Toyota Supra Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
Comparing used Toyota Supra options? We analyzed 7 model years (2020–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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- Accident & damage history
- Odometer rollback records
- Open recalls & title brands
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Toyota Supra has 45 owner complaints and 19 safety recalls across model years 2020–2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2021 drew the most complaints; 2022 drew the fewest.
- Make
- Toyota
- Model
- Supra
- Model years analyzed
- 2020–2026 (7 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 45
- Safety recall campaigns
- 19
- Crash-related complaints
- 4
- Fire-related complaints
- 0
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2021 (20 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2022 (1 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Average
By model year
Toyota Supra: which years to avoid & which to buy
Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
AverageThe TOYOTA SUPRA has 45 NHTSA complaints and 19 recalls on record. 4 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
- 45 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 19 federal recall campaigns
- 4 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
- Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
- Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
19 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
ENGINE
ENGINE
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
SEAT BELTS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:RELAY
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2020–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
Common problems
What goes wrong most often
The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 45 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
45 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
My windshield glass cracked while I wasn’t even driving it. I was told it was due to a rock chip, but I could find no evidence of it. Toyota refused to cover under warranty, so I had it replaced at a total cost of over $900.
Manual transmission vehicle. The electric parking brake can automatically release when letting the clutch out with the vehicle in neutral if the brake and gas were recently touched. This YouTube video clearly describes the problem: [XXX] This can present a roll away hazard when leaving the vehicle parked with the engine running. With the vehicle in neutral, clutch in, foot on brake, engage the emergency brake, let off the foot brake, touch the throttle, then let off the clutch with the vehicle still in neutral and the emergency brake will release automatically and the vehicle will start rolling away with no feet on any pedals. It appears the vehicle is trying to auto release the parking brake as if you were going to drive away, but the vehicle knows it is in neutral not in 1 or R so this should not occur. The timeout for brake and then throttle though is very long. This dangerous behavior has caused my vehicle to roll away after I shut the engine off on multiple occasions. luckily I noticed before I had exited the vehicle and was able to re-engage the parking brake. There may be other circumstances that trigger this automatic release as well, I'm not sure, but I am always concerned that the brake may turn itself off and my car may roll away. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Parking brake is releasing on its own. I would press the clutch in when starting the car and as soon as i release or press down again it will release. Car is also in neutral when I am doing this so it has nothing to with it being in gear and releasing. The parking brake should on release when I pull the button or if i am in gear and want to pull off.
Electronic parking brake will intermittently release unintentionally. Replication scenario is to set the parking brake, depress clutch pedal, put transmission in neutral, then release the clutch pedal. This can happen right after starting the car, or after the car has been in operation. Note that this is the manual transmission version of the car. Other owners have reported similar problems.
When I start the car and put the transmission in neutral, the parking brake releases on its own. Depending where I am parked, the car will slowly roll. I usually just re engage the parking brake especially if i don't plan to drive at that very moment. What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Parking brake How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The vehicle can roll back or forward and can put others at risk. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No
This vehicle (in particular the new manual transmission equipped one) has a system which automatically disengages the electronic parking brake when you try to drive away with it applied, and that system does not have enough interlocks or "rules" that govern when it activates. In certain circumstances, the car will automatically disengage the parking brake with as little user input as simply letting the clutch pedal out - even if you've just come to a stop and applied the parking brake immediately before letting the clutch pedal out. Given that the only safe way to exit the vehicle with the engine running is with the parking brake applied and the car in neutral, this over-active system easily results in a rollaway vehicle hazard. This happened to me twice and I didn't understand at the time what was going on, but I have mostly isolated the conditions under which it has happened. The system seems to be looking for recent brake and throttle inputs, and if those inputs have been triggered recently then letting the clutch pedal out will automatically disengage the parking brake. However, "recently" seems to be very liberal, as you can touch the brake and throttle and then wait at least ten seconds (and potentially longer) then let out on the clutch, and the system will automatically disengage the parking brake. Additionally, the system does not seem to care if the car is in neutral or in gear. The car is aware of what gear it's in at all times, as this information is displayed in the instrument cluster with R, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 indicating which gear you've selected, or N for neutral. Obviously if you're in neutral, you're not attempting to drive away, so the system should never activate when the car is in neutral. I have additionally documented this issue in a video here: https://youtu.be/GXAR1Q-ApUQ
Read 14 more owner reports
Going west bound on I30 in Arkansas traveling with the flow of traffic. There was a transition part of the highway where it went from some asphalt repair to concrete roadway and when my car hit this the wheel seperated in a 360 degree pattern and the only thing holding the wheel together was the tire. I believe the 19" wheel that Toyota used on this 2023 Supra has a factory defect and is very dangerous and needs to be looked into ASAP. There was no damage to the car at all.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Supra. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle the engine did not immediately start and the message regarding a starter malfunction had displayed. The vehicle was later started and driven to the local dealer who diagnosed that the start needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet reparied. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V056000(ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced that same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 33,493.
See attached document for complaint. Toyota Motor North America, Inc. has failed or is unable to remedy the safety recall (NHTSA Recall No. 25V-636), issued on 26 September 2025, for my 2021 Toyota Supra within a reasonable period of time. According to the non-dated letter from Toyota, the recall is for a defect in the engine starter relay that may catch fire without warning “during vehicle operation or when the vehicle is parked and the ignition is off” (Toyota Recall No. 25TA09). The letter further states that “owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures until the recall remedy is complete” and that “the remedy can be available in the last quarter of 2025.” This defect is serious. For safety I am afraid to drive the vehicle, because it could catch fire without warning. The vehicle is parked outside in the winter weather, instead of in my garage. The promised date for a remedy has passed (last quarter of 2025) with no further information from Toyota. I contacted Toyota via telephone on 3 December 2025 and again on 13 January 2026, without resolution. I sent letters to Toyota Vice Presidents on 15 January 2026 (copy attached), but I have had no response to date. Currently Toyota has not indicated when the necessary repairs will be available, if ever. Please use all of your authority to bring this matter to a satisfactory resolution. Further delays are not a satisfactory resolution, because Toyota has my money for a car that I cannot drive and that depreciates each month. Toyota has major financial incentives to delay.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Supra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2021 Toyota Supra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V636000 (Electrical System); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The contact disconnected the battery after parking the vehicle outside to prevent the vehicle from catching on fire. Additionally, the contact expressed that he was making monthly payments for a vehicle that was undrivable due to a fire risk. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that another notification would be mailed when parts became available. The contact had not experienced a failure.
I am reporting a safety recall issue involving my Toyota vehicle. Toyota stated that this safety recall remedy can be available in the last quarter of 2025, but the recall has still not been available and fixed. I contacted Toyota and spoke with them in person several times, but they are saying that the remedy is still not available to complete the safety recall repair. They also refused to provide a rental vehicle, even though this is a safety issue. I requested a rental car due to safety concerns, and Toyota stated that I would have to pay for it myself and that reimbursement is not guaranteed. This unresolved recall affects my safety, and Toyota’s refusal to repair the vehicle or provide safe transportation places me at risk. I am requesting National Highway traffic safety administration to review this matter and take appropriate action.
This 2021 Toyota Supra, subject to Toyota’s own “Original Brake System Defect” recall, exhibited chronic braking noise from delivery. Despite multiple dealership visits, the core issue was never resolved. The defect escalated in late 2025, with the vehicle intermittently displaying the most critical “STOP DRIVING” brake warning. In mid-December 2025, it experienced a catastrophic “Sudden Unintended Steering and Acceleration” event during a low-speed turn, where the steering wheel autonomously jerked side-to-side accompanied by uncommanded acceleration, causing near loss of control. This appears to be a dangerous progression of the factory brake defect into a complete failure of the vehicle’s dynamic control systems. On the afternoon of December 17, 2025, after 2:30 PM, I was returning from the grocery store. Approaching a T-intersection, I was the first car in the left-turn lane. After the light turned green, I initiated a left turn at a normal, controlled speed. At the precise moment I straightened the steering wheel to enter the through lane, the steering wheel suddenly and violently jerked left and right on its own. Despite my foot being completely off the accelerator, the vehicle autonomously accelerated in sync with the erratic steering movements. The situation was extremely abrupt, dangerous, and nearly impossible to control. I had no time to feel fear; my entire focus was on desperately trying to regain control to avoid a crash with pedestrians or other vehicles. Fortunately, through quick reflexes and rational judgment, I concentrated intensely on the actual conditions and surrounding traffic. With a final, forceful effort, I wrestled with the steering wheel and applied the brakes, managing to bring the vehicle under control after roughly ten seconds. I safely pulled over to the roadside. I cannot accept further repairs on a proven life-threatening product. I urgently request NHTSA to oversee an investigation into Toyota regarding this systemic failure .
Blender door actuator not working correctly. Interferes with fogging front and side windows. Blows cold on drivers side and warm on passenger side. Heater only heats when set to 84 degrees. If set to 83 or lower cold air on drivers side. Sounds like a known issue with Toyota supras with bmw climate control. Very dangerous in northern az area in winter.
My fuel tank is leaking fuel. I noticed a spot underneath my car in my driveway that is made out of rock and you can smell the fuel. The check engine light is always on and the fuel tank loses mileage and fuel on the telemeter without even driving the vehicle.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2021 Toyota Supra. The contact stated that after obtaining the vehicle's Carfax history report, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 47,764, and after receiving Carfax history report, it was discovered that the mileage was 72,650.
Vehicle fails to restart after automatic ignition shut off when pressure is removed from brake pedal causing vehicle to shift into neutral without engine power. Vehicle also fails to start showing "starter system fault" error.
Passenger side low beam headlight suddenly stopped working on the highway. Symptoms same as Toyota recall 19TA20, however vehicle is not part of the recall campaign. Vehicle displayed error "Right low beam malfunction". Dealership is not willing to investigate under recall coverage.
I am extremely concerned this vehicle consumed .9 Quarts of oil which barely reached 1k miles from the oil consumption test performed by Toyota TECH TIP T-TT-0642-21 (Loyalty Toyota). If the vehicle had consumed the full one 1QT the engine could be deemed a replacement. By researching the internet, other 2021 Toyota 3.0 owners are having similar conditions at different intervals. According to the suggested maintenance interval by Toyota "Toyota recommends changing the oil every 12 months or 10,000 miles, or whenever the maintenance reminder light comes on, whichever comes first. So based on the Toyota I will incur 6.9 quarts for an oil change and 9 more quarts in between oil changes based on 10k miles intervals. It is feasible that to consume one quart every 3k, but one quart every 1k miles is extreme and the condition excessive and could worsen with vehicle mileage. I would like to get a resolution to this matter promptly.
I am not sure what components or systems failed or malfunctioned. I just know that randomly when I am at a complete stop and proceed to try to go onto oncoming traffic, the vehicle hesitates as if it is about to die out and then moves at a crawl for roughly 3-4 seconds and then kicks in and accelerates back to normal. I have taken the vehicle to be serviced 4 times but nothing has being resolved. Service department at the dealer says they can't find anything wrong. The last time I took it to the dealer they kept the vehicle for about 5 days to hook it up to the computer to see if it recorded anything that would help them resolve it but nothing was recorded. There are no warning lamps or messages appearing any of the multiple times this has happened. It is a safety hazard because several times I have been stuck in the middle of an interstate or street with oncoming traffic with the potential of injury or death if hit by another car vehicle.
Showing 20 of 45 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check the exact car
Before you buy, check the exact Toyota Supra
These pages show model-year patterns across 7 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.
The basics
How to read this data
Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Toyota Supra, in plain English.
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Toyota Supra has 45 complaints on record across 7 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Toyota Supra has 19 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 4 of the Toyota Supra's 45 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Toyota Supra vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Toyota Supra vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Toyota Supra has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
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Toyota Supra reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Toyota Supra reliable?
Average. The Toyota Supra has 45 NHTSA owner complaints and 19 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.
Which Toyota Supra years to avoid?
Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2021 (20 complaints), 2020 (16 complaints), 2023 (5 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.
What are the most common Toyota Supra problems?
Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (13 complaints); SERVICE BRAKES (9 complaints); ENGINE (9 complaints).
Does the Toyota Supra have recalls?
Yes — 19 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Toyota Supra. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.