Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
6
Latest Aug 15, 2013
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
4 injuries, 1 deaths reported
Overview
Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Toyota Supra, most frequently naming the body & structure, engine and electrical categories. 17 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
Monthly complaints peaked at 2 in Mar 2002. Most recent month: 1.View as table
Monthly owner complaints for the 1988 Toyota Supra
Month
Complaints filed
Cumulative
Jan 1998
1
1
Jun 2000
1
2
Mar 2002
2
4
Sep 2002
1
5
Aug 2013
1
6
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Body & structure350.0%
Engine233.3%
Electrical116.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Body & structure
Filed Aug 15, 2013
I JUST WANTED TO STATE THAT IN 1991, SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED MY USED 1988 SUPRA, MY TARGA TOP ALSO HAD DEVELOPED A LEAK (OVER THE DRIVERS SIDE) BY DECEMBER OF THAT YEAR. DURING HEAVY RAINS, IT WAS QUITE BAD AND I HAD TO CARRY SEVERAL TOWELS AS A PRECAUTION. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER AND THEY INSTALLED NEW RUBBER SEALS WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM. THEY DID IT FOR FREE AS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION! IT IS NOW 2013 (22 YEARS LATER) AND I AM STILL DRIVING THE CAR WITHOUT A LEAK IN A RAINSTORM. CURRENT MILEAGE IS 146,00 ORIGINAL. I OCCASIONALLY RUB SOME GLYCERIN ON THE SEAL WHICH MAY BE HELPING. THIS HAS BEEN A GREAT CAR AND IT IS STILL GOING STRONG AFTER 25 YEARS IN TEXAS! *TR
NHTSA ID
10535671
Incident
Dec 11, 1991
Mileage
35,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 6, 2002
THE RADIATOR WAS SERVICED FIVE TIMES. THE HEAD GASKET FAILED DUE TO FLAW IN ENGINE DESIGN. *YH
NHTSA ID
567446
Body & structure
Filed Mar 19, 2002
2 injuries reported
I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME PREVENT POSSIBLE ACCIDENTS CAUSED FROM ENGINEERING ERROR ON IN THE CONSTRUCTION ON THE TARGA TOP ON THE 1987-1992 TOYOTA SUPRAS, EVERYONE WHOM I SPOKEN TO WHOM OWNS A SUPRA WITH THE TARGA TOP HAS TOLD ME THEY ALL LEAK. WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR THE LEAK WAS SMALL, BUT ITS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE, AND AS OF NOW, I ONLY USE IT AS A WEEKEND CAR WHEN IT IS NOT RAINING, BUT FOR THOSE SOULS WHOM DO NOT HAVE THIS OPTION, THEY ARE PUTTING THEMSELVES, AS WELL AS OTHERS AT RISK IN CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS PARTICULAR MODEL. BECAUSE WHEN IT RAINS, IT POURS INTO THE DRIVING COMPARTMENT MAKING IT HARD TO DRIVE AND SEE FREE FROM THE WATER POURING INTO THE COMPARTMENT, NOT TO MENTION, WITH THE WATER POURING IN LIKE IT DOES, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THE WATER WILL SHORT OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE DASH. SO, AT THIS TIME I PLEAD WITH YOU THAT A RECALL MIGHT BE PUT INTO PLACE, TO PREVENT INJURY TO OTHERS ON THE ROAD. AND I MYSELF WOULD LIKE TO SEE A REPLACEMENT GASKET & PERHAPS NEW TARGA TOP, WHERE ONE MIGHT BE ABLE TO DRIVE THEIR CAR FREE FROM GETTING WET. IT SOUNDS LIKE A SMALL REQUEST, AND I AM SURE PLENTY OF OTHER SUPRA OWNERS WILL BE RELIEVED, NOT TO MENTION MAKING THE ROADS SAFER FOR ALL OF US TO DRIVE ON. I'VE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES, AND A FENDER BENDER OVER THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME BE ABLE TO GET A SOLUTION TO THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. I DO HOPE IF YOU ARE ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING OUT FROM TOYOTA, OR IF THEY HAVE NEW DESIGNED GASKETS TO PREVENT IT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, AND HOPE THAT SOMETHING CAN BE DONE. SINCERELY [XXX]. *AK PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA ID
759544
Incident
Jan 15, 1990
Body & structure
Filed Mar 19, 2002
2 injuries reported1 death reported
HERE'S MY COMPLAINT, THE TARGA TOP ON MY 88 TOYOTA SUPRA, HAS LEAKED EVER SINCE I GOT THE CAR IN 1990. EVERYONE WHOM I HAVE SPOKE TO WITH A TARGA TOP, HAS TOLD ME THAT THEIR TARGA TOPS LEAK. SO, WITH THIS BEING THE CASE I'M SURE IF YOU DO SOME RESEARCH YOU WILL FIND OUT WHAT I HAVE FOUND OUT THAT THE TARGA TOP, ALONG WITH ITS GASKETS ARE DEFECTIVE FROM THE PLANT. I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU FIND OUT IF THERE IS ALREADY A RECALL ON THESE TARGA TOPS AND THEIR GASKETS, AND IF NOT I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU WOULD POST A CONCERN, OR LET ME KNOW IF ITS POSSIBLE TO GET A REPLACEMENT TOP AND GASKETS FOR MY MUCH LOVED SPORTS CAR. PRESENTLY, I CAN NOT DRIVE IT ON A RAINY DAY BECAUSE I'LL BE SOAKED WITHIN JUST MINUTES OF THE DOWN POUR. I THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, AND IF YOU ARE ABLE TO FIND OUT IF TOYOTA IS WILLING TO REPLACE THE FAULTY GASKETS AND TARGA TOP, I WOULD VERY MUCH APPRECIATE IT. CURRENTLY, I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR BECAUSE I'M AFRAID THE POURING IN OF WATER IS GOING TO SHORT OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE CAR. I GUESS THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS, ITS LIKE HAVE SOMEONE POUR A PITCHER OF WATER ON YOU WHILE YOU DRIVE. IN 1990 WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR I USED A TOWEL IN MY LAP TO CATCH THE WATER, BUT KNOW THE LEAK IS SO BAD I WOULD PROBABLY NEED THREE TOWELS, AND SOME GOGGLES TO KEEP THE WATER OUT OF MY EYES. I KNOW IF YOU LOOK INTO THIS FARTHER YOU WILL FIND PLENTY OF OTHER SUPRA OWNERS WITH MY SAME COMPLAINT. BEING THAT THESE ROOFS AND SIDE DOOR GASKERS ARE FAULTY, THEY WILL IN NO DOUBT CAUSE HARM TO SOMEONE OR OTHER DRIVERS IF THEY ARE NOT FIXED. I'VE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES, BECAUSE OF THIS ON GOING PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP ME GET SOME REPLACEMENT PARTS THAT WILL PREVENT THIS TYPE OF THING HAPPENING TO OTHERS. THANK YOU, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU, IF YOU CAN HELP ME OUT. OR AT LEAST GIVE ME SOME AVENUES.*AK *TR
NHTSA ID
759540
Incident
Jan 15, 1990
ElectricalEngine
Filed Jun 5, 2000
Fire reported
AFTER TAKING VEHICLE FOR A SAFETY CHECK CONSUMER HAD DRIVEN ABOUT 200 MILES AND HEARD TWO BANGS. THEN, TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HIGH. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO GET OUT OF VEHICLE, AND ENTIRE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND MELTED TO THE GROUND.*AK
NHTSA ID
863004
Incident
May 24, 2000
Filed Jan 5, 1998
Fire reported
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FOR UNKNOWN REASON WHILE IN MOTION ON FREEWAY.
NHTSA ID
527753
Incident
Dec 21, 1997
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Toyota.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.
T-SB-0304-17 Obs
EQUIPMENT
TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates
PG004-97-Obsolet
EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.
PG006-01-Obsolet
EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.
T-SB-0304-17_Rev
EQUIPMENT
TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 31, 2018 Rev2: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. January 11, 2018 Rev1: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, and T-SB-0144-08. Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, and T-SB-0144-08 are obsolete and any printed versions should be discarded. Vehicle replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) may be available from Toyota, provided the request meets one of the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Replacement Certification Label and VIN Plate Criteria A replacement certification label and/or VIN plate may be requested if: ? The vehicle was in an accident and the label and/or plate is damaged or attached to a part that will be replaced during the repair. ? The label and/or plate was stolen.
T-SB-0304-17_Rev
EQUIPMENT
TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, and T-SB-0144-08. Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, and T-SB-0144-08 are obsolete and any printed versions should be discarded. Be sure to review the entire content of this bulletin before proceeding. REVISION NOTICE January 11, 2018 ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. Vehicle replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) may be available from Toyota, provided the request meets one of the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin.
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.