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Toyota CelicaModel year report

2001 Toyota Celica Problems

Complaints
47filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
85,000miles, 31 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
27 mpgcombined, 1.8L 4-cyl FWD · 24 city / 30 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2001 Toyota Celica (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 47 consumer complaints for the 2001 Toyota Celica. The part named most often is engine cooling, with 14 complaints (30% of the total), followed by engine (8) and vehicle speed control (7). 31 of the complaints include a mileage, and 26% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 85,000 miles. Of all complaints, 7 involved a crash, 3 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 80 technical service bulletins for this model year. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine complaints overlap with 5 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

Not compared (before 2008). Model years 2008–2023 of the same vehicle that have at least 25 complaints are compared, and a model needs at least 3 of them.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Suspension (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1).

Example complaints

Engine cooling: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10313507, filed 2010-02, 96,000 miles

Engine: “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 complaint #11268728, filed 2019-10, 85,000 miles

Vehicle speed control: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10671941, filed 2015-01, 150,000 miles

Body and structure: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #11156009, filed 2018-12, 210,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

26% of the 31 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 50,000 and 100,000 miles.

3%0–103%10–2519%25–5023%50–7523%75–10013%100–15016%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (31 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 85,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

’01’04’07’107’14’19
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2001 Toyota Celica. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Celica · coupe not rated4 / 4———

Ratings before the 2011 model year come from an older, less demanding test and are not comparable with ratings for 2011 and later.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2001 Toyota Celica version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Celica FWD1.8L 4-cyl4-speed automatic253228$2,400
Celica FWD1.8L 4-cyl5-speed manual243027$2,500
Celica FWD1.8L 4-cyl6-speed manual202923$3,550
Celica FWD1.8L 4-cyl4-speed automatic202723$3,550

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2001 Toyota Celica → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 80 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 80 bulletins →

Other model years of the Toyota Celica

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20031747,8001—26—Falling
20022935,0001—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
20014785,0001—27Not compared (before 2008)Stable
200010668,0002—26Not compared (before 2008)Falling
199910100,0001—22—Not enough data
19985106,0001—22—Not enough data
19978108,0000—22—Not enough data
19969—0—22—Not enough data
19952292,0000—23—Stable
199414108,0000—25—Not enough data
199313161,3960—22—Not enough data
19922169,2560—22—Stable
199127159,5000—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
199029109,0001—23Not compared (before 2008)Stable
198911—0—25—Not enough data
19886—0—25—Not enough data
19875—0—26—Not enough data
19869—0—22—Not enough data
19857—0—22—Not enough data

All Toyota Celica model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2001 Toyota Celica have?

NHTSA recorded 47 consumer complaints for the 2001 Toyota Celica as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2001 Toyota Celica is reported most often?

Engine cooling is named most often, in 14 complaints (30% of the total), followed by engine with 8.

Has the 2001 Toyota Celica been recalled?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What gas mileage does the 2001 Toyota Celica get?

The EPA rates the 2001 Toyota Celica (Celica, 1.8L 4-cyl) at 27 mpg combined, 24 city and 30 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,500 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2001 Toyota Celica reported?

Among the 31 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 85,000 miles and the middle half falls between 50,000 and 100,000 miles; 26% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.