2003 Toyota Celica Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2003 Toyota Celica, and owners have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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1 safety recall for the 2003 Toyota Celica
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Fuel system, gasoline
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel tank check valve, located in the fuel tank inlet pipe, may become separated from the inlet pipe and fall into the fuel tank. If the check valve falls into the tank, fuel may spill from the fuel inlet pipe when the fuel pump automatically shuts off during fueling.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, repair the fuel tank check valve. Owner notification began april 4, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive…
17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2003 Toyota Celica have filed 17 complaints with NHTSA; 1 describe a crash. Reports cite 1 injury and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 61,494 miles. Complaints peaked in 2004 with 4 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“Lf wheel bearing is gone and axle is only thing holding on the wheel. The steering knuckle is damaged, caliper/bracket is damaged, rotors damaged, axle damaged. Extremely unsafe to drive”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, January 16, 2022 · Service brakes
“Belt tensioner won't retract when trying to replace serpentina belt. Most likely a defective part , original. Have to creative finding other ways to replace belt without breaking the tensioner.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 5, 2021 · Engine
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2003 Toyota Celica. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 23–28 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 20–25 / 27–33 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Subcompact Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (S4); Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd; Manual 6-spd |
Compare Toyota Celica model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Toyota Celica model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 Toyota Celica | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 Toyota Celica | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 Toyota Celica | 0 | 1 |
| 1977 Toyota Celica | 0 | 1 |
| 1978 Toyota Celica | 0 | 1 |
| 1979 Toyota Celica | 0 | 1 |
| 1980 Toyota Celica | 1 | 2 |
| 1982 Toyota Celica | 1 | 4 |
| 1983 Toyota Celica | 0 | 3 |
| 1984 Toyota Celica | 0 | 3 |
| 1985 Toyota Celica | 0 | 7 |
| 1986 Toyota Celica | 0 | 9 |
| 1987 Toyota Celica | 0 | 5 |
| 1988 Toyota Celica | 0 | 6 |
| 1989 Toyota Celica | 0 | 11 |
| 1990 Toyota Celica | 1 | 29 |
| 1991 Toyota Celica | 0 | 27 |
| 1992 Toyota Celica | 0 | 21 |
| 1993 Toyota Celica | 0 | 13 |
| 1994 Toyota Celica | 0 | 14 |
| 1995 Toyota Celica | 0 | 22 |
| 1996 Toyota Celica | 0 | 9 |
| 1997 Toyota Celica | 0 | 8 |
| 1998 Toyota Celica | 1 | 5 |
| 1999 Toyota Celica | 1 | 10 |
| 2000 Toyota Celica | 2 | 106 |
| 2001 Toyota Celica | 1 | 47 |
| 2002 Toyota Celica | 1 | 29 |
| 2003 Toyota Celica | 1 | 17 |
| 2004 Toyota Celica | 0 | 4 |
| 2005 Toyota Celica | 1 | 4 |
Checking a specific 2003 Toyota Celica
How do I know if my 2003 Toyota Celica has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2003 Toyota Celica; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Toyota dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 03V074000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Toyota models
- Camry18,189 complaints
- Prius12,516 complaints
- Corolla11,739 complaints
- RAV49,385 complaints
- Sienna8,549 complaints
- Tacoma8,440 complaints
- Tundra6,922 complaints
- Highlander5,745 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.