Toyota Celica (2002)
2002 Toyota Celica
CarHunch analysed 5,978 real MOT records for the 2002 Toyota Celica.
Real test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — from verified DVLA records. Updated as new MOTs are recorded.
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The 2002 Celica passes its first MOT attempt only 75% of the time, which is 5 points below the UK average and notably soft for a car this old—and a serious red flag is that nearly one in three (31.1%) have recorded dangerous defects at some point, suggesting structural or safety system issues that demand careful inspection on any used example. With a median mileage of 83,061 miles, these are relatively low-mileage survivors, yet they're racking up an average of 4.3 failures per test and a hefty 20.1 advisories, indicating widespread wear across multiple systems rather than isolated weak spots.
If you're considering one, budget for a thorough pre-purchase inspection focused on suspension, brakes, and chassis integrity—don't rely on the last MOT pass alone. The relatively modest mileage means many are garage-kept gems, but the high failure rate suggests that age (now 22 years old) and sitting periods matter more than distance here.
The 2002 Toyota Celica has a decent first-time pass rate (75.2%), but a higher-than-average share of vehicles have had serious defects recorded — the individual vehicle's history matters a lot here.
These stats describe 5,978 vehicles as a group. The specific vehicle you're looking at could be the one good example or the one outlier. Run its registration to find out.
What tends to go wrong
Across 5,978 vehicles — figures show how many had each issue flagged at least once in their MOT history.
Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2002.
See this vehicle's full MOT history & AI hunches
Spot recurring advisories, hidden issues, and how it compares to 5,978 Toyota Celica cars.
Before you buy a 2002 Toyota Celica
Based on MOT data from 5,978 vehicles — here's what to check.
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Check the full MOT history.
31.1% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded -
recurring advisories often signal problems years before they become failures.
Search the reg on CarHunch for the full MOT history, reliability stats and a free AI-powered analysis of that exact vehicle. -
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Brake pipes, sills and subframes are the key areas on a vehicle this age — structural rust is hard to spot without getting underneath. A mechanic will check all of this before you commit, and give you a concrete basis to negotiate on price.
Inspection
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Outstanding finance, insurance write-offs and clocking won't appear in the MOT records — a dedicated history check covers all of this. Our link gets you 20% off automatically.
History
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Pass Rate by Fuel Type
| Fuel type | Vehicles | Pass rate | Avg failures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol (100%) | 5,959 | 75.2% | 4.31 |
Colour Breakdown
Based on 82,613 Toyota Celica vehicles registered in the UK — across all years. From DVLA registration records.
Mileage Distribution
Most 2002 Toyota Celica vehicles sit in the blue band. If the vehicle you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.
Half of all 2002 Toyota Celica vehicles fall between 67,356 and 100,603 miles.
2002 Toyota Celica — Still on the Road
Numbers are thinning — 17% of 2002 Toyota Celicas are still active.
Numbers are declining — 779 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025 (17% of peak).
Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.
* The 2020 dip reflects the government's COVID-19 MOT exemption, which allowed certificates to be extended by six months — fewer tests were conducted that year.
MOT History Averages
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Compare with another model
See how the 2002 Toyota Celica stacks up against a rival.