Gotta wonder what other checks aren't being done in the factory..

Found a nice looking 2017 Tacoma TRD Ltd last week at the local dealer...more than what I needed or wanted to pay for a new truck, but after selling my 2001 reluctantly (you know..."it looks old...you need a new truck,") I needed a new ride. Only thing I found wrong at the lot was the electric back window did not open. Salesman said it just needed a new switch and they could order and get in a day...no indication that the dealership had done any inspections on the vehicle when it came off the transport. It was middle of the month and they wanted to complete the sale. Went in today and after 4 hours the service department called to say there was a "missing relay" and they would have to order and could they keep the truck overnight as they had disassembled the dash to access. $41K for a truck and it has to stay overnight at the dealership and I'm sitting with no vehicle..

The question that I pose is that ALL vehicle assembly plants have in process checks during the assembly process, a final dynamic vehicle test where various electrical functions are checked, along with QC checks spattered in post production prior to being loaded on rail cars and transports...how could this truck get out of the plant with a non-functioning window because of a missing component??..This is not the Toyota Quality of the past...I'm terming today as "WTF Monday" as I spent the last 14 years of my automotive career in automotive assembly plants and know how things are SUPPOSED to be done and advising folks to check your new Tacos closely when you take possession because who knows what gets checked these days...

 

No doubt the QC is lacking. this is pretty alarming because Toyota built a reputation over the past 20 years on high quality standards and longevity. You hate to say it but issues like this would be extremely few and far in between had these trucks been rolling out of a factory in Japan. I understand the demand is up and they are having issues keeping up with supply. With that being said even if there are mistakes on the lines, there is little reason as to why they shouldn't of been caught by the quality control team. Someone isn't doing their jobs, and Toyota has has plenty of time and issues over the past year to see some of the complaints and tighten up the QC. I have no doubts Toyota engineers great products however the issues popping up are becoming a bit concerning. While most of the small things like wind noise don't really bother me (although that kazoo sound is a bit extreme and I would lose my mind) there definetly are several issues I feel are slightly significant.

 

I had read some posts about transmission issues on the 2016s and had debated buying a 2017 but figured a year should cover them getting things worked out. Issues with shift points and excessive noise in the rear end. Not sure what quality checks the dealers do...had asked if they checked anything coming off the trucks from down South and got a vague look...less of an answer when I asked if there was anything else wrong with the truck (ie. Never let your customers find your defects...) We used to call this "Perceived Quality." Its also great that they have a 3/36k warranty period to cover any issues, but for some reason they fail to comprehend that NOBODY likes having to come in and have Toyota Quality issues addressed on the customers time and sitting around a service lobby after plopping down over $40k...True, this is not like having a stuck accelerator or a rotted out frame, but is evidence of a Quality system that is not very robust..and I would wonder how many other vehicles are out there without sufficient checks..Too much like the old GM thinking for me...

 

I would have not left with out a vehicle, it's not your fault stuffs not right. Any one know if Toyota is ISO certified? Companies used to pay good money for this and the audits ensured shit was done they way the company expected it to happen.

 

I'll be lodging a complaint with Toyota in several venues and will also be test driving the Ltd before I sign off on anything tomorrow...if it even gets done...Having visions of the newly installed relay and still not working. I have doubts about the quality integrity of this vehicle based upon this event. Thought about having them drop off a new truck to me for use while this drama continues...that should have been the standard response from Toyota but I was irritated and would probably have gone off on a few people...As far as the ISO/TS question goes...they just audit against a standard that the company sets. So if I say I'm not going to check any components or vehicles, then they have to do that to be compliant..does nothing to improve quality. You would have thought that with the fubars of the last few years with run away vehicles with stuck accelerators and trucks with rotted frames that they wouldn't have any type of Quality certifications...its all relative to the bottom line.

 

Oh I understand how the ISO stuff works. I was wondering if any one knew if they are certified.

 

I would be annoyed but hopefully everything else is squared away as it should be

 

4Runner's cost a lot because they are actually built and assembled in Japan. Seems like Toyota's Kaizen quality approach disappears in North America.

 

Good luck calling Toyota and logging complaint. Overtime I called to file a complaint about the transmission their computer system was conveniently down. Eveytime they said they'd have someone follow up and call me within a day or two and that never happened.

 

Kaizen has nothing to do with quality, that is the bullshit they sell to the outside world when the say it stands for "Continuous or Constant Improvement". On the inside, that "Constant Improvement" means getting it down the assembly line faster or using less parts to save money. I absolutely hated that working environment, there are some good ideas and I am all for eliminating waste but you eventually cross a line where the quality of the product goes down.

 

It`s happening in every major company here now because the federal Govt is taxing the crap out of them, companies are taking short cuts to keep their profit up to keep their shareholders happy, many products that were once made in the USA are now overseas and in Mexico because of this, the end result is the consumer pays more and gets less quality for what they pay for.

People have a choice, this does not have to remain the norm, this can be changed. I won`t go into detail but the choices that you make effect you in more ways than one.

 

As long as people keep buying them, there is no reason to change. Look what happened to G.M.

 

But they did change though... the whole 3rd gen is quite different as i've been learning.

 

The whole tone of the 3rd gen forum should be alarming for Toyota. Their base, their fanboys, are upset and hugely disappointed in their new trucks.

I understand the product cycle for vehicles is pretty well defined (and its a long lifecycle), but Toyota needs to be fixing these issues faster. At the very least they need to authorize dealerships to do field fixes.

My service manager knows my rumble strip is drive line angle related. The diff howl may also be associated with that, but they won't authorize him to adjust it/attempt to fix it.

So I'm gonna drive to work this morning and listen to my radio at 45 in hopes that I can kinda sorta drown out the howling coming from the rear end of my new $36k Toyota truck.

Its so frustrating because this would be the perfect truck if it didn't suck so much!

 

"Perfection" does not exist...learned that a long time ago. Now I'm a happier person!

 

All these issues on low mileage brand new vehicles is not acceptable. Throwing nearly $40k at a truck, I would expect it to be near perfect and properly inspected before delivery to dealerships. I would not settle for less.

 

That's exactly what my buddy said after he bought a $110,000 Porsche...he is still unhappy.

 

It was interesting on the test drive...I noticed when the rear window didn't operate. I asked sales if this was a check done by the dealer when they received vehicles from the assembly plant...that whole "the last point of inspection before it gets to the end customer...last chance to make a good impression." He sort of gave me a glazed over look like he didn't know what I was talking about. So, I asked if there was anything else known to be wrong with the truck..."Dunno...you tell me.." This on a vehicle with MSRP of over $41k. Toyota has long known they have a big problem with their dealer networks but has failed to address other than adding bigger and more luxurious service bays..seems the money would be better spend on design and quality engineering to address issues....but then again, where is the profit in that...

 

When I bought my truck last year my access doors rattled like crazy as they were not adjusted properly. Anyway I found a Factory checklist under the seat where someone had initialed that the doors were adjusted and that they test drove and there were no rattles, someone obviously did not do the actual inspection.