IllustrationDRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING, HE HEARD A SMALL THUD COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD, HE ALSO STATES THAT THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, TOYOTA STATED FIRE WAS CAUSED DUE TO REGULAR WEAR AND TEAR. *JB
1987 Toyota Van
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Van years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 6 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports2 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
6 reportsTHE FRONT BRAKE PADS / ROTORS FRONT & REAR ARE PREMATURELY WEARING, CAUSING FAILURE. *YC.ET.
UPON TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START. NOTHING ELECTRICAL WAS WORKING. SINCE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED BEHIND THE SEAT IN THE VEHICLE, WHEN CHECKING , NOTICED THE CARPET ON THE INSIDE WAS BURNED, AND THE TOP HALF OF THE BATTERY WAS MELTED DOWN. RESIDUE APPEARED AROUND THE TOP OF BATTERY COVER. BATTERY WAS PURCHASED …
Read full complaint
UPON TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE, IT WOULD NOT START. NOTHING ELECTRICAL WAS WORKING. SINCE THE BATTERY IS LOCATED BEHIND THE SEAT IN THE VEHICLE, WHEN CHECKING , NOTICED THE CARPET ON THE INSIDE WAS BURNED, AND THE TOP HALF OF THE BATTERY WAS MELTED DOWN. RESIDUE APPEARED AROUND THE TOP OF BATTERY COVER. BATTERY WAS PURCHASED AT AUTO ZONE ABOUT THREE MONTHS PRIOR TO INCIDENT WITH NO PROBLEMS. AUTO ZONE WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED CONSUMER TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. NO ONE HAS RESPONDED TO CONSUMER'S CALLS TO R EMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK
VEHICLE WAS PARKED, OWNER HAD JUST PUT VEHICLE IN DRIVE, THEN STEPPED LIGHTLY ON GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHOT OUT LIKE A BULLET, HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT WAS TRAVELING IN ANOTHER DIRECTION ON THE SAME STREET.*AK CONSUMER WAS INJURED IN ACCIDENT. *SLC
FRONT BRAKE ROTORS FAILED. *AK
HAD TO REPLACE FRON BRAKE PADS/ROTORS FOUR TIMES IN ONE YEAR. TT
Official recalls
189V089000 · Steering:gear Box (other Than Rack And Pinion)
May 30, 1989
THE STEERING BEVEL GEAR ASSEMBLY MAY HAVE WATER CONTAMINATION WHICH COULD LEAD TO RUST/CORROSION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE ERRATIC STEERING, WHICH COULD RESULT INAN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE STEERING BEVEL GEAR ASSEMBLY; COVER LIQUID GASKET MATERIAL WITH IMPROVED MATERIAL.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.