRUCK ON MY FRONT/DRIVERSIDE FENDER AT A HIGH SPEED APPROXIMATE 60MPH, MY CAR IS TOTALED, OR WILL BE TOTALED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY MAKING MY INJURIES WORSE THAN THEY SHOULD BE. IM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY AIRPAD DIDN NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE CAR WAS STRUCK AT THOSE SPEEDS. *TR

Mileage: 105,000

20081114FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CELICA. EVERY TIME THE CONTACT FINISHES PUMPING FUEL, THE GAS TANK OVERFLOWS. THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE HAD IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V074000 (FUEL SYSTEM :GASOLINE), BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND IT IS CURRENTLY AT A REPAIR SHOP. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,000. UPDATED 12-02-08 *BF UPDATED 12/02/08. *JB

Mileage: 65,000

20080930CrashSTEERING

WE OWN 2002 CELICA GT-S. IT HAS HAD TO HAVE 4 SETS OF TIRES IN 85,000 MILES. AT THE LAST ALIGNMENT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT GET THE 2 REAR TIRES IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE FRONT 2 TIRES. THE PROBLEM WERE THE REAR TIE RODS. HE GOT A SET OF ADJUSTABLE TIE RODS & REPLACED THE FACTORY TIE RODS AND WAS ABLE TO GET ALL 4 TIRES IN PROPER ALIGNMENT. MY SON HAD AN ACCIDENT PREVIOUSLY WHERE HE LOST TRACTION AND SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD BUT WITH NO INJURIES THANK GOD. I TOOK THE TIE RODS TO THE ANDERSON TOYOTA DEALER & THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THAT PROBLEM. BUT THEY DID NOT SHOW ANY CONCERN WHATSOEVER. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRUDENT FOR THEM TO GET SOME INFORMATION & CHECK THEIR SERVICE BULLETINS. BUT I GUESS THE FELLOW HAD FOUND A COMFORTABLE POSITION ON THE STOOL HE WAS OCCUPYING. I AM CONCERNED THIS MAY BE A DEFECT AND WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE WITH THE PROPER KNOWLEDGE TO LOOK INTO THIS. I WAS NOT SEEKING ANYTHING FROM RALPH HAYES TOYOTA. I APPROACHED THEM AS A GENTLEMAN & LEFT WITH THE SAME DEM

Mileage: 85,000

20080930CrashSUSPENSION:REAR

WE OWN 2002 CELICA GT-S. IT HAS HAD TO HAVE 4 SETS OF TIRES IN 85,000 MILES. AT THE LAST ALIGNMENT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT GET THE 2 REAR TIRES IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE FRONT 2 TIRES. THE PROBLEM WERE THE REAR TIE RODS. HE GOT A SET OF ADJUSTABLE TIE RODS & REPLACED THE FACTORY TIE RODS AND WAS ABLE TO GET ALL 4 TIRES IN PROPER ALIGNMENT. MY SON HAD AN ACCIDENT PREVIOUSLY WHERE HE LOST TRACTION AND SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD BUT WITH NO INJURIES THANK GOD. I TOOK THE TIE RODS TO THE ANDERSON TOYOTA DEALER & THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THAT PROBLEM. BUT THEY DID NOT SHOW ANY CONCERN WHATSOEVER. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRUDENT FOR THEM TO GET SOME INFORMATION & CHECK THEIR SERVICE BULLETINS. BUT I GUESS THE FELLOW HAD FOUND A COMFORTABLE POSITION ON THE STOOL HE WAS OCCUPYING. I AM CONCERNED THIS MAY BE A DEFECT AND WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE WITH THE PROPER KNOWLEDGE TO LOOK INTO THIS. I WAS NOT SEEKING ANYTHING FROM RALPH HAYES TOYOTA. I APPROACHED THEM AS A GENTLEMAN & LEFT WITH THE SAME DEM

Mileage: 85,000

20080930CrashTIRES

WE OWN 2002 CELICA GT-S. IT HAS HAD TO HAVE 4 SETS OF TIRES IN 85,000 MILES. AT THE LAST ALIGNMENT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT GET THE 2 REAR TIRES IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE FRONT 2 TIRES. THE PROBLEM WERE THE REAR TIE RODS. HE GOT A SET OF ADJUSTABLE TIE RODS & REPLACED THE FACTORY TIE RODS AND WAS ABLE TO GET ALL 4 TIRES IN PROPER ALIGNMENT. MY SON HAD AN ACCIDENT PREVIOUSLY WHERE HE LOST TRACTION AND SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD BUT WITH NO INJURIES THANK GOD. I TOOK THE TIE RODS TO THE ANDERSON TOYOTA DEALER & THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THAT PROBLEM. BUT THEY DID NOT SHOW ANY CONCERN WHATSOEVER. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRUDENT FOR THEM TO GET SOME INFORMATION & CHECK THEIR SERVICE BULLETINS. BUT I GUESS THE FELLOW HAD FOUND A COMFORTABLE POSITION ON THE STOOL HE WAS OCCUPYING. I AM CONCERNED THIS MAY BE A DEFECT AND WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE WITH THE PROPER KNOWLEDGE TO LOOK INTO THIS. I WAS NOT SEEKING ANYTHING FROM RALPH HAYES TOYOTA. I APPROACHED THEM AS A GENTLEMAN & LEFT WITH THE SAME DEM

Mileage: 85,000

20080830CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT A SNOW BANK AT 50MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, I NEEDED TO BE TOWED/PULLED OUT OF THE SNOW BANK. ALSO ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, WITH A CATALYTIC CONVERTER CODE BUT CAT IS STILL GOOD. *TR

Mileage: 89,000

20080830CrashAIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT A SNOW BANK AT 50MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, I NEEDED TO BE TOWED/PULLED OUT OF THE SNOW BANK. ALSO ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, WITH A CATALYTIC CONVERTER CODE BUT CAT IS STILL GOOD. *TR

Mileage: 89,000

20070726POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

2002 TOYOTA CELICA GT SUDDEN STANDARD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

Mileage: 85,000

20061128POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

MY CAR WAS MAKING A NOISE. I TOOK IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS SOMETHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A STANDARD MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND MY CAR HAD 65,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE NOISE BEGAN. THE LAST MECHANIC I TOOK IT TO SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WITH A STANDARD TRANSMISSION AT THE MILEAGE IT'S AT. I OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY TOYOTA MECHANICS. THEY OPENED UP THE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD ME THAT THE BEARINGS INSIDE HAD GONE BAD. THE WORK IS GOING TO COST AT LEAST $1,000. *JB

Mileage: 65,000

20050722ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

2002 TOYOTA CELICA STARTED TO BURN OIL.*MR

20050302STRUCTURE:BODY:BUMPERS

,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

Mileage: 35,000

20050125SUSPENSION:FRONT

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

Mileage: 21,000

20041017CrashAIR BAGS

A 2002 TOYOTA CELICA, DRIVEN BY OUR 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, EXITING OFF OF I-295-DESIGNATED SPEED- 65 MPH,WAS EXITING ONTO I-10 EASTBOUND RAMP, AND UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN, LOST CONTROL OF HER VEHICLE, AND HIT A LIGHT POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB UPON EXAMINATION OF THE CAR AT NIMNICHT CADILLAC ON BLANDING BLVD, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CAR HAD BRAKE FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *JB

20041017CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

A 2002 TOYOTA CELICA, DRIVEN BY OUR 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, EXITING OFF OF I-295-DESIGNATED SPEED- 65 MPH,WAS EXITING ONTO I-10 EASTBOUND RAMP, AND UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN, LOST CONTROL OF HER VEHICLE, AND HIT A LIGHT POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB UPON EXAMINATION OF THE CAR AT NIMNICHT CADILLAC ON BLANDING BLVD, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CAR HAD BRAKE FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *JB

20040812FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY

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

Compare 2002TOYOTACELICA to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 TOYOTA CELICA have?
The 2002 TOYOTA CELICA has 37 NHTSA complaints, 21 crashes, 0 fires, 8 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 TOYOTA CELICA?
Yes, the 2002 TOYOTA CELICA has 1 recall(s). The most common affected component is FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 TOYOTA CELICA?
The most-complained component for the 2002 TOYOTA CELICA is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
Is the 2002 TOYOTA CELICA safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.