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Worst Vehicles of 1978

The most problematic 1978 model year vehicles ranked by NHTSA complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.

Other Years

1983198219811980197919771976197519741973
All-Time Worst|Most Reliable|Browse by Class
How scoring works: Each complaint counts as 1 point, each recall as 5 points, and each federal investigation as 10 points. Click any vehicle to view its full reliability profile.
#11978 Volkswagen Rabbit
0 complaints10 recalls3 invest.
80
#21978 Ford F-150
13 complaints10 recalls
63
#31978 Ford Fairmont
2 complaints10 recalls1 invest.1 TSBs
62
#41978 Mercury Zephyr
2 complaints11 recalls
57
#51978 Buick Regal
1 complaint7 recalls2 invest.
56
#61978 Ford F-350
0 complaints9 recalls1 invest.
55
#71978 Ford F-250
3 complaints10 recalls
53
#81978 Chevrolet Malibu
2 complaints8 recalls1 invest.
52
#91978 Dodge Omni
0 complaints8 recalls1 invest.1 TSBs
50
#101978 White Truck RB2
0 complaints10 recalls
50
#111978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
0 complaints8 recalls1 invest.
50
#121978 Pontiac Lemans
0 complaints8 recalls1 invest.
50
#131978 Plymouth Horizon
0 complaints8 recalls1 invest.1 TSBs
50
#141978 Flxible Transit Coach
0 complaints10 recalls
50
#151978 Buick Century
0 complaints7 recalls1 invest.
45
#161978 Porsche 928
0 complaints9 recalls55 TSBs
45
#171978 Ford E-350
0 complaints5 recalls2 invest.
45
#181978 Volkswagen Scirocco
2 complaints8 recalls
42
#191978 Ford E-250
1 complaint6 recalls1 invest.
41
#201978 Ford F100
0 complaints8 recalls
40
#211978 Pontiac Grand Prix
0 complaints6 recalls1 invest.
40
#221978 Oldsmobile Cutlass
0 complaints6 recalls1 invest.
40
#231978 Freightliner Freightliner
0 complaints6 recalls1 invest.1 TSBs
40
#241978 Chevrolet Chevrolet Truck
3 complaints3 recalls2 invest.1 TSBs
38
#251978 Chevrolet El Camino
1 complaint5 recalls1 invest.
36
#261978 GMC Caballero
0 complaints5 recalls1 invest.
35
#271978 Pontiac Grand Am
0 complaints5 recalls1 invest.
35
#281978 Mack RWL
0 complaints7 recalls22 TSBs
35
#291978 Ford Mustang
10 complaints5 recalls
35
#301978 Audi 5000
0 complaints3 recalls2 invest.
35
#311978 Mack RD
0 complaints7 recalls22 TSBs
35
#321978 BMW 320I
3 complaints4 recalls1 invest.1 TSBs
33
#331978 International Harvester 1700
0 complaints6 recalls
30
#341978 Peterbilt Peterbilt
0 complaints4 recalls1 invest.
30
#351978 International Harvester 1800
0 complaints6 recalls
30
#361978 Western WL Series
0 complaints6 recalls
30
#371978 Mack DM
0 complaints6 recalls22 TSBs
30
#381978 Ford Bronco
0 complaints6 recalls
30
#391978 Mack RWS
0 complaints6 recalls22 TSBs
30
#401978 Mack CF
0 complaints6 recalls22 TSBs
30
#411978 Superior School Bus
0 complaints6 recalls
30
#421978 White Truck RBW
0 complaints6 recalls
30
#431978 Ford E-150
0 complaints4 recalls1 invest.
30
#441978 Mack R
0 complaints6 recalls22 TSBs
30
#451978 Western WS Series
0 complaints6 recalls
30
#461978 Gillig Gillig
0 complaints6 recalls
30
#471978 Chrysler Lebaron
2 complaints3 recalls1 invest.10 TSBs
27
#481978 Dodge W200
1 complaint5 recalls
26
#491978 Dodge D100
1 complaint5 recalls
26
#501978 Pontiac Grand Lemans
0 complaints3 recalls1 invest.
25

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Check Your CarBased on 2.1M+ owner complaints
Data sourced from NHTSA complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.