2002 Toyota Celica Owner Complaints

CAR WAS TRAVELING @ 50 MPH ( POSTED SPEED FOR THE ROAD). HE SNEEZED, WHEN HE LOOKED UP THE CARS SUDDENLY STOPPED IN FRONT OF HIM. HE REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM GOING 50 MPH. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS CRUSHED. THE ENGINE WAS SHOVED IN. THE CAR IS TOTALED. BUT NOT 1 AIRBAG WENT OFF. BOTH ARE BRUISED FROM THE SEAT BELTS & BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAVE WHIPLASH. I AM THANKFUL THEY WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS BUT VERY CONCERNED THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T PERFORM AS EXPECTED. BOTH THE CLEAN-UP CREW & OFFICER AT THE SEEN WERE SHOCKED THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY....UPDATED 07/23/14 *BF

NHTSA ID

10610125

Incident

Jul 6, 2014

Mileage

165,000 mi

DAUGHTER (17) LOST CONTROL OF CAR IN A CURVE DUE TO WET ROADS AND SPEED. THE CAR SPUN THEN STRUCK A TREE HEAD ON. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE IMPACT WAS GREAT ENOUGH TO BUST THE RADIATOR AND KILL THE MOTOR BUT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MY YOUNGER DAUGHTER (15) WAS IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. BOTH GIRLS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO MAJOR INJURIES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10510939

Incident

Apr 15, 2013

Mileage

118,000 mi

TWICE WHEN COMING TO A STOP AT A STOP LIGHT, MY TOYOTA CELICA CONTINUED TO IDLE AT ABOUT 4000 RPM. I TRIED PULLING THE CAR MAT TOWARD THE SEAT TO BE SURE IT WASN'T INTERFERING WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. I ALSO TRIED JIGGLING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BE SURE NOTHING WAS STUCK. NEITHER OF THESE STOPPED THE HIGH RPM IDLE. EACH TIME THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD REDUCE THE RPM WAS TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTART IT. THE TOYOTA HAS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND THE CLUTCH WAS DEPRESSED EACH TIME DURING THE HIGH RPM IDLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10312337

Incident

Jun 1, 2009

Mileage

165,000 mi

WAS TURNING OUT ON A HIGHWAY OUT OF A SIDE ROAD. WHEN STRUCK ON MY FRONT/DRIVERSIDE FENDER AT A HIGH SPEED APPROXIMATE 60MPH, MY CAR IS TOTALED, OR WILL BE TOTALED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY MAKING MY INJURIES WORSE THAN THEY SHOULD BE. IM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY AIRPAD DIDN NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE CAR WAS STRUCK AT THOSE SPEEDS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10276573

Incident

Jul 13, 2009

Mileage

105,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA CELICA. EVERY TIME THE CONTACT FINISHES PUMPING FUEL, THE GAS TANK OVERFLOWS. THE PREVIOUS OWNER OF THE VEHICLE HAD IT REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 03V074000 (FUEL SYSTEM :GASOLINE), BUT THE FAILURE STILL PERSISTS. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE AND IT IS CURRENTLY AT A REPAIR SHOP. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 65,000. UPDATED 12-02-08 *BF UPDATED 12/02/08. *JB

NHTSA ID

10248788

Incident

Oct 12, 2007

Mileage

65,000 mi

WE OWN 2002 CELICA GT-S. IT HAS HAD TO HAVE 4 SETS OF TIRES IN 85,000 MILES. AT THE LAST ALIGNMENT THE TECHNICIAN COULD NOT GET THE 2 REAR TIRES IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE FRONT 2 TIRES. THE PROBLEM WERE THE REAR TIE RODS. HE GOT A SET OF ADJUSTABLE TIE RODS & REPLACED THE FACTORY TIE RODS AND WAS ABLE TO GET ALL 4 TIRES IN PROPER ALIGNMENT. MY SON HAD AN ACCIDENT PREVIOUSLY WHERE HE LOST TRACTION AND SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD BUT WITH NO INJURIES THANK GOD. I TOOK THE TIE RODS TO THE ANDERSON TOYOTA DEALER & THEY SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN THAT PROBLEM. BUT THEY DID NOT SHOW ANY CONCERN WHATSOEVER. I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRUDENT FOR THEM TO GET SOME INFORMATION & CHECK THEIR SERVICE BULLETINS. BUT I GUESS THE FELLOW HAD FOUND A COMFORTABLE POSITION ON THE STOOL HE WAS OCCUPYING. I AM CONCERNED THIS MAY BE A DEFECT AND WOULD LIKE FOR SOMEONE WITH THE PROPER KNOWLEDGE TO LOOK INTO THIS. I WAS NOT SEEKING ANYTHING FROM RALPH HAYES TOYOTA. I APPROACHED THEM AS A GENTLEMAN & LEFT WITH THE SAME DEMEANOR. BUT I WOULD LIKE TO MAKE SURE THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM COMMON TO THIS PARTICULAR AUTOMOBILE. IT IS A 2002 TOYOTA CELICA GTS. THANK YOU. I DO NOT HAVE A COPY OF THE INCIDENT REPORT TO GIVE CORRECT DATE OF ACCIDENT BUT THE TIE ROD ISSUE BECAME APPARENT ABOUT 3 WEEKS AGO. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP UNTIL THAT TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10244027

Incident

Mar 1, 2008

Mileage

85,000 mi

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT A SNOW BANK AT 50MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, I NEEDED TO BE TOWED/PULLED OUT OF THE SNOW BANK. ALSO ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, WITH A CATALYTIC CONVERTER CODE BUT CAT IS STILL GOOD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10240294

Incident

Dec 19, 2007

Mileage

89,000 mi

2002 TOYOTA CELICA GT SUDDEN STANDARD TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *JB

NHTSA ID

10197546

Incident

Jul 22, 2007

Mileage

85,000 mi

MY CAR WAS MAKING A NOISE. I TOOK IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS AND WAS TOLD IT WAS SOMETHING WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I HAVE A STANDARD MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND MY CAR HAD 65,000 MILES ON IT WHEN THE NOISE BEGAN. THE LAST MECHANIC I TOOK IT TO SAID THAT THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING WITH A STANDARD TRANSMISSION AT THE MILEAGE IT'S AT. I OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA AND WAS TOLD THAT I HAD TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT BY TOYOTA MECHANICS. THEY OPENED UP THE TRANSMISSION AND TOLD ME THAT THE BEARINGS INSIDE HAD GONE BAD. THE WORK IS GOING TO COST AT LEAST $1,000. *JB

NHTSA ID

10174532

Incident

Nov 22, 2006

Mileage

65,000 mi

2002 TOYOTA CELICA STARTED TO BURN OIL.*MR

NHTSA ID

10130199

Incident

Apr 25, 2005

,FRONT GRILL OF MY 2002 TOYOTA CELICA GTS FELL OFF. ALSO THE PLASTIC THAT'S ON THE BOTTOM FRONT WAS SCRAPING ON THE FLOOR. I RIPPED OFF THE PART OF PLASTIC THAT WAS DRAGGING ON THE FLOOR AND I HAVEN'T REPLACED THE GRILL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10112420

Incident

Jun 7, 2004

Mileage

35,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE VIBRATED VIOLENTLY. THE CAUSE HAS NOT BEEN DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID

10108863

Incident

Jan 15, 2005

Mileage

21,000 mi

A 2002 TOYOTA CELICA, DRIVEN BY OUR 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, EXITING OFF OF I-295-DESIGNATED SPEED- 65 MPH,WAS EXITING ONTO I-10 EASTBOUND RAMP, AND UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN, LOST CONTROL OF HER VEHICLE, AND HIT A LIGHT POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB UPON EXAMINATION OF THE CAR AT NIMNICHT CADILLAC ON BLANDING BLVD, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CAR HAD BRAKE FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE ACCIDENT. *JB

NHTSA ID

10095894

Incident

Oct 11, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE MERGED OVER TO THE LEFT LANE AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS A TURNING LANE. THEN, OTHER VEHICLE DETOURED BACK IN TO THE LANE IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AT THAT TIME, COLLIDED INTO THE REAR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS WERE WORN, BUT,THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED RIB AND CHEST INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10067003

Incident

Dec 11, 2003

Mileage

13,000 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A TIMING BELT PROBLEM. DEALER REPLACED THE TIMING BELT A YEAR AGO. *AK

NHTSA ID

10063008

Incident

Mar 11, 2004

Mileage

32,000 mi

MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER I HIT A GAURD RAIL HEAD ON DOING 45-50 MPH. I HAVE ALSO SEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS MODLE OF CAR, BECAUSE THERE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID

10054643

Incident

Jan 16, 2004

Mileage

24,770 mi

I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 TOYOTA CELICA AND I WENT TO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR AND MISSED AND WENT INTO FIRST GEAR AND THE CAR ENGINE BLEW UP. I THOUGHT THIS WAS ODD BECAUSE THEIR WAS NO SAFTEY LOCK PREVENTING ME TO GO INTO FIRST GEAR I SIMPLY JUST PUT IT RIGHT IN AND MY CAR ENGINE BLEW RIGHT UP. I NEED HELP BECAUSE I HAVE PAYMENT ON A BRAND NEW CAR WITH 3500 MILES ON IT AND IT IS SITTING IN THE SHOP AND TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO EVEN TOUCH IT.

NHTSA ID

10068970

Incident

Feb 15, 2003

Mileage

3,500 mi

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMING ON AND STAYING ON. CONSUMER HAD A DIAGNOSTIC TEST DONE. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALERSHIP. THEY JUST LOOKED AT IT AND CHARGED CONSUMER $55.00. *AK

NHTSA ID

10053755

Mileage

15,000 mi

I GOT A RECALL NOTICE ON MY 1 YEAR OLD 2002 TOYOTA CELICA. NHTSA # 03V-074000. I TOOK THE CAR ON 7/21/03 TO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID I NEEDED A NEW FUEL TANK WHICH THEY INSTALLED FOR FREE. LESS THAN 90 DAYS LATER MY CELICA WAS HAVING PROBLEMS STARTING. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE SAME TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY SAID I HAD GOTTEN SOMETHING LIKE WATER IN MY FUEL SYSTEM. MY FUEL TANK, FUEL PUMP, AND FUEL INJECTORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I SHOWED THEM WHERE THEY WERE THE ONLY ONES THAT HAD WORKED ON MY FUEL SYSTEM LESS THAN 90 DAYS AGO. BUT THEY FAILED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PROBLEM. IN THE END MY INSURANCE COMPANY HAD TO PAY OVER $2,500 BEFORE TOYOTA WOULD RELEASE MY CAR. I AM CONVINCED THE PROCEDURE TOYOTA FOLLOWED TO DO THE ORIGINAL RECALL NOTICE CAUSED THESE PROBLEMS. I OWN 4 CARS AND THIS WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT GOT SOMETHING IN THE FUEL TANK. MOST LIKELY THE FUEL STORAGE CART TOYOTA USED TO STORE MY GAS WHEN THEY REPLACED THE TANK WAS NOT CLEAN. TOYOTA SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RECALL ALL CARS WHERE THEY INSTALLED A NEW FUEL TANK UNDER THIS RECALL AND INSPECT THE FUEL PUMPS FOR WATER DAMAGE. *LA

NHTSA ID

10049345

Incident

Oct 30, 2003

Mileage

14,573 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A "U" TURN IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND CAUSED A COLLISION. CONSUMER WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. POLICE THAT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE CONFIRMED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ID

10042436

Incident

Oct 4, 2003

Mileage

14,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID

10038058

Incident

Jul 14, 2003

CONSUMER NOTICED WHILE TRAVELING ON WET ROADS 30-35 MPH AND MAKING A SUDDEN STOP BRAKES LOCKED, TIRES DID NOT GRAPE, VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING UNDER ANOTHER VEHICLE ,RESULTING IN A CRASH. VEHICLE IS NOW ON 2ND REPAIR. *AK

NHTSA ID

10024928

NAR 05/21/2003 *MR THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH THE GASOLINE SPILLING BACK OUT OF THE FILLER PIPE AND RUNNING DOWN THE SIDE OF THE CAR. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *CB

NHTSA ID

10020367

Incident

Nov 2, 2002

THE GASOLINE TANK HAD A HOLE INSIDE WHICH CAUSED FUEL TO LEAK. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10016128

Incident

Apr 17, 2003

I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE CAR B/C OF RECENT PROBLEMS. THE CAR WAS RIDING VERY ROUGH (EVEN ON THE SMOOTHEST OF ROADS), THERE WAS A THUMPING IN THE FRONT END, THE CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT, AND AT SPEEDS IN EXCESS OF 65 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES CONSIDERABLY. THE SERVICE DEPT. DECIDED THAT IT WAS DEFINATELY AN ISSUE WITH THE TIRES.... WHICH IS FINE, EXCEPT I HAVE ONLY BEEN DRIVING THE CAR FOR 11 MONTHS AND THERE IS ONLY 16,000 MILES ON THE CAR. I THEN WAITED FOR APPROXIMATELY 25 MINUTES WHILE THEY CHECKED OUT THE CAR, AND THE SERVICE MAN CAME OUT TO THE WAITING ROOM TO INFORM ME THAT THE SPACERS WHERE NEVER REMOVED FROM MY FRONT SHOCKS. (IE. SPACERS ARE PLACED ON NEW CARS WHEN THEY ARE IN TRANSIT, BEING HAULED ON TRUCKS. THEY KEEP THE CAR FROM BOUNCING AROUND AND GETTING DAMAGED) WELL, I HAVE BEEN DRIVING MY CAR ALL THIS TIME WITH THE SPACERS STILL IN PLACE, KEEPING MY CAR FROM HANDLING, DRIVING AND PERFORMING LIKE IT SHOULD. THIS HAS CAUSED UNDETERMINED AMOUNT OF DAMAGE TO THE ALIGNMENT, THE TIRES, ETC. I NOW HAVE BEEN INFORMED I MUST REPLACE ALL FOUR TIRES, TWO OF THEM IMMEDIATELY, AND THEY WILL BALANCE THEM FOR A FEE OF $29.95, AND I ALSO WILL NEED AN ALIGNMENT WITHIN THE NEXT TWO MONTHS. IT SURE IS GREAT TO HAVE A NEW CAR AND IT'S UNDER WARRANTY, RIGHT?? WRONG! I AM NOW TOLD I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL OF THE PROBLEMS, B/C THEY DON'T KNOW IF I HAVE BEEN PROPERLY ROTATING THE TIRES, WHATEVER THAT HAS TO DO WITH AN ALIGNMENT. AND I AM ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR A LABOR FEE OF $15.00 + TAX ($15.94) FOR THEM TO CHECK THE CAR OVER. DIDN'T THEY DISCOVER A PROBLEM THAT THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR?? I DON'T KNOW, BUT I DO KNOW THAT I WILL BE CONTACTING MY LAWYER REGARDING THE DAMAGE THAT MY CAR HAS ENDURED AND ALSO THE SAFETY RISK THIS ISSUE HAS PUT ME IN. I WILL LET YOU KNOW OF THE OUTCOME.

NHTSA ID

10007907

Incident

Feb 20, 2003

Mileage

15,000 mi