The 2003 Toyota Celica has 1 safety recall and 17 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is fuel system, gasoline (4 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints17filed by owners
Crashes · fires1 · 0reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints
2003 Toyota Celica in an NHTSA crash test
Safety recalls
Fuel system, gasoline
NHTSA recall 03V074000 · Mar 5, 2003 · 15,048 vehicles
Problem: 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.
Risk: THIS CONDITION MAY RESULT A FIRE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE.
Fix: 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.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA side barrier crash test
2003 Toyota Celica 2-DR
Overall
Not Rated
Frontal crash
Not Rated
Side crash
Not Rated
Rollover
Not Rated
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.
Fuel economy
Celica
28mpg combined
City / highway
25 / 33 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,400/year to fuel
Celica
26mpg combined
City / highway
23 / 30 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 5-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $2,600/year to fuel
Celica
23mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 29 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Manual 6-spd · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
Celica
23mpg combined
City / highway
20 / 27 mpg
Fuel
Premium Gasoline
1.8 L · 4 cyl · Automatic (S4) · Front-Wheel Drive · about $3,550/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Fuel system, gasoline Storage › Tank assembly
4
0
0
0
—
Structure Body › Hatchback/liftgate › Support device/strut
2
0
0
0
—
Air bags
2
0
0
0
—
Steering Column
2
0
0
0
—
Latches/locks/linkages Hood › Latch
1
0
0
1
—
Suspension Front
1
1
0
0
—
Vehicle speed control Cruise control
1
0
0
0
—
Fuel system, diesel Storage › Tank assembly
1
0
0
0
—
Tires Tread/belt
1
0
0
0
—
Wheels
1
0
0
0
—
Power train Manual transmission
1
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Oct 30, 2021Service brakes Lf wheel bearing is gone and axle is only thing holding on the wheel. The steering knuckle is damaged, caliper/bracket is damaged, rotors damaged, axle damaged. Extremely unsafe to drive
Oct 4, 2021Engine Belt tensioner won't retract when trying to replace serpentina belt. Most likely a defective part , original. Have to creative finding other ways to replace belt without breaking the tensioner.
Dec 14, 2017 · 160,476 milesAir bags TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CELICA. WHILE OPERATING THE VEHICLE, THE HORN WAS NOT ALWAYS AUDIBLE WHEN PRESSING THE CENTER OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE AIR BAG SENSOR INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSED THAT THE COIL SPRING INSIDE THE STEERING COLUMN WAS FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE LOCAL DEALER (SOUTH BAY TOYOTA, 310-323-7800) WAS CALLED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,476.
Jan 1, 2012Air bags AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A CRASH. I'VE HAD THE SENSOR RESET 4 X, IT STILL FLASHES AND STAYS ON.
Sep 18, 2009 · 105,000 milesEngine and engine cooling TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA CELICA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD EXHIBIT AN ABNORMAL AND CONTINUAL SQUEAKING WHEN THERE WAS ANY TYPE OF PRECIPITATION. THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED FOUR TIMES BY A LOCAL MECHANIC AND THE HYDRAULIC TENSIONER WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE REPAIRS WOULD CORRECT THE FAILURE FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH BEFORE RECURRING. ONCE THE ENGINE WAS HOT, THE NOISE WOULD CEASE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 129,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000.
Aug 3, 2005 · 25,767 milesPower train › Manual transmission I HAD TO HAVE CLUTCH REPLACED AT 25,77 MILES ON MY 2003 TOYOTA CELICA GT PURCHASED NEW APRIL 2003. AGAIN I HAD TO REPLACE CLUTCH @ 56,089. FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED THIS CAR I HAD PROBLEMS WITH PUTTING CAR IN GEAR AND COMPLAINED TO DEALER, WHO SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. I'VE DRIVEN MANUAL TOYOTA CARS SINCE 1966 AND NEVER HAD ANY CLUTCH REPAIRS ON ANY OF MY TOYOTAS. I HAD OVER 144,000 MILES ON MY 1987 TOYOTA MR2 WHEN I TRADED IT IN 1994. I THINK IT IS EXCESSIVE TO HAVE A TOTAL OF 3 CLUTCHES AT 56,089. *TR
May 31, 2008 · 25,684 milesStructure PURCHASED NEW 2003 CELICA GTS. FROM DEALER. 26,398 MILES PAINT BUBBLING ON ALL WHEELS. DEALER/FACTORY REP. WOULD NOT REPLACE WHEELS. REPAINTED INSTEAD AND STATED " THEY WOULD REPLACE IF ISSUE HAPPENED AGAIN. 42,197 MILES PAINT BUBBLING AGAIN ON ALL WHEELS. FACTORY REP. REFUSED TO REPLACE/REPAIR." DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE EITHER. *TR
Oct 8, 2006 · 65,700 milesFuel system, gasoline THIS MAY BE RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 03V074000 PER ORIGINAL RECALL, FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP ON 07/08/2003. ON 10/08/2006, THE SAME PROBLEM WAS ENCOUNTERED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PUT FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. FUELING IS NOW DIFFICULT AND VERY TIME CONSUMING. ONLY ABOUT ONE-TENTH OF A GALLON CAN BE PUMPED BEFORE THE FUEL PUMP AUTOMATICALLY SHUTS OFF. THIS APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY FUEL BACKING UP IN THE FUEL INLET PIPE AND FUEL SPLASHING BACK OUT. TOYOTA HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND A SERVICE APPOINTMENT SCHEDULED AT A LOCAL DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER, I GOT THE IMPRESSION THEY ARE RELUCTANT TO REMEDY THIS FREE OF CHARGE SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS SUPPOSEDLY FIXED 3 YEARS AGO.…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
