FaultScore

2000 Toyota Celica transmission problems

22 of the 130 complaints about the 2000 Toyota Celica are about the transmission — 17% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 190,000 miles.

C

22

Complaints

1

Crashes

0

Fires

1

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Automatic Transmission 9 40.9%
Manual Transmission 8 36.4%
Pedal/Hand Lever(Motorcycle) 2 9.1%
Power Train 1 4.5%
Driveshaft 1 4.5%
Clutch Assembly 1 4.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 190,000 miles Brigham City, UT

POWER TRAIN

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.

NHTSA complaint #10662493 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Brunswick, GA Crash 1 injured

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

REAR END LOCKED UP AND CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE THE VEHICLE ROLLED AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY THE VEHICLE IS TOTALED.

NHTSA complaint #10155475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Idaho Falls, ID

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WHILE SHIFTING FROM 6TH TO 5TH GEAR TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO A LOWER GEAR, CAUSING ENGINE TO BLOWOUT. *AK

NHTSA complaint #8011866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Parker, CO

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TOYOTA HAS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THERE 6 SPEED IN THE NEW CELICA. THEY EVEN TOLD ME ABOUT IT AT TOYOTA. THE MALFUNCTION IS THAT WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP INTO 2ND INSTEAD OF 4TH. THIS THEN CAUSES THE ENGINE TO BE BLOWN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF TRYING TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE AT AROUND 70 TO 75 MPH AND SUDDENLY YOU CARS DECCELARATES INSTANTLY TO AROUND 50 MPH. THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT, OR IS THAT WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE BEFORE THEY WILL!!

NHTSA complaint #757978 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Parker, CO

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TOYOTA HAS A BIG PROBLEM WITH THERE 6 SPEED IN THE NEW CELICA. THEY EVEN TOLD ME ABOUT IT AT TOYOTA. THE MALFUNCTION IS THAT WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR THE TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP INTO 2ND INSTEAD OF 4TH. THIS THEN CAUSES THE ENGINE TO BE BLOWN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION IF TRYING TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC ON INTERSTATE AT AROUND 70 TO 75 MPH AND SUDDENLY YOU CARS DECCELARATES INSTANTLY TO AROUND 50 MPH. THEY NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY HURT, OR IS THAT WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE BEFORE THEY WILL!!

NHTSA complaint #757979 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Salt Lake City, UT

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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. SECOND GEAR IS THE WORST OFFENDER AND OFTEN WILL NOT ENGAGE FULLY. OVERALL SHIFT QUALITY (BOTH SHIFTING PRECISION AND SHIFING EFFORT REQUIRED) HAS SEVERELY DEGRADED. 3. SEAT BELT TAB. WITH EITHER FRONT SEAT EXTENDED REARWARD (FOR A TALL DRIVER OR PASSENGER) THE DOOR WILL IMPACT THE SEAT BELT TAB THAT IN TURN IMPACTS SIDE AIRBAG ASSEMBLY WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED. VISIBLE DAMAGE TO BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER DOOR PANELS IS EVIDENT. IT IS UNKNOWN IF ANY DAMAGE TO THE SIDE AIRBAG ASSEMBLIES HAS BEEN SUSTAINED.

NHTSA complaint #751381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nazareth, PA

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

WHILE MERGING, THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THE SHIFTER WAS PULLED OUT OF GEAR (3RD) AND RESULTED IN A MISPLACEMENT INTO 2ND GEAR. THE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE PRIED UP OFF THE FLOOR WITH THE DRIVERS FOOT. THIS COULD HAVE LED TO A SERIOUS CRASH/INJURY.

NHTSA complaint #750194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Topeka, KS

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

HAD A MISSSHIFT FROM 3RD TO 2ND GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS TWICE DEALER WON'T COVER DEFECT IN TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #750347 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nazareth, PA

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY:PEDAL/HAND LEVER(MOTORCYCLE)

WHILE MERGING, THE CLUTCH PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR. THE SHIFTER WAS PULLED OUT OF GEAR (3RD) AND RESULTED IN A MISPLACEMENT INTO 2ND GEAR. THE PEDAL NEEDED TO BE PRIED UP OFF THE FLOOR WITH THE DRIVERS FOOT. THIS COULD HAVE LED TO A SERIOUS CRASH/INJURY.

NHTSA complaint #750194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bensenville, IL

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD JERK. ENGINE WOULD BECOME NOISY AND SHAKY. WOULD FAIL TO IDLE PROPERLY. CLUTCH PEDAL WOULD GO TO FLOOR AND FAILED TO RETURN TO ORIGINAL POSITION. NOT ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS. HAVE TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THAT PROBLEM WERE THE VALVES IN ENGINE.*AK

NHTSA complaint #893128 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alhambra, CA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

GEAR SHIFTER MAKES SQUEAKING NOISE. THIS INCIDENT HAPPENED 3 TIMES ALREADY. THEY APPLIED LUBE TO LINKAGE AREA BUT IT ONLY SOLVED THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY

NHTSA complaint #748406 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stafford, VA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

VEHICLE EQUIPPED WITH 6-SPEED MANUAL TRANSMISSION HAS A POOR DESIGN IN GEAR SHIFT WHICH ALLOWS DRIVER TO JUMP GEARS, SUCH AS SHIFTING FROM 5TH TO 2ND DURNING A DOWNSHIFTING. THIS DESIGN DID NOT HAVE A CATCH WHICH COULD PREVENT TRANSMISSION IN VEHICLE FROM FAILING DUE TO STRESS. DEALERSHIP INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM IN THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #890108 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Owasso, OK

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WHILE CHANGING GEARS NOTICED GRINDING NOISE. DEALER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. A TECHNICIAN CHANGED TRANSMISSION FLUIDS. WHILE TRAVELING HOME AND WHEN SHIFTING TO 5TH GEAR NOTICED A NOISE. CONSUMER STATED THAT SHIF GEAR TRAVELED TO LEFT WHEN VEHICLE HIT 3RD GEAR, CAUSING FRONT TIRES TO LOCK UP . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #888515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Alhambra, CA

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

DRIVE AXLES MAKE CRACKING NOISE WHEN BACKING UP AND APPLYING THE BRAKE. DEALER CLAIMS THEY DID NOT HEAR ANY NOISES. ENGINE MAKE KNOCKING SOUNDS AT IDLE SPEED. DEALER REPLACE BELT TENSIONER. A WEEK LATER, A SQUEAKING NOISE APPEARS FROM THE DRIVE BELT AREA. WHEN MAKING TURNS, A GRINDING NOISE OCCURS IN THE WHEELS AREA. AGAIN, DEALER CLAIMED THEY DID NOT HEAR ANY NOISE.

NHTSA complaint #741580 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Stuttgart, AR

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE A LOCKOUT ON THE GEAR SHIFT, THE CAR EASILY SHIFTS FROM 5TH TO 2ND, WHEN THIS OCCURS THE SLOWS FROM 70 MPH TO 35 IN JUST A FEW SECONDS, THIS COULD CAUSE A DANGEROUS SITUATION. NLM

NHTSA complaint #558414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hinsdale, IL

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WHEN THE WEATHER IS COLD AND THE CAR IS STARTED IN NEUTRAL, THE CAR BEGINS TO MOVE FORWARD BY ITSELF WHEN THE CLUTCH IT LET OUT. TOYOTA DEALER SAYS THIS IS NORMAL IN COLD WEATHER, BUT IT IS NOT SAFE AT ALL!

NHTSA complaint #739293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Garland, TX

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO DOWNSHIFT FROM 5TH GEAR TO 4TH GEAR AND IT SHIFTED TO 2ND INSTEAD. AS A RESULT OF THAT PROBLEM HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. TOYOTA TOOK NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPAIR. CONSUMER BELIEVED THIS TO BE A DESIGN FLAW.

NHTSA complaint #876820 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Port Orchard, WA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

WHILE SHIFTING GEAR FOR EXAMPLE FROM 3RD GEAR TO 4TH GEAR, CONSUMER IS ABLE TO SWITCH INTO 2ND GEAR WHICH MAY CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO DOWNSHIFT HARD, AND CAUSE A CRASH. *AK WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTS FROM 3RD TO 2ND, THE SPEED CHANGES FROM 70 TO VIRTUAL STOP IMMEDIATLEY.

NHTSA complaint #873410 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sylmar, CA

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION IS TOO EASY TO SHIFT INTO WRONG GEARS. SAME FOUR VALVES HAVE BEEN BENT TWICE, ONCE AS A RESULT OF CLUTCH STICKING TO FLOOR CAUSING A MIS-SHIFT. CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF USE CAUSING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN ABRUPTLY.

NHTSA complaint #729078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sylmar, CA

POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY

TRANSMISSION IS TOO EASY TO SHIFT INTO WRONG GEARS. SAME FOUR VALVES HAVE BEEN BENT TWICE, ONCE AS A RESULT OF CLUTCH STICKING TO FLOOR CAUSING A MIS-SHIFT. CRUISE CONTROL DISENGAGES AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF USE CAUSING THE CAR TO SLOW DOWN ABRUPTLY.

NHTSA complaint #729078 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE TRANSMISSION IS TOO EASY TO SHIFT FROM 5TH INTO 2ND AND I ALMOST BLEW THE ENGINE. THIS PROBLEM IS KNOWN BY TOYOTA BUT THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO FIX THE PROBLEM. AS FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL, EVERY 2000 CELICA HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CRUISE CONTROL SLOWS DOWN WITHOUT WARNING UP TO 20MPH. WITH NO BRAKE LIGHTS ACTIVATED TO INDICATE DECELERATION OF THE CAR AN ACCIDENT COULD EASILY HAPPEN.

NHTSA complaint #725091 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Nashville, TN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE AFTER HOURS OF DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #724057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2000 Toyota Celica problems

← Full 2000 Toyota Celica report