1995 Toyota Previa Problems & Complaints

I WENT TO VENTURA TOYOTA TO SEEK REPAIRS ON MY SEATBELT FOR MY RECENTLY PURCHASED 1995 PREVIA BASED UPON THE 1997 IIHSA CRASH TESTS WHICH DETERMINED THAT THE ENERGY MANAGEMENT LOOP IN THE BELT WAS A DANGEROUS DEFECT. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS AN UPDATED PART FOR THE VEHICLE, SO I ORDERED IT AND HAD IT INSTALLED ON 8/4/16. AFTER GETTING THE VEHICLE BACK I REALIZED THAT THE "UPDATED" PART WAS NOT AN UPDATED PART BUT WAS INSTEAD AN OLDER 1993 PART WHICH ALSO HAD THE SAME DEFECT. I RETURNED TO VENTURA TOYOTA AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGED THAT IT WAS NOT AN UPDATED PART AS THEY HAD REPRESENTED. HOWEVER, THEY ARE UNABLE TO MAKE FURTHER REPAIRS BECAUSE THERE IS NO UPDATED PART. THEY HAVE ALSO REFUSED MY REQUEST TO REMOVE THE PART WHICH IS NOT AS WAS REPRESENTED OR TO REFUND MY MONEY. TOYOTA HAS MISREPRESENTED THE NATURE AND TYPE OF PART THEY WERE INSTALLING ON MY CAR AND HAS KNOWINGLY INSTALLED A DEFECTIVE PART ON MY VEHICLE WHICH CONTAINS THE SAME DEFECT AND IS OLDER THE ONE I SPECIFICALLY REQUESTED BE REMOVED.

WHEN MY WIFE USES THE BRAKE AND IS TURNING THE CAR. THE ACCELERATE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. *TR

PROBLEM OF UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. WE HAVE A 1995 PREVIA. ABOUT 3 YRS BACK THE VAN WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. LUCKILY WE DID NOT HAVE ANY ACCIDENTS. FIRST MY WIFE NOTICED IT. THEN I STARTED DRIVING THE VAN AND NOTICED IT TOO. SCARED US. REALLY SCARY. I HAD TO PRESS ON BRAKE PEDAL FORCEFULLY TO SLOW DOWN AND STOP. TOOK IT TO LANSING TOYOTA DEALER, THE HEAD ENGINEER THOUGHT IT WAS ONE KIND OF SENSOR WHICH WAS ABOUT $350.00. ONCE IT WAS REPLACED, IF IT STILL DID THE SAME, HE WOULD REPLACE ANOTHER SENSOR THAT WOULD COST $600.00. WE FIRST REPLACED THE FIRST SENSOR AND STILL IT WOULD ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. SO WE ENDED UP REPLACING THE OTHER SENSOR AND THAT SOLVED THE PROBLEM. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY UNINTENDED ACCELERATION PROBLEM SINCE THEN. WE NEVER REPORTED IT 3 YRS AGO (THOUGH WE WERE TOLD TO) AS WE THOUGHT WITH AGING OF THE VEHICLE IT COULD CAUSE THESE KIND OF PROBLEMS AND NOT BE NECESSARILY DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. BUT READING ABOUT OTHER TOYOTA CUSTOMERS PROBLEMS WE DECIDED TO REPORT IT NOW AS IT MAY HELP OTHER CUSTOMERS/KEEP THEM SAFE. WE HAVE MOST OF THE RECORDS RELATED TO ABOVE REPAIRS AT SPARTAN LANSING TOYOTA. IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION PLEASE LET US KNOW. *TR

I HAVE OWNED MY 1995 CAR FOR 5 YEARS. JUST RECENTLY I WAS UNABLE TO START THE CAR WHEN THE ALARM WENT OF. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I HAD AN ALARM IN THIS CAR.THE ALARM WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO START MY CAR. I FINALLY TOOK OFF THE NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE AND PUT IT BACK ON AND SOMETIMES THE CAR WOULD START, BUT IT WOULD DRIVE ROUGH AND STALL OUT. I KNEW IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE ACR ALARM, SO I CONTACTED THE COMPANY THAT MADE IT. THEY WERE STANDOFFISH AND TOLD ME IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ALARM.I LOOKED ON THE NET AND FOUND MANY POST AND EVEN A VIDEO ABOUT THIS ALARM CAUSING PROBLEMS AND EVEN STALLING CARS IN TRAFFIC. AGAIN I CONTACTED THE COMPANY TO GET WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REMOVE THE DEVICE, THEY BLAMED MY CAR AND THEN TOLD ME THEY HAD NO INFO FOR THE DEVICES SERIAL NUMBER THAT I GAVE THEM. I EMAILED THEM PHOTOS OF THE DEVICE AND HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM. I ENDED UP TAKING THE CAR TO MY MECHANIC AND HE REMOVED THE ALARM AND NOW THE CAR RUNS FINE. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT ARE IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THIS ALARM. LIKE I SAID I HAVE OWNED THIS USED CAR FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IT HAD A ALARM, AND ONE THAT COULD BE POTENTIAL HAZARDOUS. THE COMPANY IS EITHER NOT AWARE OF THIS OR THEY ARE PURPOSELY GIVING ME THE RUN-AROUND. *TR

ON AT LEAST FOUR OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING A HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF. I MANAGED TO SAFELY STEER THE VEHICLE TO A SAFE AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP RESISTOR ASSEMBLE(PART $# 23080-76010). SINCE OWNING THIS VEHICLE I HAVE PAID FOR THIS REPAIR, ALONG WITH THE TOWING CHARGES, AT LEAST THREE TIMES. THIS IS INDEED A SAFETY ISSUE AND I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED BY TOYOTA SO THEY CAN ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME THIS ENGINE SHUT OFF OCCURRED IN 2000. IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN 2003; AGAIN IN 2005 (I PARKED THE VEHICLE FOR A YEAR BECAUSE OF FRUSTRATION); HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED THE SUMMER OF 2006; THE RESISTOR BURNED OUT AGAIN DECEMBER 2007; I JUST REPLACE THE RESISTER AGAIN. PLEASE NOTE THE FIRST TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS IN 2000 AND IT HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE THEN. IT IS AN ONGOING SAFETY ISSUE. THE DATE OF PURCHASE IS APPROXIMATE. THE DEFECTIVE PART IS THE FUEL PUMP RESISTOR THAT SHUTS OFF THE FUEL PUMP WHEN IT BURNS OUT/OPENS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 TOYOTA PREVIA. THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AFTER SHE PARKED THE VEHICLE. SHE ATTEMPTED TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. SMOKE BEGAN TO RISE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. WHEN THE SMOKE CLEARED, THE VEHICLE'S ENGINE FAILED TO RESTART. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 140,000.

VEHICLE'S PASSENGER REAR TIRE BLEW OUT.*MR WHILE CHANGING LANES THE VEHICLE PASSENGER SIDE REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WENT OFF THE ROADWAY AND STRUCK THE CONCRETE DIVIDER WALL. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, FRONT QUARTER PANEL, RIGHT REAR SIDE WINDOWS, LEFT FRONT QUARTER PANEL, REAR BUMPER, RIGHT REAR TAILLIGHT COVER AND REAR WINDOW (OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

THE EXHAUST PIPE CRACKED, WHICH CAUSED EXHAUST FUMES TO ENTER THE PASSENGER CABIN. DEALER DIAGNOSED THE CRACK WAS CAUSED DUE TO VEHICLE'S DESIGN. *JB

MY SUPERCHARGED 1995 TOYOTA PREVIA MINIVAN LOSES POWER WHEN TURNING CORNERS AND CLIMBING HILLS. IT HAS NOT YET COME TO A FULL STOP BUT SLOWS DOWN ALMOST TO A STOP. OUR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WHEN IT FIRST OCCURRED IN 1998 AT 53,000 MILES BUT SUGGESTED THAT WE TRY USING PREMIUM GAS. THAT APPEARED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM BUT UNBEKNOWNST TO US IT WAS JUST MASKING IT. THE TOYOTA DEALERS SERVICE REP WHO FINALLY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AT 88,000 MILES IN NOVEMBER 2000, SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS AN ENGINE DEFECT (HIS WORD). ACCORDING TO HIM, THE MATERIAL WHICH TOYOTA USED FOR THE ENGINE BLOCK IN THE SUPERCHARGED PREVIAS WAS TOO SOFT SO THE ENGINE DEVELOPED SECONDARY AND TERTIARY RIDGE RINGS. AS I UNDERSTAND IT, THESE EXTRA RIDGE RINGS CAUSE THE ANTI-KNOCK SENSOR TO CUT POWER TO THE ENGINE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. IT IS MASKED WHEN USING PREMIUM GAS BECAUSE PREMIUM BURNS HOTTER BUT HE SAID THAT AS THE RIDGE RINGS BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED, THE PREMIUM GAS WILL CEASE TO COMPENSATE AND WE COULD LOSE ALL POWER ABRUPTLY. HE STATED THAT TOYOTA HAD ISSUED A TSB ABOUT THE PROBLEM, WHICH HAS BEEN SUBSEQUENTLY DENIED BY THE NATIONAL CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE BLOCK FOR OTHER PREVIA S/C OWNERS WHOSE VEHICLES ARE STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE OURS SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED. THE REP SUGGESTED THAT I SHOULD TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT TOYOTA DEALER WHO WOULDNT KNOW THE HISTORY OF THE CAR AND TRADE IT IN FOR A NEW VEHICLE. SINCE THAT DIAGNOSIS WE HAVE NOT DARED TO DRIVE THE CAR BEYOND OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE DONT KNOW WHEN WE WILL SUDDENLY LOSE POWER. I FILED AN NHTSA COMPLAINT ON 11.19.01 BUT NEVER RECEIVED A CONFIRMATION # OR SIGNATURE FORM. TODAY I TALKED TO YOUR HOTLINE REP WHO SAID THAT THE COMPLAINT MUST NOT HAVE GONE THROUGH SO I SHOULD FILE IT AGAIN. *AK

CAR LOSES POWER WHEN TURNING CORNERS AND CLIMBING HILLS. PROBLEM CURRENTLY DOESN'T OCCUR WHEN USING PREMIUM GAS, AS SUGGESTED BY OUR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM WHEN IT FIRST OCCURRED IN 1998. DEALER SERVICE REP, WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER 2000, SAYS THAT THE MATERIAL WHICH TOYOTA USED FOR THE ENGINE BLOCK IN THE SUPERCHARGED PREVIAS WAS TOO SOFT SO THE ENGINE DEVELOPED SECONDARY AND TERTIARY RIDGE RINGS WHICH, AS I UNDERSTAND IT, CAUSE THE ANTI-KNOCK SENSOR TO CUT POWER TO THE ENGINE UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. IT IS MASKED WHEN USING PREMIUM GAS WHICH BURNS HOTTER BUT HE SAID THAT AS THE RIDGE RINGS BECOME MORE PRONOUNCED, THE PREMIUM WILL CEASE TO COMPENSATE AND WE COULD LOSE ALL POWER ABRUPTLY. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ENGINE BLOCK FOR OTHER PREVIA S/C OWNERS WHOSE VEHICLES ARE STILL UNDER WARRANTY BUT REFUSES TO REPLACE OURS SINCE THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED.*AK

AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT STAYS ON, AND THE MANUAL SAID TO REPORT TO DEALER IMMEDIATELY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 TO 60 MPH AND HIT ANOTHER CAR HEAD-ON. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE DIES/NO POWER AND NO ACCELERATION, TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER PUT IN A NEW ENGINE AT 31,000 MILES. TWO YEARS LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED.*AK

AIRBAG SENSOR FAILED/FALSE DEPLOYMENT, CAUSING THE AIRBAG TO DISCHAGE WHEN THE CAR SCRAPPED THE CURB DURING A THREE POINT TURN. NLM

WHILE ENTERING MY VEHICLE AT NIGHT, THE WHEEL , SPECIFICALLY THE "CRUISE CONTROL LEVER" WAS IN THE 6:00 O'CLOCK POSITION. I HIT THE LEVER WITH MY KNEE WHILE ENTERING THE VEHICLE AND BROKE THE LEVER. OTHER THAN BEING UPSET FOR A MOST LIKELY COSTLY REPAIR, I DIDN'T THINK MUCH OF IT UNTIL A FEW MINUTES LATER. I WAS EXITING A SHOPPING CENTER PARKING LOT WITH TRAFFIC MOVING ALL AROUND, ALSO, SOMEONE WAS FOLLOWING ME. WHEN I WENT TO TURN LEFT, THE WHEEL FROZE (DUE TO THE CRUISE CONTROL LEVER HAD CAUGHT ON THE WIPER LEVER, AND WOULD NOT MOVE) IN THAT IT WAS NIGHT, I DID NOT REALIZE THE PROBLEM AND PANIKED , SLAMMED ON BRAKES, AND ALMOST GOT HIT FROM THE REAR AND RIGHT SIDE AS WELL, SINCE THE WHEEL WAS FROZEN AND ALL STEERING WAS LOST. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A FATALITY, KILLING MANY PEOPLE AND OF COURSE THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS DUE TO A MANUFACTURING DESIGN. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT AN ACCIDENT DID NOT OCCUR, BUT I DO HAVE NIGHTMARES AS TO WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED. AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE MOST APPRECIATED. I HAVE NOT HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL REPLACED, IN THAT THE SAME PROBLEM COULD OCCUR AGAIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HAD TO APPLY THE ABS BRAKES AND VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. IT'S AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. BEEN TO DEALER FOR REPAIRS. MECHANIC WILL TRY TO REPAIR ABS BRAKE PROBLEM. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

REAR DOME LIGHT BULB FAILED. MJS

ENGINE PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED SINCE 10-APR-96 (ENGINE LIGHT, OIL CONSUMPTION/LEAKAGE), SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY WITH REPLACEMENT PARTS, HOWEVER HAVE FAILED. MJS

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINS ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A MALFUNCTION WITHIN THE SYSTEM, CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO THE VEHICLE IS CONSUMING LARGE QUANTITIES OF OIL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

MULTIPLE/REOCCURING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKES, ESPECIALLY FRONT BRAKES WHICH WEAR OUT EXCESSIVELY, SEVERAL REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS, HOWEVER PROBLEMS CONTINUE.

CATALYTIC CONVERTER REPLACED DUE TO LOUD RATTLING NOISE WHEN BACKING/WHEN COLD.

FRONT TIRES REPLACED/ALIGNED, TIRES ARE NOW IN NEED OF REPLACENT AGAIN.

DASH AND AIR BAG SEAL COMING APART.

WHEN VAN WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE CRASH, THERE WAS NO DEPLOYMENT OF AIR BAGS. REPORTS SHOW THAT THE AIR BAG SENSOR WAS PUSHED IN, BUT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VAN IS BEING REPAIRED. DAMAGES TOTALLING $8,000.00. *AK

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, HITTING TWO DEERS/TREE AND A FENCE IN WHICH THE DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DUP OF 816641, ADDED ON 25-FEB-98. *AK

DUE TO SEAT BELT FAILURE DURING SLOW DOWN FOR TRAFFIC LIGHT OFF EXIT RAMP, 2-YEAR OLD CAR SEAT WAS EJECTED AND PUSHE DINTO HEADREST OF DRIVER'S SEAT, CHILD SUFFERED INJURIES.ALSO LATCH FOR REAR-MIDDLE WINDOW WOULD OPEN WHENEVER THE SLIDING DOOR WAS CLOSED.

CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A 10 MPH FRONTAL COLLISION, HITTING TWO DEERS/A TREE AND A FENCE. THE DRIVERS/OR PASSENGERS AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK *JB

FALSE DEPLOYMENT OF DRIVERS AIR BAG RESULTED IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE/ACCIDENT/INJURY.

MARKED PROGRESSIVE WEA R OF 2 INCHES OF BOTH TOYO FRONT TIRES. *AK

IGNITION FAILED. *DH

DRIVER AND PASSENAGER SEATBELTS TIGHTEND AND HAD TO BE TAKEN OFF TO BE RESET WHILE RIDING. *AK

3 POINT BELTS DON'T RELEASE AFTER LOCKING WITHOUT UNBUCKLING BELT. *DH

SLIDING DOOR OPENS/CLOSES WHEN STOPPING/STARTING, DUE TO LATCH FAILURE. *DSH

POWER DOOR SWITCH FAILURE. *AK

RADIO ON/OFF AND VOLUME KNOBS FAILED. *AW

UPON IMPACT, DURING FRONTAL CRASH AT APPROX 15-20MPH, AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, WHEN CAME OUT BROKE METAL FRAME FOR GLASSES AND BURNED FACE AND RIGHT ARM. TT