Most common 2000 Toyota Celica problems
Share of the 106 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Celica complaints by model year
Best Celica years: 1998, 1997, 1999. Years to avoid: 2000, 2001, 2002, 1995. Compare all years →
2000 Toyota Celica recalls (2)
Exterior lighting › Headlights
Certain passenger vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, 'lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.' the luminous intensity of the daytime running lamp (drl) will be modified to meet the standard requirements.
Remedy: Dealers will install a resistor, which will decrease the luminous intensity of the drl. The recall began on March 16, 2005. Owners should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Master cylinder
Certain passenger vehicles have the possibility that the recess retains a rubber seal ring, which is located at the end of the cylinder body, and May be corroded due to an improper washing process.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the brake master cylinder and, if necessary, replace the brake master cylinder and booster. The recall began on November 29, 2004. Owners should contact Toyota at 1-888-270-9371.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2000 Toyota Celica:
Engine seizure
What 2000 Toyota Celica owners say
Engine & cooling all 46 →
Tl contact owns a 2000 Toyota Celica. The contact stated that his vehicle burns at least a quart of oil every 500 miles with no signs of leakage. There is a recall on the 1999 Celica, but not for the 2000 models. The contact also stated that the vehicle's master cylinder was recalled. He was previously involved in a crash due to brake failure. The dealer stated that the master cylinder was operating normally, however the brake fuel was contaminated. The insurance company stated that he was 100% liable. Toyota stated that the master cylinder was working properly and he believed that Toyota should be at least 50% responsible and should pay for the crash and failure expenses. The current mileage is 120,000 and failure mileage was 70,000. The engine size is not available.
My 2000 Celica gt-s (bought new) has exhibited a squealing from the engine compartmrnt since about 12,000 miles. A pulley belt tensioner and the belt have been completey replaced at least 5 times (I lost count), as well as "repaired" by Toyota at least 3 additonal times. In June 2003, at about 72,000 miles, 2 months afetr I had taken the car to the dealer for yet another repair of this item, the entire assembly failed when the connector colt sheared off at the engine block, requiring the engine to be removed to drill out the bolt and remount the assembly. This was fixed, luckily, under my extended warranty, althought the bill was listed as $1271. The entire unit was replaced again yesterday, March 18, 2004 only 9 months since the last rebuild. The assembly has yet to last more than 9 months without breaking, so is always fixed under the repair's 1-year warranty. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 20 →
This vehicle has ( according to all sources available ) burned oil from the time it left the plant brand new,most 2000 to 2002 Toyota Celica gt's have this issue as the rings were bad. Toyota has never produced a recall for this issue and it has effected thousands of vehicles.Toyota did change the rings out for the 2003 models and newer, so they did know the problem existed.this has caused many Celica's to experience blown motors.
1. Engine failure. While driving at approximately 40mph a loud noise (snap or pop) followed by other odd noises were exhibited by the engine. At that time all engine power (including power assisted steering and brakes) was lost. 2. Transmission. Shifter noises are exhibited while selecting gears. The noise, a loud squeaking while moving shifter into or out of gear, initially started at around 1000 miles and was only present during reverse, 1st, or 2nd shift. The symptom has worsened and is now present when selecting any gear (1-6 or reverse). It was initially noted informally with the dealer, and formally documented on the 02/06/2001 service visit (7486 miles). Difficulty shifting into 1, 2, 3, and 6 was also noted at this time. This too has worsened, grinding is experienced most times when selecting reverse and frequently in other gears. …
Speed control & acceleration
On May 3rd, 2008 I had an incident with my 2000 Celica gts. I was using cruise control at 65mph. I tapped my brakes to disengage the cruise control as I exited one highway onto another. When I clicked resume on my cruise control my car accelerated past 65mph and continued climbing. I tapped my brakes but my car continued to accelerate. I turned off the cruise control but the car continued to accelerate past 85mph. I pushed my clutch petal in and the engine rev'd near redline. I released the clutch and turned off the engine in the middle of the highway. Toyota told me that the throttle cable had rust and stuck open when the cruise control requested acceleration. In turn my clutch/transmission were blown. I believe this failure mode is a serious safety issue, the car continuously accelerating and the only way to remedy is to turn the car off at high speed on a highway.
Past incident that I thought you should be made aware of. 2000 Toyota Celica accelerator stuck and car ended up going through a building. I reported incident to Toyota, but their response of 11-6-03 simply stated airbags are designed to provide protection for driver and they sent me a brochure on air bags. The consumer stated she pulled into a parking lot and stopped the car. Suddenly, the vehicle shifted gears and the accelerator became stuck. Updated ivoq 04/02/10
2000 Toyota Celica engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 31 / 27 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 23 / 31 / 26 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 29 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2000 Toyota Celica a good car?
Based on 106 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2000 Celica rates avoid: 7.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the Celica at the same age. It is one of the Celica years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2000 Toyota Celica?
The engine & cooling — 46 complaints, 43% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (20) and speed control & acceleration (11).
How many recalls does the 2000 Toyota Celica have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2000 Toyota Celica, the most recent from November 29, 2004 (headlights). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Toyota Celica?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 1998, 1997 and 1999. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2000, 2001, 2002 and 1995. See the full Toyota Celica years comparison.
At what mileage do 2000 Toyota Celica problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 33% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.