Does Toyota have quality problems?

[tarzanman]

It seems to me that lately all I see is bad news about Ford, GM, Chrysler, and even Nissan. I don't recall reading anything bad about Toyota or their vehicle quality in months.

Today, I was forwarded a link to a story about a class action suit against Toyota that may involve almost every Camry made in 1999-2002, along with Avalons, Solaras and the Highlander. Lexus ES and RS 300's were thrown in there too. Apparently Toyota has an issue with their engines. Enough of an issue that there is a class action suit about it. Potential losses for Toyota are in estimated to be in the billions but you can't find this story on any front page. The front page is apparently reserved for Ford, GM and the others.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2007702070349

I don't know why, but it seems that Toyota's issues don't make the big news. There perceived to be perfect image still intact. Well, for those of you that read this, maybe it will give you another idea.

 

[Anewman]

To me a "class action lawsuit" is not always an indicator or proof of anything except that americans will join into any lawsuit if they think they can make some cash.

We recently sold a 99 Camry with over 120k miles and have never had a sludge issue, we had always changed the oil regularly and with good quality oil and filters. My sister owns a 02 Lexus ES and also has never had an issue.

We have gotten dozens of updates and mailings regarding the "lawsuit and possible settlement".

No Toyota may not be perfect, but for every "ACTUAL" person with a slightly negative Toyota story I can refer you to a dozen persons with GM and FORD horror stories.

 

[RitaZ.]

All cars have problems. Ask any mechanic. I think that some people have become so loyal to certain makes that they won't admit to having any problems with them.

We have always had and currently have one Ford and they've been trouble free (no big problems). Our 2001 Windstar has only had one problem: the motors that operate the driver and passenger windows quit working. Other than that, all we've done to it is regular maintenance.

My neighbor's Honda Odyssey (bought a few weeks after our Windstar) had engine problems, one which included problems with acceleration. She got rid of it.

One of our friends has a Toyota 4 Runner and has had a multitude of problems, but he still loves the truck.

My brother drives BMWs and they have had minor problems.

There is no vehicle that is trouble free. I think that Ford's current problems aren't so much about reliability, but design issues. Last year, we bought a new vehicle. We did look at the Fords, I liked the Freestyle, but for the price we decided to purchase what we really wanted. The interior just didn't cut it for me. We really wanted to buy a Ford, but there was none that we were crazy about. If I'm buying a car, I have to like it.

 

[tarzanman]

To me a "class action lawsuit" is not always an indicator or proof of anything except that americans will join into any lawsuit if they think they can make some cash.

We recently sold a 99 Camry with over 120k miles and have never had a sludge issue, we had always changed the oil regularly and with good quality oil and filters. My sister owns a 02 Lexus ES and also has never had an issue.

We have gotten dozens of updates and mailings regarding the "lawsuit and possible settlement".

No Toyota may not be perfect, but for every "ACTUAL" person with a slightly negative Toyota story I can refer you to a dozen persons with GM and FORD horror stories.

Thanks for the feedback on the class action suit.

I guess that you get good and bad stories about all the auto companies from different folks. It just seems that Toyota stories don't make front page or at least not very much.

On the dozens of people with bad stories about GM, Ford, etc. It goes with the idea that people say nothing when things are going well but they say a lot when even the tiniest thing goes wrong. For almost a century, the big 3 have sold 75% or more of the vehicles in the US. They would have more complaints than Toyota just because of that fact alone.

Good News
I have a 97 Taurus with 149K and have not had any issues with it. Just regular maintenance. Have to say the same about my 2003 Ford Econoline. 67K miles, towing included, with no issues.

My sister has a 99 Pontiac Grand Am with 111K on it with no issues. Also 2002 Ford Escape with no issues.

My mom has a 97 Ford Mustang convertible that she raves about. While my dad drives a 2003 Chevy Impala that he complains about because its boring but it has 101K and keeps on tickin'.

 

[tarzanman]

All cars have problems. Ask any mechanic. I think that some people have become so loyal to certain makes that they won't admit to having any problems with them.

We have always had and currently have one Ford and they've been trouble free (no big problems). Our 2001 Windstar has only had one problem: the motors that operate the driver and passanger windows quit working. Other than that, all we've done to it is regular maintenance.

My neighbor's Honda Odyssey (bought a few weeks after our Windstar) had engine problems, one which included problems with acceleration. She got rid of it.

One of our friends has a Toyota 4 Runner and has had a multitude of problems, but he still loves the truck.

My brother drives BMWs and they have had minor problems.

There is no vehicle that is trouble free. I think that Ford's current problems aren't so much about reliability, but design issues. Last year, we bought a new vehicle. We did look at the Fords, I liked the Freestyle, but for the price we decided to purchase what we really wanted. The interior just didn't cut it for me. We really wanted to buy a Ford, but there was none that we were crazy about. If I'm buying a car, I have to like it.

I agree with that. Cars are too expensive to not have something that you like. I like the new Nissan Murano and the Ford Edge but they might be a little out of my price range to replace my 97 Taurus. I might go for a Fusion instead.

 

[cardaway]

Even if Toyota has had problems that, let's say raise them to something like a 2% failure rate, they are considered the top because the others are at 5%or higher.

 

[tarzanman]

Even if Toyota has had problems that, let's say raise them to something like a 2% failure rate, they are considered the top because the others are at 5%or higher.

What do you mean by failure rate?

Toyota and Ford were neck and neck for JD Power's Long Term Dependability Awards Awards in 2006. GM & Ford are right there with Lexus and Toyota.

 

[Patch'sD]

There is a big problem with the Toyota engine used in those models. Toyota did step up to repair the problem. There is a similiar problem with the Chrysler 2.7 liter. There are 1000's of cases of engines seizing with only 40,000 miles on them. Chrysler will not fix the problem, where Toyota will. Message don't by a late model Chrysler with the 2.7 liter engine.

 

[luv2nascar]

My dad is on his fourth camry. He just loves them and hardly ever has a problem with them. I did read that about the engines a while ago and told him about it. They are nice cars and ride good. I am partial to Hondas though.

 

[tarzanman]

There is a big problem with the Toyota engine used in those models. Toyota did step up to repair the problem. There is a similiar problem with the Chrysler 2.7 liter. There are 1000's of cases of engines seizing with only 40,000 miles on them. Chrysler will not fix the problem, where Toyota will. Message don't by a late model Chrysler with the 2.7 liter engine.

Message taken. I am glad to hear that Toyota is taking care of it. Just don't know how it doesn't get talked about like GM and Ford quality problems do.

 

[tarzanman]

My dad is on his fourth camry. He just loves them and hardly ever has a problem with them. I did read that about the engines a while ago and told him about it. They are nice cars and ride good. I am partial to Hondas though.

Hondas are great! My first car was an Accord. I killed that little 4 cylinder with 233k on it! Too bad Honda doesn't make anything that can tow anything major yet.

 

[Anewman]

There is a big problem with the Toyota engine used in those models. Toyota did step up to repair the problem. There is a similiar problem with the Chrysler 2.7 liter. There are 1000's of cases of engines seizing with only 40,000 miles on them. Chrysler will not fix the problem, where Toyota will. Message don't by a late model Chrysler with the 2.7 liter engine.

Exactly...

I had heard stories about how bad Dodge is at covering any repairs under warranty, even with all your maintenance records they always seem to say the vehicle was not cared for properly. I was really concerned when we purchased a 2004 Durango(hemi), but luckily we have not had an issue in about 60k miles.

Honda on the other hand replaced my moms transmission even though it was 2500 miles past warranty, it was an unexpected surprise. No debate they just came out and told her not to worry, they even gave her a loaner while the car was in the shop.

Failure rate is one thing, and covering said failures is just as important.

 

[Lightyear]

Buy American. Support American famlies who build Ford products.

 

[Anewman]

Buy American. Support American famlies who build Ford products.

So Fords are not built in MEXICO???

 

[tarzanman]

So Fords are not built in MEXICO???

Ford's are built all over the world. So are GM products and Toyotas. The major difference between them is where the money goes. The money from GM and Ford comes to the US. For Toyota it goes to Japan. Some of Ford's money goes to Japan to support Mazda but a small percentage.

You might want to check out some these facts about the difference between domestics and the imports and their effects on jobs.

http://www.levelfieldinstitute.org/docs/Auto_Parts_Scorecard_090606_FINAL.pdf

 

[tarzanman]

http://www.levelfieldinstitute.org/domestic.htm

Employment: Auto parts makers employed approximately 620,000 U.S. workers in 2005. That represents approximately $356,000 in sales for each U.S. auto parts job in 2005. Most major auto parts makers serve multiple OEMs, both foreign and domestic. However, based on average revenue per employee, domestic automakers likely supported approximately 480,000 parts jobs in 2005, while foreign automakers supported approximately 140,000 of those jobs.

 

[Deb & Bill]

There are lot a Toyotas built in the US and Canada

Check out the Annual Car Issue of Consumer Reports with reliability reports on all vehicles. I have had 5 Toyotas in 30 years (we have two right now). One was totaled in an accident.

We have Chevy's, Fords and Dodges in our pool cars at work. They all ride terribly. Require lots of maintenance. Just don't ride like my Toyotas.

 

[staley7580]

I had a Ford Escort until about a week ago, it had 133k miles on it, and hardly had any trouble at all with it until the past year. A few months ago we had the strangest problem, when we turned on the headlights- the speedometer stoped. Weird, huh? Now we have a Toyota, hopefully it will be good.

 

[LisaR]

There are lot a Toyotas built in the US and Canada

Check out the Annual Car Issue of Consumer Reports with reliability reports on all vehicles. I have had 5 Toyotas in 30 years (we have two right now). One was totaled in an accident.

We have Chevy's, Fords and Dodges in our pool cars at work. They all ride terribly. Require lots of maintenance. Just don't ride like my Toyotas.

Toyota profits go to Japan not to the US.

Consumer Reports is not reliable and they are far from an authority on cars.

Pool cars tend to ride terribly and require a great deal of maintenance because people abuse them because they are "just" pool cars.

 

[tarzanman]

There are lot a Toyotas built in the US and Canada

Check out the Annual Car Issue of Consumer Reports with reliability reports on all vehicles. I have had 5 Toyotas in 30 years (we have two right now). One was totaled in an accident.

We have Chevy's, Fords and Dodges in our pool cars at work. They all ride terribly. Require lots of maintenance. Just don't ride like my Toyotas.

Good point about consumer reports. Did you see that Ford Fusion beat out Toyota Camry and Honda Accord in Consumer reports? Did you check out the link I put in regarding auto industry employment in the US?