2002 Toyota Celica problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags:frontal (4) · Power Train:manual Transmission (2) · Fuel System, Gasoline (2)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Celica model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
Safety recalls (0)
No recalls on record for this model year (campaigns announced since 2010).
Service bulletins (95)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-12-05 · T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
toyota vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film wi
Structure:body 2024-07-12 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-07-12 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Showing the 6 most recent of 95 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2014-07-13 · Air Bags · 165,000 mi · 💥 crash“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 &…”
2013-05-07 · Wheels · 118,000 mi · 💥 crash“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 m…”
2010-02-20 · Vehicle Speed Control · 165,000 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…”
2009-07-13 · Air Bags:frontal · 105,000 mi · 💥 crash“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…”
2008-11-14 · Fuel System, Gasoline · 65,000 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. t…”
2008-09-30 · Tires · 85,000 mi · 💥 crash“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 …”
2008-08-30 · Air Bags:side/Window · 89,000 mi · 💥 crash“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…”
2007-07-26 · Power Train:manual Transmission · 85,000 mi“2002 toyota celica gt sudden standard transmission failure. *jb…”
2006-11-28 · Power Train:manual Transmission · 65,000 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…”
2005-07-05 · Engine And Engine Cooling:engine“2002 toyota celica started to burn oil.*mr…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.