1997 Toyota Previa

Recalls

1 recall names the 1997 Toyota Previa. Newest first.

• Power train › Driveline › Differential unit

  Apr 4, 1997NHTSA 97V056000707 vehicles

  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 and remedy

  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.

  Remedy

  Dealers will install a modified air breather plug to prevent such oil loss.

  Full recall details →

Owner complaints

What owners report most

1. Engine and engine cooling5
2. Vehicle speed control4
3. Fuel system, gasoline1
4. Seat belts1
5. Service brakes, hydraulic1
6. Unknown or other1

Latest complaints

• Jun 29, 2010TX140,000 miCrash
  Vehicle speed control
  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…

  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.

• Mar 10, 2010WI200,000 miCrash
  Service brakes, hydraulic · Vehicle speed control
  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…

  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 up a steep incline with lots of snow. the snow slowed the van down, and my daughter stood up and forced the shift stick into park. we stopped. behind us were dense trees. if we had not stopped, we would surely have been killed. I had experienced unexplained acceleration previously, but was always able to brake and stop. several times before I had asked the toyota service to please fix this defect. they said they couldn't tell what was wrong if anything and could not fix it. the insurance "totaled" my van without even having the causes checked. *Tr

• Feb 27, 2010CA121,500 mi
  Engine and engine cooling · 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…

  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

• Jan 9, 2004VA116,226 mi
  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…

  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 problem with mechanics that have extensive experience with toyotas. These individuals indicated that the engine sludge problem first appeared in the previa vehicle. Our local toyota deal who first serviced the car, claimed to have no knowledge of this problem. fortunately for us, the sludging in our engine did not occur during high speed highway driving. If this would have happened, there could have been an accident and serious injuries. on a related topic, we noticed on your web site that there have been a couple of recall notifications concerning a previa. To date, we have not been notified of any of these recalls, either via letter or by the dealer.*ak

• Jun 26, 2001CA
  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

• Dec 4, 2000CA
  Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline · Unknown or other

  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

• Apr 11, 2000NV
  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…

  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

• Aug 23, 1999CA
  Seat belts › Front › Anchorage

  Seat belt out of order. yh

• Jul 30, 1999CA
  Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Emission control › Catalytic convertor · Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system › Manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe

  Exhaust pipe failed. nlm

Service bulletins

Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.

• 10244113TSB: 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.
• 10207946POL: 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.
• 10197476Replacement vin plates.
• 10197473Product general information.
• 10190460Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
• 10188913TSB: 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.
• 10174891TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates
• 10174890TSB: 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.
• 10152205TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes SB No. T-SB-0101-11. Applicability has been updated to include 2016 ? 2017 model year vehicles. Service Bulletin No. T-SB-0101-11 is Obsolete and any printed versions should be discarded. Be sure to review the entire content of this bulletin before proceeding. When servicing interior electrical switches and components, please note the precautions in this bulletin to avoid damaging electrical components and switches. Many lubricants, cleaners, and automotive chemicals contain silicone or other compounds that may contaminate electrical contacts, and therefore increase electrical resistance and decrease switch performance. The use of any cleaners or fluids may increase the risk of further damage to electrical components.
• 10145776Update on Technician Certification Requirements.
• 10145749Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.
• 10145748Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.
• 10143953TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 31, 2018 Rev2: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. January 11, 2018 Rev1: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. 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, and T-SB-0144-08. Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, and T-SB-0144-08 are obsolete and any printed versions should be discarded. Vehicle replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) may be available from Toyota, provided the request meets one of the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Replacement Certification Label and VIN Plate Criteria A replacement certification label and/or VIN plate may be requested if: ? The vehicle was in an accident and the label and/or plate is damaged or attached to a part that will be replaced during the repair. ? The label and/or plate was stolen.
• 10133915Toyota vehicles are equipped with SRS, including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury in a collision. If a customer expresses any concerns that the SRS airbags or pretensioner devices did not perform as expected, please follow the steps in the recommendations section below.
• 10133649TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE November 21, 2017: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.
• 10132812Tech Tip: Low battery voltage can contribute to a MIL "ON" condition for P0335 (Crankshaft Position Sensor Circuit) and/or P0340 (Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit) due to inconsistent rotational speed of the engine's crankshaft.
• 10132295This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0054-13.
• 10132287California (CA), Federal (FED), and 50 State Certified emission control underhood labels (emission labels) may be obtained through your dealership?s Parts Department utilizing standard replacement parts ordering procedures. Follow the guidelines outlined in this bulletin to ensure proper label application.
• 10132084The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL ?ON,? shifting issues, and/or transmission damage. Use the information in this bulletin when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly
• 10131993This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0185-13.
• 10131988The following procedures are recommended during routine maintenance or in the event of a customer concern for wiper performance.
• 10131984A new Special Service Tool (SST 09709-00002) has been introduced to aid in the inspection procedure for certain vehicles equipped with a floor pedal-type parking brake system. This bulletin references the correct method for installing the Brake Pedal Force Gauge. Refer to the appropriate Repair Manual for parking brake pedal travel inspection and adjustment specification.
• 10131961Toyota vehicles are equipped with Supplemental Restraint Systems (SRS), including various airbags and in some models, seat belt pre-tensioners, to help reduce the risk of injury in a collision. If a customer expresses any concerns that the SRS airbags or pre-tensioner devices did not perform as expected (including an unintended deployment event), please follow the steps in the recommendations section below.
• 10131713TSB: 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, and T-SB-0144-08. Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, and T-SB-0144-08 are obsolete and any printed versions should be discarded. Be sure to review the entire content of this bulletin before proceeding. REVISION NOTICE January 11, 2018 ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. Vehicle replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) may be available from Toyota, provided the request meets one of the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin.
• 10123420TSB: Vehicle replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) may be available from Toyota, provided the request meets one of the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin.
• 10111390TSB: When servicing interior electrical switches and components, please note the precautions in this bulletin to avoid damaging electrical components and switches. Many lubricants, cleaners, and automotive chemicals contain silicone or other compounds that may contaminate electrical contacts, and therefore increase electrical resistance and decrease switch performance. The use of any cleaners or fluids may increase the risk of further damage to electrical components.
• 10111197TSB: When servicing interior electrical switches and components, please note the precautions in this bulletin to avoid damaging electrical components and switches. Many lubricants, cleaners, and automotive chemicals contain silicone or other compounds that may contaminate electrical contacts, and therefore increase electrical resistance and decrease switch performance. The use of any cleaners or fluids may increase the risk of further damage to electrical components.
• 10109492TSB: The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues and/or transmission damage. Use the information in this bulletin when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly.
• 10109404TSB: The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic transmission/transaxle assembly replacement. Incorrect torque converter bolts or missing washers can cause damage to the torque converter assembly.
• 627273Information regarding all trac front differential.
• 627195Subject regarding shoulder belt anchor tape set.
• 621324Subject regarding owner renotification on non-completed special service campaigns.
• 616104Subject regarding equipment drive shaft coupling kit installation.
• 616058Equipment drive shaft coupling kit installation.
• 605351Brief information regarding improved rear a/c magnetic valve to reduce internal valve corrosion.
• 604667Subject regarding toyota dinghy towing guide.
• 53040A new style master cylinder with an integrated proportioning and by-pass valve.
• 53033Excessive air conditioning evaporator odor IS accuring in various vehicles.

Every Toyota Previa model year

Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.