AI Damage2004 Toyota Celica: common problems
Owners of the 2004 Toyota Celica filed 4 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and seat belts. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 4
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 25% of all complaints
- 2 Seat belts 25% of all complaints
- 3 Service brakes 25% of all complaints
- 4 Vehicle speed control 25% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Seat belts: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (25% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (25% of all).
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 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speednamed in 1 complaints
- manual, 6-speednamed in 1 complaints
Drive: FWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 4 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
My drivers side seat belt does not retract easily. If I extend it out to put it on with slack, and let go, it stays slacked. I have to move it in and out a few times before it feels "snug". Possible problem with the lubrication gumming up the gears and the function of the seat belt.
At around 70,000 miles (around jan 2012), my celica (manual transmission) began slipping out of 3rd gear, sporadically. I consulted with a toyota dealership about the problem, and they told me the most effective way of fixing the problem was to replace the whole transmission (given how labor-intensive opening the…
Tl contact owns a 2004 toyota celica. While driving floor-mat interference caused the accelerator pedal to stick. The manufacturer was notified, and a representative advised her that the dealer could install a new clip to secure the floor-mat. No repairs were made. The failure mileage was unknown.
2/5 had calipers, rotors, brake pads replaced. 11/30/05 took it to a repair shop said I needed all this repaired again. I spoke to toyota dealership took it to the dealer for an inspection stated to my significant other I drive to fast. So therefore it was deemed as wear and tear.
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 15,521 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 42% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Celica has 14 complaints (30 years in the data). This year has 4, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
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 200147 sources
- Celica 200229 sources
- Celica 200317 sources
- Celica 20054 sources
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Toyota Celica?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, seat belts, service brakes. Total complaints: 4. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: seat belts (25%), transmission slipping (25%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2004 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 2004 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 2004 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.