1994 Toyota Previa Reviews from North America

Drive line to fan replaced at ~80,000 miles.

Master brake cylinder - 142,000 miles.

Best vehicle I've ever owned (50 years experience).

Comfortable ride, good hauling capacity.

Based on an initial gut feeling, and after reading many customer reviews, I purchased my 1994 Previa LE for $1200 with known issues from its original owner: high miles (242K), A/C needed recharged, struts and shocks were soft and it BADLY needed new tires. I also found shortly after purchase that there were three separate oil leaks, one of which was dripping onto the exhaust causing a burning smell. The muffler also had a hole in it, causing my minivan to sound more like a space shuttle taking off at a stop sign than a van.

I was a bit worried out on the road those first few days, wondering if I'd gotten in over my head and maybe purchased a vehicle that was too far gone to be reliable, despite the low initial investment, but this van is the *BEST* purchase I've ever made, and by far my favorite of all the vehicles I've ever owned (and my last one was 2007 Mazda3). Here I am, four months later... and TOTALLY in love with my Previa! You might even call me preoccupied or mildly obsessed - I can't wait to wake up in the morning to drive my minivan. I'm already scheming to upgrade to a 1997 Previa with leather someday, and honestly am not interested in ever owning anything else! That is, if I can part with current baby:).

After getting new tires put on and finding out that the things that do need to be fixed are non-critical and reasonably cheap to fix, I'm zipping around town like nobody's business. New tires alone changed everything about how my van drives, handles and sounds, and I'm now confident that there's still tons of life left in her, and I don't have to be worried about getting stranded somewhere. It's fun to drive, very comfortable... did I mention fun to drive? Now at 244,444 miles and counting, without a care in the world.

I bought the van used from a private owner who did not perform some things (e.g. air conditioner, differential fluid & oil leaks).

In 2004 when I bought it, I had a lot of work done out of excitement (e.g. all fluids changed, rear brakes, struts, A/C & differential leaks repaired).

I have never been stranded while operating this vehicle after any work performed by a licensed mechanic.

All other work performed by me (e.g. major tuneup, valve cover gasket, condenser & A/C drier removal, cruise control switch, radio tuner, window motor, muffler, calipers, rotors & pads).

I had seriously considered buying a used minivan, specifically the Toyota Previa, due to its reputation on carsurvey.org.

I did not see one "blue" face or hardly any negative feedback on any of its model years. They were either yellow or white.

After all the positive feedback, my purchase and ownership since July 2004, I expect to own a Previa beyond 175K miles unless something really major happens. I doubt it will.

I have heard that Previas are not even really broken in until 200K. Wow!!!

I have seen a useful service life go as high as 300K, probably due to its very rugged and solid drivetrain.

Currently, my van needs work as I am still troubleshooting a braking issue (vibration) and need to install a new condenser and A/C drier.

If I keep doing most of the maintenance and repairs myself, I probably won't ever part with this van.

This van, however, has very polar moments of inertia (look it up) due to its mid-engined configuration and RWD.

I hear that AWD will lessen those moments.

A Toyota mechanic once asked me "why do people swear by their Previas?" I just smiled and hesitated in my response.

You have to own a Previa to really understand.

I am quite proud to own my Previa, and hope never to see otherwise.

Realistically, if I can drive until 180K, I will have gotten my monies worth. I paid $6000 for it.