1987 Toyota Previa problems
The Toyota Previa, also known as the Toyota Estima (Japanese: トヨタ・エスティマ, Hepburn: Toyota Esutima) in Japan, and Toyota Tarago in Australia, is a minivan that was produced by Toyota from 1990 until October 2019 across three generations.
The name "Previa" is derived from the Spanish for "preview", as Toyota saw the first Previa as a vehicle that would preview technologies used in future minivans. The Previa was the second largest minivan in Toyota's lineup in Japan after the bigger and more luxurious Alphard/Vellfire.
First generation (XR10/XR20; 1990)
The first generation, designed by Toyota designer Tokuo Fukuichi and Calty designer David Doyle in 1987 (patent filed 24 December 1987), was introduced on 27 January 1990, and had only one sliding side door for the rear passengers. It featured a mid-engined platform, where the inline-four cylinder gasoline-powered engine was installed almost flat (at a 75-degree angle), beneath the front seats.
Installing the engine in this configuration allowed moderately easy access to the spark plugs, which were located underneath a panel on the mid right-side of the vehicle, after removing the front right seat, the carpet and an access panel.
All of the engine-driven accessories, such as the alternator, power steering pump, air conditioning compressor and radiator fan, are accessible from the front hood and are driven by an accessory driveshaft on the front of the engine. This method received the name Supplemental Accessory Drive System, or "SADS". Placing these items in front allowed the designers to achieve an even front/rear weight distribution, which benefits ride quality and handling. However, it also prevented the installation of a larger engine, and meant that the design and development costs could not be mitigated by sharing the platform with other vehicles.
The first generation Previa was 4,750 mm (187.0 in) long and 1,800 mm (70.9 in) wide. In Japan, two smaller versions, the Toyota Estima Lucida and Toyota Estima Emina, were produced from January 1992, which were approximately 110 mm (4.3 in) narrower and 70 mm (2.8 in) shorter than the standard model. The original design continued to be sold in Japan, but became known as the "wide-body" Estima.
The reason that the smaller Emina and Lucida models were developed is the vehicle tax system in Japan, which is based on the product of the length and width of the car; the smaller variants fall into a lower tax band. The Estima Emina and Estima Lucida were also available with a 2.2-liter diesel engine (3C-T and 3C-TE). In Japan, the Estima and Estima Emina were exclusive to the dealerships called Toyota Store. The Estima Lucida sold at Toyota Corolla Store dealerships. The two received small redesigns in 1994 and a facelift in 1996.
The first generation Previa was available in both rear- and all-wheel drive versions (called All-Trac) and powered by a 135 PS (99 kW) JIS four-cylinder 2.4-liter fuel injection engine. Available with a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual gearbox, this Previa also seated seven or eight people, with three seating configurations offered (North America only received the seven passenger configurations, however).
All configurations have a driver and front passenger seat forward, and a three-seat bench seat at the rear that splits and folds flat against the sides of the cabin. The eight-seat configuration contains a 2/1 split swiveling bench seat in the middle row, while the seven-seat configurations contain either two independently swiveling captain's chairs (referred to as "Quad Seating"), in the middle row or a two-seat bench offset towards the driver's side. The third row is better upholstered in the seven-seat version.
The Previa was available with either four-wheel disc brakes or traditional front disc/rear drum brake setup, with anti-lock brakes (ABS) as an option.
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Common 1987 Toyota Previa problems
Based on complaints from owners of the Toyota Previa 1987, several common problems have been identified:
- Engine Maintenance Difficulty: The unique mid-engine layout of the Previa makes routine maintenance, such as checking and adding oil, challenging. The engine's odd location necessitates accessing it through a panel under the left front seat, which can be cumbersome and costly for maintenance tasks.
- Rear Wheel Bearing Problems: Some owners have experienced rear wheel bearing issues, particularly with the '93 model, where leaking seals caused rear end problems. This issue could lead to additional maintenance costs and potential safety concerns.
- Styling and Unconventional Design: The Previa's unique styling, including its egg-like shape and mid-engine layout, has been a point of contention among owners. While some appreciate its distinctiveness, others find it off-putting and attribute the vehicle's lack of popularity in the U.S. market to its unconventional design.
- Limited Engine Power: The Previa's mid-engine layout restricted the engine size options, leading to a lack of power compared to competitors like Chrysler's V6-powered vans. Toyota attempted to address this by introducing a supercharged engine in 1994, but sales did not significantly improve, ultimately leading to the model being replaced by the Sienna in 1997.
These common problems highlight some of the challenges faced by owners of the Toyota Previa 1987, ranging from mechanical issues to design-related concerns.
What is the common problem of Toyota Previa?
A common issue on the Previa is for the arm rests to become loose. When they become very loose, they will not stand up when you try to move them out of the way. Instead they will fall straight back down.
Is Toyota Previa a reliable car?
I have owned 2 Previa's and I put 180,000 miles on the first one and more than 200,000 on the second one which I still drive every day. Both were extremely reliable and other than a battery, brakes, tires and oil changes, you'll never have to worry about anything. I wish they still made them today.
How many miles will a Toyota Previa last?
247,000mi
What is Toyota Previa lifespan? The estimated lifespan of a Toyota Previa is 247,000mi, before reaching the life expectancy upper limit. Fuel type is a major factor when looking into a vehicles lifespan/life expectancy.
Why did Toyota discontinue the Previa?
The Previa was considered too small and too underpowered to compete with the much bigger and cheaper Chrysler minivans, and so Toyota stopped selling it in the United States and went to the very competent but basically unoriginal Sienna.
What is the common problem of Toyota Previa?
A common issue on the Previa is for the arm rests to become loose. When they become very loose, they will not stand up when you try to move them out of the way. Instead they will fall straight back down.
Is Toyota Previa a reliable car?
I have owned 2 Previa's and I put 180,000 miles on the first one and more than 200,000 on the second one which I still drive every day. Both were extremely reliable and other than a battery, brakes, tires and oil changes, you'll never have to worry about anything. I wish they still made them today.
How long can a Toyota Previa last?
It's a great car,very reliable, durable, dependable and are known to last at least 300,000 miles on same tranny and engine.
Why did Toyota discontinue the Previa?
The Previa was considered too small and too underpowered to compete with the much bigger and cheaper Chrysler minivans, and so Toyota stopped selling it in the United States and went to the very competent but basically unoriginal Sienna.
1987 Toyota Previa car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Toyota Previa problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Wheels problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1987 Toyota Previa vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1987 Toyota Previa complaints
The NHTSA has received 1 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1987 Toyota Previa.
WHEELS PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1996-08-01
- Fire: 1
- Components: WHEELS
- Summary: RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAUGHT FIRE.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1987 Toyota Previa problems:
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