Topic: Toyota & Quality Issues

[Rabbit Girl]

Is it true now that Toyota is selling many more untis then ever before that their quality issues are doomed to go the way of GM?

This is what I have been hearing lately but I'm not sure where these people are getting their info so I wanted to throw it out here to see what you all have to say.

[mdxtasy]

Toyota has slipped in their quality....if they aren't careful and rectify it quickly, then can head down that same road.

[Gardiner Westbound]

See attached article.

[Mitlov]

I have to wonder about Toyota.  Not only are their production levels matching (exceeding?) the big three (individually, not combined), but their car line-up is about as "domestic" as you can get.  The Avalon was, to my knowledge, Japan's first shot at the Buick crowd.  And how many SUVs does a manufacturer need in a single market?  Honda has two, Subaru has one, Mazda just got their first two, and Toyota has SIX.  And now Toyota went ahead and bought GM's interest in two companies.

Toyota is not the same company it once was.  Instead of doing things differently than the Big Three, it's now attempting to do things just like them, but better.  That's a very different game, and a much harder one to succeed at long term.

[PJungnitsch]

The 2004 Tundra I bought for work has been super solid, giving a feeling of quality I've never experienced with a pickup before. A quick look at the CR ratings for reliability and Toyota is still a sea of red, still well above average. Doubt there is much to worry about.

[articsteve]

Is it true now that Toyota is selling many more untis then ever before that their quality issues are doomed to go the way of GM?

This is what I have been hearing lately but I'm not sure where these people are getting their info so I wanted to throw it out here to see what you all have to say.

Is it true now that Toyota is selling many more untis then ever before that their quality issues are doomed to go the way of GM?

Why would you think that Toyota/Lexus, being Japanese and having a completely different business mentality than that of Americans, and not controlled by the UAW, would ever become an American failure like GM   

[articsteve]

I have to wonder about Toyota.  Not only are their production levels matching (exceeding?) the big three (individually, not combined), but their car line-up is about as "domestic" as you can get.  The Avalon was, to my knowledge, Japan's first shot at the Buick crowd.  And how many SUVs does a manufacturer need in a single market?  Honda has two, Subaru has one, Mazda just got their first two, and Toyota has SIX.  And now Toyota went ahead and bought GM's interest in two companies.

Toyota is not the same company it once was.  Instead of doing things differently than the Big Three, it's now attempting to do things just like them, but better.  That's a very different game, and a much harder one to succeed at long term.

 The Avalon was, to my knowledge, Japan's first shot at the Buick crowd.

The Buick crowd have all died off.  Lexus sucked GM's upscale buyers away and the latest Avalon was the nail in the coffin.  Compare an Avalon Limited to a Cadillac Deville and you gotta be one stupid moe-foe to buy the Deville.

Instead of doing things differently than the Big Three, it's now attempting to do things just like them, but better

Did that come to you in a nightmare.     Toyota does nothing like GM.  The manufacturing process is different, the management system is completely different and accountable and the components of the vehicles are held to a much higher standard.

The GM/Toyota manufacturing facility in California producing the Vibe/Matrix is GM's most productive operation.  It is Toyota's worst worldwide.  It's UAW. Anybody that has worked in/with unions knows what that means.

[Rabbit Girl]

See attached article.

Great article!! Thanks. It is nice that people are voicing their issues because I know a lot of people who have had Toyota before and thought they were fabulous and are looking to get back into one....I'm not sure if that is the greatest idea.

So is Subaru at the top of the list now for reliability??

[articsteve]

That is a preposterous article.  You gotta go a lot farther than 90 days after purchase to determine the reliability of a car.  Try year 6.  That is when Toyotas shine. 

So is Subaru at the top of the list now for reliability??

Compared to what?  VW. 

[Julie]

...I know a lot of people who have had Toyota before and thought they were fabulous and are looking to get back into one....I'm not sure if that is the greatest idea.

I've had/have 2 Toyotas. So far, I find them the best cars I have owned in terms of quality. With Honda/Acura, I find them the best 2 brands I've owned (Had: Ford, Chrysler, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Acura).

I've heard about the recent events. I will monitor, but it's not going to change my mind about Toyota 180 degrees at this point. The thing about the internet is that you can find all kinds of articles to support your point of view that something is really bad or really good. Examine the objectivity of the authors for yourself; see how many objective articles demonstrate the same patterns.

[Incredible_NATE]

I had and have two Toyotas: Previa, RX330
I have two Hondas: Legend coupe, Accord EX-V6

Anyway, you can't go wrong with Honda and Toyotas. The cars are full of quality and reliability - what we expect from one. I was very happy with the Previa and the only negative was for its curb weight (5200 lbs), it was seriously underpowered - 138 HP and 154 lb / ft of torque. It was powered by a 4-cylinder, but due to the design of the vehicle, a V6 could not be added. The Previa's A/C beats all the other cars A/C. Second place would be the Accord EX-V6, third would be the RX330 and last would be the Legend's A/C.

When purchasing a car, it depends what you're looking for. If it's quality and reliability, a Honda or Toyota for sure. Just read a lot of reviews, check out the car in person and make a decision. C & D's reports are usually fairly accurate.

...I know a lot of people who have had Toyota before and thought they were fabulous and are looking to get back into one....I'm not sure if that is the greatest idea.

I've had/have 2 Toyotas. So far, I find them the best cars I have owned in terms of quality. With Honda/Acura, I find them the best 2 brands I've owned (Had: Ford, Chrysler, Mazda, Nissan, Toyota, Honda, Acura).

I've heard about the recent events. I will monitor, but it's not going to change my mind about Toyota 180 degrees at this point. The thing about the internet is that you can find all kinds of articles to support your point of view that something is really bad or really good. Examine the objectivity of the authors for yourself; see how many objective articles demonstrate the same patterns.

[AVToller]

I bought my Yaris the first day they were available in Canada. You know the dangers of buying a first-year model. So far the ONLY problems I've had relate to rattles, and it turns out that they were both due to damage that I did to the catalytic converter heat shield. The dealer repaired my damage with no cost to me. Just over 13.5 months with NO  quality issues at all. By that point, I was on a first name basis with all of the mechanics at my VW dealership.

I am not an easy customer in that I expect my new car to operate AS DESIGNED, every day, for years - with no more than routine maintenance. So far, my Toyota has done that job perfectly. If it is still doing so in 5 years, I will consider it a successful purchase. It has given me no reason to suspect that it will not meet that criterion.

[Incredible_NATE]

All my vehicles are first year - Legend, Accord and RX and have no trouble.

I bought my Yaris the first day they were available in Canada. You know the dangers of buying a first-year model. So far the ONLY problems I've had relate to rattles, and it turns out that they were both due to damage that I did to the catalytic converter heat shield. The dealer repaired my damage with no cost to me. Just over 13.5 months with NO  quality issues at all. By that point, I was on a first name basis with all of the mechanics at my VW dealership.

I am not an easy customer in that I expect my new car to operate AS DESIGNED, every day, for years - with no more than routine maintenance. So far, my Toyota has done that job perfectly. If it is still doing so in 5 years, I will consider it a successful purchase. It has given me no reason to suspect that it will not meet that criterion.

[mdxtasy]

I had and have two Toyotas: Previa, RX330
I have two Hondas: Legend coupe, Accord EX-V6

So you're 18, and own a minivan, a SUV, a coupe, and a sedan?  Or is this a FAMILY stable of cars?

[Incredible_NATE]

Family stable, but I drive them too.

I had and have two Toyotas: Previa, RX330
I have two Hondas: Legend coupe, Accord EX-V6

So you're 18, and own a minivan, a SUV, a coupe, and a sedan?  Or is this a FAMILY stable of cars?

[mdxtasy]

Family stable, but I drive them too.

That makes sense.

The Previa is a neat package and it is underpowered....but my uncle had a SUPERCHARGED Previa. 

[UmroAyyar]

I drove many family cars since I was 16. I bought MY first car in 2004 at the age of 29. 

Incidently, Daihatsu (owned by Toyota now) and Toyota were the most reliable. I'm on the second Toyota here in Canada (Corolla, now 2007 Camry). Both cars I bought used and had no 'quality' related problems with them, no rattles.

If you are including Quality of driving factor, then its a different thing, doesn't slate into reliability, quality issues. You buy Toyota to own a reliable, quality and dependable car. Not for driving fun.

[Giant Dwarf]

So is Subaru at the top of the list now for reliability??

Nope... Hyundai.    (and if not yet... give them... what, maybe one more year?)

[bmorton]

Based on the Toyota forums I follow the number one thing I've noticed on this issue is how quick some owners are to blame an alleged decrease in Toyota quality for just about anything they don't like about their vehicle. The article posted above provides a couple of good examples of this. I wonder to what extent the Toyota quality "problem" actually even exists.

[AVToller]

  "The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated."