Supra (A80)

1993-2002 / Coupe / Japan

All Supra (A80) problems All workshop issues

Minor Body

Dashboard Cracking

Symptoms

Cracks develop across the top surface of the dashboard, particularly near the windscreen and around the defroster vents. May start as a single crack and spread into a network of splits.

Cause

UV exposure and heat cause the dashboard material to become brittle over time. Australian sun is particularly harsh on these dashboards. Cars that have been garaged fare much better.

Fix

A replacement dashboard in good condition costs $1,000-2,000 from a wrecker (prices reflect the scarcity).

Dashboard repair specialists can fill and re-skin cracked dashboards for $500-1,000.

A dashboard cover or mat is the cheapest solution ($50-100) but changes the interior appearance.

Cost mentioned in fix

$1,000-2,000$500-1,000$50-100

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// More Supra (A80) problems

Other known issues

Minor Body

Interior Trim Deterioration

The soft-touch coating on interior trim pieces becomes sticky, gummy, and eventually peels off in black flakes. Affects the centre console, door handle surrounds, and other trim pieces with the soft-touch finish.

Common Body

Targa Roof Seal Deterioration

Water leaks into the cabin during rain or car washing. Stained headliner, musty smell, wet carpets.

Common Engine, 2JZ-GTE (Twin Turbo)

Sequential Twin-Turbo System Failures

A flat spot or hesitation in the 3,500-4,500 RPM range during full-throttle acceleration. Boost may spike or surge unpredictably. The car feels fast below 3,500 RPM and above 5,000 RPM but stumbles in the transition zone.

Common Engine, 2JZ-GTE (Twin Turbo)

Turbo Seal Wear (High Mileage)

Blue smoke on cold startup (oil pooled in the turbo housing overnight drains into the exhaust when started). Blue smoke on deceleration (intake manifold vacuum pulls oil past the compressor seals). Oil residue in the intercooler piping. Increased oil consumption without external leaks.

Minor Engine, 2JZ-GTE (Twin Turbo)

Timing Belt Failure

Catastrophic engine damage. The 2JZ is an interference engine, if the timing belt breaks, the pistons strike the open valves, bending them and potentially damaging the pistons, head, and block. The engine stops instantly and will not restart.

Critical Engine, 2JZ-GTE (Twin Turbo)

Cam Cover Gasket Oil Leaks

Oil seeps from the edges of the cam covers (rocker covers), running down the sides of the engine. Oil smell from the engine bay. Oil drips onto the exhaust manifold (fire risk on the turbo side).

View all 17 Supra (A80) problems