Model year record

1997 Toyota Previa recalls & problems

The 1997 Toyota Previa has 1 safety recall and 9 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (5 complaints).

Recalls1safety recalls

Complaints9filed by owners

Crashes · fires2 · 0reported in complaints

Injuries · deaths0 · 0reported in complaints

Safety recalls

Power trainApr 4, 1997

Driveline › Differential unit

Recall 97V056000707 vehicles

Problem: DUE TO A CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE OIL SEPARATOR PLATE AND THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING OF THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, OIL LEAKAGE AT THE AIR BREATHER PLUG CAN OCCUR, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED CONTINUOUSLY ABOVE 75 MILES PER HOUR.
Risk: OIL LEAKAGE WILL RESULT IN A SUFFICIENTLY LOW OIL SUPPLY TO CAUSE BEARING DAMAGE TO THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL UNIT LEADING TO EVENTUAL SEIZURE OF THE UNIT INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED AIR BREATHER PLUG TO PREVENT SUCH OIL LOSS.

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

1997 Toyota Previa

OverallNot Rated

Frontal crash	Not Rated
Side crash	Not Rated
Rollover	Not Rated

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

Previa

17mpg combined

City / highway	16 / 20 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · Rear-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

Previa All-Trac

17mpg combined

City / highway	15 / 19 mpg
Fuel	Regular Gasoline

2.4 L · 4 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $3,950/year to fuel

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

Problem area	Complaints	Crashes	Typical mileage*
Engine and engine coolingExhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor; Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	5	0	—
Vehicle speed control	4	2	140,000 mi
Seat beltsFront › Anchorage	1	0	—
Unknown or other	1	0	—
Fuel system, gasolineStorage › Tank assembly	1	0	—
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	1	—

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

Vehicle speed controlCrash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 TOYOTA PREVIA. THE CONTACT WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE. SHE PLACED THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND PROCEEDED TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, WHEN THE VEHICLE ABNORMALLY ACCELERATED AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE AND WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER OR THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
Jun 5, 2010 · 140,000 miles
Vehicle speed controlCrash
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 WAS ABOUT A FOOT OF SNOW. EVEN SO, I RAKED HIS PASSENGER SIDE AND MY DRIVER'S SIDE. I MOVED FURTHER OVER ONTO THE YARDS, TOOK OUT A MAILBOX AND CHOSE TO GO…
Jan 26, 2009 · 200,000 miles
Vehicle speed control
MY TOYOTA PREVIA HAD A INCIDENT WITH A STUCK ACCELERATOR. I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO CONTROL AND STOP VEHICLE WITH MAXIMUM FOOT BRAKE PRESSURE TO THE POINT OF GRINDING BRAKES AND TURNING IGNITION OFF WHEN AWAY FROM OTHER TRAFFIC ON HIGHWAY. I BELIEVE THIS INCIDENT WITH THE STUCK ACCELERATOR AND RED-LINING OF RPM'S LED TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET THAT WAS NOT PHYSICALLY REPAIRABLE BY RECOMMENDATION OF AUTHORIZED TOYOTA REPAIRMAN. *TR
Sep 1, 2009 · 121,500 miles
Engine and engine cooling › Engine
ON OCT 2002, OIL IN THE ENGINE SLUDGED CAUSING CATASTROPHIC DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE MECHANICS WERE ABLE TO REPAIR THE ENGINE TO PARTIAL WORKING ORDER. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE LEAKED EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL AND THE POWER OF THE ENGINE WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED. ON 8 JAN 2004, THE ENGINE OIL LIGHT INDICATED A LOW OIL PRESSURE. AFTER FURTHER INSPECTION BY THE MECHANIC, THE ENGINE OIL APPEARED TO HAVE SLUDGED AGAIN CAUSING DAMAGE TO ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS CONSIDERED TO BE TOTALED. WE RESEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET AND DETERMINED THAT THE ENGINE SLUDGE PROBLEM WAS COMMON WITH VARIOUS TOYOTA VEHICLES. HOWEVER, TOYOTA REFUSED TO ADMIT ANY WRONG DOING. WE ALSO DISCUSSED THE ENGINE SLUDGE…
Oct 18, 2002 · 116,226 miles
Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
IN PROCESS OF CONTACTING TOYOTA. THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH OTHER OWNERS AS WELL. WITHIN 3 YEARS OF MANUFACTURING TANK FAILED AT SEAM(S), AND THIS WOULD APPEARED TO BE A COMMON DEFECT. AT 212.00 PLUS TAX TO REPLACE, I WOULD GLADLY APPRECIATTE ANY RESPONSE FROM YOU. *AK
Jun 17, 2001
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 65MPH UP HILL AND VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AT SHOULDER OF ROAD. VEHICLE WAS SMOKING SLIGHTLY. THEN, VEHICLE OVERHEATED , AND ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. VEHICLE WOULDN'T TURN OFF. COOLANT EXPLODED ALL OVER ENGINE. MEHCANIC SAID THE VEHICLE WOULD BE COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE UNTIL ENGINE WAS RELEASED. *AK
Nov 13, 2000
Vehicle speed control
UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. VEHICLE GOING ~50 MPH ON TWO-LANE ROAD. ACCELERATED RAPIDLY TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. PASSED AT ~65 MPH. TOOK FOOT OFF ACCELERATOR BUT VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. WAS ABLE TO BRING TO A STOP. IN 'PARK' ENGINE ALSO RACED. LINKAGES CHECKED, BUT WERE OK. VEHICLE BROUGHT TO TOYOTA DEALER IN FLAGSTAFF AZ. THEY COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. OWNER CONTACTED TOYOTA TWICE. NATIONAL CUSTOMER RELATIONS TOLD US TO CONTACT A DEALER (AGAIN). OWNER BELIEVES ONE CONTACT WAS SUFFICIENT TO SHOW THEY CANNOT ID PROBLEM. WIFE DRIVING AT THE TIME - ACCIDENT BARELY AVERTED. *AK
Feb 23, 2000
Seat belts › Front › Anchorage
SEAT BELT OUT OF ORDER. YH
Feb 1, 1999

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.