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2003 Toyota Celica

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Limited mileage data: 7 of 17 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

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.

  • Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Steering. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports

Suspension complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2004
SuspensionCrash

THIS CONCERNS A 2003 TOYOTA CELICA GT WITH A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN BACKING AND TURNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT; NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. IT DEVELOPED A HUM FROM THE RIGHT FRONT AND A SQUEEK IN THE REAR. A NON-TOYOTA MECHANIC RODE WITH ME AND DIAGNOSED A BAD FRONT WHEEL HUB/BEARING. TOYOTA REPLA…

Read full complaint

THIS CONCERNS A 2003 TOYOTA CELICA GT WITH A POPPING NOISE IN THE FRONT END WHEN BACKING AND TURNING. THE DEALERSHIP WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE IT; NO REPAIRS WERE DONE. IT DEVELOPED A HUM FROM THE RIGHT FRONT AND A SQUEEK IN THE REAR. A NON-TOYOTA MECHANIC RODE WITH ME AND DIAGNOSED A BAD FRONT WHEEL HUB/BEARING. TOYOTA REPLACED IT. IT STOPPED THE HUM AND THE SQUEEK, BUT NOT THE POP. WE TOOK IT FOR A TIRE ROTATION, BUT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS WORN DOWN TO THE STEEL BELT SO THE TIRE SHOP WOULDN'T DO THE ROTATION. THE CAR HAD A PROBLEM IN THE RIGHT FRONT. WE BELIEVED THE POPPING NOISE AND TIRE WEAR WERE CONNECTED. WE TOOK IT BACK TO TOYOTA. THEY DID A WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND ADJUSTED THE BRAKES. IT DIDN'T STOP THE POP AND THE STEERING SEEMED TO HAVE A PROBLEM; IF THE WHEEL WAS TURNED SLIGHTLY IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE CAR MADE DANGEROUSLY SHARP DIRECTIONAL CHANGES. MY SON TOOK IT BACK TO TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD "IT'S A SPORTS CAR; IT'S SUPPOSE TO BE THAT WAY." TWO DAYS LATER, THE CAR WAS WRECKED. THE CAR VEERED TO THE LEFT AND HIT A CONSTRUCTION BARREL, DROPPED ABOUT A FOOT OFF THE LEFT SHOULDER, AND HIT A CEMENT CURB. I SPOKE TO THE TOYOTA SERVICE MANAGER ABOUT THE PROBLEMS, THE INABILITY ON THEIR PART TO DUPLICATE AND FIX THE PROBLEMS AND THE STEERING CHANGES. HE TOLD ME TO CONTACT TOYOTA PRODUCT LIABILITY BECAUSE THE CAR PROBLEMS WHICH THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE OR FIX. I AM WAITING FOR A TOYOTA INSPECTOR TO LOOK AT THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES. BMW ISSUED TSB THAT REQUIRED THEM TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK AFTER THE SUSPENSION OR WHEELS WERE REPAIRED; IF NOT, THE STEERING COULD LOCK UP. TOYOTA HAS WORKED ON THE FRONT SUSPENSION, BUT NEVER PERFORMED AN ASSOCIATED STEERING FIX. I CONTEND THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM; TOYOTA FAILED TO FIX IT, ADDED TO THE PROBLEM (STEERING) CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE CAR. WAS TOYOTA AT FAULT?

NHTSA ODI #10067954

Official recalls

1

03V074000 · Fuel System, Gasoline

Mar 5, 2003

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK CHECK VALVE, LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK INLET PIPE, MAY BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE INLET PIPE AND FALL INTO THE FUEL TANK. IF THE CHECK VALVE FALLS INTO THE TANK, FUEL MAY SPILL FROM THE FUEL INLET PIPE WHEN THE FUEL PUMP AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF DURING FUELING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT A FIRE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPAIR THE FUEL TANK CHECK VALVE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 4, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME 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.