2002 Toyota Celica Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 38%of 29 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 89,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Toyota Celica, 38% of the 29 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 89,000 miles. 11 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10240294, filed 2008-08, 89,000 miles“My airbags failed to deploy after I hit a gaurd rail head on doing 45-50 MPH. I have also seen several other complaints for this modle of car, because there airbags didn't deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #10054643, filed 2004-01, 24,770 miles“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 major injuries.”
NHTSA complaint #10510939, filed 2013-05, 118,000 miles“While driving at 25 MPH consumer's vehicle was cut off by another vehicle. The other vehicle merged over to the left lane and realized that it was a turning lane. Then, other vehicle detoured back in to the lane in front of consumer's vehicle. Consumer's vehicle, at that time, collided into the rear of the other vehicle. The seat belts were worn, but,the air bags did not deploy. Consumer sustained rib and chest injuries.”
NHTSA complaint #10067003, filed 2004-04, 13,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10244113Aug 17, 2023TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most…
- 10190460Mar 17, 2021Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
- 10132410Jul 20, 2017TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 20, 2017 Rev1: Applicability has been updated to exclude 2007 ? 2017 model year Avanza vehicles. Some hazardous material treatment and handling…
- 10131961Jan 14, 2014Toyota vehicles are equipped with Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury…
- 10132055Nov 4, 2013Beginning in 1998, Toyota introduced side airbags as optional equipment. Toyota does NOT recommend replacement of original seat covers with non-Toyota leather or other seat cover…
- 10133915Jan 3, 2013Toyota vehicles are equipped with SRS, including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury in a collision. If a customer…
- 10042555Sep 6, 2011Toyota: information provided for replacing the seat covers for vehicles equipped with side airbags.
Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 2 | 12% |
| 2002 | 11 | 38% |
| 2001 | 4 | 9% |
| 2000 | 9 | 8% |
| 1999 | 1 | 10% |
| 1998 | 1 | 20% |
| 1997 | 1 | 13% |
| 1995 | 7 | 32% |
| 1994 | 7 | 50% |
| 1993 | 2 | 15% |
| 1992 | 11 | 52% |
| 1991 | 10 | 37% |
| 1990 | 11 | 38% |
Other parts of the 2002 Toyota Celica
4 complaintsFuel system
4 complaintsBody and structure
4 complaintsSuspension
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
3 complaintsBrakes
2 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsTires
1 complaintsVehicle speed control
1 complaintsWheels
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2002 Toyota Celica
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology