1988 Toyota Supra Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1988 Toyota Supra, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- 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.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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).
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE RADIATOR WAS SERVICED FIVE TIMES. THE HEAD GASKET FAILED DUE TO FLAW IN ENGINE DESIGN. *YH
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .