Most common 2001 Toyota Celica problems
Share of the 47 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 →
2001 Toyota Celica recalls (1)
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.
What 2001 Toyota Celica owners say
Engine & cooling all 22 →
As soon as I bought my car in May 2017, I realized that my car was running out of oil super fast. I checked to see if there were any leaks or problems, but there were none. To this day dec 2018 I've spent about 2K on oil alone. I know there was a recall on this particular problem in the celicas. I recently went to a Toyota dealership and they told me that my car was not qualified to even be considered for the recall. I had got into a accident with a deer about a couple of months ago and my insurance totaled my car out. 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.
Since the recalls have came out for the Celica oil issues my wife has been trying to get a solution from Toyota. Toyota claims that her car is not part of the issue however TSB eg 6020 her car is a part of the issue. I also want to point out that there is no difference of the cars that were recalled and hers they all have the same engine same parts. 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. You will see there all the same. She paid 22,000 for this car and has had nothing but trouble. Im just glad the car did not catch fire while she was driving.
Speed control & acceleration
Never had a problem with anything not working but since I've noticed the front airbag lights on the cruise control and horn has stopped working don't know if it could have been a related issue to the airbag have checked the fuses and all of them was good but my horn and cruise control has stopped working. One other thing I have noticed and about my Celica is they car vibrations have made the door bolts come loose door stays shut but very noticeable cause the door lights stay on and you could see where the interior lights is off but once your driving down the road and the interior lights start blinking and have to tighten them up ever so often so this incident don't happen.
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. My head flew forward onto the steering wheel and I required 14 stitches below my mouth and chin on the outside and 12 on the inside.
Body & structure
As soon as I bought my car in May 2017, I realized that my car was running out of oil super fast. I checked to see if there were any leaks or problems, but there were none. To this day dec 2018 I've spent about 2K on oil alone. I know there was a recall on this particular problem in the celicas. I recently went to a Toyota dealership and they told me that my car was not qualified to even be considered for the recall. I had got into a accident with a deer about a couple of months ago and my insurance totaled my car out. 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.
Rear hatch closes by itself. Dealer acknowledges problem but will not replace because it was not reported while still in warranty.the support arms are not strong enough to support the hatch .they have been discontinued and have been replaced with stronger ones.the hatch comes down without warning and could cause injury such as smash hands or fingers of children especially.
2001 Toyota Celica engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 4-speed automatic | FWD | 25 / 32 / 28 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 5-speed manual | FWD | 24 / 30 / 27 |
| 1.8L 4-cyl | 6-speed manual | FWD | 20 / 29 / 23 |
EPA ratings. Class: Subcompact car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Toyota Celica a good car?
Based on 47 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Celica rates avoid: 2.6× 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 2001 Toyota Celica?
The engine & cooling — 22 complaints, 47% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the speed control & acceleration (7) and body & structure (5).
How many recalls does the 2001 Toyota Celica have?
There is 1 recall for the 2001 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 2001 Toyota Celica problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 85,000 miles; 26% 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.