AI Damage1993 Toyota Previa: common problems
Owners of the 1993 Toyota Previa filed 41 complaints with NHTSA, most often about air bags and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 41
- involving a crash
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Air bags 20% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- 3 Tires 17% of all complaints
- 4 Electrical system 12% of all complaints
- 5 Powertrain 10% of all complaints
- 6 Engine and cooling 5% of all complaints
- 7 Equipment 5% of all complaints
- 8 Seat belts 5% of all complaints
- Air bags: 8 complaints (20% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 8 complaints (20% of all).
- Tires: 7 complaints (17% of all), 4 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 5 complaints (12% of all).
- Powertrain: 4 complaints (10% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.4 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 41 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 8 | 2 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Child seat | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Parking brake | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
If there had been a car next to me or a car behind me or a tree on the side of the highway, there might have been serious injuries or death with that type of inside wall tire separation. Again, let
Air bag did not deploy in car on a 45 mph crash front drivers side crash.
Bought new tire 6/20/03 (p205/75r14, t47-sigma tempest); tire blew out on side on 6/23/03 (serial #s aq5w30/sg01120754w). Car went off road and hit guard rail. Car damage to 1993 toyota previa is totaled. Minor injuries to driver.
Letter from congressman defazio on behalf of constituent re 1993 toyota previa airbag warning light. The consumer was informed her vehicle was not on the recall list.
Sudden brake failure at about 30 mph. I tried to stop and there was no braking. Parking brake was also not operable. I turned the key off and the vehicle continued to run. Putting it in park or reverse did not stop or slow it down.
While starting up our 1993 toyota previa, the radio amplifier under the glove compartment caught on fire. The ignition was turned off, and the fire stopped. Smoke odors from the fire still persist, and the amplifier was removed.
In january 2004, the steel belt in one of our tires frayed through the tire tread while driving. The tire was replaced, and the company that sold it to us returned it to the manufacturer with a request for explanation of the defect. There was no reply.
I am currently attempting to get air conditioning (a/c) fixed on previa. 6 weeks ago a new condensor and associated parts were replaced due to failure. These new parts were replaced to meet epa requirements for r-134a coolant (original coolant was r-12). A/c on system failed on july 2, 2003.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 5,891 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 16% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Previa has 21 complaints (11 years in the data). This year has 41, above average.
What to check before buying
- Air bags. Check the SRS light, stored codes and airbag/curtain status after any impact.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1993 Toyota Previa?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: air bags, service brakes, tires. Total complaints: 41. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (15%), tires: bulges, blowouts (10%), airbag warning light (7%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1993 Toyota Previa?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1993 Toyota Previa from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1993 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.