1997 Toyota Previa
Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 1997 Toyota Previa is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 4 on record.
1997 Toyota Previa at a glance
Included: that car's specs and build sheet, model-year recall campaigns and a fair price.
1997 Toyota Previa recalls 1
DUE TO A CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE OIL SEPARATOR PLATE AND THE DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING OF THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL UNIT, OIL LEAKAGE AT THE AIR BREATHER PLUG CAN OCCUR, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED CONTINUOUSLY ABOVE 75 MILES PER HOUR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MODIFIED AIR BREATHER PLUG TO PREVENT SUCH OIL LOSS.
Source: U.S. NHTSA, checked 4 Nov 2026. A campaign covers the model year; to see whether a particular car still needs the repair, check its VIN on NHTSA.gov or ask a franchised dealer.
1997 Toyota Previa common problems
The most-reported problem areas across all 13 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.
1997 Toyota Previa safety ratings
Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 1997 Toyota Previa. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.
1997 Toyota Previa MPG & running costs
Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov.
Estimated 5-year cost to own
A rough guide to what running a 1997 Toyota Previa costs over five years and 75,000 miles.
How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. There aren't enough comparable listings to estimate depreciation for this model, so it is left out. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.
Dimensions & weight
Manufacturer-reported figures for the 1997 Toyota Previa — ranges cover the 2 body / drivetrain versions on record. Source: Transport Canada vehicle specifications via NHTSA.
Investigations & service bulletins
Manufacturer service bulletins 51
Technical notes the manufacturer sent to dealers about known issues and fixes. Useful to mention to a mechanic — they are not recalls and repairs may not be covered. Showing the 10 most recent of 51.
TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the crit…
Bulletin TSB003220 · Air Bags, Vehicle Speed Control, Equipment · Aug 2023POL: This consolidated Tire Warranty Guide contains the complete warranty terms for all brands of ground and spare tires currently in use by Toyota. This information must be kept near the point of vehicle sale and be available to any customer that requests it.…
Bulletin Toyota PRO19-02 · Tires, Wheels, Equipment · Jan 2022Toyota Safety Recall and Service Campaign - Technician Certification Requirements
Bulletin Toyota Safety Re · Air Bags · Mar 2021TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2021 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the crit…
Bulletin T-SB-0032-20 Rev · Equipment · Feb 2021TSB: OBSOLETE NOTICE April 07, 2020: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0032-20. Replacement Certification Labels and VIN Plates
Bulletin T-SB-0304-17 Obs · Equipment · Apr 2020TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, PG006-01, PG004-97, T-SB-0144-08, and T-SB-0304-17. The aforementioned bulleti…
Bulletin T-SB-0032-20 · Equipment · Apr 2020Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.
Bulletin PG004-97-Obsolet · Equipment · Aug 2018Technical Service Bulletin: OBSOLETE NOTICE: July 31, 2018: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0304-17.
Bulletin PG006-01-Obsolet · Equipment · Aug 2018TSB: REVISION NOTICE July 31, 2018 Rev2: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. January 11, 2018 Rev1: ? The Supersession Notice has been updated. Any previous printed versions of this bulletin should be discarded. SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information cont…
Bulletin T-SB-0304-17_Rev · Equipment · Jul 2018TSB: SUPERSESSION NOTICE The information contained in this bulletin supersedes Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-91, PG002-93, PG005-97, PG007-01, PG007-07, and T-SB-0144-08. Service Bulletin Nos. PG021-88, PG015-89, PG0015-90, PG002-9…
Bulletin T-SB-0304-17_Rev · Equipment · Jan 2018Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, listed for the PREVIA. Model-year data, not specific to one car.
Canadian recalls 1
Transport Canada recall campaigns for the 1997 Toyota Previa. Relevant if the car was first sold in, or imported from, Canada.
Powertrain
On certain Previa 4WD vehicles, clearance between the oil separator plate and the differential housing of the front differential unit could cause oil leakage at the air breather plug when the vehicle is operated continuously at elevated highway speeds. Cumulative oil leakage could result in sufficiently low oil supply to cause bearing damage to the front differential unit, whic…
Transport Canada #1997082 · Apr 1997Source: Transport Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Recalls Database.
About the Toyota Previa
The Toyota Previa, also known as the Toyota Estima in Japan, and Toyota Tarago in Australia, is a minivan that was produced by Toyota from 1990 until October 2019 across three generations. The Previa was the second largest minivan in Toyota's lineup in Japan after the bigger and more luxurious Alphard/Vellfire.
From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Describes the model line in general, not this model year specifically.