1980 Toyota Supra problems
The Toyota Supra (Japanese: トヨタ・スープラ, Hepburn: Toyota Sūpura) is a sports car and grand tourer manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation beginning in 1978. The name "supra" is derived from the Latin prefix, meaning "above", "to surpass" or "go beyond".
The initial four generations of the Supra were produced from 1978 to 2002. The fifth generation has been produced since March 2019 and went on sale in May 2019. The styling of the original Supra was derived from the Toyota Celica, but it was longer. Starting in mid-1986, the A70 Supra became a separate model from the Celica. In turn, Toyota also stopped using the prefix Celica and named the car Supra. Owing to the similarity and past of the Celica's name, it is frequently mistaken for the Supra, and vice versa. The first, second and third generations of the Supra were assembled at the Tahara plant in Tahara, Aichi, while the fourth generation was assembled at the Motomachi plant in Toyota City. The 5th generation of the Supra is assembled alongside the G29 BMW Z4 in Graz, Austria by Magna Steyr.
The Supra traces much of its roots back to the 2000GT owing to an inline-6 layout. The first three generations were offered with a direct descendant to the Crown's and 2000GT's M engine. Interior aspects were also similar, as was the chassis code "A". Along with this name, Toyota also included its own logo for the Supra. It was derived from the original Celica logo, being blue instead of orange. This logo was used until January 1986, when the A70 Supra was introduced. The new logo was similar in size, with orange writing on a red background, but without the dragon design. That logo, in turn, was on Supras until 1991 when Toyota switched to its current oval company logo. The dragon logo was a Celica logo regardless of what colour it was. It appeared on the first two generations of the Supra because they were officially Toyota Celicas. The dragon logo was used for the Celica line until it was also discontinued.
In 1998, Toyota ceased sales of the fourth-generation Supra in the United States. Production of the fourth-generation Supra for worldwide markets ended in 2002. In January 2019, the fifth-generation Supra, which was co-developed with the G29 BMW Z4, was introduced.
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Common 1980 Toyota Supra problems
Common Problems with the Toyota Supra 1980:
- Electronically Modulated Suspension (TEMS): Some Toyota Supra models were equipped with the Electronically Modulated Suspension, an optional feature in the late 80s and early 90s. While it still worked, some owners found it unnecessary and opted to remove it from their cars due to the soft ride and minimal performance improvement when stiffened.
- Targa Top: For lucky owners with a Targa top, leaks can be a common issue after 20+ years. The seals are costly to replace, and driving with the roof off can lead to noticeable chassis flex and steering vagueness at certain speeds, affecting the overall driving experience.
- Parts Availability: Finding aftermarket parts for the 1980 Toyota Supra, especially for the earlier models with the 7M-GE/GTE motors, can be challenging. Limited options for modifications, particularly in terms of suspension upgrades, make it difficult for owners to customize their vehicles.
- Recognition and Rarity: Due to the rarity of the A70 Supra models, many people, even within the car community, may not immediately recognize or appreciate these vehicles. The lack of representation for the A70 Supras contributes to their relative obscurity among enthusiasts and the general public.
- Transmission: A significant portion of the A70 Supras were automatic, which might not appeal to all drivers. The automatic transmission, particularly the a340 model, could lead to a drone-like experience at certain speeds, affecting long road trips. Converting to a manual transmission can be costly and challenging due to the limited availability of suitable gearboxes.
These common problems highlight some of the challenges that owners of the 1980 Toyota Supra may face, ranging from mechanical issues to parts availability and driving experience nuances.
What year Supra is most desirable?
The 1993-1998 Toyota Supra remains a sought-after car today, and is available for purchase on the used car market. Prices can vary, depending on condition and mileage, but the Supra remains one of the most sought-after sports cars on the market.
How much horsepower does a 1980 Toyota Supra have?
110 hp
The federalized model was originally equipped with a 110 hp (82 kW; 112 PS) 2.6-litre 12-valve SOHC inline-6 engine. Transmission options for the model were either a 5-speed manual (W50) or an optional 4-speed automatic transmission (A40D).
What was the top speed of the old Supra?
The Supra's top speed was limited to 155mph, but they say it would otherwise nudge 180.
Why was Supra discontinued?
By the end of 1998 the Supra's four-generation run in North America had also finished, which left the domestic market carrying on with lowered annual production runs until the car was finally axed in July 2002, primarily because it was deemed too expensive to meet forthcoming exhaust emissions targets.
Are old Toyota Supras reliable?
While the Toyota Supra MK 4 is widely regarded as a very reliable modern classic, it still has problems that it's more prone to.
What engine is in a 1980 Supra?
1980. In August 1980 (for the 1981 model year), the Supra received an upgrade in displacement with the 2.8-litre 5M-E engine. It was still a 12-valve SOHC engine, but had a power output of 116 hp (87 kW; 118 PS) and 145 lb⋅ft (197 N⋅m) of torque.
Why was Supra banned?
The National Highway Safety Administration banned the vehicle because it failed to meet safety and reliability standards. The 1994 model was the only one banned.
Which year Supra is best?
12 Best Toyota Supra Models, Ranked
- 8 1987 Toyota Supra Turbo. ...
- 7 1988 Toyota Supra Turbo A. ...
- 6 1989 Toyota Supra. ...
- 5 1993 Toyota Supra. ...
- 4 1993 Toyota Supra Turbo. ...
- 3 1997 Toyota Supra Turbo. ...
- 2 2020 Toyota GR Supra. ...
- 1 2023 Toyota GR Supra 3.0. Reasons To Buy: The Return Of The Stick Shift.
1980 Toyota Supra car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Toyota Supra problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Vehicle speed control problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1980 Toyota Supra vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1980 Toyota Supra complaints
The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1980 Toyota Supra.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1983-08-15
- Number Of Injuries: 1
- Crash: 1
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: TL- THE CONTACT OWNED A 1980 TOYOTA SUPRA. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF UNDER 55 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH. SHE COULD NOT RECALL THE EVENTS OF OR SURROUNDING THE CRASH, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. SHE SUFFERED MODERATE INJURIES AS WELL AS SLIGHT MEMORY LOSS. SHE DID RECALL THAT MONTHS BEFORE THE CRASH WHILE USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AT SPEEDS OF 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED TO SPEEDS OF OVER 90 MPH WITHOUT INTENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATLEY 60,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. *KMJ
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1995-03-01
- VIN: MA46101341
- Components: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
- Summary: IN MAR 95 THE CAR HAD THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET REPLACED BECAUSE OF MINOR LEAK IN #6 CYLINDER. THE HEAD WAS RESURFACED AND PRESSURE TESTED AND FOUND OK. IN THE FOLLOWING YEARS, THE GASKET WAS REPLACED TWO MORE TIMES AND LEAK STILL REOCCURS.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1980 Toyota Supra problems:
'81 Celica GT Issues... | Toyota Celica Supra Forum
Oct 2, 2009 ... 1980 Celica GT GP Edition FS price reduced Price reduced i need this gone An original as it can be 1980 Toyota Celica "Liftback" GT GP Edition, ...
Why Owning an Older Supra Isn't Great | CarThrottle
Dec 4, 2015 ... Virtually no engines mods and nobody recognises it. There are common problems with mk2 supras too. Maybe I should do a write up on 2nd ...
Why are BMW's so notoriously unreliable? : r/AskMechanics
Apr 12, 2023 ... I have had 0 issues on my 4 year old X3 M40i (with same engine as Toyota Supra) so far. The oil change costs almost double my last Mazda but ...
Apple Carplay & General Bluetooth Connectivity Problems on 2023 ...
Jun 29, 2023 ... SupraMKV - 2020+ Toyota Supra Forum (A90 MKV Generation) ... Reactions: nd4spd1980 ... Hope Toyota issues an update for the infotainment system soon ...
Need advice about 1980 Celica GT Coupe that my daughter is ...
Jan 24, 2022 ... ... common parts, so you wouldnt have to wait too long. ... I dont think she would have any problem ... 1980 Toyota Celica USGP. Thanks. I've had a ...
Other years of Toyota Supra
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