Problems · NHTSA complaints
2000 Toyota Celica problems
Owners filed 106 complaints about the 2000 Toyota Celica with NHTSA between Jan 2000 and Feb 2024. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (41).
Complaints
106
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
13
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
8
People reported injured
Deaths
3
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling41
- Power train20
- Vehicle speed control11
- Air bags9
- Electrical system6
- Exterior lighting6
- Structure6
- Engine5
- Seat belts4
- Service brakes, hydraulic4
- Tires2
- Latches/locks/linkages2
- Equipment2
- Steering2
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
15
18
10
14
9
6
2
5
4
5
8
1
0
1
3
0
0
0
0
1
1
1
1
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 15 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 10 |
| 2003 | 14 |
| 2004 | 9 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 5 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2009 | 5 |
| 2010 | 8 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Engine and engine cooling
41 reports1 crash
“CAR HAS 140,000 MILES ON IT, AND IS BURNING APPROXIMATELY 1 QUART OF OIL EVERY FOUR DAYS. BLACK SMOKE COMING FROM EXHAUST. FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE ONLINE WITH THE SAME CAR (2000-2002 CELICA GT 1.8L) WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. PROBLEMS WERE NOTICED AS EARLY AS 80,000 MILES. NO VISIBLE OIL LEAKS. FOUND INFORMATION ONLINE REGARDING A FIX THAT TOYOTA MADE TO THE ENGINE IN 2003 FROM 4 HOLES IN PISTONS, TO 8 HOLES AS WELL AS LARGER PISTON GROVE.”
Power train
20 reports1 crash
“THIS VEHICLE HAS ( ACCORDING TO ALL SOURCES AVAILABLE ) BURNED OIL FROM THE TIME IT LEFT THE PLANT BRAND NEW,MOST 2000 TO 2002 TOYOTA CELICA GT'S HAVE THIS ISSUE AS THE RINGS WERE BAD. TOYOTA HAS NEVER PRODUCED A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE AND IT HAS EFFECTED THOUSANDS OF VEHICLES.TOYOTA DID CHANGE THE RINGS OUT FOR THE 2003 MODELS AND NEWER, SO THEY DID KNOW THE PROBLEM EXISTED.THIS HAS CAUSED MANY CELICA'S TO EXPERIENCE BLOWN MOTORS. *TR”
Vehicle speed control
11 reports2 crashes
“I TOWED MY VEHICLE TO NEWBOLD TOYOTA ON JULY 28, 2014, AND ON JULY 29, I SPOKE TO [XXX], A SERVICE ADVISOR AND EXPLAINED WHY MY VEHICLE WAS THERE. HE INDICATED THEY WOULD DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND GET BACK TO ME. AT 3:28 PM [XXX] CALLED ME BACK INDICATING THAT THE ENGINE WAS DONE DUE TO THE OVER-REV WHICH BLEW THE ENGINE. HERE IS MY STATEMENT ON WHAT HAPPENED: ON JULY 28 2014 AT ABOUT 7 A.M., I WAS TRAVELING TO WORK ON I-255 SOUTHBOUND WHEN MY GAS PEDAL SUNK TO THE FLOOR WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH IN FIFTH GEAR. THE CAR SPED UP, SO HAVING A MANUAL TRANSMISSION, I SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL. I PROCEEDED TO RAISE THE PEDAL WITH THE TIP OF MY SHOE, WITH NO SUCCESS AND ENGINE REVVING, I DECIDED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKE FOR A BRIEF SECOND, WHEN THE GAS PEDAL SPRUNG RIGHT BACK UP. I THEN PLACED IT IN SIXTH GEAR AND KEPT GOING FOR APPROXIMATELY 8 MILES, DESPITE HEARING A RATTLING NOISE. AS I TURNED OFF ONTO MY EXIT, I PLACED THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND THAT'S WHEN THE ENGINE DIED. AT THIS POINT I COASTED ONTO THE SHOULDER OF THE EXIT RAMP.ON JULY 31, 2014 AT 2:14 PM, I SPOKE WITH THE GENERAL MANAGER ([XXX] ) ABOUT MY SITUATION WITH THE VEHICLE, AND HE TOLD ME TO CALL TOYOTA…”
Air bags
9 reports8 crashes
“DAUGHTER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HIT A TREE AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, DEAD CENTER IN THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS TOTALED, BUT AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. INSURANCE ADJUSTER STATED THAT THE AIRBAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. DAUGHTER HAS SORE NECK AND IS BEING TREATED BY A PHYSICIAN. *JB”
Electrical system
6 reports2 fires
“The contact owns a 2000 Toyota Celica. The contact stated that the daytime running lights failed to turn off as needed, causing the battery to be drained. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the running lights needed to be adjusted. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was informed that the headlight switch needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 04V566000 (Exterior Lighting). The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no additional assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 123,268.”
Exterior lighting
6 reports2 related recalls
“BOTH HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. DEALERSHIP INSPECTED AND SAID THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE BURNED OUT. THIS IS UNREASONABLE THAT BOTH HEADLIGHTS WOULD BURNOUT AT PRECISELY THE SAME TIME, PARTICULARLY WHEN THE CAR WAS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD. *JB”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.