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

Yeah, the Jeep Gladiator won it this year. So what does this even mean?

Well, it means a lot to the auto industry, including Toyota. This award shows the least amount of complaints per 100 vehicles sold in the first 90 days.
Most of us know that the first 90 days are critical because if it's a defect, it shows up pretty quick.
The Tacoma has had its share of issues as we all know, and we also know the Toyota Tacoma is pretty damn dependable too. This is not what this award is about.

To those of you saying the JD Powers Awards are sellouts... you could not be more wrong.
Do they work for the auto industry? Yep, the auto industry pays JD Powers. However, ALL the auto industry pays JD Powers, not just for the awards though. As a matter of fact, the amount of money they pay JD Powers to say they won the award is very small.
Where JD Powers makes their money, and the auto industry is glad to pay it, is on research and lots of it. It is extremely good research conducted over all brand customers on things they like and don't like. Hip room, transmission shift, seat comfort and hundreds more metrics. So basically Toyota can pay a bunch of money to these guys and learn what people like and don't like about the Gladiator... and Jeep can pay and learn what people like and don't like about the Tacoma.
THAT'S where they make their money, on research, and it must be spot on because the Auto Industry keeps using them.
So why wouldn't the 3rd gen Tacoma win the award? Picky little things in the first 90 days is why. Apparently the Jeep guys are just glad to get there and not concerned about that faint blemish in the rocker panel.
Just thought I would add to @Stocklocker thread.
The truth is, Jeep beat Tacoma. So what.

 

So we complaint too much?

 

Tacoma owners hear diff whine because the cabin is so quiet.
Jeep owners can't hear anything with the doors off.

Tacomas owners wonder what's the largest tire they can fit.
Jeep owners be like, I put 40s on dis biatch

Expectations..

 

Yep, Jeep’s are great.

 

Jeep owners expect the death wobble…

 

Haha!

 

This is the key right here. Keep in mind that Jeep people are more than happy driving a utilitarian box down the road which also has probably the worst headlights I've ever used in a vehicle. TFL also demonstrated little issues that should be simple to get right, such as the fact that the defroster is horrible on the Gladiator/Wrangler, which is especially bad in icy and slushy conditions. I could go on and on but fact of the matter is people come to expect certain things, particularly when they're return customers. Jeep people rave at the "improvements" of the Jeep JL over the JK while Tacoma owners needlessly bitch about the 3rd gen even if they don't own one.

 

So Jeep guys want improvements, and Toyota guys want things back to where they were in 1984? I think you are onto something here. Two different cultures.

 

Non-Orwellian ‘84

 

I have a Tacoma and a Jeep Rubicon. My Jeep is fun but my Tacoma is much better in my opinion. It blows my mind how a vehicle that has not changed drastically over the years has so many aggravating shortcomings, and that ugly ass truck can't be much different from my Jeep. I just went over 30,000 miles on my Tacoma which is a 2020 not quite two years old, and in the same time that I've had my Tacoma we've only put five to six thousand miles on my Rubicon. My wife and I both just rather the truck.

 

JD power awards are total scam marketing. Fake news. Means nothing other than a company can advertise with it (after they pay JDP to do so).

I’ll take my taco all day over a Jeep, even if the Jeep is more capable off-road. They are not as reliable etc.

 

First 90 days it's great.

Day 91:

 

Again, prove it instead of spewing what you heard from your wife's brother in law's cousin's dad.

 

Who cares? Jd Powers ratings are meaningless. Maybe Jeeps lobbyists were the highest bidders this year

 

Who cares? Does a jeep getting an award make your enjoyment of your Toyota any less? Are toyota people so insecure that you think the thing you bought must be the best, and not just the choice you made?

JD power probably has useful info, and the jeep is probably great in initial quality. Why does that affect a Tacoma owner at all?