Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 44 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 7 | 16% |
| Tires | 6 | 14% |
| Service brakes | 6 | 14% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 9% |
| Unknown or other | 3 | 7% |
| Equipment | 2 | 5% |
| Seat belts | 2 | 5% |
| Power train | 2 | 5% |
| Seats | 2 | 5% |
| Steering | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
VEHICLE HAS DRIVER-SIDE AIRBAG ONLY. AIRBAG DEPLOYED ON TUESDAY, JULY 2 AT ABOUT 5PM WHILE DRIVING ON A SAN DIEGO FREEWAY AT 60MPH. THERE WAS NO COLLISION OR WARNING TO DRIVER. MINOR INJURY TO DRIVER. VEHICLE WAS ULTI
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN DEFAZIO ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT RE 1993 TOYOTA PREVIA AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT. *SMD THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED HER VEHICLE WAS NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
HANKOOK OPTIMO H724 TIRE P205/75R-14 DOT T7XC HBH. INSIDE TIRE WALL (BACK DRIVER SIDE) SEPARATED ON 04-16-14 TRAVELING I10 WEST AT ARIZONA HIGH WAY SPEED LIMIT OF 75 MPH CAUSING ACCIDENT. NOTHING WAS RUN OVER ON HIGHWAY
NHTSA complaint: Tires
HANKOOK OPTIMO H724 TIRE P205/75R-14 DOT T7XC HBH. INSIDE TIRE WALL (BACK DRIVER SIDE) SEPARATED ON 04-16-14 TRAVELING I10 WEST AT ARIZONA HIGH WAY SPEED LIMIT CAUSING ACCIDENT. NOTHING WAS RUN OVER ON HIGHWAY. SEVER
NHTSA complaint: Tires
1993 TOYOTA PREVIA. 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
NHTSA complaint: Steering
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 WA
NHTSA complaint: Equipment
1993 TOYOTA PREVIA SUSPENSION ISSUES. CUSTOMER STATES THAT THE SUSPENSION HAS BEEN WORKED ON BUT THE PROBLEMS STILL EXIST AND HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED. THEY WOULD LIKE TO USE AFTER MARKET PARTS AND WANTS TOYOTA TO REIMBURS
NHTSA complaint: Suspension
AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AFTER NOT DRIVING FOR A COUPLE DAYS. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, IT WILL COST $800 TO FIX IT. I THINK THIS IS VERY UNREASONABLE. IT WAS NEVER IN A WRECK AND NEVER DEPLOYED. THERE ARE ALSO SOME OTHER E
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
| Reliability raw | 91 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 88 | 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 44 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 7 of them (16%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 91/100 (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 88/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 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 77/100. 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.