Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Toyota Previa, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Equipment | 6 | 17% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 4 | 11% |
| Power train | 4 | 11% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 8% |
| Suspension | 3 | 8% |
| Visibility | 2 | 6% |
| Air bags | 2 | 6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 6% |
| Structure | 2 | 6% |
| Seats | 2 | 6% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
TOYOTA PREVIA. MANUFACTURE DATES BETWEEN 1989 TILL 1993? BUT MY 1992 TOYOTA PREVIA HAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DRIVER'S DOOR LOCK KEEPS ON MALFUNCTIONING (WILL NOT OPEN OR OPERATE PROPERLY) UNTIL LATELY (NOW/TODAY), IT W
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
1992 TOYOTA PREVIA ACCESSORY SHAFT WAS REPLACED 4 TIMES, AT THE RATE OF 1 EVERY 50,000 MILES. GOING BAD FOR THE 5TH TIME NOW. COMMON PROBLEM FROM OTHER OWNERS OF THIS MODEL. *TR
NHTSA complaint: Power train
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER WINDOW WAS ACCIDENTALLY POWERED UP AND THE PASSENGERS HAND WAS PINNED TO THE TOP OF THE WINDOW. THE POWER WINDOW WOULD NOT RELEASE NOR WOULD IT POWER DOWN. THE WINDOW W
NHTSA complaint: Visibility
FOR THE LAST 10 MONTHS THE ELECTRIC DRIVER'S SIDE LOCK ON MY 1992 TOYOTA PREVIA HAS BEEN MALFUNCTIONING SPORADICALLY. SOMETIMES IT WOULD WORK FINE, OTHERS IT WOULD WORK MANUALLY. RECENTLY, THE ELECTRONIC LOCK HAS FAIL
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
WHILE BRAKING CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT SHUT OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
IN A YAHOO.COM AUTO REVIEW " A FAULTY EXPANSION VALVE MAY CAUSE THE AIR CONDITIONER TO GRADUALLY LOOSE EFFICIENCY IN 1992 AND 1993 TOYOTA PREVIAS" I BELIEVE THIS IS MY PROBLEM FOR I DISCOVERED I HAVE PLENTY OF FREON INS
NHTSA complaint: Equipment
ON 7/15/2001 I DROVE MY WIFE'S PREVIA AND NOTICED THAT IT SEEMED TO HAVE AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF DRAG WHILE GLIDING WHILE IN "DRIVE" AS IF THE BRAKES WERE SOMEHOW ON, ALTHOUGH NEITHER THE MAIN BRAKES NOR THE PARKING BRAKE W
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
WHILE DRIVING 65MPH A DEER APPEARED OUT OF NOWHERE & WAS HIT. UPON IMPACT WITH DEER, NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
| Reliability raw | 84 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 85 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 85 | excellent |
| Depreciation | 72 | good |
| Performance | 54 | average |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other minivans & vans in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 36 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and equipment is the most reported area with 6 of them (17%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 84/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 85/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 75/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.