AI Damage1991 Toyota SR5: common problems
Owners of the 1991 Toyota SR5 filed 5 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 5
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 60% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 20% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 20% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 3 complaints (60% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (20% of all).
- Steering: 1 complaints (20% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 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.
Tl* the contact owns a 1991 toyota sr5. The contact received a recall notice for the steering relay rod. The dealer stated that before the steering relay rod was replaced that the other parts on the vehicle must also be replaced. The contact did not recall the specifics about the additional parts.
White smoke emitted from the exhaust when the vehicle was started. (two failures with only 44k miles from the time toyota replaced it on recall)
While driving the vehicle, consumer tried to make a sudden stop by depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle slowly came to a stop. Comsumer contacted dealer.
Engine gasket failure. Owner was not aware of the extended warranty due to problems with engine.
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 14,283 of 36,659 model years in the NHTSA data (top 39% most complained about).
On average one model year of the SR5 has 4 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 5, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1991 Toyota SR5?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, service brakes, steering. Total complaints: 5. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (20%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1991 Toyota SR5?
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 1991 Toyota SR5 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 1991 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 2026-11-06.