Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Toyota Celica problems
Owners filed 29 complaints about the 2003 Toyota Celica with NHTSA between Feb 2003 and Feb 2026. The most-cited component is power train (5).
Complaints
29
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train5
- Vehicle speed control4
- Fuel system, gasoline4
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Structure3
- Wheels2
- Service brakes2
- Engine2
- Steering2
- Air bags2
- Latches/locks/linkages2
- Tires1
- Fuel system, diesel1
- Suspension1
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
7
5
1
2
4
2
0
2
1
0
0
0
0
0
1
1
0
0
1
1
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 7 |
| 2004 | 5 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 2 |
| 2011 | 1 |
| 2012 | 0 |
| 2013 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 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
Power train
5 reports
“I HAD TO HAVE CLUTCH REPLACED AT 25,77 MILES ON MY 2003 TOYOTA CELICA GT PURCHASED NEW APRIL 2003. AGAIN I HAD TO REPLACE CLUTCH @ 56,089. FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED THIS CAR I HAD PROBLEMS WITH PUTTING CAR IN GEAR AND COMPLAINED TO DEALER, WHO SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I'VE DRIVEN MANUAL TOYOTA CARS SINCE 1966 AND NEVER HAD ANY CLUTCH REPAIRS ON ANY OF MY TOYOTAS. I HAD OVER 144,000 MILES ON MY 1987 TOYOTA MR2 WHEN I TRADED IT IN 1994. I THINK IT IS EXCESSIVE TO HAVE A TOTAL OF 3 CLUTCHES AT 56,089. *TR”
Vehicle speed control
4 reports1 crash
“2003 TOYOTA 4DR. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND STRUCK A FENCE. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE ACCELERATOR WAS STUCK. *JB”
Fuel system, gasoline
4 reports1 related recall
“THIS MAY BE RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V074000 PER ORIGINAL RECALL, FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON 07/08/2003. ON 10/08/2006, THE SAME PROBLEM WAS ENCOUNTERED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. FUELING IS NOW DIFFICULT AND VERY TIME CONSUMING. ONLY ABOUT ONE-TENTH OF A GALLON CAN BE PUMPED BEFORE THE FUEL PUMP AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF. THIS APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY FUEL BACKING UP IN THE FUEL INLET PIPE AND FUEL SPLASHING BACK OUT. TOYOTA HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND A SERVICE APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, I GOT THE IMPRESSION THEY ARE RELUCTANT TO REMEDY THIS FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED 3 YEARS AGO. *NM”
Engine and engine cooling
3 reports
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CELICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL AND CONTINUAL SQUEAKING WHEN THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF PRECIPITATION. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE HYDRAULIC TENSIONER WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE REPAIRS WOULD CORRECT THE FAILURE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH BEFORE RECURRING. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS HOT, THE NOISE WOULD CEASE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.”
Structure
3 reports
“PURCHASED NEW 2003 CELICA GTS. FROM DEALER. 26,398 MILES PAINT BUBBLING ON ALL WHEELS. DEALER/FACTORY REP. WOULD NOT REPLACE WHEELS. REPAINTED INSTEAD AND STATED " THEY WOULD REPLACE IF ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN. 42,197 MILES PAINT BUBBLING AGAIN ON ALL WHEELS. FACTORY REP. REFUSED TO REPLACE/REPAIR." DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE EITHER. *TR”
Wheels
2 reports
“Many things are happening to my truck that’s why I am contacting you people to see if I got any callback thank you so much”
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.