The Hino 338 spans 2000–2026 with 7 recorded NHTSA recalls and a 4.5/5 ForCar reliability score. The years to approach with caution are 2019, 2026, 2025 (most owner complaints); the cleanest are 2000, 2001, 2002. It delivers competitive fuel economy and NHTSA-rated safety.
How we score: NHTSA crash-test safety (40%), recall frequency across all years (25%) and the share of owner complaints involving a crash, fire or injury (35%). Based on NHTSA & EPA data — not user reviews.
Overview
The Hino 338 is one of the most popular vehicles in its class, produced from 2000 to 2026 across multiple generations.
Decode or check a Hino 338 by VIN
Enter a 17-digit VIN to decode this Hino 338 — trim, engine, plant and full specs — and instantly pull its open recalls, safety ratings and original window sticker.
How to read a Hino 338 VIN — every digit explained
Every Hino 338 carries a unique 17-character VIN stamped at the factory. Each position is a code — together they spell out where, when and how your car was built. Here's exactly what every digit means.
- WMI (1–3) — country & manufacturer. 4T1 = Toyota, built in the USA.
- VDS (4–8) — model line, body style, engine & restraint system.
- Check digit (9) — a math check that proves the VIN is genuine.
- Model year (10) — the year it was built. H = 2017.
- Plant (11) — which factory assembled this 338.
- Serial (12–17) — the unique sequential production number.
Model-year code (10th digit)
The 10th character is the model year. It cycles through letters and numbers, skipping I, O, Q, U, Z and 0 to avoid confusion:
Where to find your 338 VIN
- Dashboard — driver's side, visible through the windshield from outside.
- Driver's door jamb — on the manufacturer sticker when you open the door.
- Paperwork — vehicle registration, title and insurance card.
- Engine bay & frame — stamped on the firewall or chassis on many models.
How many recalls does the Hino 338 have?
The Hino 338 has 7 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2000–2026. Pick a year below to see its recalls — then verify open recalls against your specific VIN.
2019 Hino 338 recalls 1
Equipment
What's wrong. ITI Trailers And Truck Bodies, Inc. (ITI) is recalling certain 2018-2019 HINO 268 and 338-based vehicles equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager back-up camera displays. The displays may unexpectedly revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be reversed.
Risk. The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. ITI will work with ASA to notify the affected owners and will provide a harness relay capacitor module to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA Electronics customer service at 1-800-384-4400 or ITI Trailers And Truck Bodies at 1-814-634-0080.
2018 Hino 338 recalls 1
Equipment
What's wrong. ITI Trailers And Truck Bodies, Inc. (ITI) is recalling certain 2018-2019 HINO 268 and 338-based vehicles equipped with ASA Electronics Voyager back-up camera displays. The displays may unexpectedly revert back to the factory default settings which may cause the camera image to be reversed.
Risk. The driver may inadvertently turn the wrong direction to avoid an object behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix. ITI will work with ASA to notify the affected owners and will provide a harness relay capacitor module to correct the issue, free of charge. The recall began May 9, 2019. Owners may contact ASA Electronics customer service at 1-800-384-4400 or ITI Trailers And Truck Bodies at 1-814-634-0080.
2016 Hino 338 recalls 2
Suspension:front:springs:leaf Spring Assembly:u-bolt, Leaf Spring To Axle
What's wrong. Hino Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. (Hino) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 238, 258, 268, and 338 trucks manufactured January 5, 2015, to March 20, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the U-bolt that connects the suspension springs to the front axle may have been overtightened.
Risk. If the U-bolt was overtightened, the bolt may stretch resulting in it loosening or failing. Either result may cause a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix. Hino will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle U-bolts on the subject vehicles free of charge. The recall began on June 5, 2015. Owners may contact Hino customer service at 1-248-699-9300.
Equipment:other:labels
What's wrong. Jim Reed's Truck Sales, Inc. (JRTS) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Hino 338 trucks modified by JRTS. The affected trucks have Certification labels that do not identify JRTS as the final stage manufacturer. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Risk. Incorrect final stage manufacturer information on the certification label may hinder owner awareness of safety recalls, increasing the risk of a fire or a crash.
Fix. JRTS will notify owners and send them a new certification label with the correct final stage manufacturer information, free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2017. Owners may contact Jim Reed's Truck Sales' customer service at 1-914-737-3990.
2015 Hino 338 recalls 2
Suspension:front:springs:leaf Spring Assembly:u-bolt, Leaf Spring To Axle
What's wrong. Hino Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc. (Hino) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 238, 258, 268, and 338 trucks manufactured January 5, 2015, to March 20, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the U-bolt that connects the suspension springs to the front axle may have been overtightened.
Risk. If the U-bolt was overtightened, the bolt may stretch resulting in it loosening or failing. Either result may cause a loss of steering ability, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Fix. Hino will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front axle U-bolts on the subject vehicles free of charge. The recall began on June 5, 2015. Owners may contact Hino customer service at 1-248-699-9300.
Equipment:other:labels
What's wrong. Jim Reed's Truck Sales, Inc. (JRTS) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Hino 338 trucks modified by JRTS. The affected trucks have Certification labels that do not identify JRTS as the final stage manufacturer. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Risk. Incorrect final stage manufacturer information on the certification label may hinder owner awareness of safety recalls, increasing the risk of a fire or a crash.
Fix. JRTS will notify owners and send them a new certification label with the correct final stage manufacturer information, free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2017. Owners may contact Jim Reed's Truck Sales' customer service at 1-914-737-3990.
2014 Hino 338 recalls 1
Equipment:other:labels
What's wrong. Jim Reed's Truck Sales, Inc. (JRTS) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Hino 338 trucks modified by JRTS. The affected trucks have Certification labels that do not identify JRTS as the final stage manufacturer. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Risk. Incorrect final stage manufacturer information on the certification label may hinder owner awareness of safety recalls, increasing the risk of a fire or a crash.
Fix. JRTS will notify owners and send them a new certification label with the correct final stage manufacturer information, free of charge. The recall began on June 13, 2017. Owners may contact Jim Reed's Truck Sales' customer service at 1-914-737-3990.
Best and worst years for the Hino 338
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint volume across 27 tracked years, the worst years are 2019, 2026, 2025 and the best (fewest complaints) are 2000, 2001, 2002.
ForCar aggregate — our own analysis of complaint volume, not published by NHTSA.
| Year | Owner complaints | Top issue | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 338 | 0 | — | Best |
| 2001 338 | 0 | — | Best |
| 2002 338 | 0 | — | Best |
| 2003 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2004 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2005 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2006 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2007 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2008 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2009 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2010 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2011 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2012 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2013 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2014 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2015 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2016 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2017 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2018 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2019 338 | 1 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Avoid |
| 2020 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2021 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2022 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2023 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2024 338 | 0 | — | Average |
| 2025 338 | 0 | — | Avoid |
| 2026 338 | 0 | — | Avoid |
What are the most common Hino 338 problems?
The most-reported Hino 338 problems are Engine And Engine Cooling (1 reports) — out of 1 owner complaints NHTSA holds for the model. Here's how they break down:
Most-reported components — tap a category to read what owners actually experienced:
Engine And Engine Cooling 1 Read
The contact owns a 2019 Hino 338. The contact stated that while his driver was driving 45 MPH, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and failed to exceed 5 MPH while driving with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and turned off. The vehicle was restarted, but the failure persisted, and the vehicle was turned. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the after-treatment system had failed and was the cause of the failure. The contact was informed that the after-treatment system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred approximately three days later. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer, where it was determined that the after-treatment system needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 500,050.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints, all model years. Bar = share of total complaints. Full reports searchable on NHTSA.gov.
Hino 338 specifications & dimensions
The 2026 Hino 338. Full dimensions below — engine, horsepower and trim decode from your VIN.
| Specs cache warming… |
Source: NHTSA vPIC / Transport Canada vehicle specifications. Metric values converted to imperial; generation ranges approximate.
Hino 338 cargo space, seating & interior room
How much the 338 holds — passengers and cargo. Seating, cargo and interior dimensions vary by trim and seat configuration — decode your VIN for the exact build.
Exact seating capacity, third-row availability, legroom and headroom decode from your VIN or vary by trim.
Passenger & cargo volume from EPA fueleconomy.gov (largest configuration). Seats, legroom and headroom from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
Hino 338 tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What MPG does the Hino 338 get?
MPG cache warming… reload in a moment.
What engines does the Hino 338 have? Power & range
Powertrain data warming… reload in a moment.
How much does a Hino 338 cost to own?
A Hino 338 holds its value well. A typical example keeps roughly 56% of its value after five years — losing about 44% to depreciation. Fuel, maintenance and insurance add to the total cost to own.
| Age | Value retained | Est. resale value | Lost to depreciation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 84% | — | — |
| Year 2 | 76% | — | — |
| Year 3 | 68% | — | — |
| Year 4 | 61% | — | — |
| Year 5 | 56% | — | — |
What goes into the five-year cost to own:
- Depreciation — the biggest cost: this 338 loses about 44% of its value over five years.
- Fuel — based on EPA economy at roughly 15,000 miles a year.
- Maintenance & repairs — routine service, tires and wear items as the 338 ages.
- Insurance — varies by driver, state and trim; get a quote for your exact figure.
Resale & depreciation are ForCar estimates from typical segment value-retention curves — not a live market quote. Fuel from EPA fueleconomy.gov at ~15k mi/yr.
Is the Hino 338 safe?
NHTSA crash-test ratings aren't published for the 338 yet.
Tired of ads? Go Pro.
- Zero ads — clean, fast pages
- Exact mileage-adjusted car values
- Full research reports + PDF
- Market charts & price-drop alerts
- …and much more
How many miles does a Hino 338 last?
A well-maintained Hino 338 typically lasts 250,000–300,000+ miles. It's exceptionally durable — with routine maintenance many owners report 250k+ on the original powertrain. Its ForCar Reliability Score is 4.5/5.
Decode your Hino 338’s window sticker & build
Original options, specs, recalls and paint code — straight from the VIN. Free.
Decode VIN →All Hino 338 model years
A year-by-year snapshot of the Hino 338 — recalls, best EPA fuel economy and NHTSA safety. Tap a year for full details.
| Year | Recalls | Best MPG | Safety |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2025 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2024 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2023 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2022 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2021 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2020 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2019 338 | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2018 338 | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2017 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2016 338 | 2 recalls | — | — |
| 2015 338 | 2 recalls | — | — |
| 2014 338 | 1 recall | — | — |
| 2013 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2012 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2011 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2010 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2009 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2008 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2007 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2006 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2005 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2004 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2003 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2002 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2001 338 | 0 | — | — |
| 2000 338 | 0 | — | — |
Recalls = NHTSA campaigns that year · MPG = best EPA combined · Safety = NHTSA overall stars (tested years).
Frequently asked questions
What are the worst years for the 338?
By owner-complaint volume, 2019, 2026, 2025 drew the most reports. 2000, 2001, 2002 have the cleanest records.
How many recalls does the 338 have?
7 recorded NHTSA recalls across 2000–2026. Always check open recalls by your VIN.
How many miles does a 338 last?
A well-maintained 338 typically reaches 200,000–300,000 miles with regular maintenance.
Is the 338 reliable?
Our ForCar Reliability Score for the 338 is 4.5/5, based on NHTSA safety, recall history and complaint severity.
What's the Hino 338 warranty?
New Hino models carry a 3 years / 36,000 miles basic (bumper-to-bumper) warranty and a 5 years / 60,000 miles powertrain warranty. Coverage can vary by model year and market — confirm with a Hino dealer.
Where is the Hino 338 made?
The assembly plant is encoded in the VIN — the 11th character. Decode your 338's VIN above to see exactly where it was built; Hino may build it at more than one plant depending on the year.
How much ground clearance does the 338 have?
Ground clearance varies by trim and drivetrain — AWD/4WD versions often sit higher. Decode your VIN or check the specific trim for the exact figure.