Complaints
37
Crashes
21
Fires
0
Injuries
8
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 2002 Toyota Celica Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#16 complaints
Air Bags:Frontal
Avg mileage:55,250 mi
Crash-related:6
#25 complaints
Airbags
Avg mileage:102,590 mi
Crash-related:5
#32 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2002 Toyota Celica.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air Bags:Frontal | 6 | 6 | — | 55,250 mi | |
| Airbags | 5 | 5 | — | 102,590 mi | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Manual Transmission | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Bumpers | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Trunk Lid | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Defects | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 1 | 1 | — | — |
Air Bags:Frontal
6
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
55,250
Airbags
5
complaints
Crashes
5
Fires
—
Avg Miles
102,590
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Manual Transmission
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Air Bags:Side/Window
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Belts And Associated Pulleys
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structural Problems
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Bumpers
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Trunk Lid
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2002 Toyota Celica. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Toyota Celica Years
2002 Toyota Celica — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2002 Toyota Celica reliable?
Verdict: Above Average Complaints. The 2002 Toyota Celica has 37 NHTSA complaints, 21 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Air Bags:Frontal with 6 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2002 Toyota Celica?
Top reported problems: Air Bags:Frontal (6 complaints, avg 55,250 mi); Airbags (5 complaints, avg 102,590 mi); Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine (2 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2002 Toyota Celica?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 76,768 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2002 Toyota Celica?
NHTSA complaints for the 2002 Toyota Celica include 21 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 8 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2002 Toyota Celica have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 2002 Toyota Celica as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 2002 Toyota Celica?
Slightly worse than average. Most owners are fine; problem clusters are concentrated around specific components. Check the issues table below and match against the specific car's mileage.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Toyota Celica reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2002 Toyota Celica
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