AI Damage2001 Toyota Celica: common problems
Owners of the 2001 Toyota Celica filed 47 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and engine. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 47
- involving a crash
- 7
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 30% of all complaints
- 2 Engine 17% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 15% of all complaints
- 4 Powertrain 11% of all complaints
- 5 Structure 11% of all complaints
- 6 Air bags 9% of all complaints
- 7 Tires 9% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 6% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 14 complaints (30% of all).
- Engine: 8 complaints (17% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Vehicle speed control: 7 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Powertrain: 5 complaints (11% of all).
- Structure: 5 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 1.8 L · petrol · 4 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
- manual, 6-speed
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 47 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine | 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 1 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Air bags | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Tires | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 1 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
There was only damage to my hood, headlights, and my bumper. I bought the car back from them, but all in all nothing was wrong with my car internally. I really can't afford oil every week but I do love this car. If there is anything you guys can do/help with I'd appreciate it.
I was driving my 2001 toyota celica gt when I hit a patch of ice and slid off the road, I slid over an embankment and hit a fire hydrant head on at about 45 mph, the airbags did not deploy. My face hit the steering wheel and the entire lower half of my body jammed into my spine, causing permanent damage.
As I was pulling into my parking spot in the ramp, my car 'unexpectedly' lurched forward into a concrete pillar on the left and a wire barrier and concrete wall ahead. Damage to the car was $5,647.92. My air bag did not deploy nor did my seat belt hold me.
Consumer's vehicle was involved in a frontal collision at an impact of 30 mph, and neither of the frontal air bag deployed. Dealer was not contacted.
While braking at 25 mph vehicle started to slide to left, and resulted in a rear end collision. Dealer and manufacturer were notified. Feel free to provide any further information.
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.
While driving at any speed, the gear shiftier did not work and made a grinding noise. There was no warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the transmission; however, the failure recurred after approximately seven years.
So bottom line she should of been taking car of by toyota and the engine replaced. She now has a car that is about to catch on fire and not able to drive and for years she has been trying to get answers and pushed away. We are asking that you look into the parts of the engines that were recalled and her parts.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,507 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 15% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Celica has 14 complaints (30 years in the data). This year has 47, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
Other years of this model
- Celica 19824 sources
- Celica 19833 sources
- Celica 19843 sources
- Celica 19857 sources
- Celica 19869 sources
- Celica 19875 sources
- Celica 19886 sources
- Celica 198911 sources
- Celica 199029 sources
- Celica 199127 sources
- Celica 199221 sources
- Celica 199313 sources
- Celica 199414 sources
- Celica 199522 sources
- Celica 19969 sources
- Celica 19978 sources
- Celica 19985 sources
- Celica 199910 sources
- Celica 2000106 sources
- Celica 200229 sources
- Celica 200317 sources
- Celica 20044 sources
- Celica 20054 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2001 Toyota Celica?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, engine, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 47. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: knocking, grinding or other noise (21%), oil leak or consumption (21%), smoke, burning smell, fire (9%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2001 Toyota Celica?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2001 Toyota Celica from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2001 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.