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Toyota CelicaModel year report

2002 Toyota Celica Problems

Complaints
29filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
35,000miles, 19 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 2002 Toyota Celica (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 29 consumer complaints for the 2002 Toyota Celica. The part named most often is air bags, with 11 complaints (38% of the total), followed by engine cooling (4) and fuel system (4). 19 of the complaints include a mileage, and 53% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 35,000 miles. Of all complaints, 13 involved a crash, 7 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 83 technical service bulletins for this model year. Air bags complaints overlap with 7 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Engine cooling complaints overlap with 3 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: Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Air bags: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10276573, filed 2009-07, 105,000 miles

Engine cooling: “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.”

NHTSA complaint #10053755, filed 2004-01, 15,000 miles

Fuel system: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10049345, filed 2003-12, 14,573 miles

Body and structure: “,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.”

NHTSA complaint #10112420, filed 2005-03, 35,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

53% of the 19 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 15,000 and 89,000 miles.

5%0–1037%10–2511%25–5011%50–7516%75–10011%100–15011%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (19 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 35,000 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

2002720042006200820102014
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 2002 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 2002 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 2002 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. 83 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 83 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 2002 Toyota Celica have?

NHTSA recorded 29 consumer complaints for the 2002 Toyota Celica as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2002 Toyota Celica is reported most often?

Air bags is named most often, in 11 complaints (38% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 4.

Has the 2002 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 2002 Toyota Celica get?

The EPA rates the 2002 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 2002 Toyota Celica reported?

Among the 19 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 35,000 miles and the middle half falls between 15,000 and 89,000 miles; 53% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 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.