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Should you buy a Toyota Supra? Are they reliable cars?

While researching the Toyota Supra, I came across this 2020 Supra owner, who I will call Julian (@thatkswappedek), who lives in Lake Placid, Florida; he's wondering what happened to his dream car. It now needs over $4,000 in repairs, and he isn't sure what to do now.  

Imagine being the owner of a 2020 Supra, your dream car, now facing over $4,000 in repairs. This is the dilemma of a car lover, torn between his affection for the Supra and the practicality of keeping it. What would you do in his shoes?

He says, 

"Yep, that's over $4,000 in repairs for my Toyota Supra that's not even five years old. I don't know what I should do now. The Toyota dealer offered me money to trade it in, get rid of it, and get it out of my sight. Should I keep it or sell it?"

Julian Loves the Supra But Is Having Second Thoughts About the Car

He says, "I'm at the Toyota dealer, and I'm going to get this thing diagnosed and see how much it's going to cost to fix my Supra."

"So, I just got back from the Toyota dealer and got news that I didn't want to hear. My 2020 Toyota Supra is not even five years old and needs over $4,000 in repairs. The steering just decided to quit on me."

"I want to show you what it's doing. The problem is that BMW helped develop this Supra." 

"Listen to this," he says as he turns the steering wheel back and forth. You can hear the steering gear making a loud noise. 

Julian was further shocked when he saw the repair quote from the Toyota dealer.

Then, he held up the problem diagnosed by the Toyota dealer with the cost of repairs. The Supra quote says the Supra needs a new rack and pinion assembly. The cost? $4,355.70.

"I don't know, boys. I don't know what to do. The Toyota dealer offered me money to trade it in, get rid of it, and get it out of my sight." 

"I love the car; it was my dream car when it first came out, but that is unbelievable because it's not even five years old, and it already needs close to $5,000 in repairs."

Julian Decides to Park the Car and Wait

"The crazy thing is that even if I decide to fix the car and do the repairs myself, the parts alone are over $2,000. So, it's still a crazy amount. I will park it and decide later on what to do with it." 

"But, it's insane; I guess they don't build Toyotas like they used to," he concluded.  

Is Toyota Still a Reliable Car Brand?

Toyota is known for building the most reliable cars. Every year, Consumer Reports lists the most reliable brands, and Toyota was in the top three. While it's true that Toyota is one of the most reliable car brands, not all of its models rank high.

The Supra is not one of Toyota's best models for reliability. There are seven recalls for the 2020 model year. You can check it out here. 

It's important to note that the Supra was not recalled for rack and pinion steering issues. 

When the Supra first came out, I drove this sports car and had this review. Here are a few excerpts from my review in June 2020.

In the review, I said, "The new GR Toyota Supra cockpit reminds me of a BMW interior, and the ignition chime is even sourced from the Bavarian automaker. The interior quality feels like that of a BMW, and the fit and finish are upper-class. The gear shift, climate controls, and infotainment screen all look like they came from the BMW Z4 convertible."

"When I first looked at the Supra's specs, I was disappointed in the 335 horsepower. However, after giving the new sports car a thorough test this week, it has enough power to excite most driving enthusiasts. A true rear-drive sports car is not just about straight-line speed but also power-to-weight ratio and overall balance. In the case of the Supra, that balance is an even 50:50."

"I drove the 2020 Supra in the mountains of Colorado and experienced the sports car through tight, twisty turns. The 50:50 weight balance is evident as it's easily controllable through corners with no body lean. The Michelin Pilot Super Sport tires help, too, as they provide plenty of grip on the pavement. When you need, the Brembo four-piston front and rear brakes offer plenty of stopping power."

Conclusion: You Really Can't Go Wrong

"The 2020 Toyota GR Supra is simply a fun car to drive! Enthusiasts will find it's a good option for about $50,000, considering the level of performance you get. At the end of the day, it offers surprising acceleration, good grip through the corners, and overall superior driving dynamics."

When Julian took a test drive, that's what he would have experienced, and I can understand why it was his dream car. 

The Supra was developed in collaboration with BMW, which is why it's so fun to drive. However, this partnership could also be a factor in the sports car's reliability issues. 

What Do Toyota Supra Owners Say?

I checked the 2020 Toyota Supra owners' comments on Reddit, and here are a few of them, which are all positive experiences. 

StonerThoughts001 - I'm a 2020 owner and bought mine in May 2021 with 8k miles. It's been my daily ever since. I'm currently at 34k miles. There are no significant issues. Needed nothing but regular maintenance.

Kamikazesuper - I've been driving the heck out of my 20 supra since 2021; it has 54000 on the dash. The only issue I have so far is my tires. They deflate here and there, but that's probably just me doing full throttle here and there. Besides that, I don't have any other issues.

satmajesty - I've had my Supra Launch Edition for 4.5 years, since 2019. It hasn't needed any work besides oil changes and brake fluid at 3 years. However, I've only driven a total of 7800 miles. The tires will likely be your biggest expense; they only last 10k to 15k miles.

Final Thoughts and Questions For Toyota Supra Owner

The 2020 Supra rack and pinion steering issue that Julian's car has is not a widespread problem with the sports car. If you are purchasing a used Supra, have it checked by a certified Toyota tech, and do your due diligence before you buy.  

How About You?

Do you own a Toyota Supra, and what is your experience with the sports car? Click the red Add New Comment link below and let us know.

Check out my Toyota 4Runner report titled; I Took My Toyota 4Runner to the Dealer For an Oil Change and They Lost My Key Fob. Toyota Please Get It Together as Others Say It Happened To Them As Well

I am Denis Flierl, a Senior Torque News Reporter since 2012. My 30+ year tenure in the automotive industry, initially in a consulting role with every major car brand and later as a freelance journalist test-driving new vehicles, has equipped me with a wealth of knowledge. I specialize in reporting the latest automotive news and providing expert analysis on Subaru, which you'll find here, ensuring that you, as a reader, are always well-informed and up-to-date. Follow me on my X SubaruReport, All Subaru, WRXSTI, @DenisFlierl, Facebook, and Instagram.

Photo credit: Denis Flierl via @thatkswappedek