Toyota Hilux
Registered from 1990 to 2023.
About this model
The Toyota Hilux, stylised as HiLux and historically as Hi-Lux, is a series of pickup trucks produced and marketed by the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota. The majority of these vehicles are sold as a pickup truck or cab chassis, although they could be configured in a variety of body styles.
From the Wikipedia article Toyota Hilux, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
What fails its inspection
Great Britain's MOT record for the 2018 2.4 diesel. 829 of 6,335 tests failed, 13%.
Better than 23% of 2018 cars. The typical one fails 10%, across 966 models with enough tests behind them to say.
| Where | Share of failures | Failed tests |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | 44% | 367 |
| Lights and electrics | 31% | 255 |
| Visibility | 21% | 170 |
| Suspension | 20% | 162 |
| Tyres and wheels | 18% | 147 |
| Body and structure | 8% | 64 |
The defects inspectors cite
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
- A tyre seriously damaged
Where it stands out against its peers
- Brakes: failed more often than 96% of 2018 cars — 44% of its 829 failed tests, where an ordinary 2018 car has 21%.
Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.
NHTSA's investigations are American; no European regulator publishes an equivalent record, so this section has nothing to draw on for a European car. There is no European equivalent of the service-bulletin register either.
Before you buy one
Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.
- Brakes — 44% of its failures
- A brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm
- Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement
- Suspension — 20% of its failures
- A spring or spring component fractured or seriously weakened
- Tyres and wheels — 18% of its failures
- A tyre seriously damaged
- Lights and electrics — 31% of its failures
- A rear registration plate lamp or light source missing or inoperative in the case of a single lamp or all lamps
- An obligatory rear fog lamp missing, or a front or rear fog lamp inoperative or in the case of a multiple light source more than 1/2 not functioning
- Visibility — 21% of its failures
- Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen
- Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen
- Body and structure — 8% of its failures
When it starts failing
At 160–180k miles this one fails 19% of its inspections, against the 17% an ordinary car of the same age fails.
| Odometer | Failure rate | Rate | Its age | Tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0–20k miles | 10% | 6% | 291 | |
| 20–40k miles | 9% | 9% | 1,280 | |
| 40–60k miles | 13% | 12% | 1,860 | |
| 60–80k miles | 14% | 14% | 1,280 | |
| 80–100k miles | 16% | 15% | 779 | |
| 100–120k miles | 17% | 15% | 441 | |
| 120–140k miles | 16% | 16% | 216 | |
| 140–160k miles | 16% | 16% | 94 | |
| 160–180k miles | 19% | 17% | 52 |
6,293 British inspections, grouped by the odometer reading recorded at the test.
Half of these have more than 40k miles on them. That is how far people drive this car, not how long it lasts.
Recalls
Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.
A12/00429/23
The auxiliary battery terminal may be faulty. This can disable the power steering support. Moreover, the battery terminal can overheat at low speeds, increasing the risk of fire. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/02415/23
Due to a specific software update error that can cause an abrupt reset, the data communication module (DCM) may not restart at the next ignition cycle. It will no longer be possible to initiate an emergency call using the eCall system, increasing the risk of injuries, delayed assistance in the event of an accident. The product does not comply with the Regulation on the approval and market surveillance of motor vehicles and their trailers, and of systems, components and separate technical units intended for such vehicles.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0634/14
The steering column assembly contains electrical connections to the driver’s air bag module housed in a spiral cable, which may become damaged when the steering wheel is turned. If this happens, the driver’s air bag could become deactivated, and thus not deploy in the event of a crash.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/0661/15
The inflator of the driver’s front airbag assembly may have an increased potential for moisture intrusion over time. This could potentially make the inflator assembly more susceptible to rupture during a crash, resulting in metal fragments injuring the vehicle occupants.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/1102/17
A clip for the engine compartment main wiring harness, located behind the steering shaft, may not be securely attached. This could result in the wiring harness coming into contact with the steering shaft. Damage to the wiring harness, caused as a result, could lead to the engine stalling and the risk of an accident.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/1483/14
The steering intermediate shaft pinch bolt may not have been properly tightened during vehicle assembly. The bolt could consequently loosen, and if the vehicle is continuously operated in this condition, the bolt could eventually come off and cause a loss of steering.
Recall of the product from end users
A12/1601/19
The accessory seat cover kit may not be installed correctly causing the seat covers not to tear as designed in the event of an airbag deployment. As a result, the cover could prevent the seat-mounted side airbag from deploying properly, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Recall of the product from end users