Skip to content
Toyota CelicaModel year report

2003 Toyota Celica Problems

Complaints
17filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
47,800miles, 7 complaints with mileage
Recalls
1campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
—overall rating starts with 2011 models
EPA fuel economy
26 mpgcombined, 1.8L 4-cyl FWD · 23 city / 30 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2003 Toyota Celica (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2003 Toyota Celica. The part named most often is fuel system, with 5 complaints (29% of the total), followed by air bags (2) and steering (2). 7 of the complaints include a mileage, and 57% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 47,800 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 88 technical service bulletins for this model year. Fuel system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign filed under the same part. Air bags complaints overlap with 7 technical service bulletins filed under the same part.

This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.

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: Tires (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1), Vehicle speed control (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Fuel system: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #10170894, filed 2006-10, 65,700 miles

Body and structure: “I have a 2003 Toyota Celica and the hatchback will not stay up. Toyota has tried to fix it, but finally said tough luck, they could do nothing about this and I feel this is wrong.”

NHTSA complaint #10149013, filed 2006-01, 30 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

57% of the 7 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 25,767 and 65,700 miles.

14%0–100%10–2543%25–5014%50–750%75–10014%100–15014%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (7 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 47,800 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

2003420052008201120182022
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 2003 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 2003 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 automatic253328$2,400
Celica FWD1.8L 4-cyl5-speed manual233026$2,600
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 2003 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. 88 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 88 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 2003 Toyota Celica have?

NHTSA recorded 17 consumer complaints for the 2003 Toyota Celica as of Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2003 Toyota Celica is reported most often?

Fuel system is named most often, in 5 complaints (29% of the total), followed by air bags with 2.

Has the 2003 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 2003 Toyota Celica get?

The EPA rates the 2003 Toyota Celica (Celica, 1.8L 4-cyl) at 26 mpg combined, 23 city and 30 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2003 Toyota Celica reported?

Among the 7 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 47,800 miles and the middle half falls between 25,767 and 65,700 miles; 57% 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.