FaultScore

2002 Toyota Celica airbag problems

13 of the 37 complaints about the 2002 Toyota Celica are about the airbag system — 35% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 89,000 miles.

F

13

Complaints

13

Crashes

0

Fires

5

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 6 46.2%
AIR Bags 5 38.5%
Sensor/Control Module 1 7.7%
Side/Window 1 7.7%

Airbags across every Toyota Celica year

1990 11 23.4%
1991 10 21.3%
1992 13 27.7%
2002 13 27.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 165,000 miles Hudson, NH Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

CAR WAS TRAVELING @ 50 MPH ( POSTED SPEED FOR THE ROAD). HE SNEEZED, WHEN HE LOOKED UP THE CARS SUDDENLY STOPPED IN FRONT OF HIM. HE REAR ENDED THE CAR IN FRONT OF HIM GOING 50 MPH. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE ENTIRE FRONT END WAS CRUSHED. THE ENGINE WAS SHOVED IN. THE CAR IS TOTALED. BUT NOT 1 AIRBAG WENT OFF. BOTH ARE BRUISED FROM THE SEAT BELTS & BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER HAVE WHIPLASH. I AM THANKFUL THEY WERE WEARING SEAT BELTS BUT VERY CONCERNED THE AIRBAGS DIDN'T PERFORM AS EXPECTED. BOTH THE CLEAN-UP CREW & OFFICER AT THE SEEN WERE SHOCKED THAT THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY....UPDATED 07/23/14

NHTSA complaint #10610125 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 118,000 miles Cowpens, SC Crash

AIR BAGS

DAUGHTER (17) LOST CONTROL OF CAR IN A CURVE DUE TO WET ROADS AND SPEED. THE CAR SPUN THEN STRUCK A TREE HEAD ON. THE CAR WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE IMPACT WAS GREAT ENOUGH TO BUST THE RADIATOR AND KILL THE MOTOR BUT NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED. MY YOUNGER DAUGHTER (15) WAS IN THE PASSENGER'S SEAT. BOTH GIRLS WERE WEARING SEATBELTS. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO MAJOR INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #10510939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 105,000 miles Crandall, GA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WAS TURNING OUT ON A HIGHWAY OUT OF A SIDE ROAD. WHEN STRUCK ON MY FRONT/DRIVERSIDE FENDER AT A HIGH SPEED APPROXIMATE 60MPH, MY CAR IS TOTALED, OR WILL BE TOTALED IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS, MY AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY MAKING MY INJURIES WORSE THAN THEY SHOULD BE. IM TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY AIRPAD DIDN NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE CAR WAS STRUCK AT THOSE SPEEDS.

NHTSA complaint #10276573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,000 miles Chicopee, MA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT A SNOW BANK AT 50MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, I NEEDED TO BE TOWED/PULLED OUT OF THE SNOW BANK. ALSO ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, WITH A CATALYTIC CONVERTER CODE BUT CAT IS STILL GOOD.

NHTSA complaint #10240294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 89,000 miles Chicopee, MA Crash

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HIT A SNOW BANK AT 50MPH AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, I NEEDED TO BE TOWED/PULLED OUT OF THE SNOW BANK. ALSO ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, WITH A CATALYTIC CONVERTER CODE BUT CAT IS STILL GOOD.

NHTSA complaint #10240294 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

A 2002 TOYOTA CELICA, DRIVEN BY OUR 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER, EXITING OFF OF I-295-DESIGNATED SPEED- 65 MPH,WAS EXITING ONTO I-10 EASTBOUND RAMP, AND UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN, LOST CONTROL OF HER VEHICLE, AND HIT A LIGHT POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB UPON EXAMINATION OF THE CAR AT NIMNICHT CADILLAC ON BLANDING BLVD, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE CAR HAD BRAKE FAILURE WHICH CAUSED THE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #10095894 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 13,000 miles Winter Park, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS CUT OFF BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE OTHER VEHICLE MERGED OVER TO THE LEFT LANE AND REALIZED THAT IT WAS A TURNING LANE. THEN, OTHER VEHICLE DETOURED BACK IN TO THE LANE IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, AT THAT TIME, COLLIDED INTO THE REAR OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. THE SEAT BELTS WERE WORN, BUT,THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER SUSTAINED RIB AND CHEST INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #10067003 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 24,770 miles Lockport, NY Crash

AIR BAGS

MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER I HIT A GAURD RAIL HEAD ON DOING 45-50 MPH. I HAVE ALSO SEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS MODLE OF CAR, BECAUSE THERE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10054643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 24,770 miles Lockport, NY Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

MY AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER I HIT A GAURD RAIL HEAD ON DOING 45-50 MPH. I HAVE ALSO SEEN SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS FOR THIS MODLE OF CAR, BECAUSE THERE AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10054643 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 14,000 miles Hollywood, FL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A "U" TURN IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE AND CAUSED A COLLISION. CONSUMER WAS WEARING SEAT BELTS, BUT NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. POLICE THAT ARRIVED ON THE SCENE CONFIRMED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10042436 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Steep Falls, ME Crash

AIR BAGS

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10038058 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ocala, FL Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS INVOLVED IN A MINOR TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE, CONSUMER FEELS FOR SUCH A MINOR ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE OTHER VEHICLE SUFFERED NO DAMAGE , THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT HAVE INCURRED SO MUCH DAMAGE, ALSO THE AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #568475 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ivanhoe, IL Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND WITHOUT WARNING CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA complaint #8013358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

← Full 2002 Toyota Celica report