RoadVitals

1991 Toyota Previa

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
74
Latest Jun 14, 2010
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
2
Latest Sep 13, 1993
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
2
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
10
2 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 74 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1991 Toyota Previa, most frequently naming the visibility, electrical and body & structure categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 26 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Visibility1721.3%
  • Electrical1113.8%
  • Body & structure78.8%
  • Engine78.8%
  • Tires & wheels67.5%
  • Brakes56.3%
  • Exterior lighting56.3%
  • Interior & seats45.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

Sep 13, 1993
155,809 units potentially affected
The defect: FAILURE OF A SPECIFIC ELECTRONIC COMPONENT IN THE RADIOS CAUSES AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
The risk: IF THE FAILURE OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN A PASSENGERCOMPARTMENT FIRE.
The remedy: REPAIR THE RADIO.
TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.View on NHTSA.gov

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

Jul 7, 1993
75,863 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN WINDSHIELD WIPER COMPONENTS ARE SUBJECT TO PREMATURE FAILURE DUE TO INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH TO FUNCTION UNDER HIGH LOAD LEVELS.
The risk: THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL AND CEASEOPERATION ENTIRELY, RESULTING IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER.
The remedy: INSTALL NEW WIPER MOTORS, CERTAIN WIPER ARM COMPONENTS, AND RETORQUE THE WIPER ARM PIVOT.
TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

EA93010ClosedEngineering Analysis

UNDER DASH FIRES

Opened Apr 26, 1993
Closed Sep 29, 1993

There is no summary currently available

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEMLed to recall 93V147000
PE93016ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

WINDSHIELD WIPER MTR FAILS

Opened Mar 9, 1993
Closed Jul 20, 1993

There is no summary currently available

VISIBILITYLed to recall 93V113000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Engine
Filed Jun 14, 2010
Fire reported

I HAVE A 1991 TOYOTA PREVIA LE. THE DISTRIBUTOR O-RING AND VALVE COVER GASKETS WERE LEAKING OIL, AND THEY LEAK RIGHT ONTO THE HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD. I REPAIRED THESE PROBLEMS, AND ALL IS WELL, HOWEVER, I HAVE SINCE SEEN MANY INSTANCES IN VARIOUS FORUMS ONLINE WHERE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS, AND HAS RESULTED IN A MAJOR VEHICLE FIRE. I BELIEVE THE WORD NEEDS TO BE SPREAD TO OTHER OWNERS OF THIS VEHICLE TO CHECK FOR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. IT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM, CAUSED BY THE DRYING OUT AND CRACKING OF RUBBER SEALS. I DID, IN FACT, HAVE FLAMES WHEN I NOTICED IT, BUT I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE BEFORE ANY DAMAGE WAS DONE. PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10336325
Incident
Apr 15, 2010
Mileage
326,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 13, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1991 TOYOTA PREVA. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH IN HEAVY RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HIT EACH OTHER, FLIPPED, SCRAP THE GLASS AND STOP FUNCTIONING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE CONTACT HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND FLIP THE WIPERS SO THAT THEY COULD WORK PROPERLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF SHE DROVE SLOWER THAN 55 MPH, THE FAILURE DID NOT OCCUR AS OFTEN. THE CONTACT REFERENCED RECALL 93V113000 (VISIBILITY: WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER) AS ONE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED BUT ANOTHER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.

NHTSA ID
10330292
Incident
May 13, 2007
Mileage
100,000 mi
Visibility
Filed May 12, 2010

IN HEAVY RAIN AT 55MPH, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS HIT EACH OTHER, FLIP, SCRATCH THE GLASS AND STOP WORKING. TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE RECALL BUT WILL NOT PAY FOR THE PARTS OR THE SERVICE. THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. THE PARTS ALONE ARE OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS. THE WIPER ASSEMBLY AND OR MOTOR ARE DEFECTIVE AND HAVE DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES. THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. VISIBILITY IS REDUCED TO ZERO WHEN IT HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY. IT IS DEADLY AND I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT WHAT TO DO TO GET TOYOTA TO HONOR THE RECALL. I HAD 3 KIDS IN THE CAR WHEN THE WIPERS TRIPPED AND FLIPPED ON THE FREEWAY. MY VISIBILITY WENT TO ZERO INSTANTLY. I SWERVED TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY TO PULL OVER, FORTUNATELY THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME AT THAT MOMENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10330228
Incident
Mar 25, 2008
Mileage
100,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 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

NHTSA ID
10294995
Incident
Dec 1, 2009
Engine
Filed Jan 22, 2008
Fire reported

1991 TOYOTA PREVIA AND DRIVER NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. DRIVER PULLED OVER WHERE HIS VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS TOTALED. *KB OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT # 10-90-0947. *JB

NHTSA ID
10216117
Incident
Dec 18, 2007
Engine
Filed Jul 14, 2006

SUBJECT ON SPECIAL POLICY ADJUSTMENT FOR HEAD GASKETS. SERVICE BULLETIN # 97121797017/ NHTSA ITEM # 54015, STATED THAT FAULTY HEAD GASKET WAS INVESTIGATED AND FOUND BAD ON 17 DEC. 1997. AS THE RESULT OF THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET I HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THIS SPECIFIC PART. *JB

NHTSA ID
10162384
Incident
Apr 3, 2003
Mileage
340,943 mi
Body & structure
Filed Jan 12, 2005

WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY CONSUMER'S CHILD OPENED THE DOOR TO LET THE PET IN AND THE DOOR FELL COMPLETELY OFF. MANUFACTURER OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE DOOR IS NOW TIED ON.*AK

NHTSA ID
10107247
Incident
Dec 29, 2004
Mileage
177,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 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

NHTSA ID
10094266
Incident
Sep 16, 2004
Mileage
200,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB003220

AIR BAGS; EQUIPMENT; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.

Toyota PRO19-02

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL; TIRES; WHEELS

POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it. Customers can find this information on the Owner?s section of Toyota.com. Dealers can locate a copy of this guide on the Claims Processing & Resource Center in Dealer Daily as well.

T-SB-0032-20 Rev

EQUIPMENT

TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2021 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.

T-SB-0304-17 Obs

EQUIPMENT

TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates

T-SB-0032-20

EQUIPMENT

TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, T-SB-0144-08, and T-SB-0304-17. The aforementioned bulletins are obsolete, and any printed versions should be discarded. Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2020 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.

PG006-01-Obsolet

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Toyota Previa by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001300
2000000
1999000
1998100
1997910
1996110041.9
1995300042.6
1994190047.2
1993410045.0
1992350039.7
1991Viewing742258.4
1987100

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.