AI Damage1987 Toyota VAN: common problems
Owners of the 1987 Toyota VAN filed 6 complaints with NHTSA, most often about service brakes and electrical system. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 6
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Service brakes 50% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 3 Vehicle speed control 17% of all complaints
- Service brakes: 3 complaints (50% of all).
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (33% of all).
- Vehicle speed control: 1 complaints (17% 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.
- 2.2 L · petrol · 4 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 6 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) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
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.
Driver noticed smoke coming from under the hood while driving 65 mph. Vehicle was totalled. Consumer states while driving, he heard a small thud coming from under the hood, he also states that the engine light illuminated, toyota stated fire was caused due to regular wear and tear.
The front brake pads / rotors front & rear are prematurely wearing, causing failure. .et.
Upon trying to start the vehicle, it would not start. Nothing electrical was working. Since the battery is located behind the seat in the vehicle, when checking , noticed the carpet on the inside was burned, and the top half of the battery was melted down. Residue appeared around the top of battery cover.
Had to replace fron brake pads/rotors four times in one year. Tt
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 13,278 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 36% most complained about).
On average one model year of the VAN has 4 complaints (8 years in the data). This year has 6, above average.
What to check before buying
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Vehicle speed control. Accelerator pedal, cruise control, throttle codes.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1987 Toyota VAN?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: service brakes, electrical system, vehicle speed control. Total complaints: 6. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: won't start (17%), smoke, burning smell, fire (17%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1987 Toyota VAN?
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 1987 Toyota VAN 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 1987 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.