IllustrationMOISTURE IN THE HEADLIGHTS AND SQUEAKING BELT TENSIONER. *JB
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 reportsBELT MAKES A VERY LOUD NOISE. HAD THE BELT REPLACED 3/02-MILEAGE 20K+. NOISE HAS COME BACK AND LOUDER AT 36K. TRIED LUBRICATING, MADE THE NOISE WORSE. THE CAR HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER 5 TIMES FOR SAME PROBLEM. DEALER SAYS BELT MUST BE REPLACED AGAIN. *NLM
FRONT HEADLIGHT SEALS HAVE FAILED ON BOTH LIGHTS TWO YEARS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY 2000 TOYOTA CELICA GTS. ON OBSERVING OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR I SEE THAT MORE THAN 50% OF THEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT NOT COVERED BY MY EXTEN…
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FRONT HEADLIGHT SEALS HAVE FAILED ON BOTH LIGHTS TWO YEARS AFTER THE PURCHASE OF MY 2000 TOYOTA CELICA GTS. ON OBSERVING OTHER VEHICLES OF THE SAME MODEL AND YEAR I SEE THAT MORE THAN 50% OF THEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE REPORTED THIS TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT NOT COVERED BY MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. BOTH LIGHTS NOW FILL WITH WATER CONDENSATION AT EVERY RAIN AND INTERFERE WITH HEADLIGHT EFFICIENCY.
BRAKE WERE MAKING A GRINDING NOISE TOOK THE CAR TO SERVICE, THEY STATED THAT NOTHING WITH THE BRAKE 7-2000. AGAIN IN 12-2000. HAD THE BRAKE FIT IN 7-10-2001. SAME PROBLEM IN 01-15-2002. THAT PROBLEM IS WITH RIVERSIDE TOYOTA PROBLEM WITH BATTERY, HAD TO GET A NEW ONE ALSO A AIR FLOW METER WAS REPLACE. REPLACED 2 TIRE IN 2000 RED…
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BRAKE WERE MAKING A GRINDING NOISE TOOK THE CAR TO SERVICE, THEY STATED THAT NOTHING WITH THE BRAKE 7-2000. AGAIN IN 12-2000. HAD THE BRAKE FIT IN 7-10-2001. SAME PROBLEM IN 01-15-2002. THAT PROBLEM IS WITH RIVERSIDE TOYOTA PROBLEM WITH BATTERY, HAD TO GET A NEW ONE ALSO A AIR FLOW METER WAS REPLACE. REPLACED 2 TIRE IN 2000 REDLANDS TOYOTA HAS STATES THAT I NEEDED MORE BRAKE REPAIRS , BECAUSE I HAVE NO BRAKES SYTEMS CAN NOT DRIVE THE CAR REPAIRS TO FIT THE BRAKE IS $1000 . WHEN EVER I ASK RIVERSIDE OF TOYOTA TO CHECK MY BRAKES. THEY KEEP THERE NOTHING WITH MY BRAKES. FROM DAY ONE I BEEN HAVING PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. MR
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 33 MPH THE CONSUMER T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NONE OF THE FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER. NLM
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 32-32 MPH AND THE CONSUMER T-BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE SEAT BELTS DID NOT HOLD THE CONSUMER IN PLACE PROPERLY. CONTACTED DEALER. NLM
WHILE SHIFTING FROM 6TH TO 5TH GEAR TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO A LOWER GEAR, CAUSING ENGINE TO BLOWOUT. *AK *YH
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 60 MPH ON THE FREEWAY, THE VEHICLE HIT A GUARDRAIL AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. NLM CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING 55-60 MPH BOTTOM OF VEHICLE WAS SCRAPPING. MECHANIC STATED SHIELD THAT PROTECTS WIRES/ FUEL LINES, AND HOSE CAME OFF /LOOSENED, CAUSING EXPENSIVE DAMAGE TO AIR CONDITIONER VALVE, WHICH WAS NOT FUNCTIONING. *AK
TOYOTA HAS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THERE 6 SPEED IN THE NEW CELICA. THEY EVEN TOLD ME ABOUT IT AT TOYOTA. THE MALFUNCTION IS THAT WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP INTO 2ND INSTEAD OF 4TH. THIS THEN CAUSES THE ENGINE TO BE BLOWN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF TRYING TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC…
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TOYOTA HAS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THERE 6 SPEED IN THE NEW CELICA. THEY EVEN TOLD ME ABOUT IT AT TOYOTA. THE MALFUNCTION IS THAT WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP INTO 2ND INSTEAD OF 4TH. THIS THEN CAUSES THE ENGINE TO BE BLOWN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF TRYING TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE AT AROUND 70 TO 75 MPH AND SUDDENLY YOU CARS DECCELARATES INSTANTLY TO AROUND 50 MPH. THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT, OR IS THAT WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE BEFORE THEY WILL!!*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.