Is Toyota's Quality Slipping?

[Geodude]

I've owned Toyotas for 25 years and my parents and sister have owned their share as well. At last count something like 15, and just about one of every model. In our experience the quality is definitely slipping in recent years. Our Sequoia is NOT a stellar example of quality. It pales in comparison to our '93 Camry. My Dad is currently driving an '01 Rav4 and it has a lot of bugs. My neighbour had an '05 Sienna and it had quite a few problems. In fact he sold it and bought an Expedition, which has proven, so far, to be better.

I agree with an earlier poster who said that Toyota needs to stop focusing on being the biggest and focus on what got them to where they are today: quality. Otherwise they will be the GM of the future.

To be honest I find the quality difference between our Camry and our Sequoia, at double the price, to be remarkable and stunningly disappointing. Toyota Canada has heard from me and they know that I'm a long-time and now less than satisfied customer.

Hopefully they can turn it around and get it back.

[ToyotaCarFan]

Originally Posted by toyoonly

So I agree with the Avalon owner. That sounds crappy, and from what ive heard, they arent the best so far.

The lady complaining about her Prius with the "Toyota Advertised" 60 mpg, talk to the EPA about that.

And of course, the Tundra guy needs to be more careful when he buys. Dont like the seats, dont buy.

I'm always amused by people who claim that a car manufacturer deceived them or built a poor quality product if their car doesn't achieve EPA fuel economy. The EPA, not the car maker, defines the test procedures that determine the fuel economy ratings. As far as the Prius goes, I owned a 2005 Prius for two years, and was incapable of getting *below* 52 mpg / tank, no matter how aggressively I drove that thing. I constantly was flooring it, since it lacked enough pep to merge into traffic (due to the obnoxious drivers in my area).

[84Cressida]

My family has owned MANY, MANY Toyotas, including some as recent as 2005. They're still the same bulletproof cars they always have been.

[maple2]

Originally Posted by Octane

Dont flatter yourself. If you must know, I work 80 hours a week in a factory, so come Friday night Im so tired that the last thing I have on my mind is partying. I merely noticed you hadnt responded and was curious if you had even logged on or not.
I see you still havent responded.
Im just giving you the same attitude you have given me for the past 6 months. Like Ive said, you love to dish it out but you sure cant take it.
By the way, I will be going out tonight. I'll be getting drunk and most likely be taking some bar skank home with me. I just figured Id let you know, since you seem so concerned with whats going on.

well you better get used to workin that 80 hrs a week in a menial job just to keep a roof over your head, cause when the japanese take over our economy thats exactly what you will be doing, but on the bright side you can always eat your toyota.
p.s.
i sincerley doubt any bar skanks will be accompanying you home unless you took the bus cause no way in hell could you pick up anything worth while in a ugly ass toyota

[Trekie2]

maple2....since your new (myself included) you have not been told that you have to post comments at a grade 6 level or above....errrr...never mind......

[CDub LXi]

Originally Posted by Octane

Rollaxrs, we've had some of these GM guys for a while now. They come here for no other reason than to brag up the domestics while they cut down Toyota every chance they get.

btw... for the people that think I'm just another GM guy that bashes Toyota, here is my old 'Yota - http://myspace-390.vo.llnwd.net/0106...69915390_l.jpg

[Driver]

I don't mind the domestic fans here on toyotanation. Some of them are pretty level headed, but there are those just need to be stripped naked then hung upside down and hit with a clog on their ass a hundred times. When we get to 99, we forget count and need to start all over again.

The only two arguments from someone who doesn't like toyota that make no sense to me are
1- Toyota makes bland cars.
2- Toyota owners are like sheep.

Also, is it just me or has anyone else noticed how almost every domestic fan just seems to have ridden in every toyota ever built to tell you how bad that car is? Not to forget how they have an aunt or uncle who bought a toyota and hated it.

That said, toyota fan boys can be pricks as well. In short, fan boys in general are pertty much assholes. Wether it's cars, game consoles or something else.



Now, Back to topic. I personally think every single car maker's quality and reliability has slipped. They have crammed so many sensors into the cars that if one of them malfunctions/ goes out you have to spend a lot of money to get it replaced. The part itself maybe 10 bucks, but the labor gets to ya. And since a majority of people can not fix their own cars they have to pay up. And for someone with two or three cars such scenarios are a nightmare. This is why more people will always select quality and reliability and low operation cost over a car's performance. Not to froget it saves them time if they don't have to get their car fixed.
I personally haven't had much problems with any of our toyotas.

[CDub LXi]

Toyota as a general rule DOES make bland cars though... That doesn't take away from their quality though. My Camry got 34 mpg consistantly and it was an auto. My 5spd Accord with the same size engine struggled to get 30mpg.

I like Honda's styling better than Toyota but I like that Toyota (at least my old Corolla and my old Camry) had non-interference engines. I also like Toyota's service department better than Honda's.

And Toyota owners being like sheep? Honda owners are the worst!

[wiccanferret]

Toyota makes bland cars...some see a bland car as a blank canvas. You have to love the "That's a Toyota!?" effect.