Total Complaints
1 filings
TOYOTA HI LUX · model year
1978 TOYOTA HI LUX
1 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1978TOYOTAHI LUX carries 1 consumer safety complaint in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1978 HI LUX is power train:axle assembly:axle shaft with 1 filings. Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 51 investigation files overlapping the 1978 HI LUX, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
1
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
0 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT | 1 |
Recent Complaints
19990715POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
I LEARNED BY COINCIDENCE FROM A FELLOW TOYOTA BASED MOTORHOME THAT HE HAD THE REAREND REPLACED WITH A HEAVIER DUTY ONE THROUGH A PROGRAM OFFERED BY TOYOTA AND THE MOTORHOME MANUFACTURERS. HOWEVER, WHEN I CONTACTED ROTTER TOYOTA IN TUMWATER, WA, I WAS INFORMED THE PROGRAM HAD EXPIRED AND WAS OFFERED THE OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE SOME PARTS THAT WERE REMOVED FROM SOME OF THE REPLACEMENTS. I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE OF THIS 'RECALL' OR I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF IT, BECAUSE I HAVE HAD SEVERAL REAR BEARING FAILURES PRIOR TO THE RECENT FRIGHTENING EVENT OF HAVING THE REAR WHEEL COME OFF. I AM CERTAINLY THANKFUL I WAS TRAVELLING AT LOW SPEED WHEN IT OCCURRED. I BELIEVE IT WOULD BE UNSAFE TO SIMPLY REPAIR THE VEHICLE TO ITS ORIGINAL AND TOYOTA SHOULD EXTEND THEIR 'RECALL' AND REPLACE THE REAREND AND WHEELS WITH UNITS APPROPRIATE FOR THE LOAD OF THE MOTORHOME. THANKS FOR YOUR ATTENTION. BILL MEEKER.
Compare 1978TOYOTAHI LUX to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 1 Open
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1978 TOYOTA HI LUX have?▼
The 1978 TOYOTA HI LUX has 1 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1978 TOYOTA HI LUX?▼
The most-complained component for the 1978 TOYOTA HI LUX is POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include various components.
Is the 1978 TOYOTA HI LUX safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.