Tacoma Not what they use to be.

Hi All,

I previously owned a 2004 Tacoma, it was rock solid and I was crazy to get rid of it. But I did, and foolishly I trusted Toyota and went out and bought a 2023 Tacoma Off Road (I don't off road but it was the only model they had). Starting with a bad dealership experience within a week I knew I have made a big mistake. The more I looked and used this truck the more things I found that I hated.
-A body mount was installed backwards (the dealer said) that made the truck squeak
over bumps. (took dealer 3 days to fix it)
-Two recalls, one for the back axle.
-The Bumpers are ALL plastic, you can't even strap a bungle cord to them.
-Number of problems with the "entertainment" center, i will not list here.
-The bed middle is only 46 inches (or so) wide, you can't even carry a piece of plywood.
There is plenty of room to make the plastic bed 48 inches wide. How could toyota
be so stupid to make the bed this width.
-When towing a 2800 pound trailer the gas millage drops to 11 miles a gallon.
- Cargo carrying ability is way worse than my 04, by a lot.
-Plastic bed, how long before this will be cracked all to heck...
-The floor in the cab is so high if you are 6 foot you have to lay down to drive.
-about 20 over things I will not list here.....
I know this is my fault, I was stupid, I looked at other brands that are made just as poorly but
I drunk the Toyota Kool-Aid and bought this stupid truck without even doing a test drive....

My point in this post is just because you owned a Toyota made years ago, (like my 2004 and my awesome 09 corolla that I still own), were made with quality don't think that they are now.

Don't be an idiot like I was, research a Toyota just like you would any other brand, they are no longer something special just another brand pushing poorly made products. If you trust the new turbo charged engines then do so at you peril.

Fred, I am done now.....

 

Everything is plastic now. I had a second gen (2015 TRD Sport DCLB) and even that gen was the same as far as composite bed, plastic bumpers, and felt like I was laying in it when I got in the drivers seat even though Im 5’3”.
Hadnt changed much from my gen to yours in regards to those. Any short researching online and a bunch of your gripes are on there. Did you at least sit in one as the seat position complaints? Not defending but I drove a buddy’s 2017 about five miles and immediately noped the hell out of it for that reason as well as the endless gear-seeking trans that drove me nuts.

 

It took me a bit to “like” my 3rd gen but I’m happy with it for the most part. I agree about the bed and seating position. At least you have a power seat, if it weren’t for the seat jackers I would have sold mine.
My biggest complaint with mine is the terrible plastic. Every piece of black trim is faded after four years, the tonneau cover turned a greenish color. The paint is terrible, the red is starting to fade already…..to a pinkish color. The headlamps are delaminated after three years.
But like I said, it eventually grew on me to the point where I appreciate the truck's personality..

 

yep, its happening with every single item being sold now. poor quality, no craftsmanship, cheap material, etc. I got a 2009 lexus gx470 and the thing doesnt make a single squeek or rattle going down a gravel road.

 

Pickups in America have become jewelery platforms in general. Vanity is now more valued than utility.

 

Add quality to that statement as well.

 

I carry plywood in mine all the time…put 2 2x6’s in the bed slots

 

I had to, or chose to, sell my 01 xcab 5 speed because it could not fit a car seat. I went to a dealership to try a 2nd gen. I was shocked at the interior. When did door panels become flexible? When did beds become plastic? But at least it had a decent engine, and after I found the right mechanic, the transmission and brakes worked much better.

 

It's good to admit one has a problem. It's the first step to fixing the problem.

OTOH, keep in mind there are 10s of thousands of satisfied 3g owners, so they must not be completely horrid for everyone

 

This.
Never owned ANY Toyotas before buying my 3rd gem. Best decision I've ever made, and I have been a Honda man for the entirety of my driving existence.

I can't judge Toyota in anything they made before my 2020 3rd gen, but it's legitimately the best vehicle I've owned, and atm I'm 53 and have owned 14 different vehicles including American, Japanese and EU brands.

So, what you have here is a possible issue with the vehicle you purchased; not necessarily an issue with Toyota.

 

It’s a truck and they’re not all perfect; some never have any issues and some have all kinds of issues. They have a warranty when new to address legitimate issues and hopefully in the end they’re all addressed.

I have a 2nd Gen and my son has a 2018 3rd gen and they’re definitely different in more ways than one. I personally prefer the 2nd gen but when I do drive his 3rd gen I can tell the difference.

@Clearwater Bill is right there are a lot of happy 3rd gen owners out there my son included.

 

To quote you OP “I know this is my fault, I was stupid”, I think that says it all. If you have complaints , look in the mirror and repeat your quote.

 

The good news is it's worth what you paid for it unless you over paid. Sell it and pick a better fit. Mine is better than my first and 2nd gen.

 

Hi All

Thank for all the feedback, including the reminders of how stupid I was (my wife reminds me daily). My point wasn't to condemn anyone who likes their Gen3, my point was that buyers shouldn't rest of the repetition of "being a Toyota" when making a purchase. Make sure that is the vehicle you really want. Because once you pull the trigger you are stuck, I can't go back to what I had before it is gone,,,sold.....(to a happy buyer I will add)

Just my thoughts....

Thanks, Fred

 

I sold my 2006 Tacoma TRD and opted for a 2024 4Runner. I am extremely happy with my decision. Not so much my wife, now when she wants to drag home another piece of oversized furniture I get to say, "doesn't fit in the 4Runner Dear!"

 

Okay, fair enough. I never believed in brand loyalty, all cars have their attractions and their flaws.

The 3rd gen is no different. I love that truck but it ain't perfect. It has issues, all cars do. I just find it amusing that there are a number of things that so many people list as flaws, I don't agree with. The things I find as flaws probably dont agree with others experiences either.

 

Most Americans are soft hand soy boys so unfortunately we get a Tacoma instead of a hilux in this country, the Tacoma even the almighty 1st gen is a light duty truck meant for Home Depot sod runs at best. If I needed a truck to do real truck stuff I would use a 2500

 

You should have said 4th gen. Shock top hats blowing out, transmission shitting the bed, all well under 10k miles.

 

Toyota doesn’t want to sell a cheap truck anymore.* So I probably won’t buy Toyota anymore.

*in the US.