Used Toyota GT86 2012-2021 reliability review
The Toyota GT86 is an old-school sports car that's now great value to buy used.
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What's the used Toyota GT86 like?
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Reliability
Mark Pearson
Updated: 27 May 2022
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What should I look for in a used Toyota GT86?
Check carefully for any previous accident damage. This is still a reasonably powerful rear-wheel-drive sports car that could, if driven with verve and gusto, slide its tail wide. A superficially clean car on the surface could be hiding all sorts of horrors underneath, so get a HPI check done because it will let you know if the car has been written off by the insurance company at any point in its life.
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If you’re in need of further reassurance, then the AA and RAC offer pre-purchase inspection services that involve a trained inspector viewing your potential purchase, for a fee, and will point out any potential issues with it.
What are the most common problems with a used Toyota GT86?
Rust on door pillar
Some GT86 owners have found corrosion on the little door pillar close to the mirror, but this isn’t the end of the world because it should be covered by the rust warranty.
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Water in rear lights
As with the BRZ, some owners have experience of condensation in the rear lights. To check the seals of the rear lights, use a watering can or garden hose and aim the water flow at the seal. This should give you a good idea of whether the light will let in water, or not.
Lumpy idle
The boxer engine isn't the smoothest around, but some owners have complained about a lumpy idle. If you take the car to your Toyota dealer, they should be able to fix it with a software update, or as part of the car's annual service.
Engine valve spring
Some early GT86s built between 9 April 2012 and 24 May 2013 had a problem with valve springs breaking in the engine. This isn't ideal on an engine you need to rev to get the best from it. A recall was issued to replace the valve springs of affected cars with improved components, so check with your Toyota dealer to make sure this has been carried out.
Loss of power steering assistance
Another recall for early examples of the Toyota GT86 but this time for the power steering system. It can fail due to a problem with the wiring harness to the electric power steering system, and it involves examples built from 4 April 2012 to 18 March 2015. Affected cars will need a new wiring harness to solve the issue and this should be carried out by a Toyota dealer for free as part of the recall.
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Is a used Toyota GT86 reliable?
Toyota usually comes out near the top of our reliability surveys, which is true in our latest one. The brand finished in fifth place out of 31 car brands. The GT86, like the BRZ, was absent from the survey.
If you would like to see the full reliability list, head to the What Car? Reliability Survey pages for more information.
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About the writer
Name: Mark Pearson
Title: Used cars editor
Follow Mark Pearson on
Mark Pearson has been a motoring journalist for more than 15 years and is currently the used cars editor for What Car?.
Mark spent his formative years at the BBC, where, at various times, he scheduled, broadcast and archived television and radio programmes and researched, wrote and produced promotional material.
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