1997 Toyota Previa Problems, Complaints & Recalls
- Compared with other Previa years
- Not enough data 3rd of 5 for complaints
- Safety recalls
- 1 recall: check your VIN
- NHTSA crash rating
- Not rated
Owners have filed 9 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997 Toyota Previa. That ranks 3rd out of 5 Previa model years for complaints. The most reported problem area is engine and engine cooling (4 complaints, 44%), typically at around 118,863 miles. Complaints mention 2 crashes. There is 1 safety recall covering this model year.
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- 9owner complaints
- 1safety recalls
- 0NHTSA investigations
- 2complaints mentioning a crash
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.
Most common 1997 Toyota Previa problems
Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.
| Problem area | Complaints | Share | Median miles | Owners mention most | Typical repair cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 4 | 44% | 118,863 | — | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 44% | 140,000 | — | — |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 11% | — | — | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 11% | 200,000 | — | — |
| Unknown or Other | 1 | 11% | — | — | — |
One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.
Complaints by year received
1997 Toyota Previa recalls (1)
Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.
Power train:driveline:differential unit
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.
To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.
Recent owner reports
Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.
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…
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…
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…
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…
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
Other Toyota Previa years
| Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 Previa | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 Previa | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | 9 | 1 |
| 1996 Previa | 11 | 0 |
| 1995 Previa | 30 | 0 |
See all Toyota Previa problems by year, every Toyota model, or the Toyota VIN decoder.
Similar Toyota models
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Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Toyota Previa?
Owners most often report engine and engine cooling, vehicle speed control, fuel system, gasoline problems. The top one, engine and engine cooling, accounts for 4 complaints.
Was there a recall on the 1997 Toyota Previa?
Yes, 1 safety recall. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.
Was the 1997 Toyota Previa a good year?
Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other Previa model years, the 1997 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.