Toyota recalling 228,000 Tacoma's due to oil leaks and possible loss of control of vehicle

Consumer Reports latest reliability ranking had Toyota #2 (Lexus #1), only one US manufacturer (Buick #3) made it in the top 14.

 

My wife's 2012 RAV4 hasn't been as reliable as her previous Ford Explorer.

It gets much better MPG and the V6 in it is surprisingly strong, but stuff started breaking just after the warranty ran out (front wheel bearing/drive hub and TPMS sensors both failed within 5k after 60k warranty ran out, stupid sun visor started flopping down around 66k) and now the passenger side front bearing is starting to make noise at 70k. When I see the black residue on the wheel I'll know it's time to replace it.

The Explorer went 6 years without ever going back to the dealer.

So my personal experience is that Toyota reliability is about average.

My Mitsubishi SUV (full size Montero, not Sport, bought new in 2003) has been the most reliable vehicle I have ever owned.

14 years, 140k miles, and around $70 in non-routine maintenance items ($20 solenoid and a $50 tensioner pulley. That's it.)

It is starting to shudder a bit when braking so about time for front rotors.

 

My 1991 MR2 went to 2007 with 200k miles. No shop time. Someone hit my car and totalled it.

My 2007 2nd gen Tacoma I4 MT. Lasted until this year with 189k miles. No shop time. Never broke down. Always started. I didn't even take care it either. I changed the oil once every two years. I am sure it has a few more years, but I traded it in for my 2017 3rd gen.

Toyotas have been more reliable then any other car brand that my parents owned or that I owned including Hondas.

Their reputation is well deserved based on my experience.

Also, the only cars I see on the road from the 90s out here (NorCal) are Toyotas. I don't see many Hondas anymore. I just 1st Gen Tacomas, Camrys and various Lexus cars. No Fords, Nissans, Mitsubishis, GMs, Hondas. Just Toyotas.

 

It would be interesting to compare the Toyotas made in Japan (like the 4Runner or the Lexi) to the ones made in North America.

 

nope

 

Just had a look. Nice on paper but CRAZY expensive. More than 40K. It shows that this isn't meant to be sold in large numbers, it's just a specialty toy.

 

My new Tacoma stickered over 40K...

 

And so does the Pro

 

Here is my TRD OR.

 

Just off phone with my Toyota dealer here in Charlotte, NC area. They have received initial parts and my Tacoma is #8 on list to be repaired. Hopefully will be back in mine late next week.

 

Just spoke with my Dealer, no sign of any parts yet, they are going to be SLOW
to come out and those with rental cars will be 1st on the list for repairs, she was
reading that right from the Toyota site they use.

 

Yota manufactures Lexus...so might as well be Yota#1 in the Universe....

 

Called my dealer this morning. Confirmed they received the remedy yesterday and parts are being shipped. Still no time frame on mine but I feel way better about getting it back than I did a week ago.

 

Not with me. I stick with Tacoma. I could not tolerate but about 20 seconds of that video.

 

Indeed! I've been a Taco man for decades and plan to stay that way until I drive my Taco off into the final sunset...

 

Am happy for all that have trucks at dealer will soon be fixed. Mine with just 5300 miles on it now had bolts retorqued, will always be in back of mind, did this really the fix the real problem or just add time till maybe 70000 miles and rear end drops out or starts leaking again. Wish I understood more about what really is going on.

 

Nope.

The first one was a 4cyl manual trans with nothing but A/C so honestly not much to go wrong.

The 2nd one was a pretty loaded 1986 XLT 4x4, but I only put a little over 30k on that one before I got the Xtra cab.

It was a 1990 4.0 4x4 with 5 speed and all the options. I replaced the seats in it with ones from a Thunderbird TurboCopue (they bolted right in!). It was a terrific truck. I should never have sold it but it wouldn't pull the camper we were looking to buy, hence the Super Duty.

 

20kservice, rear diff "no leak, retighten". The CPS will be addressed when parts come in.
Had to explain (again) that I use fluid film because of the oily wax on the underside of the vehicle.
On a side note, I had a 97 Dodge Dakota ( 1st year of the redesign) that never once did not start when I turned the key in 19 years/ almost 200k miles. Not too many people talk about how reliable that truck is, but it served me well and I got my money's worth. My thinking is that after 19 years, that truck was beat. I wanted to keep it, but the writing was on the wall.

In my mind, hoping the Tacoma will last longer than that. I never (thankfully) visited any forum prior to this purchase, and only time will tell. To me, the real difference in quality becomes more apparent after 15 years and 150k miles. That is when the good trucks are separated from the great trucks, IMO.

 

True, although I'm not sure that the bolts and gasket in my Ranger differential were "primitive" compared to my Tacoma, I think they were just manufactured and assembled with more care (evidently).

 

Maybe the "primitive" drum brakes are why the Tacoma rear axles are so reliable.

Oh wait...