3rd Gen Reliability video

Carcomplaints dot com ? Really Massive complaint index. 100 people ?

Youtube video ? Seriously ?

And really amazing how car complaints shows only a complaint or two for "body" in 2nd gen area when 2nd gen frames are rusting like no tomorrow as we all know very well. That right there proves worthless data.
The whining Internet has grown exponentially. I pointed out a few months ago the number of posts in "what did you do to your #gen today", number one sticky. In that topic alone 3rd gen posts (about 16 million) equal 2nd gen posts and it hasn't been just a tad over 3 years for 3rd gen while 2nd have been out since 2005, 18 years ! Thus complaints need to be taken with the same perspective.

 

My 1st Gen was great, both 2nd Gens were great, and my 3rd continues that tradition of my previous Tacoma's.

 

My 2nd Gen was hit from the rear, 9 months of owning it. They had to do a full frame (brand new frame) restoration (no rust there). Which lead to other issues. But I still loved that truck, my problem was the wife hated it for long trips! Which is why I traded it in.

That said, no answer yet on my original question about the engine & Tranny software updates?

So I thought I would include the quote:

 

Yep. I’m going on what’s available out there since I don’t really have any access to Toyota’s data, as
Most consumers will do. Car complaints also has nhstb data, which is more reliable. I just haven’t seen anything that suggests the 2016-17 taco is better or same quality as 2015, just the opposite. Also understanding there are inconsistencies in this type of data, it does suggest a lower level of quality. Without a massive data analysis project, can’t say anything with 100% certainty. Like I said, I think most of the issues have been sorted, and there should be an expectation that 1st yr models are going to have more issues than mature ones. I wouldn’t expect the 16 to be higher quality than a 4 million year old frontier design.

 

Your passion should be more sunblock.

 

I'm curious as to how a squeak or a howl makes your truck "unreliable"?

 

Sorry, I missed this post. Take your truck to the dealer and have them look up the VIN. This will tell them what outstanding TSBs are out there for your truck and they can take care of them right then and there.

 

Wait. They sell the awards???

 

Excellent! Thank you!

I have an appointment with my local dealer, Saturday (Apr 6) to change the oil. Great time for them to see if it needs catching up!

 

I think you've opened a can of worms here OP, LOL. Prepare for lots of questions heading your way.

Btw, you are lucky this is not a Ford, Chevy or GMC forum. That's the good news!

 

I wonder if using an older platform helped the Tundra be more reliable. Kinda like older diesels vs newer diesels.

 

Great job man. hopefully you get some sponsors paying you for all the hits that video is getting.

 

Well I never specifically said my truck is unreliable But many will agree that the clutch pedal design is shit and prone to squeaking.

I included Diff howl because it is unacceptable on such a new and modern vehicle. Mine is not obnoxious but its there. Will it affect the longevity of the diff? Probabaly not. Would you accept diff howl as normal in lets say, a new lexus? What toyota says is normal operation mimics an improperly setup differential.

I base all of my "reliability" and "quality" from a current family of toyota vehicles (7) that except for my taco, all are between 12 and 34 years old. Believe me, there is no diff howl in any of those some with 200k. I love my taco and its extremely safe but lets be real, its not going to age the same as toyotas of the past. I already see it on mine.

 

Tacos I have owned. 2001 regular cab and 2002 double cab 1st gens I owned. Great little trucks and still on the road. They had an aweful dash rattle. Never left me stranded and I abused the oils out of them 4 wheeling on beaches, back island trails and throughmbrackish water..but that dash rattle! TSB helped some but the rattle would come back eventually from driving rough roads. Had bad axle wrap when lifted. But never broke just thumped.

2006 double cab 2nd gen. This truck had an easier life. Dash rattle never appeared. The paint was paper thin though. Paint chips and scratches truck..still never had warranty work In The time I owned it.

2018 Tacoma
No rattle. No leaks, the rear diff does have a harmonic, especially when hot and cruising at ~55. Never worried much about it, it is a truck, I have had fine cars (bmw’s)and they are nice and don’t make noises, they also depreciate faster and are less useful because they are not a truck. 17300 miles so far on this one, some of them have been brutal, and the only repair I have had was the check engine light “my fault” from a lose gas cap. Unhooked the battery reset the system and good to go.
Compared to the 4 runner my wife calls it “zippy”. Good truck. The key work is truck. It’s more of a freestanding Tick tick clock not a Swiss watch. So you will hear it.

 

Lube all the pivot points with disc brake grease and it will fix the old barn door sound in the clutch pedal.

 

My truck is 2 years old today, 21,547 enjoyable, reliable miles.

 

These reliability discussions are always interesting. I think the first issue is a lack of a clear definition of reliability. To me (only my personal opinion) unreliability is being stranded with a vehicle that won’t drive. As far as I know the only widespread occurrence of that with the 3rd gen was the CPS.

I will agree that a noisy differential is disappointing on a new truck (mine doesn’t howl, knock on wood). My license plate lights filled with water. I don’t consider that a reliability issue. Of course I would like for everything to be perfect with the truck for 250,000 miles, who wouldn’t? But a half day at the dealer almost 3 years ago and the light housings are still bone dry.

I understand the complaints. Manufacturing defects are irritating and make you wonder if something else is lurking under the surface. The leaky differentials and leaky third brake lights would be far more irritating than my license plate lights were. But they still aren’t reliability issues. They are annoyances fixed by one trip to the dealer and don’t recur.

Yes, if the dealer held your truck hostage for more than a day or two waiting for parts than that is a huge customer service issue and they better have given you a loaner. If not they are absolute scum and you should never spend a dime there again and loudly advise others to do the same.

Finally if you don’t like the power curve, gas mileage, seat position, etc., you have my sympathies. I don’t wish anyone to ever own a vehicle they don’t enjoy. But those are fundamentally preference issues and are absolutely not reliability issues. Reliability issues are the truck not moving when you floor it.

 

Back when I had my 1st Gen the clutch pedal started creeking and I had to replace a bushing. The rear end noise and road noise were incredible, to the point where passengers would ask why it was so loud, I said “it’s a truck”. Also had the rumble strip feeling when decelerating and stopping. All of which I didn’t care because a leaf sprung truck with rather large for its size AT tires is going to make noise.

It had recalls, too and it was a 2002.

As for the 3rd Gens, it’s a truck, drive it until it breaks.

 

I find most quality reports questionable. I may be jaded coming from a highly ranked subaru that was a turd.

I have a feeling my tacoma will have a higher resale in 6-7 years than all these "highly rated" trucks.. just a hunch.