Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
625–50K
750–75K
775–100K
4100–150K
5150K+
31 reports with mileage · 16 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 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
47 reports
74,837 miles · Jul 20, 2005
Power Train
DRIVING HOME AT APPROX. 70 MPH THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISS...CAUSING A LOSS IN RPMS AND A LOUD KNOCKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE FOLLOWED BY A HIGH PITCH SQUEALLING (ALMOST LIKE THE FAN BELT WAS GOING OUT)...AFTER PULLING OFF THE ROAD AND TURNING THE CAR OFF TO INSPECT THE NOISES...NO SIGNS WHERE SHOWING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM...CH…
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DRIVING HOME AT APPROX. 70 MPH THE ENGINE BEGAN TO MISS...CAUSING A LOSS IN RPMS AND A LOUD KNOCKING COMING FROM THE ENGINE FOLLOWED BY A HIGH PITCH SQUEALLING (ALMOST LIKE THE FAN BELT WAS GOING OUT)...AFTER PULLING OFF THE ROAD AND TURNING THE CAR OFF TO INSPECT THE NOISES...NO SIGNS WHERE SHOWING THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM...CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DID NOT COME ON...ASSUMING THE PROBLEM HAD WORKED ITSELF OUT...WE CONTINUED TO GET BACK ON THE HIGHWAY...IT STARTED AGAIN...THE RPMS DROPPED THROWING THE CAR OUT OF GEAR SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL WE COULD GET OFF THE ROAD AGAIN...THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER...THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE TRAMISSION WAS BLOWN CAUSING THE CLUTCH TO GO OUT AS WELL...HAS THIS BEEN A PROBLEM IN THIS CAR? THE WARRENTY IS REFUSING TO COVER THE TRANSMISSION...MAKING A TOTAL COST OF 3 GRAND (GIVE OR TAKE A FEW $)...
NHTSA ODI #10129423
Mileage unknown · Mar 22, 2005
Engine And Engine CoolingStructure
BELT TENSIONER SQUEALS AND MAKES NOISE AS EVIDENCED SEVERAL THOUSANDS OF MILES AGO ( CURRENTLY 46K MILES), ESPECIALLY WHEN HUMID, AND WILL EVENTUALLY NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THIS WILL BE THE FOURTH TIME SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DEC. 2000. WHY IS THIS A DEFECTIVE PART WHICH CONTINUALLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED??
NHTSA ODI #10114466
47,990 miles · Sep 29, 2004
Air BagsCrash
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION AT AN IMPACT OF 30 MPH, AND NEITHER OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10094577
32,330 miles · Aug 7, 2004
Vehicle Speed Control
AFTER ONLY 32000 MILES, I HAD A SUDDEN AND SEVERE LOSS OF POWER IN ENGINE ALMOST LEADING TO STALLING. THE ENGINE WENT TO HIGH REVVING ABOUT 8K RPMS AND A BURNING OIL SMELL. WITH THIS, CLIMBING HILLS, EVASIVE MANUEVERS, AND OTHER ACCELERATION ISSUES ALMOST CAUSED CRASHES BECAUSE THEY WERE SO SUYDDEN AND SEVERE. THE DEALER SIA…
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AFTER ONLY 32000 MILES, I HAD A SUDDEN AND SEVERE LOSS OF POWER IN ENGINE ALMOST LEADING TO STALLING. THE ENGINE WENT TO HIGH REVVING ABOUT 8K RPMS AND A BURNING OIL SMELL. WITH THIS, CLIMBING HILLS, EVASIVE MANUEVERS, AND OTHER ACCELERATION ISSUES ALMOST CAUSED CRASHES BECAUSE THEY WERE SO SUYDDEN AND SEVERE. THE DEALER SIAD THE CLUTCH WAS BURNT, BUT IT WAS SO SUDDEN AND WITHOUT ANY WARNING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10086362
Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN I HEARD A BANG AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IHAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN HARRISNBURG VA . THEY TOLD ME MY ENGINE HAD BLOWN .MY WARRENTY REFUSES TO PAY THE REPAIRS.SO NOW I HAVE NO CAR.AND A BILL FOR 4100 .THAT I CANT PAY .AND NOW THEY ARE CHARGING ME 25 DOLLARS A …
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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 55 MPH WHEN I HEARD A BANG AND SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. IHAD IT TOWED TO THE TOYOTA DEALER IN HARRISNBURG VA . THEY TOLD ME MY ENGINE HAD BLOWN .MY WARRENTY REFUSES TO PAY THE REPAIRS.SO NOW I HAVE NO CAR.AND A BILL FOR 4100 .THAT I CANT PAY .AND NOW THEY ARE CHARGING ME 25 DOLLARS A DAY TO HOLD MY CAR .I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE A WARRENTY THATS NO USE TO ME OR MY CAR .*AK
NHTSA ODI #10067884
Mileage unknown · Jan 5, 2004
Seat Belts
THE ACCESSORY BELT TENSIONER IN MY 2001 TOYOTA CELICA HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS, CAUSING SQUEELING AND RATTLING NOISES AND A BOLT TO BREAK OFF INTO MY ENGINE.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10052377
20,000 miles · Jan 15, 2003
Structure
STRUTS HOLDING UP REAR HATCH FAILURE, CAUSING HATCH TO COME DOWM
NHTSA ODI #10002724
25,000 miles · Jan 9, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER PURCHASED VEHICLE IN 04/01. WHILE DRIVING ENGINE BEGAN MAKING A "CLICKING" NOISE. DEALER DIAGNOSED OIL SLUDGE IN ENGINE. *NLM
NHTSA ODI #10002416
Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2002
Vehicle Speed Control
THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE IN HOT OR INCLEMENT WEATHER. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM THE MECHANIC OF THE DEALERSHIP COULDN'T REPEAT THE PROBLEM. TS
NHTSA ODI #8021651
Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REBUILT AT APPROXIMATELY 8000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 14132 MILES.THE DEALER SAID HE SUSPECTS ABUSE BUT THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN IN A NORMAL MANNER.*AK
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.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2001 Toyota Celica Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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