IllustrationVEHICLE LEAKS ON DRIVERS SIDE WHEN IT RAINS. NOTHING NOTICEABLE ON WEATHERSTRIP OF DOOR
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 reportsPROBLEMS WITH 2000 TOYOTA CELICA'S ENGINE. *MR THE ENGINE HAD BEGUN TO KNOCK AND WAS TAKEN TO THE NEAREST TOYOTA DEALER. TOYOTA DID NOT AGREE TO PAY FOR THE ENGINE BECAUSE THEY CLAIM THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING LOW OF OIL. THE CONSUMER REQUEST COMPENSATION FOR THE INCONVENIENCE. *SC
REAR HATCH BACK LIFTER FAILED. *AK
MY 2000 CELICA GT-S (BOUGHT NEW) HAS EXHIBITED A SQUEALING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMRNT SINCE ABOUT 12,000 MILES. A PULLEY BELT TENSIONER AND THE BELT HAVE BEEN COMPLETEY REPLACED AT LEAST 5 TIMES (I LOST COUNT), AS WELL AS "REPAIRED" BY TOYOTA AT LEAST 3 ADDITONAL TIMES. IN JUNE 2003, AT ABOUT 72,000 MILES, 2 MONTHS AFETR I HA…
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MY 2000 CELICA GT-S (BOUGHT NEW) HAS EXHIBITED A SQUEALING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMRNT SINCE ABOUT 12,000 MILES. A PULLEY BELT TENSIONER AND THE BELT HAVE BEEN COMPLETEY REPLACED AT LEAST 5 TIMES (I LOST COUNT), AS WELL AS "REPAIRED" BY TOYOTA AT LEAST 3 ADDITONAL TIMES. IN JUNE 2003, AT ABOUT 72,000 MILES, 2 MONTHS AFETR I HAD TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR YET ANOTHER REPAIR OF THIS ITEM, THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY FAILED WHEN THE CONNECTOR COLT SHEARED OFF AT THE ENGINE BLOCK, REQUIRING THE ENGINE TO BE REMOVED TO DRILL OUT THE BOLT AND REMOUNT THE ASSEMBLY. THIS WAS FIXED, LUCKILY, UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY, ALTHOUGHT THE BILL WAS LISTED AS $1271. THE ENTIRE UNIT WAS REPLACED AGAIN YESTERDAY, MARCH 18, 2004 ONLY 9 MONTHS SINCE THE LAST REBUILD. THE ASSEMBLY HAS YET TO LAST MORE THAN 9 MONTHS WITHOUT BREAKING, SO IS ALWAYS FIXED UNDER THE REPAIR'S 1-YEAR WARRANTY. STILL WHEN THE ASSEMBLY BROKE OFF THE ENGINE BLOCK, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED. HAD I BEEN GOING 65 MPH, IT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC. KEEP IN MIND IT HAD BEEN "REPAIRED" ONLY 2 MONTHS PRIOR. THE DELAER OFFERS NO SYSMPATHY FOR THE CONTINUED FIXES, NOR A REASON WHY IT CONTINUES TO FAIL. THIS THING HAS NEVER WORKED RIGHT, AND APPARENTLY NEVER WILL.*AK
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
RIGHT HEADLIGHT KEEPS SHORTING OUT. HAVE REPLACED IT TWICE IN THE PAST THREE MONTHS. *LA
ENGINE CONSUMES OIL & PAINT CHIPS VERY EASILY (SPECTRA BLUE)
I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA CELICA GTS, I BOUGHT IT IN 2001AND EVER SENCE THEN THE BELT HAS SQUEALED. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT 25,000 MILES, THEY REPLACED THE BELT TENSIONER AND THE BELT BECAUSE IT WAS CHEW UP THE BELT. MY CAR IS NOW AT 46,000 MILES AND IT IS MAKING THE SAME NOISE. I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AGAIN AND THEY SA…
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I OWN A 2000 TOYOTA CELICA GTS, I BOUGHT IT IN 2001AND EVER SENCE THEN THE BELT HAS SQUEALED. I HAD TO HAVE IT REPLACED AT 25,000 MILES, THEY REPLACED THE BELT TENSIONER AND THE BELT BECAUSE IT WAS CHEW UP THE BELT. MY CAR IS NOW AT 46,000 MILES AND IT IS MAKING THE SAME NOISE. I TOOK IT IN TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AGAIN AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS THE SAME THING. I LOVE MY CAR ,BUT AM VERY DISAPOINTED IN THE DISIGN OF THE OF THE BELT TENSIONER. I FEEL THAT THIS SHOULD BE REPLACED BY TOYOTA AND FIXED ONCE AND FOR ALL. THANK YOU, ROBERT VAN DYCK. *AK
I HAVE A 2000 TOYOTA CELICA GTS I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THE BELT TENSIONER THAT SQUEAKS AND RATTLES!ALSO THE LIFT BOLTS ARE AN ISSUE BECAUSE THEY WEAR OUT AND HAVE TO BE REPLACED OVERTIME. *LA
I HAD CRANKSHAFT AND BEARINGS REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER DUE TO FAILURE, WHICH I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM. I WAS CRUISING AT 55-60 MPH ON HIGHWAY IN 5TH GEAR WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP, AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RATTLE, AND THEN SUDDENLY DIED. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND HAD TO CALL DEALERSHIP TO ASK A…
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I HAD CRANKSHAFT AND BEARINGS REPLACED IN SEPTEMBER DUE TO FAILURE, WHICH I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM. I WAS CRUISING AT 55-60 MPH ON HIGHWAY IN 5TH GEAR WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP, AND THE ENGINE BEGAN TO RATTLE, AND THEN SUDDENLY DIED. I HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP, AND HAD TO CALL DEALERSHIP TO ASK ABOUT VEHICLE, I WAS TOLD IT WAS BECAUSE I DROVE THE VEHICLE TOO HARD AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS. *JB
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.