Model year guide

2003 Toyota Celica

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2003 Toyota Celica is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 13 on record.

2003 Toyota Celica — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2003 Toyota Celica at a glance

Safety recalls1
Owner complaints29
Combined23–28 mpg
Typical price$3,077

Free: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.

2003 Toyota Celica recalls 1

Fuel System, Gasoline NHTSA Campaign #03V074000 · 05/03/2003

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.

Fix: 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 THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.

2003 Toyota Celica common problems

Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA. These are the most-reported areas in a sample of the most recent — and what to check before you buy.

Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Wheels
Inspect wheels for bends, cracks and curb rash, and feel for vibration at highway speed.
Service Brakes
Brakes should feel firm and quiet — no grinding, pulsing or pulling. Check for an ABS light and uneven pad/rotor wear.
Engine
Listen for knocks or ticking, check for leaks and blue/white exhaust smoke, and make sure it doesn't overheat. No check-engine light should be on.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Air Bags
Confirm the airbag light turns on then off at startup — if it stays lit there's a fault (costly, and a safety risk). Check for signs of prior deployment.

2003 Toyota Celica safety ratings

Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2003 Toyota Celica 2-DR. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2003 Toyota Celica MPG & running costs

Combined23–28 mpg
City22 mpg
Highway30 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,025

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov. The EPA lists 4 versions of this model year; combined is shown as a range and the other figures are averages.

What's a 2003 Toyota Celica worth?

Low
$1,600
Typical price
$3,077
High
$4,500

From 13 comparable 2003 Toyota Celica listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2003 Toyota Celica costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$15,125
Depreciation (5 yrs)$1,750
Total$16,875
Per mile$0.23

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($3,077) with the same model 3 model-years older ($2,021), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2003 Toyota Celica trims & engines on record

Trims
GT · GT-S
Engines
1.8L 4-cyl 138 hp · 1.8L 4-cyl 140 hp

2003 Toyota Celica vehicles on record

2003 Toyota Celica 2003 Toyota Celica GTJTDDR32T430153453 2003 Toyota Celica 2003 Toyota Celica GTJTDDR32T430152674 2003 Toyota Celica 2003 Toyota Celica GTJTDDR32T630158606 2003 Toyota Celica GTJTDDR32T830143976 2003 Toyota Celica 2003 Toyota Celica GTJTDDR32T530147550 2003 Toyota Celica 2003 Toyota Celica GT-SJTDDY38TX30066862 2003 Toyota Celica 2003 Toyota Celica GT-SJTDDY38T130063879 2003 Toyota Celica 2003 Toyota Celica GTJTDDR32T830157439 2003 Toyota Celica 2003 Toyota Celica GTJTDDR32T030152476 2003 Toyota Celica 2003 Toyota Celica GTJTDDR32T930165856 2003 Toyota Celica 2003 Toyota Celica GTJTDDR32T130147531 2003 Toyota Celica 2003 Toyota Celica GTJTDDR32T130166029 2003 Toyota Celica 2003 Toyota CelicaJTDDY32T330067974

Other Toyota Celica model years

2005 2004 2002 2001 2000 1999 1997 1995 1994 1992 1991

2003 Toyota Celica — frequently asked questions

Does the 2003 Toyota Celica have any safety recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2003 Toyota Celica. Whether an individual car still needs a recall repair depends on its VIN — check it on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer. Recall repairs are free.

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Toyota Celica?

Owners have filed 29 complaints with NHTSA; in a sample of the most recent, the most-reported problem areas are power train, wheels, service brakes.

What is the 2003 Toyota Celica safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2003 Toyota Celica crash-test ratings of frontal 4★, side 3★ (out of 5; this model year pre-dates NHTSA's overall score).

What gas mileage does the 2003 Toyota Celica get?

The 2003 Toyota Celica has U.S. EPA estimates of 23–28 mpg combined, depending on engine and trim (4 versions).

How much is a 2003 Toyota Celica worth?

Comparable 2003 Toyota Celica listings run roughly $1,600–$4,500, typically around $3,077 (from 13 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.