Does anyone else feel like Toyota is slipping?

Most if not all Tacomas are now made in Mexico, along with many other foreign and domestic autos. I think that has a lot to do with build quality of modern vehicles. I'll stick with my MADE IN USA Tacoma thank you very much.

 

Toyota stopped making the Tacoma in the US in 2021. Toyota started making the Tacoma in Mexico starting in 2004.

 

If QC standards in the factory don’t change, what would manufacturing in Mexico change and why?

 

Just my opinion. Historically, products manufactured in Mexico are not best quality - I don't know why.

I think it has to do with their primary motivation of moving manufacturing there - cost savings / increase profit.

 

My 01 Tacoma was the best by far in overall reliability. The 3.4 v6 was bulletproof and it ran perfectly for 200k before my dumbass sold it. I didn’t have another Tacoma until 2016 and it was full of cab rattles and door card panel squeaks. Reliability was fine but fit/finish was really poor and it was miserable to drive daily with the engine/tranny combo. It was in an accident, which led me to buy a 2017 Tundra TRD Off-road with the 5.3 v8. That truck was good overall but had tons of door card rattles, squeaks and noises that drove me nuts. The interior was very cheap, felt cheap and looked cheap. Zero mechanical issues. I sold the tundra with 60k for a 2019 4Runner TRD Off-road Premium. Man, I loved that 4Runner but I hated driving it. It was slow as fak and got terrible fuel mileage, but would have probably ran forever. I had a short stint with a newer gen Nissan Frontier which was really a great truck with good fit/finish and a quiet cabin, it was also totaled due to a careless tech at Discount Tire. My latest Tacoma is a TRD offroad with the premium package and, thus far, I believe it is better in all respects than either of the tacos I’ve had, tundra or 4Runner. It’s quiet, no rattles or squeaks, the fit/finish is fantastic, the materials are soft touch where they matter and overall, I think just a great vehicle to drive daily. Time will tell on reliability but, I have no reason to believe that it won’t get 200k with just normal maintenance. YMMV.

 

that all depends on QC standards.

and also, why wouldn’t you be worried about previous Tacomas being manufactured at cheaper than union rates in cheap states where wages can be depressed?

 

If Honda/Toyota/Lexus are all so great, why do they have service departments? What does service work on? Oil changes and tire rotations only?

All vehicles have issues.

 

To make money! I was at the Toyota dealership and saw a never ending line of cars/trucks getting serviced. And they weren’t all Toyotas, I saw 2 Dodge trucks, a Ford and a Jeep come in for work. Maybe that dealership advertises multiple brand servicing, no idea. But they do sell used cars so they gotta be able to work on all of them.

 

I had a 1997 with a TRD supercharger and manual transmission. I think many sources agree, that in Toyota power plant history, the 3.4 V6 5VZ-FE is on the list of the most reliable and "bullet-proof" engines made. It was certainly the case for me with my own experience, oil and coolant changes were the only things that ever required maintenance on that engine -- even with the fun higher rev driving I did to hear the whine of the supercharger.... although I guess if there was a potential issue the timing belt rather than chain might be it. For me, the whole vehicle was tight with great fit and finish, no squeaks or creaks over its lifetime. I always wanted that torque(y) supercharger experience with my 3G 2021, and IMO, while I liked the 3G V-6 I still looked for a bit more low end early onset torque. Again, IMO, that is the iForce or iForce Max. The primary reason I looked forward to, and purchased the 2024 iForce Max. So far... very good experience. Time will tell.

 

Toyota dealer I serviced my Tacoma at did free oil changes for life! For anyone buying a new or used car from them. The wait for an oil change on a Saturday was typically 3-4 hours if you weren't there at 8AM (appointments, what is an appointment? They don't accept that).

 

Obviously the standards may not have changed but the enforcement of them has. When I was at the dealership I paid particular attention to the paint after reading the thread here about the buyback due to bad paint. Every Blue Crush I looked at had a large horrendous rough no gloss patch of paint over the right rear wheel opening and up the bedside. They can have standards but if no one checks or does and lets bad work through anyway, those standards mean nothing. When I supervised a body shop I kicked back paint for a little dirt in the paint, fish eyes, orange peel etc that most people would never notice. I never saw anything this bad out of my shop. So someone is dropping the ball.

 

Ford is not up there with me as well.
Toyota /Lexus 1
Nissan 2 as far as trucks
Honda 3 I like some of their stuff (Acura )
Heavy duty stuff I would pick ford

 

How long has Ford been making F-150s? It's been a while, they shouldn't have any problems or issues at this point. They up date and refresh often which is part of it and they build so many I can see why issues persist. Ford should still be building a truck that's rock solid decades in. Ford also cut a good bit of build customization options and available configurations which was one of the best things they offered in the 1/2 ton segment. This was probably never a benefit to their bottom line but I know customers liked it.

 

The other thing I think about is that most people that buy some of these other brands , and I say most don’t really keep them that long , or lease them . Let’s face it if you dump it at 70-80 k you probably won’t have too many issuers besides losing your shirt . If your the type of person who leases every 3 years , you can get any brand you want just based on what tickles your fancy . It won’t matter at all because by the time an issue would arise . The vehicle is gone . Look at BMW . They are awesome to drive look great , and some of them drive like your on rails . Lease it for 3 years and who cares if it’s reliable or not . It’s just expensive to do that. Toyota , especially trucks lots of people drive them till the wheels fall off .

 

A bit OT, we're on a Seattle to Southern California road trip right now. I noticed something weird on the long drive: every time I see a dually one ton truck with a gooseneck car hauler, it's a RAM. It occurred to me that I don't recall seeing Ford or GM one tons being used this way

I wonder why RAM seems to be so common with heavy hauling contractors?

 

Maybe the Cummings diesel part of the equation?

 

If I honestly had to choose between my Tacoma or her RAV4 we both agree with not a single hesitation. Our 2020 Japan made RAV4 is our pick hands down. It does everything well. Comfortable, good on fuel and versatile. I would easily buy a new RAV4 sight unseen, but as I said she won’t part with her white RAV4. My only regret would be that gas only RAV’s are not built in Japan any more. Many will disagree but that’s another whole thread. I would bet my balls on Japan built Toyota quality.

 

No GM products for me. I’d keep what I have before I’d buy a Colorado. My 2025, if I ever see it will be wind chill pearl

 

My wife's 2020 Corolla hatchback is made in Japan. Still left her stranded at work with only 18k miles on it.

My point.... even made in Japan vehicles are full of Mexican and Chinese parts.

Oh, and I used a Nissan relay to get her car running again. Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

 

If comfort, fuel economy and versatility are priorities, a pickup will never win.

Going back to 11 Tacomas in 25 years, with current being a 2020. So a new one every 2 years, with last one going 5 years now. What about looking for a new old stock 2023 Tacoma, and let the 4G gremlins work out and decide if it's time for a 4G in 2027-2028.