2000 TOYOTA CELICA Complaints

THE ENGINE WILL NEARLY STALL INTERMITTENTLY AFTER COLD START OF THE VEHICLE WHEN LEAVING DRIVEWAY AND ENTERING TRAFFIC. THE ENGINE WILL BOG WITH NO POWER FEELING LIKE A STALL IS IMMINENT (USUALLY AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT). THIS HAPPENS 3 OR SO TIMES PER WEEK AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR 3 MONTHS. IT DID NOT OCCUR IN THE PREVIOUS 8.5 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP.. REAPPLYING THE CLUTCH AND REVVING THE ENGINE AND SLIPPING THE CLUTCH HELPS HOWEVER THE ENGINE IS SLOW TO RECOVER (~2 SECONDS). A SIMILAR START (SAME RPM AND CLUTCH ACTION) AFTER THE ENGINE HAS WARMED UP DOES NOT EXHIBIT THE ACTION. THIS HAPPENS WITH AMBIENT TEMPERATURES OF 60-80 DEGREES.*AK

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.*AK

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

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.

GEARBOX POOR DESIGN PERMITS UNSAFE & DANGEROUS HIGHSPEED DOWNSHIFTS TO LOWER GEARS CAUSING ENGINE FAILURE.*AK

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 *JB

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

VERY UNHAPPY HOW SCHAUMBURG TOYOTA IN IL IS TREATING ME. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.

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.*AK

THE CAR'S DESIGN IMPAIRS VISIBILITY TO THE REAR. YOU CANNOT REALLY SEE IF IT'S CLEAR WHEN YOU WANT TO BACK UP OR CHANGE LANES. IT DOESN'T SEEM SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN YOU CAN'T SEE FOR SURE WHAT'S BEHIND YOU. *AK