1988 Toyota Cressida problems
The Toyota Mark II (Japanese: トヨタ・マークII, Hepburn: Toyota Māku Tsū) is a compact, later mid-size sedan manufactured and marketed in Japan by Toyota between 1968 and 2004. Prior to 1972, the model was marketed as the Toyota Corona Mark II. In some export markets, Toyota marketed the vehicle as the Toyota Cressida between 1976 and 1992 across four generations. Toyota replaced the rear-wheel-drive Cressida in North America with the front-wheel-drive Avalon. Every Mark II and Cressida was manufactured at the Motomachi plant at Toyota, Aichi, Japan from September 1968 to October 1993, and later at Toyota Motor Kyushu's Miyata plant from December 1992 to October 2000, with some models also assembled in Jakarta, Indonesia as the Cressida.
History
The first series, called the Toyota Corona Mark II was an all new vehicle at its introduction in 1968, that sought to offer a car that was just under Japanese government regulations concerning maximum vehicle dimensions and engine displacement, thus allowing the Crown to grow larger and more luxurious. Using the established platform of the Corona sedan but slightly larger and wider, it was exclusive to Toyopet Store locations, and offered as a competitor to the newly introduced Nissan Laurel in Japan, the Isuzu Florian, and the Nissan Bluebird / Datsun 510 internationally that appeared August 1967, and two years after the Mazda Luce in 1966.
At the Mark II's introduction in the late 1960s, Toyota was known as a small, economy car manufacturer. The Mark II allowed Toyota to establish itself as a more mainstream, international automaker and pursue new market opportunities. The Corona Mark II was sold as a larger companion to the Corona, while still being smaller than the Crown. The Mark II introduced a comfortable front-engine, rear-drive vehicle that was larger than older Toyotas while maintaining an affordable price and better fuel economy than vehicles with larger straight-six and V8 engines, and shared most of its technology and appearance with the larger, more prestigious Crown.
As the Mark II began to become popular with drivers around the world, Toyota introduced variations of the Mark II with two different model names, both sedans but with different styling and marketing approaches. The sportier Toyota Chaser appeared in 1977, and later in 1980, the high luxury content Toyota Cresta appeared, and both were exclusive together at Toyota Auto Store locations. As other automakers continued to offer vehicles in this size class, the Mark II's popularity peaked in the 1980s. The Mark II's siblings, the Chaser and the Cresta were discontinued due to declining sales, partly influenced by the Japanese recession that started in the early 1990s, and were combined into the short-lived Toyota Verossa. The Mark II evolved into the Toyota Mark X which was popular in Japan and select international markets until the growing demand for SUVs and crossovers, which saw the Mark X cancelled in 2019.
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Common 1988 Toyota Cressida problems
The Toyota Cressida is a well-built and reliable car, but like any vehicle, it has its share of common issues. For the 1988 Toyota Cressida, the most common problem is related to the exhaust system. Booming noises coming from the exhaust are often caused by loose or damaged exhaust mounts, which can cause the exhaust to vibrate and create a booming sound. To fix this issue, it's important to inspect the exhaust system and ensure that all the mounts are in place and in good condition. Comparing the exhausts on both the Cressida and a similar car can help identify any differences that might contribute to the noise.
Another common issue with the Toyota Cressida is related to the automatic transmission. At high mileages, the automatic transmission may not shift correctly, causing a rough ride and decreased fuel efficiency. This issue is caused by a faulty valve body and requires either a replacement or a complete rebuild of the transmission.
While not specific to the 1988 model year, it's worth noting that the Toyota Cressida experienced transmission issues from 1985 to 1988, particularly with the automatic transmission. Owners reported issues with slipping gears, delayed shifting, and a rough ride, which were caused by a faulty valve body and required either a replacement or a complete rebuild of the transmission.
In addition to these common issues, the Toyota Cressida has experienced other problems throughout its production run. For example, the engine's cylinder head was prone to cracking in the 1981-1984 model years, particularly in the Luxury and Grande trims with the 2.8-liter inline six-cylinder engine. This issue was caused by a design flaw and required a costly repair to fix. From 1989 to 1992, the most common issue with the Toyota Cressida was a faulty air conditioning system, which affected all trim levels and was caused by a faulty compressor and other components.
Despite these issues, the Toyota Cressida remains a beloved classic car among enthusiasts. With proper maintenance and care, many of these issues can be avoided or resolved before they become major problems. It is important for Cressida owners to stay on top of regular maintenance and to address any issues as soon as they arise in order to keep their cars running smoothly for years to come.
Are Toyota Cressidas reliable?
THE Cressida is a sturdy, well-built and reliable car with few problems. But it's now an old car and old cars are more prone to break down, no matter how good they were when new. Most Cressidas will show more than 200,000km on the odo, so you're taking on an old car in the last stages of its useable life.
What engine is in a 1988 Toyota Cressida?
2.8L 6 -cyl
1988 Toyota CRESSIDA (2.8L 6 -cyl Engine Code [M] 5M-GE T) Motor Oil, Filters and Lubricants - AMSOIL.
What is special about Toyota Cressida?
Available either as a four-door sedan or a station wagon, the new Cressida is Toyota's most American car to date, a triumph of Japanese market research and technological cloning. It is a very good car. Its engine performs faultlessly and its automatic-overdrive transmission is smooth and sure.
Why did Toyota stop making Cressida?
Though the Cressida would continue to sell well for another few years, the shared concepts and other similarities between it and the LS400 is what eventually led to its demise. While the Cressida was one of Toyota's best-selling flagship vehicles, its sales overlapped with vehicles under the Lexus marquis.
Is Toyota Cressida a reliable car?
THE Cressida is a sturdy, well-built and reliable car with few problems. But it's now an old car and old cars are more prone to break down, no matter how good they were when new. Most Cressidas will show more than 200,000km on the odo, so you're taking on an old car in the last stages of its useable life.
What engine is in a 1988 Toyota Cressida?
2.8L 6 -cyl
1988 Toyota CRESSIDA (2.8L 6 -cyl Engine Code [M] 5M-GE T) Motor Oil, Filters and Lubricants - AMSOIL.
Why did Toyota stop making Cressida?
Though the Cressida would continue to sell well for another few years, the shared concepts and other similarities between it and the LS400 is what eventually led to its demise. While the Cressida was one of Toyota's best-selling flagship vehicles, its sales overlapped with vehicles under the Lexus marquis.
What is special about Toyota Cressida?
Available either as a four-door sedan or a station wagon, the new Cressida is Toyota's most American car to date, a triumph of Japanese market research and technological cloning. It is a very good car. Its engine performs faultlessly and its automatic-overdrive transmission is smooth and sure.
1988 Toyota Cressida car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Toyota Cressida problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1988 Toyota Cressida vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1988 Toyota Cressida complaints
The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1988 Toyota Cressida.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-08-01
- VIN: JT2MX73E6J0
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: MUFFLER REQUIRED REPLACEMENT, REPLACEMENT MUFFLER CONTAINED A SHORT TAIL PIPE, PREVIOUS EVIDENCE OF RUSTING IN THE PATH OF THE MUFFLER, EVENTUALLY WOULD LEAD TO HOLE AND FUMES THAT WOULD BE ABLE TO ENTER INTO TRUNK, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, DEALER SAID ATTACHING TRACK AUTO EXTENSION PIPE WITH CLAMP WOULD PREVENT SITUATION, HOWEVER INVALIDATE WARRANTY.*ET
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-10-24
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: PUT CAR INTO REVERSE AND CAR ACCELERATED AND HIT A POLE, DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1988 Toyota Cressida problems:
Some general info about the Cressidas | Toyota Nation Forum
Apr 11, 2008 ... The single most common problem with Cressidas is lack of maintenance (like many older cars). after that, in no particular order (and mostly ...
common cressida issues? - General Toyota & Other Car Discussions ...
Jun 24, 2012 ... hey guys, im looking at purchasing an old cressida, and i was just wondering what (if any) were the common issues they had? i chose it since ...
Toyota Cressida Problems and Complaints - 23 Issues
Top Toyota Cressida Problems · Automatic Transmission May Not Shift Correctly at High Mileages · Power steering pump may leak and require replacement · Replace ...
Common Issues with 81 Toyota Cressida - Expert Q&A
Feb 20, 2006 ... What would be wrong with my 81 toyota cressida if it wont charge the battery i ghanged the alternator and the battery - Answered by a ...
Toyota Cressida Problems & Reliability Issues | CarsGuide
The problems he has encountered have been a cylinder head gasket failure at 66,000 km, and a leaking rear heater hose leaking at 105,000 km. Apart from those ...
Other years of Toyota Cressida
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