2001 Toyota Celica

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

73/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about the 2001 Toyota Celica, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Engine and engine cooling	12	23%
Engine	7	13%
Power train	5	10%
Tires	5	10%
Vehicle speed control	5	10%
Air bags	3	6%
Seat belts	2	4%
Structure	2	4%
Structure	1	2%
Air bags	1	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

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. I HAVE CONTA
NHTSA complaint: Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA CELICA. 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 MECHANI
NHTSA complaint: Power train

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 A
NHTSA complaint: Engine

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
NHTSA complaint: Structure

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
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

JUST ANOTHER BURNING OIL COMPLAINT HERE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO MY TAHOE FOR WHEN I DRIVE 1.5 HOUR AWAY FOR WORK. I WASN'T EXPECTING TO HAVE TO PUT IN NEARLY A QUART OF OIL WITH EVERY TRIP. SEEMS TO ME LI
NHTSA complaint: Engine

THE ENGINE MAKES A HORRIBLE TICKING SOUND AND CONSUMES ALMOST 4 QUARTS OF OIL FOR EVERY FOUR HUNDRED MILES I DRIVE, SO BASICALLY EVERY TIME I FILL UP WITH GAS I'M ALSO FILLING MY CAR WITH OIL. WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THIS I
NHTSA complaint: Engine

I PURCHASED A TOYOTA CELICA 2001 WITH A 1ZZ-FE ENGINE IN MAY OF THIS YEAR 2014 AFTER ANOTHER DRIVER TOTALED MY CAR. IT GOT A FRESH OIL CHANGE FROM PEPBOYS AND CONSUMED THE OIL IN ABOUT 3 WEEKS. THIS HAS CAUSED THE ENGINE
NHTSA complaint: Engine

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2001 Toyota Celica. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Exterior lighting:headlights 04V566000

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.

Fix: 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.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	77	good
Longevity est.	82	excellent
Maintenance	90	excellent
Depreciation	67	good
Performance	43	below average
Efficiency	50	average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 26% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 76% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 100% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 70% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 77: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 82: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2001 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 90: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2001 Toyota Celica?

Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and engine and engine cooling is the most reported area with 12 of them (23%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2001 Toyota Celica reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 77/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2001 Toyota Celica last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2001 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2001 Toyota Celica?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 73/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.