1988 Toyota Supra Owner Complaints

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

THE RADIATOR WAS SERVICED FIVE TIMES. THE HEAD GASKET FAILED DUE TO FLAW IN ENGINE DESIGN. *YH

NHTSA ID

567446

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

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

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

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE FOR UNKNOWN REASON WHILE IN MOTION ON FREEWAY.

NHTSA ID

527753

Incident

Dec 21, 1997