Why the 3rd Gen Tacoma has Not Won the JD Power Awards

The service JD Powers offers is no different than trying to determine which college has the best football team by polling the fans in the stands at Ohio State. Not by comparing the win/loss record over multiple years in and out of the conference vs other teams...No, by asking Ohio State University football fans who's the best team.

 

I suggest a different radio station. Maybe some easy listening... that might solve your complaint.

 

JD Power makes money from manufacturers, so they know they need to refine their research in a way that can help a manufacturer make money too using their rankings. They create categories that fit certain manufacturer needs based on their data. I worked with data for a good part of my career, I can make it say whatever you want. Refining questions to ask specific things, segmenting data to make a certain segment support a manufacturer as the most reliable...Take all of them with a grain of salt...

Read the wording on the award very, very carefully...words matter. My 2020 Wrangler was at the dealer a lot...then I went back to Toyota...they never asked me about my experience. Luck of not getting a survey or did the data come from Jeep on who to ask? Hmm, inquiring minds want to know

https://www.jdpower.com/cars/ratings/jeep

 

My truck sounds as quiet as a Lexus compared to my old 2nd Gens.

 

It is better than my 2nd gen as well. It's not the worst I've owned by far but there's a lot of road and wind noise. Using recirc on the hvac cuts out about half the noise coming through the rear cabin vents.

 

l have noticed a large increase in noise if l fold the rear seats down, amazing how much sound they block out.

 

Is the underlying data available in a publicly accessible form? More than just what the averages were. A breakdown of complaint categories, perhaps. I’d also be interested in more specifics on the data collection process…how does a complaint make it into the data? I’m a stats kinda guy so always interested in the underlying methodology.

 

Usually data that is sold is not freely available.
Fun Fact: The very first customer of JD Power was Toyota. Dave was paid $500 to conduct a study of small cars in the US. It was 1968.
Fun Fact #2: A typical report from these guys costs on average of $100K and every manufacturer uses them to compete. Their methods and analysis are good.
Fun Fact #3: There are around 180 categories that are taken into account and is custom tailored for the Auto Manufacturer. For example, if Toyota wanted the results from Jeep only or if Toyota wanted the results on EVERY Full Size Pickup. Also, trim levels are taken into account. Demographics are taken into account. Income brackets are taken into account. Stop and think how valuable that data is for a minute... Real customer opinions on 180 different categories from young and old from poor to the rich and who bought which trim level. That's some cool data.

 

It would be absolutely fascinating to look through, and I also understand that it would be proprietary and expensive.

 

Well Tacoma is not a real truck so it doesn’t need a truck engine

 

I noticed less wind noise through my drivers side door seal if my hvac is in Recirc for some reason. I’m wondering if this changes the pressure inside the cab causing the crappy door seals to show their faults.

 

Wow - 1 year zombie thread but being as I'm new - I'll give my .02

I've held a driver's license for 3+ decades and owned quite a few cars in that time. Some new, many used. Never, not once, EVER as a consumer did IGAF about a JD Power award. I see the ads on TV - means zilch to me.

I talk to friends, mechanics and general feel of reputation and now - forums like this.

I get the flack about the 3.5 being a mini-van engine but IME - mini-vans tend to be driven by people with very little concern about maintenance and vehicular well being. Most I see on the road today - VERY poor shape so if it holds up there - hauling kids around to band practice and running to the Walmart with the check engine light and oil pressure light on for 65k miles while the gas gauge doesn't work and there are only 2 functioning door handles - it will make it in my truck which does see maintenance and a wash once in a while.