The 2020 draws 2 complaints per run and the 1994 1, a 2.0-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age, so 55.3% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Engine and Engine Cooling, with 14 complaints, typically at 4.6 years.
Toyota Supra years to avoid — and the best ones
| Model year | Per run | Complaints | Runs | Enough history? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 5 | 5 | too new | |
| 2021 | 20 | 12 | too new | |
| 2020 | 16 | 8 | yes | |
| 1994 | 3 | 3 | yes | |
| 1990 | 4 | 4 | yes | |
| 1989 | 7 | 7 | yes | |
| 1988 | 5 | 4 | yes | |
| 1987 | 4 | 4 | yes |
Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2020 Supra asks a median $47,000, against $51,727 for a 2021, the next model year: about 9% less, so sellers do price some of the trouble in.
Among the 6 Toyota Supra years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2020, 1988, 1987; the three worth hunting are 1994, 1990, 1989.
When it starts to break
| Age at failure | Complaints | Running total | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 years | 14.9% | covered | |
| 1 year | 34% | covered | |
| 2 years | 44.7% | covered | |
| 3 years | 53.2% | you pay | |
| 4 years | 74.5% | you pay | |
| 5 years | 95.7% | you pay | |
| 6 years | 100% | you pay |
Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 44.7% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 55.3% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 27% of the complaints here.
What actually fails — and at what age
On the Toyota Supra, the early trouble is Electrical System and Unknown Or Other — reported at around 3.5 years, so a car still under warranty is the one to check for it. What waits further out is Engine And Engine Cooling at 4.6 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.
| System | Complaints | Typical age | Crash | Fire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4.6 yrs | — | — | |
| Electrical System | 3.5 yrs | — | — | |
| Unknown Or Other | 3 yrs | — | 1 | |
| Service Brakes | 1.1 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Engine | 2.4 yrs | — | — | |
| Structure | 5 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Steering | 2.5 yrs | 1 | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2.3 yrs | 2 | — |
What else in this class
6 models share the Supra's vehicle class. Per production run, the Honda Civic draws 2.82 and the Ford Mustang 3.88, against 1.33 for the Supra. That is the fewest complaints of the group.
| Same class as the Supra | Complaints on record | Recall campaigns | Years built |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Civic | 413 | 1981–2026 | |
| Ford Mustang | 315 | 1981–2026 | |
| Nissan GT-R | 9 | 2009–2026 | |
| Chevrolet Camaro | 204 | 1981–2026 | |
| Nissan Sentra | 158 | 1982–2026 | |
| Honda Prelude | 63 | 1981–2026 |
The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.
Good year or bad year — the VIN settles it.
- Check any VIN against complaints for its exact build year and plant
- Exact value for that car, adjusted for its mileage
- Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
- Alerts if a recall lands on a car in your garage
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Frequently asked questions
Is the Toyota Supra reliable?
By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 1.33 against 3.73 for the average car, and fewer than each of the 2 class rivals we compared.
Which Supra years should you avoid?
By complaints per production run, 2020, 1988, 1987. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 1994, 1990, 1989. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.
When do Supra problems usually start?
Half of all complaints arrive by 3 years of age. The most reported system is Engine and Engine Cooling, typically at 4.6 years, followed by Electrical System.
Will the warranty cover Supra problems?
Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 44.7% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 27% of the complaints here.
Is the Supra more reliable than the Honda Civic?
Yes: 1.33 complaints per production run for the Supra against 2.82 for the Honda Civic.
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