2001 Toyota Celica Owner Complaints

THIS ENGINE HAS A KNOWN OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE. IT CAN CAUSE ENGINE FAILURE AT ANY GIVEN TIME. I HAVE HAD A MOTOR COMPLETELY FAIL WHILE ON THE FREEWAY WITH A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER DUE TO OIL LEVELS RUNNING DRY. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTAS RECALL DEPARTMENT ANT THEY SAID UNLESS NHTSA MAKES THIS A RECALL THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR OWNERS OF THESE CARS. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THIS HAPPENS TO SOMEONE AND THEY LOSE THEIR LIFE OVER A POORLY DESIGNED MOTOR. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS ISSUE BEFORE IT DOES LEAD TO LOSS OF LIFE.

NHTSA ID

11268728

Incident

May 23, 2019

Mileage

85,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CELICA. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE GEAR SHIFTIER DID NOT WORK AND MADE A GRINDING NOISE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER APPROXIMATELY SEVEN YEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANOTHER INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 72,000.

NHTSA ID

11240634

Incident

Jul 30, 2012

Mileage

72,000 mi

SINCE THE RECALLS HAVE CAME OUT FOR THE CELICA OIL ISSUES MY WIFE HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET A SOLUTION FROM TOYOTA. TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT HER CAR IS NOT PART OF THE ISSUE HOWEVER TSB EG 6020 HER CAR IS A PART OF THE ISSUE. I ALSO WANT TO POINT OUT THAT THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE OF THE CARS THAT WERE RECALLED AND HERS THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME ENGINE SAME PARTS. SO BOTTOM LINE SHE SHOULD OF BEEN TAKING CAR OF BY TOYOTA AND THE ENGINE REPLACED. SHE NOW HAS A CAR THAT IS ABOUT TO CATCH ON FIRE AND NOT ABLE TO DRIVE AND FOR YEARS SHE HAS BEEN TRYING TO GET ANSWERS AND PUSHED AWAY. WE ARE ASKING THAT YOU LOOK INTO THE PARTS OF THE ENGINES THAT WERE RECALLED AND HER PARTS. YOU WILL SEE THERE ALL THE SAME. SHE PAID 22,000 FOR THIS CAR AND HAS HAD NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. IM JUST GLAD THE CAR DID NOT CATCH FIRE WHILE SHE WAS DRIVING.

NHTSA ID

11210767

Incident

May 10, 2007

Mileage

40,000 mi

AS SOON AS I BOUGHT MY CAR IN MAY 2017, I REALIZED THAT MY CAR WAS RUNNING OUT OF OIL SUPER FAST. I CHECKED TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY LEAKS OR PROBLEMS, BUT THERE WERE NONE. TO THIS DAY DEC 2018 I'VE SPENT ABOUT 2K ON OIL ALONE. I KNOW THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM IN THE CELICAS. I RECENTLY WENT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT QUALIFIED TO EVEN BE CONSIDERED FOR THE RECALL. I HAD GOT INTO A ACCIDENT WITH A DEER ABOUT A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND MY INSURANCE TOTALED MY CAR OUT. THERE WAS ONLY DAMAGE TO MY HOOD, HEADLIGHTS, AND MY BUMPER. I BOUGHT THE CAR BACK FROM THEM, BUT ALL IN ALL NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH MY CAR INTERNALLY. I REALLY CAN'T AFFORD OIL EVERY WEEK BUT I DO LOVE THIS CAR. IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU GUYS CAN DO/HELP WITH I'D APPRECIATE IT.

NHTSA ID

11156009

Incident

May 1, 2017

Mileage

210,000 mi

NEVER HAD A PROBLEM WITH ANYTHING NOT WORKING BUT SINCE I'VE NOTICED THE FRONT AIRBAG LIGHTS ON THE CRUISE CONTROL AND HORN HAS STOPPED WORKING DON'T KNOW IF IT COULD HAVE BEEN A RELATED ISSUE TO THE AIRBAG HAVE CHECKED THE FUSES AND ALL OF THEM WAS GOOD BUT MY HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL HAS STOPPED WORKING. ONE OTHER THING I HAVE NOTICED AND ABOUT MY CELICA IS THEY CAR VIBRATIONS HAVE MADE THE DOOR BOLTS COME LOOSE DOOR STAYS SHUT BUT VERY NOTICEABLE CAUSE THE DOOR LIGHTS STAY ON AND YOU COULD SEE WHERE THE INTERIOR LIGHTS IS OFF BUT ONCE YOUR DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND THE INTERIOR LIGHTS START BLINKING AND HAVE TO TIGHTEN THEM UP EVER SO OFTEN SO THIS INCIDENT DON'T HAPPEN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10671941

Incident

Oct 15, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

JUST ANOTHER BURNING OIL COMPLAINT HERE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO MY TAHOE FOR WHEN I DRIVE 1.5 HOUR AWAY FOR WORK. I WASN'T EXPECTING TO HAVE TO PUT IN NEARLY A QUART OF OIL WITH EVERY TRIP. SEEMS TO ME LIKE THIS PISTON ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN, WELL DOCUMENTED, HEAVILY COMPLAINED ABOUT, AND THAT TOYOTA SHOULD DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS. THEY HAVE A REPUTATION FOR PRODUCING ENGINES THAT GO 300,000 MILES EASILY AND OURS ARE DYING OUT AT 150,000. TURNS OUT ONE OF MY FRIENDS HAD THE SAME YEAR CELICA AND THEIR ENGINE GAVE OUT ON THEM WHILE DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC IN DES MOINES. THIS COULD BE FATAL. HOW MANY HUNDREDS OR THOUSANDS OF THESE CARS OUT THERE THAT COULD JUST STOP WORKING AT ANY MOMENT, IN ANY TRAFFIC CONDITION, BECAUSE OF A KNOWN DEFECT NO ONE IS DOING ANYTHING ABOUT? *TR

NHTSA ID

10663264

Incident

Oct 17, 2014

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE ENGINE MAKES A HORRIBLE TICKING SOUND AND CONSUMES ALMOST 4 QUARTS OF OIL FOR EVERY FOUR HUNDRED MILES I DRIVE, SO BASICALLY EVERY TIME I FILL UP WITH GAS I'M ALSO FILLING MY CAR WITH OIL. WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THIS IN 2011 I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. THEY SAID I COULD PAY THEM TO TAKE APART THE ENTIRE ENGINE, BUT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THEY WOULD FIND THE PROBLEM. AT FIRST I WOULD ADD AN EXTRA QUART OF OIL EVERY TIME I FILLED UP WITH GAS, BUT NOW THIS HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE - TO FOUR QUARTS FOR EVERY FOUR HUNDRED MILES. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME AND JUST TODAY IT STARTED FLASHING. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON I SHOULD HAVE TO ADD THIS MUCH OIL EVERY SINGLE TIME AND JUST IMAGINE ALL OF THE POLLUTION GOING INTO THE ENVIRONMENT! THIS IS DEFINITELY A QUALITY RELATED ISSUE FOR TOYOTA. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ABOUT THIS CAR I HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THE 2000-2002 CELICA GT'S ENGINES WERE MADE INCORRECTLY AND THAT ITS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. SO BECAUSE TOYOTA DECIDED TO SKIMP ON MAKING QUALITY ENGINES PRETTY MUCH ANYONE WHO HAS ONE OF THESE HAS TO BUY OIL AND GAS AND DRIVES WITH THE FEAR THAT THE ENGINE COULD POSSIBLY STOP AT ANY POINT AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10599009

Incident

Jun 1, 2011

Mileage

98,000 mi

I PURCHASED A TOYOTA CELICA 2001 WITH A 1ZZ-FE ENGINE IN MAY OF THIS YEAR 2014 AFTER ANOTHER DRIVER TOTALED MY CAR. IT GOT A FRESH OIL CHANGE FROM PEPBOYS AND CONSUMED THE OIL IN ABOUT 3 WEEKS. THIS HAS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO CREATE A LOUD CONSTANT KNOCKING SOUND OVER TIME WHICH IS ANY TIME I'M NOT GOING OVER 40 MPH AND AFTER DOING MORE RESEARCH ONLINE I SEE THAT IT IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE AND THE ONLY PERMANENT SOLUTION IS TO REPLACE IT WITH AN 03-05 MODEL 1ZZ-FE ENGINE. I HAVE SINCE BEEN TO A MECHANIC MULTIPLE TIMES WHO RECOMMENDED I REPLACE THE RODS TO "BUY SOME TIME" UNTIL IT DIES AND THE ANXIETY OF IT DYEING ALONG WITH THE SOUND ITS MAKING IS ENOUGH TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND OUT TOYOTA HAD USED UNDERSIZED PISTONS AND OVERSIZED RINGS TO COMPENSATE IN THE 1ZZ-FE ENGINES FROM 1999-2002COROLLAAND CELICA'S, CAUSING THEM TO DRINK THE OIL AT A VERY HIGH RATE AFTER SO MANY MILES. ALSO THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE. THERE ARE MANY 2000-2002 CELICAS FOR SALE ONLINE WITH BLOWN MOTORS DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE. I COMMUTE TO WORK AND BACK WHICH IS LESS THAN TEN MILES AWAY. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THIS AS I AM 24 AND TAKING CARE OF MY DISABLED MOTHER AND TRYING TO GET BACK IN SCHOOL. I HAD THE CAR LESS THAN A MONTH BEFORE IT STARTED HAVING ISSUES AND HAVE RECORDS OF THE OIL CHANGES IT HAS GOTTEN SINCE THE FIRST OWNER. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS AND RECALL THIS ENGINE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10594508

Incident

Apr 10, 2014

Mileage

159,000 mi

1ZZ FE ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE BURNING 1L PER FULL TANK WEEKLY DEPENDING ON HOW I DRIVE FAILURE TO TOP UP WEEKLY WOULD RESULT IN MASSIVE ENGINE MALFUNCTION AND SEIZE OR BLOW CAN CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENT MAY NOT LAST ON HWY AT 100KM/HR FOR MORE THAN 2-3 HOURS STRAIGHT WITHOUT STOPPING OIL IS EXPENSIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10593922

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

167 mi

ON 8/30/2013, WE PURCHASED A NEW SET OF 4 TIRES FROM COSTCO, IWILEI HAWAII. ON 9/28, THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT ON A RESIDENTIAL ROAD. NO PUNCTURES PER GOODYEAR OF KAILUA. ON 10/6, THE PASSENGERS SIDE FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT AT A RESIDENTIAL ROAD. NO PUNCTURES PER COSTCO, IWILEI. ON 11/4, THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE WENT FLAT. THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. NO VISIBLE PUNCTURES. RIM DAMAGE. I HAVE NOT TURNED IN CAR FOR REPAIR/REPLACEMENT YET. I WANT 3RD PARTY INVESTIGATION PRIOR TO SUBMITTING TO COSTCO. ALL TOLD, WE PURCHASED 4 NEW TIRES AND 3 REPLACEMENTS (INCLUDES GOODYEAR MISMATCHED REPLACEMENT TIRE). THIS 11/4 WILL MAKE IT THE 4TH REPLACEMENT. THIS PATTERN OF FLATS FOR THIS SET AND BRAND OF TIRES ARE TOO ALARMING TO IGNORE. I AM WORRIED ABOUT OUR SAFETY AND WOULD LIKE TO FIND OUT WHY THIS IS HAPPENING AND HOW WE CAN GET COMPENSATION AND REMEDY FOR ALL THE TROUBLE AND DAMAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551042

Incident

Nov 4, 2013

Mileage

69,547 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CELICA EQUIPPED WITH FIRESTONE PRIMEWELL TIRES, SIZE 195-60-15. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING VARIOUS SPEEDS, A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE MANUFACTURER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT ALL FOUR TIRES WERE CUPPED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID

10548999

Incident

Sep 13, 2013

I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA CELICA GT, ABOUT 10,000 MILES AGO I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THEY SAID THAT MY OIL WAS A QT LOW. SO I TOOK NOTE. THE OTHER DAY MY ENGINE SOUNDED DIFFERENT, SO I PULLED OVER AT A GAS STATION AND CHECKED THE OIL. THERE WAS NO OIL ON THE DIP STICK. I BOUGHT A QT, PUT IT IN AND DROVE TO WORK. WHEN I CHECKED IT AGAIN, I WAS STILL UNABLE TO SEE OIL ON THE DIP STICK, I PUT ANOTHER QT IN. I DOVE HOME AND CHECKED AGAIN, I COULD JUST SEE THE OIL ON THE BOTTOM OF THE DIP STICK, I PUT ANOTHER QT IN. THIS BROUGHT IT ALMOST TO THE FULL LINE. I CHECKED FOR OIL LEAKS UNDER THE CAR AND FOUND NO VISIBLE AREA THAT THE MASS AMOUNT OF OIL LEAKED OUT, I BURNED IT. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT 00-02 TOYOTA CELICA GTS HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND THAT ITS A MANUFACTURES DEFECT. IT WAS ADDRESSED AND FIXED IN 2003. I ALSO FOUND OUT THAT IN EUROPE, ALL OF THE 00-02 TOYOTA CELICA GTS HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. I CALLED OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A RECALL AND THEY SAID NO. I THEN ASKED WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM, TOYOTA SAID THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY ENGINE OUT OF POCKET. I ASKED ABOUT THE RECALL IN EUROPE, THE TECH SAID HE KNEW ABOUT IT. I ALSO CALLED THE USA TOYOTA HEAD QUARTERS AND MADE A COMPLAINT, THEY SAID MY CAR WASN'T UNDER WARRANTY SO THEY WOULDN'T HELP ME IN ANYWAY. I ESTIMATE THAT MY 2001 TOYOTA CELICA GT BURNED A QT OF OIL EVERY 800 MILES. WHEN I FOUND THAT MY OIL WAS THAT LOW, I FEARED NOT ONLY FOR MY SAFETY BUT FOR MY PASSENGERS AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. WHAT IF I HAD BURNED ALL OF MY OIL AND MY ENGINE FROZE UP. I COULD CAUSED A FATAL ACCIDENT? MY ENGINE HAS TREMENDOUS LOSS OF POWER BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I COULD BOG OUT CROSSING A HIGHWAY AND CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THE WORSE PART IS MY CAR IS POLLUTING THE ENVIRONMENT WITH HYDRO CARBONS. I AM STUCK WITH IT, IT WONT PASS EMISSIONS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10515868

Incident

Mar 20, 2012

Mileage

160,000 mi

I JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2001 TOYOTA CELICA. I BOUGHT IT FOR MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO HAVE AS A FIRST CAR, BUT RECENTLY I'VE NOTICED THE FLIMSY FIT THAT THE SEAT BELTS HAVE SEEMED TO HAD AGAINST THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER SEAT. I AM UNHAPPY ABOUT IT BECAUSE IF ANOTHER DRIVER CRASHES INTO MY DAUGHTER, I DO NOT WANT HER TO GET HURT BECAUSE HER SEAT BELTS WERE NOT UP TO PAR. IT IS VERY EXPENSIVE TO REPLACE THEM AND I DO NOT APPRECIATE THE CRAZY COSTS, AS THEY WOULD SEEM TO ME THAT THEY ARE EASILY FOUND. *TR

NHTSA ID

10514165

Incident

May 29, 2013

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CELICA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS SHE HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE IN THE ENGINE AND THE VEHICLE WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO ADVISED HER THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH A REBUILT ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ID

10406994

Incident

Jun 13, 2007

Mileage

50,000 mi

2001 TOYOTA CELICA, UNIT 1 WAS TRAVELING IN THE RIGHT LANE ON THE OHIO TURNPIKE. UNIT 2 WAS DISABLED FROM A PRIOR CRASH IN THE RIGHT LANE FACING NORTHEAST . UNIT 1 STRUCK UNIT 2 ON THE LEFT SIDE. *BF (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-0796-91) UPDATED 02/15/11 *BF

NHTSA ID

10381873

Incident

Dec 30, 2010

I PURCHASED MY CELICA NEW IN 2001. THIS YEAR I HAD A NEW CLUTCH AND TRANSMISSION PUT IN. IN THE PAST 6 MONTHS I NOTICED THAT I WAS PUTTING OIL IN ON A REGULAR BASIS, NO LEAKS AND NO SMOKE FORM THE EXHAUST. I HAVE 128 THOUSAND MILES ON THE CAR. I HAVE CHANGED THE OIL ON SCHEDULE. I CONTACTED TOYOTA IN JACKSONVILLE AND WAS TOLD I SOMEHOW MUST HAVE ABUSED THE MOTOR OR NOT CHANGED THE OIL REGULARLY. LONG STORY SHORT, NOW I AM LOOKING FOR A REPLACEMENT MOTOR AND TOYOTA WANTS ALMOST $6000.00. I HAVE SHOPPED AROUND AND THE CHEAPEST WAY TO GO WOULD BE A USED MOTOR. IF I HAD NOT ALREADY PUT IN A NEW TRANSMISSION AND CLUTCH THIS CAR WOULD BE IN THE JUNKYARD. AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS MOTOR I WOULD BE A FOOL TO PUT IN ANOTHER MOTOR TO HAVE IT DO THE SAME THING IN 50,000 MILES. THAT BEING SAID ,TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS THIS AND FIX THIS ISSUE FOR ALL CELICA OWNERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10347278

Incident

Jul 27, 2010

Mileage

128,614 mi

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW TOYOTA CELICA IN 2001. IN 2006 IT BEGAN SOUNDING STRANGE WHEN ACCELERATING AND ALSO WHEN I WOULD BACK UP AND USE THE BRAKES. IT WOULD MAKE A VERY STRANGE SOUND AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK THE SAME AS THEY USED TO. I REPORTED THIS TO MECHANICS AT TOYOTA BUT THEY SAID THE CAR WAS FINE MECHANICALLY. ON DECEMBER 24, 2008 WHEN MERGING ON TO A EXIT SAN JOSE BLVD FROM 295 IN JACKSONVILLE FLORIDA MY CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN IT ACTUALLY ACCELERATED. THE RPM GAUGE WENT UP INSTEAD OF DOWN AND THE PRESSURE WAS HIGH. MY CAR WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN OR STOP. IT WAS ACCELERATING WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE PEDAL. I TRIED TO PUT THE BRAKES ON AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I WAS MERGING TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC ON A BUSY ROAD NEARING A CRASH. I THEN TRIED TO PUT MY CAR IN NEUTRAL AND IT STILL WOULD NOT STOP. I THEN PUT IT IN PARK AND IT STILL KEPT GOING DRIVING. I THEN PULLED THE KEY OUT BECAUSE IT WAS MY LAST ATTEMPT TO STOP THE CAR AND THANK GOD MY CAR STOPPED JUST MISSING A COLLISION. SO TO SUM IT ALL UP, MY CAR ACCELERATED, HAD HIGH PRESSURE AND THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY. THE ENGINE WAS REVVING. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND IF NOT FOR MY PULLING THE KEY OUT I WOULD PROBABLY BE DEAD OR SERIOUSLY INJURED AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A TERRIBLE ACCIDENT. I HAD MY CAR TOWED TO ERNIE PALMER TOYOTA. THEY CLAIMED IT WAS A FAULTY ACCELERATOR SENSOR. I SOLD MY CAR TO THEM BECAUSE I NEVER WANTED TO GET IN OR LOOK AT THAT CAR AGAIN. I STILL HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT IT. I DO NOT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HOW IT WAS FIXED BECAUSE I DID NOT HAVE IT FIXED, I SOLD IT. HOWEVER THE MECHANICS LATER AT TOYOTA TOLD ME IT WAS A FAULTY ACCELERATOR SENSOR. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OTHER THAT MY NECK BEING HURT FROM BEING THROWN TO SUCH A QUICK STOP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10332573

Incident

Dec 24, 2008

Mileage

121,000 mi

2001 TOYOTA CELICA GTS. WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY I ENGAGED THE CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN I TRIED TO DISENAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL BY STEPPING ON THE BREAK PEDAL THE CAR STARTED ACCELERATING OUT OF CONTROL. I TRIED TURNING OFF THE CRUISE CONTROL WITH THE SWITCH BUT THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND TURN THE ENGINE OFF TO STOP THE CAR. WHEN I TURNED THE ENGINE BACK ON IT REV'D UP AND ALMOST PEGGED OUT THE RPM GAUGE. I HAD TO TURN THE ENGINE ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES TO GET THE CRUISE CONTROL TO DISENGAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10317444

Incident

Aug 19, 2008

Mileage

44,300 mi

I HAD PURCHASED A 2001 TOYOTA CELICA GT IN OCTOBER 2005 TO INITIALLY GET TO AND FROM WORK, AND IN 2007 I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING MORE OIL THEN NORMAL (1 QUART OIL = 500MILES) AFTER THE OIL WAS CHANGED AT 96,000 MILES, I ALSO STARTED NOTICING A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT WAS ONLY NOTICEABLE WHILE DRIVING AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED IT. I'VE TAKEN IT TO ROSEVILLE TOYOTA IN CALIFORNIA TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND THEY KEPT BLAMING IT ON MY EXHAUST, EVEN WHEN I TOOK A TECHNICIAN FOR A DRIVE TO LET HIM LISTEN TO THE NOISE, BUT HE STILL SAID IT WAS MY EXHAUST. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THEM MULTIPLE TIME TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT AND ALSO HAD THEM DO A VALVE ADJUSTMENT TO SEE IF THAT WAS IT. IT'S BEEN 3 YEARS NOW AND 133,000 MILES LATER I'M STILL DEALING WITH THESE ISSUES, EXCEPT NOW ITS TICKING ALL THE TIME. PLEASE HELP, I'M GETTING TIRED OF DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE AND ITS STARTING TO GET TOO EXPENSIVE, HAVING TO KEEP BUYING OIL EVERY 500 MILES. I AM A COLLEGE STUDENT AND I COMMUTE TO AND FROM SCHOOL (68 MILES ROUND TRIP, FIVE DAYS A WEEK), AND THESE ISSUES I'VE BEEN EXPERIENCING IS SO FRUSTRATING, AND THE ENGINE TICKS SOO MUCH LIKE ITS ABOUT TO BREAK DOWN, AND THE ANTICIPATION OF WHEN IT'S GOING TO BREAK DOWN IS GETTING TO BE VERY IRRITATING. I HAD INITIALLY PURCHASED THE CAR KNOWING THAT TOYOTA WAS KNOWN FOR MAKING RELIABLE AND DURABLE CARS LIKE HONDA, SO I DECIDED TO GIVE TOYOTA A TRY AND SEE IF IT HELD UP TO ITS REPUTATION, AND PLUS IT WAS AN UPGRADE FROM MY 89 HONDA CIVIC THAT I USE TO HAVE. I'VE EXPERIENCED MORE MECHANICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR THEN MY CIVIC HAD AND IT WAS AN 89. I THOUGHT TOYOTA WAS SUPPOSE TO BE RELIABLE, DURABLE, AND DEPENDABLE, I GUESS NOT. IF I WOULD HAVE KNOWN THESE CARS HAD SOO MANY ISSUES AHEAD OF TIME, I WOULD HAVE JUST STAYED WITH HONDA, AT LEAST I KNOW HONDA LASTS LONGER THEN 200,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10316005

Incident

May 22, 2007

Mileage

96,000 mi

I HAD PURCHASED A 2001 TOYOTA CELICA GT IN OCTOBER 2005, AND IN 2006 I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS CONSUMING MORE OIL THEN NORMAL (1 QUART OIL = 500MILES) AFTER THE OIL WAS CHANGED AT 96,000 MILES, I ALSO STARTED NOTICING A TICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, I'VE TAKEN IT TO ROSEVILLE ... SEE MORE TOYOTA IN CALIFORNIA TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT AND THEY KEPT BLAMING IT ON MY EXHAUST, EVEN WHEN I TOOK A TECHNICIAN FOR A DRIVE TO LET HIM LISTEN TO THE NOISE, BUT HE STILL SAID IT WAS MY EXHAUST. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO THEM MULTIPLE TIME TO HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT AND ALSO HAD THEM DO A VALVE ADJUSTMENT TO SEE IF THAT WAS IT. IT'S BEEN 4 YEARS NOW AND I'M STILL DEALING WITH THE ISSUE, I AM ALSO ON A LOCAL FORUM NEWCELICA.ORG AND THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF COMPLAINTS OF THEM HAVING THE SAME ISSUES. THERE IS NO WAY OF FIXING THE ISSUE, BUT TO ONLY REPLACE THE ENGINE WITH ONE OF 2003-2005 YEARS, THERE WAS HAVE BEEN SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT, BY REPLACING THE INTERNAL COMPONENTS WITH ONE FROM THE 03-05 YEARS. PLEASE HELP, I'M GETTING TIRED OF DEALING WITH THIS ISSUE AND ITS STARTING TO GET TOO EXPENSIVE. I THOUGHT TOYOTA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE RELIABLE, BUT I GUESS NOT, IF THEY HAVE SOO MANY ISSUES, I SHOULD HAVE JUST STAYED WITH HONDA, AT LEAST I KNOW HONDA LASTS LONGER THEN 200,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10313507

Incident

May 22, 2006

Mileage

96,000 mi

IT IS COMMONLY KNOWN THE 1998 TO 2005 1.8L 1ZZ-FE ENGINES IN TOYOTA CELICA'S BURN MASS AMOUNTS OF OIL AFTER 100,000 MILES. (1 QUART OR MORE EVERY 500 TO 1000 MILES). THE DEFECT IS IN THE PISTON. PRIOR TO 2005 THERE ARE ONLY 4 HOLES IN THE PISTON BEHIND THE OIL RINGS FOR OIL TO FLOW. AFTER 2005 THERE ARE 12 HOLES. THIS LACK OF OIL FLOW CAUSES EXCESSIVE WEAR ON CYLINDER WALLS. THUS, THE ENGINE STARTS TO BURN OIL. IT GETS WORSE AND WORSE UNTIL THE ENGINE FAILS. THE ENGINE THEN NEEDS A COMPLETE REBUILD OR REPLACEMENT. TOYOTA HAS KNOWN THIS FOR YEARS (LIKE THE RESENT RECALLS) AND HAS DONE NOTHING FOR THE CONSUMER. I KNOW THAT 100,000 MILES WOULD BE OUT OF WARRANTY FOR ANY ENGINE, BUT KNOWING OF THE DEFECT AND DOING NOTHING IS NOT FAIR TO THE CONSUMER. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL ALL OF THESE ENGINES AND EITHER REPLACE THEM OR PAY FOR THEM TO BE REBUILT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311854

Incident

May 1, 2008

Mileage

100,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA CELICA GT WHEN I HIT A PATCH OF ICE AND SLID OFF THE ROAD, I SLID OVER AN EMBANKMENT AND HIT A FIRE HYDRANT HEAD ON AT ABOUT 45 MPH, THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY FACE HIT THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE ENTIRE LOWER HALF OF MY BODY JAMMED INTO MY SPINE, CAUSING PERMANENT DAMAGE. WHEN FURTHER INSPECTED THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SENSOR WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN AWAY FROM THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. I'M NOT ENTIRELY SURE WHETHER THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT IN THE 2000+ YEAR MODELS OF THE TOYOTA CELICA'S. THE CONDENSER, AND RADIATOR AND FRAME WERE DAMAGED. THE RADIATOR WAS REPLACED, THE CONDENSER WAS NOT. THE FRAME IS STILL CRUSHED. AIRBAG LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON OCCASIONALLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. SEAT BELT WAS PROPERLY FASTENED AT THE TIME OF THE CRASH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311395

Incident

Dec 15, 2009

I WAS DRIVING WEST BOUND ON I-10 NEAR DOWNTOWN HOUSTON, TX WHEN I WENT TO PASS A TRUCK AND PRESSED THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN I RELEASED THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR KEPT ACCELERATING AND THE ENGINE WENT TO THE REDLINE. I TRIED THE BRAKES WHICH WORKED A LITTLE BIT BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL SCREAMING AT THE REDLINE. FORTUNATELY THE FREEWAY WAS QUITE CLEAR AS I JUST KEPT GOING FASTER AND FASTER. I'M A "CAR-GUY" AND I'M ALSO A MECHANIC AND SINCE THIS WAS MY FIRST NEW CAR I EVER BOUGHT, I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE ENGINE BLOWING UP MORE THAN I WAS ABOUT HITTING SOMEONE SINCE THE FREEWAY WAS PRACTICALLY EMPTY. I DID GET UP PAST 110 MPH THOUGH BEFORE I DECIDED TO PUT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE KEY TO SHUT THE ENGINE OFF. I COASTED FOR A LITTLE WHILE TO REDUCE SPEED AND THEN STARTED THE ENGINE WHILE STILL COASTING. EVERYTHING WAS BACK TO NORMAL AND I PUT THE TRANSMISSION BACK INTO "DRIVE" AND WENT ABOUT MY WAY. I HAD JUST HAD MY FLOORMATS THOROUGHLY WASHED SO THEY WERE NOT IN THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME SINCE THEY WERE DRYING. THERE WERE NO FLOORMATS IN THE VEHICLE. I HAVE NEVER REPORTED THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE I JUST THOUGHT IT WAS A FREAK INCIDENT BUT NOW AS I'M HEARING MORE REPORTS ON SIMILAR ISSUES I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE HELPFUL FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO KNOW OF THIS INCIDENT AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10293482

Incident

May 18, 2004

Mileage

72,400 mi

ON MARCH 2008 I DECIDED TO PURCHASE A 5 SPEED MANUAL 2001 TOYOTA CELICA GT FROM A THIRD PARTY. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE WITH A CERTIFIED MECHANIC I BOUGHT IT WITH 98,000 MILES. THE NEXT DAY, AS MASSACHUSETTS LAW STATES I WENT TO GET THE INSPECTION STICKER FOR THE VEHICLE AND EVERYTHING WENT OK. ALSO, I DECIDED TO DO A FULL CHECK ON THE CAR (BRAKES, OIL, FILTERS, ETC). HOWEVER AFTER 4 WEEKS THE CAR STARTED TO MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN I WOULD LET GO OF THE GAS AND I ALSO NOTICED THAT THE RED OIL LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD WOULD BLINK FOR A SECOND WHEN I CAME TO A FULL STOP. AFRAID THAT THE CAR COULD HAVE AN OIL LEAK I WENT TO THE SHOP RIGHT AWAY TO GET A NEW OIL CHANGE. AT THE SHOP THE MECHANIC IMMEDIATELY CHECKED THE ENGINE AND TOLD ME THAT IT WAS COMPLETELY DRY. NOW HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN IF I HAD CHANGED THE OIL JUST 4 WEEKS PRIOR? I ONLY DRIVE ABOUT 40 MILES DAILY SO THAT'S ONLY ABOUT 1100 MILES! I RESEARCHED ONLINE TO SEE IF THERE WAS SOMEONE ELSE EXPERIENCING THE SAME AND FOUND MANY OWNER'S WITH THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. I BOUGHT TOYOTA BECAUSE I THOUGHT THEY WERE A RELIABLE COMPANY AND THAT YOU COULD TRUST THE VEHICLES THEY MAKE. SADLY IN THIS CASE THAT IS FAR FROM THE TRUTH. AFTER REQUESTING QUOTES FROM MULTIPLE SHOPS I FOUND OUT THAT IN ORDER TO FIX THE ENGINE THE PISTON RINGS WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. SUCH WORK WAS QUOTED BETWEEN $2000 TO $3600. I DO NOT PLAN TO SPEND THAT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR SOMETHING THAT IT IS NOT MY FAULT BUT TOYOTA'S. I CAN PROVE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN CARE OF BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER AND THAT I HAVE TAKEN VERY GOOD CARE OF IT SINCE I BOUGHT IT. THEREFORE THIS OIL ISSUE WAS NOT CAUSED BY MY 'LACK OF MAINTENANCE' RATHER BY TOYOTA'S POOR ENGINE DESIGN. AS A PROFESSIONAL PRODUCT ENGINEER I HAVE LEARNED THAT A DEVICE MUST COMPLY WITH A SERIES OF RELIABILITY TESTS BEFORE GOING TO MARKET; AND IN THE CASE OF MALFUNCTIONS ATTRIBUTED TO THE MANUFACTURER, THEY (THE MANUFACTURER) MUST RESPOND ACCORDINGLY TO THE PUBLIC. *TR

NHTSA ID

10276049

Incident

Jul 7, 2009

Mileage

98,000 mi

I PURCHASED MY 2001 TOYOTA CELICA IN SEPTEMBER 2009 WITH ONLY 62,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND ENGINE. AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT IT WAS BURNING A QUART OF OIL ABOUT EVERY 800 MILES. I CONTINUED TO ADD OIL AND KEEP REGULAR OIL CHANGES. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I WAS TOLD THIS WAS "NORMAL" OIL CONSUMPTION BY TOYOTA AND IT REPAIR WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. MY WARRANTY HAS SINCE EXPIRED AND I NOW HAVE AROUND 72,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. IT IS NOW BURNING OIL AT AROUND 1 QUART PER 500 MILES. THIS IS NOT AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL OF OIL BURNING FOR ANY VEHICLE. AFTER RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE MANY OWNERS OF TOYOTA'S WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND THEY ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLES. I HAVE ALSO FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA OF GREAT BRITAIN HAS ALREADY ISSUED A TSB REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND WILL REPLACE THE ENTIRE ENGINE BLOCK DUE TO THIS ISSUE. NO SUCH TSB FROM TOYOTA EXIST IN THE U.S.A HOWEVER. APPARENTLY THE PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY INADEQUATE PISTON RING AND ENGINE BLOCK DESIGN. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A RECALL SINCE SUCH A HIGH AMOUNT OF VEHICLES ARE AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM AND TOYOTA HAS ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED THIS AS A TSB IN GREAT BRITAIN. THE ISSUE AFFECTS THE 2000-2001 MODELS WITH THE 1ZZFE ENGINE. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261118

Incident

Mar 9, 2009

Mileage

64,000 mi