Used car guide · 1991–2025

Toyota Previa common problems and MOT failures

What goes wrong on a used Toyota Previa, year by year: known faults from UK buying guides, the parts flagged at MOT more than on other cars (from 12,796 MOTs done during 2023–2025), and what to check before you buy one.

The 2017 Toyota Previa

Too few Toyota Previa cars first registered in 2017 had an MOT during 2025 for reliable MOT figures. There are no known faults on record for this year in the UK buying guides we use, so the rest of this page covers the Toyota Previa as a whole.

17on the UK register at the end of 2025
Petrolmost common fuel (also electric)
What to check on a 2017 car
  • MOT history

    Check the reg below: its MOT history shows what has been failed or advised, and whether the mileage adds up.

  • Service history

    Look for regular servicing and receipts for big jobs like a cambelt or clutch.

  • Finance and write-offs

    MOT records don’t show outstanding finance or insurance write-offs. A history check does.

  • Test drive

    Listen for knocks over bumps, check every warning light goes out, and make sure the gears and brakes feel right.

Other years

Most years have their own guide. The year is when the car was first registered (it’s on the logbook, or check the reg below).

202520172015201320122006200520042003200220012000199919981997199619951994199319921991

What usually goes wrong with a Toyota Previa?

We haven’t found widely reported faults for the Toyota Previa in the UK buying guides we use yet. That doesn’t mean it has none, so check the car carefully and look at the MOT weak spots below.

Common Toyota Previa MOT failures to check

Parts flagged at MOT well above the usual rate for cars the same age, for each fuel on its own. From the DVSA’s results for every MOT done in Great Britain during 2023–2025.

Petrol

  • Coil springs

    up to 3.4× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Headlights

    up to 3.1× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2.9× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Brake pads

    up to 2.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2006.

    Rough price £75–£175 (one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for squealing or grinding when braking, and look through the wheel at how much pad is left.

  • Engine oil leaks

    up to 2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

    Rough price £80–£600 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look under the engine and where the car is usually parked for fresh oil. Ask whether the leak has been looked at.

  • Steering swivel joints

    up to 11× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

Diesel

  • Steering swivel joints

    up to 11.5× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £100–£450 our estimate

    At the viewing: On a straight road the steering wheel should sit straight. Listen for knocks when turning, and check the steering feels even.

  • Suspension arm bushes and joints

    up to 2.8× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £120–£180 (one arm) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Listen for clunks over bumps and feel for the steering wandering. Worn arm bushes show as cracked rubber near the wheels.

  • Coil springs

    up to 2.7× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £175–£400 (pair, one axle) ClickMechanic

    At the viewing: Look behind each wheel for a snapped spring coil, and listen for a clunk or twang when turning the wheel lock to lock with the car stopped.

  • Rigid brake pipes

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £100–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Ask to see underneath, or check the MOT advisories: corroded brake or fuel pipes get worse every year and fail the MOT when they do.

  • Headlights

    up to 2.2× usual

    Stands out on cars registered in 2005 and 2006.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

Toyota Previa MOT pass rate by year

Of the years since 2005 with plenty of MOT tests, the 2006 Toyota Previa did best (56% passed first time, 0 points above all 2006 cars) and the 2005 did worst (56%, 1 point below all 2005 cars). Older cars fail more, so compare each year with all cars registered the same year.

YearPass first timeAll cars that yearMOT tests
201567%74% -7108 (small sample)
201364%67% -3164 (small sample)
201265%64% +1135 (small sample)
200656%56% +01,566
200556%57% -11,998
200453%57% -42,203
200353%57% -41,912
200254%58% -41,361
200153%60% -71,335
200053%61% -8518
199957%63% -6196 (small sample)
199859%65% -6280 (small sample)
199760%65% -5294 (small sample)
199661%66% -5295 (small sample)
199559%67% -8211 (small sample)
199464%67% -3109 (small sample)
199360%68% -8111 (small sample)

Questions to ask the seller before buying a Toyota Previa

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the suspension arm bushes and joints? (Flagged at MOT 4.2× as often on the Toyota Previa as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the coil springs? (Flagged at MOT 3.4× as often on the Toyota Previa as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 3.3× as often on the Toyota Previa as on other cars the same age.)
  4. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Toyota Previa?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, whether it already shows these weak spots and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Where this comes from: MOT figures are the DVSA’s anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, grouped by the year each car was first registered. How many are on the road is from the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics. Known faults are from UK buying guides, in our own words, with links. How we score