Toyota PREVIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
141 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
146,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1991 to 2001 model years. Data snapshot: . 36 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Tires is the most frequently named component, appearing in 13 of 141 complaints (9.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 24 | 17.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 5 | 3.5% |
| Steering behavior | 3 | 2.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 1.4% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 0.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Tires | 13 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 8 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Air Bags:Frontal | 5 |
| Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc. | 5 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 4 |
Tires: 13; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 8; Air Bags: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Air Bags:Frontal: 5; Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.: 5; Engine And Engine Cooling: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 17 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 17
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (17). 105 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 26 |
| 1996 | 19 |
| 2000 | 23 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 7 |
| 2003 | 10 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 5 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 4 |
| 2010 | 10 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2019 | 2 |
1995: 26; 1996: 19; 2000: 23; 2001: 18; 2002: 7; 2003: 10; 2004: 6; 2005: 5; 2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 4; 2010: 10; 2014: 2; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2019: 2
Pattern summary
Tires leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 5 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10094266 · 2004-09-24 (September 24, 2004)
THE BRAKES GO COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. THERE IS GRINDING AND CRUNCHING NOISE. THE BRAKE CALIPERS FAILED, AND THERE WAS DAMAGE TO THE WHEELS. TOOK VEHICLE TOO DEALER. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN RESOLVED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10094266 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10294995 · 2009-12-08 (December 8, 2009)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS AFTERMARKET RAYBESTOS, MANUFACTURED BY BRAKE PARTS INC., MODEL #MKD500(NA) FRONT BRAKE PADS. AFTER EXAMINING THE BRAKE PADS HE NOTICED THAT THE SQUEAL SHIMS WHERE CUTTING THROUGH THE ROTORS. UPDATED 1/4/10 *CN UPDATED 01/06/10.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10294995 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 964509 · 1995-04-28 (April 28, 1995)
THE ELECTRICAL SUN ROOF NOT WORKING ITS THE CABLE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 964509 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 965441 · 1995-05-17 (May 17, 1995)
WHEN DRIVING CAR IS IN GEAR IT JERK DEALER SAY THERE IS SOMETHING IN THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 965441 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 758276 · 2002-02-15 (February 15, 2002)
THIS IS VERY SCARY AND HAS HAPPENED A NUMBER OF TIMES. STEERING FAILS WHEN BRAKES APPLIED MAKING A RIGHT TURN. PANIC STEERING PRESURE, RESULTS IN SNAPPING NOISE AND STEERING RETURNS. DEALER SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 758276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 8014258 · 2002-07-18 (July 18, 2002)
WHILE DRIVING CRUISE CONTROL WENT OUT, AND COULD HAVE LOST STEERING CONTROL WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 8014258 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 987194 · 1996-07-23 (July 23, 1996)
WHILE DRIVING A FUSE WAS BLOWN WHICH CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 987194 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10281377 · 2009-08-22 (August 22, 2009)
I HAVE OWNED MY 1995 CAR FOR 5 YEARS. JUST RECENTLY I WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR WHEN THE ALARM WENT OF. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I HAD AN ALARM IN THIS CAR.THE ALARM WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO START MY CAR. I FINALLY TOOK OFF THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE AND PUT IT BACK ON AND SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD START, BUT IT WOULD DRIVE ROUGH AND STALL OUT. I KNEW IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ACR ALARM, SO I CONTACTED THE COMPANY THAT MADE IT. THEY WERE STANDOFFISH AND TOLD ME IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ALARM.I LOOKED ON THE NET AND FOUND MANY POST AND EVEN A …
Owner-reported narrative. 267,940 miles reported. Look up ODI 10281377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 961260 · 1995-03-06 (March 6, 1995)
REMOVED GAS CAP TO FILL, FLAMES BURST OUT OF GAS TANK. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 961260 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10211327 · 2007-12-10 (December 10, 2007)
ON AT LEAST FOUR OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING A HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF. I MANAGED TO SAFELY STEER THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP RESISTOR ASSEMBLE(PART $# 23080-76010). SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE I HAVE PAID FOR THIS REPAIR, ALONG WITH THE TOWING CHARGES, AT LEAST THREE TIMES. THIS IS INDEED A SAFETY ISSUE AND I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY TOYOTA SO THEY CAN ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME THIS ENGINE SHUT OFF OCCURRED IN 2000. IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN 2003…
Owner-reported narrative. 149,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10211327 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10318772 · 2010-03-10 (March 10, 2010)
I WAS A FEW BLOCKS FROM WORK IN MY 1997 TOYOTA PREVIA WITH MY DAUGHTER. WE STARTED UP A STEEP HILL WHEN AT THE CREST MY VAN SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO 50 MPH AND INCREASING. I STOOD ON THE BRAKE BUT IT HAD NO EFFECT AT ALL. THEN I TRIED TO SHIFT INTO PARK. I SUCCEEDED ONLY IN SHIFTING INTO REVERSE WHICH SENT US CAREENING BACKWARD FROM WHERE I HAD COME. THERE HAD BEEN ONLY ONE OTHER CAR ON THE STREET BECAUSE OF THE LATENESS OF THE HOUR AND IT WAS CLEAR THAT ON MY PRESENT COURSE, I WOULD HIT IT DEAD ON. I MOVED OVER ONTO THE CURB WHERE THERE …
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10318772 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1991 | 2 |
| 1992 | 0 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
| 1997 | 1 |
| 2001 | 0 |
1991: 2; 1992: 0; 1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 0; 1997: 1; 2001: 0