AI DamageToyota VAN: problems, complaints, bulletins
Summary for the Toyota VAN across 8 model years: 34 owner complaints and 0 NHTSA service bulletins, plus repair videos. Pick a year for details.
Model years
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 24% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 18% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 18% of all complaints
- 4 Seat belts 15% of all complaints
- 5 Service brakes 15% of all complaints
- 6 Latches, locks, linkages 6% of all complaints
- 7 Vehicle speed control 6% of all complaints
- 8 Structure 3% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 8 complaints (24% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 6 complaints (18% of all).
- Steering: 6 complaints (18% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Seat belts: 5 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (15% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1984–1985
- 2.2 L · petrol · 4 cyl 1986–1989
- automatic, 4-speed 1984–1989
- manual, 5-speed 1984–1989
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 34 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Steering | 6 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 1 | 0 |
| Latches, locks, linkages | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 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.
Accelerator linkage cover located between the brake pedal and the gas pedal, caused a rear end crash because driver's foot caught on the cover, and was not able to push on the brake pedal. Van was totalled in the crash. Please provide any further information.
Vehicle was parked, owner had just put vehicle in drive, then stepped lightly on gas pedal, vehicle suddenly shot out like a bullet, hit another vehicle that was traveling in another direction on the same street. Consumer was injured in accident.
The van lost the steering while driving. The steering wheel came spinning all the way around. Please describe.
Driver's shoulder belt failed to hold driver secure during accident, resulting in injury.
During hard brake application brakes locked up, vehicle fishtailed, causing vehicle to rollover. Tt
Sliding door will pop open while driving, not close completely and motor reopens it. The first has happened 3 times so we turned off the door. The second happens every time we use the door with the motor on. Toyota says this is normal wear and tear. Started after only 1.5 years of use... All other doors are fine.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Seat belts. Belt pretensioners after airbag deployment, SRS codes.
Other models of this make
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.