RoadVitals

1985 Toyota Van

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.
6
Latest May 2, 2002
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.
1
Latest May 12, 1986
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.
3
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.
0
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 6 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 Toyota Van, most frequently naming the seat belts, steering and electrical categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 3 NHTSA investigations name it; and 17 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

  • Seat belts342.9%
  • Steering228.6%
  • Electrical114.3%
  • Tires & wheels114.3%

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

1 campaign 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
86V060000

STEERING:LINKAGES:ROD:RELAY:CONNECTING

May 12, 1986
103,700 units potentially affected
The defect: THE CENTER CONTROL ARM OF THE STEERING LINKAGE SYSTEM MAY DEVELOP A CRACK IF THE STEERING WHEEL IS REPEATEDLY OPERATED WHILE VEHICLE IS IN PARKED POSITION. THE STEERING CENTER ARM MAY EVENTUALLY BREAK. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A CRACKED STEERING CENTER ARM WILL ALLOW STEERING CONTROL, HOWEVER, IF THE STEERING ARM BREAKS, IT WOULD RESULT IN COMPLETE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND POSSIBLE ACCIDENT.
The remedy: REPLACE CENTER CONTROL ARM WITH A REDESIGNED CONTROL ARM.
TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD.View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

EA89038ClosedEngineering Analysis

STEERING GEAR FAILURE

Opened Sep 27, 1989
Closed Sep 20, 1990

There is no summary currently available

STEERING
PE89127ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

STEERING GEAR FAILURE

Opened Jun 7, 1989
Closed Sep 27, 1989

===

STEERING
PE87057ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

IGNITER ASSEMBLY FAILURE

Opened Sep 10, 1987
Closed Mar 30, 1988

SUMMARY: TOYOTA RECOVERED SOME FAILED IGNITION CONTROL MODULES FROM THEFIELD. INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT A SOLDER JOINT IN THE POWER TRANSISTOROF THE MODULE WAS SUBJECT TO FAILURE. BECAUSE THE PART IS AN EMISSIONRELATED COMPONENT A VOLUNTARY EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN WAS CONDUCTED.THE PREDOMINANT MODE OF FAILURE IS AN INABILITY TO START THE ENGINE,ALTHOUGH A STALLED CONDITION CAN OCCUR WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING.SINCE THE REPORTED OCCURENCE OF ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES IS SMALL, AND THEREPAIR IS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE EMISSIONS RECALL CAMPAIGN, THELIKLEHOOD OF FURTHER ACCIDENTS AND INJURIES IS REMOTE.===

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Recent owner complaints

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

Steering
Filed May 2, 2002

1985 TOYOTA VAN WITH POWER STEERING. PART OF LINKAGE CALLED CENTER ARM SNAPPED IN HALF WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH DURING TURNING. THERE WAS IMMEDIATE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. NO BODILY INJURY OCCURRED, BUT HAD THIS OCCURRED AT FREEWAY SPEED, I WOULD UNDOUBTEDLY BE DEAD. *TS ***DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12-12-02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS***761467

NHTSA ID
10009187
Incident
Apr 25, 2002
Mileage
196,616 mi
Seat belts
Filed Sep 29, 2000

THE SEATBELT BUCKLES HAVE CRACKS IN THE PLASTIC OUTER COMPONENTS. IS THERE A RECALL ON THESE SEAT BELTS? ALSO, YOUR WEBSIGHT INDICATES A RECALL FOR STEERING COMPONENTS ON THIS 1985 TOYOTA VAN. HAVING BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED, HOW CAN I KNOW THE AFFECTED PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED?*AK

NHTSA ID
732834
Incident
Jan 1, 1999
Electrical
Filed Jan 12, 1999

VEHICLE CAN BE STARTED WITH ANY KEY THAT CAN FIT HALFWAY INTO THE IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK

NHTSA ID
833441
SteeringTires & wheels
Filed Jul 27, 1997

NOT NOTIFIED OF RECALL OF STEERING ARM AND FRONT TIRES WEAR UNEVENLY, CONSTANTLY REQUIRING REPLACEMENT.

NHTSA ID
521917
Incident
Jun 1, 1985
Seat belts
Filed Jan 14, 1997
1 injury reported

SEAT BELT FAILED DURING COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURY, DUE TO DESIGN FLAW, SEAT BELT ONLY WORKS AT A 15% TILT.

NHTSA ID
513426
Incident
Oct 4, 1994
Seat belts
Filed Jan 6, 1996

SEAT BELT DESIGNED SO THAT IT DOES NOT ENGAGE AT LESS THAN 15 DEGREE TILT, CAUSING IT TO FAIL IN ACCIDENT. *DH

NHTSA ID
502363
Incident
Jan 6, 1996

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.

PG004-97-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 Van by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1994300—
1990100—
1989300—
1988210—
1987610—
1986911—
1985Viewing613—
1984421—
1983001—

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.