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1991 Toyota Previa

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 7 of 74 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Visibility. Review the 17 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Equipment. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports7 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

74 reports
326,000 miles · Jun 14, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

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 …

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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 ODI #10336325

100,000 miles · May 13, 2010
Visibility

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 COUL…

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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 ODI #10330292

100,000 miles · May 12, 2010
Visibility

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 T…

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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 ODI #10330228

Mileage unknown · Dec 8, 2009
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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 ODI #10294995

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2008
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

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 ODI #10216117

340,943 miles · Jul 14, 2006
Engine And Engine Cooling

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 ODI #10162384

177,000 miles · Jan 12, 2005
Structure

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 ODI #10107247

200,000 miles · Sep 24, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

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 ODI #10094266

200,000 miles · Aug 27, 2004
Power Train

RUBBER COUPLING ON THE DRIVESHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10089897

Mileage unknown · Jul 15, 2003
Exterior LightingCrash

DISCOLORED HEADLIGHT LENSES CAUSE THE LIGHTS TO BECOME VERY DIM. CAN'T SEE BECAUSE OF SUCH DIM LIGHTS.

NHTSA ODI #10028342

Official recalls

2

93V147000 · Equipment:electrical:radio/tape Deck/cd Etc.

Sep 13, 1993

FAILURE OF A SPECIFIC ELECTRONIC COMPONENT IN THE RADIOS CAUSES AN ELECTRICAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE FAILURE OCCURS, IT COULD RESULT IN A PASSENGERCOMPARTMENT FIRE.

Remedy: REPAIR THE RADIO.

93V113000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer

Jul 7, 1993

CERTAIN WINDSHIELD WIPER COMPONENTS ARE SUBJECT TO PREMATURE FAILURE DUE TO INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH TO FUNCTION UNDER HIGH LOAD LEVELS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE WINDSHIELD WIPER ASSEMBLY CAN FAIL AND CEASEOPERATION ENTIRELY, RESULTING IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILITY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER.

Remedy: INSTALL NEW WIPER MOTORS, CERTAIN WIPER ARM COMPONENTS, AND RETORQUE THE WIPER ARM PIVOT.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

EA93010 · Under Dash Fires

Opened Apr 26, 1993 · Closed Sep 29, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System

There is no summary currently available

PE93016 · Windshield Wiper Mtr Fails

Opened Mar 9, 1993 · Closed Jul 20, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility

There is no summary currently available