IllustrationWHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD AND THE CAR IS STARTED IN NEUTRAL, THE CAR BEGINS TO MOVE FORWARD BY ITSELF WHEN THE CLUTCH IT LET OUT. TOYOTA DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL IN COLD WEATHER, BUT IT IS NOT SAFE AT ALL! *AK
2000 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
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
70–25K
625–50K
950–75K
575–100K
10100–150K
2150K+
39 reports with mileage · 67 unknown
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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 11 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 reports2 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
106 reportsTHE CAR DOES NOT HAVE A LOCKOUT ON THE GEAR SHIFT, THE CAR EASILY SHIFTS FROM 5TH TO 2ND, WHEN THIS OCCURS THE SLOWS FROM 70 MPH TO 35 IN JUST A FEW SECONDS, THIS COULD CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. NLM
VEHICLE STALLS WHEN STARTING OUT IN FIRST GEAR, CONSUMER HAS TO REV UP THE ENGINE WHEN STARTING OUT FROM A COMPLETE START AT LEAST 2 OR 3 TIMES A WEEK. *SLC
CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO DOWNSHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR TO 4TH GEAR AND IT SHIFTED TO 2ND INSTEAD. AS A RESULT OF THAT PROBLEM HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. TOYOTA TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60MPH DRIVER LOST CONTROL. VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO RIGHT, AND ENDED UP ON 2 RIGHT WHEELS. THEN, WENT TO THE LEFT ON 2 LEFT WHEELS. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH AND GETTING OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING AND JUMPING WITHOU PRIOR WARNING AND STALLED. ALSO, CONSUMER HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE.*AK
WHILE SHIFTING GEAR FOR EXAMPLE FROM 3RD GEAR TO 4TH GEAR, CONSUMER IS ABLE TO SWITCH INTO 2ND GEAR WHICH MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DOWNSHIFT HARD, AND CAUSE A CRASH. *AK WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTS FROM 3RD TO 2ND, THE SPEED CHANGES FROM 70 TO VIRTUAL STOP IMMEDIATLEY. *YH
SUNROOF WILL LEAK WHEN ITS RAINING OR BEING WASHED. INTERIOR PANELING IS SEPARATING. THE VEHICLE WOULD SHAKE & NEARLY STALL OUT. VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT & NOT ALIGNED. THE LITTLE PLUGS ARE COMING OUT OF VEHICLE. *AK
TRANSMISSION IS TOO EASY TO SHIFT INTO WRONG GEARS. SAME FOUR VALVES HAVE BEEN BENT TWICE, ONCE AS A RESULT OF CLUTCH STICKING TO FLOOR CAUSING A MIS-SHIFT. CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF USE CAUSING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN ABRUPTLY.
THERE IS A FUEL LEAK DUE TO A BROKEN HOSE. DEALER HAS NOT REMEDIED PROBLEM. *AK
Official recalls
204V566000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights
Nov 29, 2004
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, 'LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.' THE LUMINOUS INTENSITY OF THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMP (DRL) WILL BE MODIFIED TO MEET THE STANDARD REQUIREMENTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Not supplied
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RESISTOR, WHICH WILL DECREASE THE LUMINOUS INTENSITY OF THE DRL. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 16, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
04V455000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
Sep 17, 2004
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES HAVE THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE RECESS RETAINS A RUBBER SEAL RING, WHICH IS LOCATED AT THE END OF THE CYLINDER BODY, AND MAY BE CORRODED DUE TO AN IMPROPER WASHING PROCESS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THIS CONDITION, BRAKE FLUID MAY LEAK FROM THE SEAL, OR A SMALL AMOUNT OF AIR MAY ENTER THE MASTER CYLINDER, WHICH COULD LEAD TO AN INCREASE OF VEHICLE STOPPING DISTANCE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AND BOOSTER. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 29, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-888-270-9371.
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
1DP02004 · Engine Seizure
Opened Apr 30, 2002 · Closed Jun 20, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
No summary supplied.