Shifterati

Toyota

Toyota Truck 1969–1995

This page is a draft. It has not been approved yet, so read it with care.

The one collectors chase is a 1984–1988 4x4 SR5, and off-roaders favor the solid front axle of 1984 and 1985. Rust is the enemy on every generation. On a V6, ask for proof the head gaskets were replaced.

Learn

Badges

The name on the trunk. Each one has its own page, with every generation that wore it.

Generations

Timeline

  1. 1st gen 1969–1972

    What changed, year by year (4)
    1. 1969 On sale in the US from June, with the 1.9L 3R four and a 4-speed manual, as a regular cab with a short bed.1,2,3
    2. 1970 The overhead-cam 8R four replaces the 3R.2,3
    3. 1971 A finer grille with more bars, which tells a 1971 or 1972 from an earlier truck.2
    4. 1972 The 2.0L 18R four, with a larger bore, replaces the 8R.2,3

  2. 2nd gen 1973–1974

    What changed, year by year (1)
    1. 1973 New generation with the 2.0L 18R. A long bed is offered for the first time in the US, the 4-speed can have a floor shifter with bucket seats, and an automatic comes on some trims.4,5,3

  3. 3rd gen 1975–1978

    What changed, year by year (2)
    1. 1975 A facelift brings the 2.2L 20R four, the SR5 trim and an optional 5-speed manual.4,3
    2. 1976 The Hilux name is dropped, and the truck is sold as the Pickup.3,4

  4. 4th gen 1979–1983

    What changed, year by year (3)
    1. 1979 New body, and factory four-wheel drive for the first time, with a gear-driven transfer case.4,5,3
    2. 1981 The 2.4L 22R four arrives.3,6
    3. 1983 The Mojave, a limited luxury trim, for 1983½.3

  5. 5th gen 1984–1988

    What changed, year by year (4)
    1. 1984 New generation, keeping the 22R and the transfer case, with the Xtracab extended cab.7,5
    2. 1985 The fuel-injected 22R-E.7,8
    3. 1986 Independent front suspension on torsion bars for 4WD trucks, and a turbo four on 4WD trucks.7,5
    4. 1988 The 3.0L V6 replaces the turbo four, and the dash is new.7,8

  6. 6th gen 1989–1995

    What changed, year by year (6)
    1. 1989 New generation. The 4x2 Xtracab SR5 V6 was Motor Trend's Truck of the Year, and the 4x4 version won two off-road magazine awards.9,5
    2. 1990 Rear-wheel ABS is standard on the SR5 V6 and optional on the SR5 four.10
    3. 1991 Shift-on-the-fly 4WD and rear ABS on more trucks, fuel injection on every engine, and the 4-speed manual dropped. The SR5 comes only with the V6.11
    4. 1992 A new grille and a storage compartment in the dash. 2WD trucks get full wheel covers, and 4WD trucks new steel wheels.12
    5. 1993 The One Ton and the 4WD long bed are dropped.13
    6. 1995 A color-keyed high-mounted brake lamp and new audio systems. The last year before the Tacoma.14,8

Buy

Rare catches

Rare options, colors and interiors to look out for, and whether finding one is good news.

  • Rare Mojave Trim · 4th gen

    About 3,500 built3

Recalls 4
  • 70V083000 1970

    Because of how their metal fittings were crimped, flexible fuel hoses can draw in air or leak fuel. The fittings are inspected and crimped again where needed.15

  • 70V084000 1970

    Long driving at high speed can shake the fuel pipe between the carburetor and the fuel pump enough to leak fuel and upset the engine. An extra clamp is fitted to the pipe.15

  • 78V249000 1978

    Weak welds in the bed side can let the fuel filler pipe come away from the tank in a rear crash, risking a fuel leak and fire. A bracket is fitted.16

  • 05V389000 1989–1995

    Turning the wheel to full lock again and again, as when parking, can crack the steering relay rod, which may break. The rod is replaced.17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24

Checked against NHTSA records on 21 October 2026.

Before you pay

A buyer's checklist for each generation: every warning and recall, with a box to tick.

Sources

The specs, year changes and recalls here are facts from Toyota, NHTSA and reference sources. The desirability and issue claims are reputation, from Hagerty, Curbside Classic writers and readers, Edmunds owner reviews and owner forums, where the text counts the people, and none is measured against sale prices yet. Sources number the generations differently; this file follows Toyota's own six.

  1. Toyota (Hilux milestones)
  2. Curbside Classic (first Hilux)
  3. Wikipedia (Hilux)
  4. Curbside Classic (1982 Truck)
  5. SlashGear (Hilux changes)
  6. Curbside Classic (1982 diesel)
  7. Hagerty (1984–88 Pickup 4x4 SR5)
  8. Curbside Classic (1994 Pickup)
  9. Toyota (1989 awards release)
  10. Edmunds 1990 Pickup
  11. Edmunds 1991 Pickup
  12. Edmunds 1992 Pickup
  13. Edmunds 1993 Pickup
  14. Edmunds 1995 Pickup
  15. NHTSA recalls (1970 Hi-Lux)
  16. NHTSA recalls (1978 Hi-Lux)
  17. NHTSA recall 05V389000
  18. NHTSA recalls (1989 Pickup)
  19. NHTSA recalls (1990 Pickup)
  20. NHTSA recalls (1991 Pickup)
  21. NHTSA recalls (1992 Pickup)
  22. NHTSA recalls (1993 Pickup)
  23. NHTSA recalls (1994 Pickup)
  24. NHTSA recalls (1995 Pickup)
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