Tacoma is not so reliable as folks think

[JACKSMYDOG]

My cousin had the fuel pump go out in his 15 year old truck. He put a post up on FaceBook about it. My sister actually posted "that's why I buy Toyota's, I won't ever have to worry about a repair". Thing is she used to buy cars she could pay cash for an run into the ground, those need repairs no matter what brand. Now she does 3 year low mile leases on Corolla's so chances are she won't have an issue, but most people who lease don't. My brother told her "I guess the new toyota dealership they just build near us wasted a ton of money on all those service bays.



I wonder if some foreign car owners don't report problems because they bought all the hype an chose based on it now they don't want their brand's ratings to drop. Why hurt your own resale value. The only time I did a JD power survey was on my Fusion, I put 50K on it an the only "repairs" were tires an a battery.


My brother, a Ford retiree, said he's heard Toyota will send owners of newer cars with a known potential problem a free oil change an have the recall taken care of while it's there to keep the flawless image. I guess only known safety problems require a recall announcement.

Kinda like Ford denying the exploding gas tanks because it was cheaper to pay law suits than admit to the problem and PR nightmare?

I'm not anti Ford, this is my second consectutive, just saying all companies do dirty things to save face/money.

Sponsored

 

[AzScorpion]

Kinda like Ford denying the exploding gas tanks because it was cheaper to pay law suits than admit to the problem and PR nightmare?

I'm not anti Ford, this is my second consectutive, just saying all companies do dirty things to save face/money.

Yes I agree every manufacture does this. Heck look at Tesla. How many people have been KILLED because of their autonomous cars? But hey he has the money (insurance) to keep paying for his R&D through other peoples lives.

 

[F150stxguy]

Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Mine has seam sealer!!!

I remember a while back on TW when a user posted that his differential had locked up while driving down the highway.

You would've thought he was a vampire and every 3rd gen member on the board had their cross to flash at him.

The White Knights rode out in force to counter this heresay against Toyota quality and demanded everything from GPS coordinates to satellite photos of where it happened (some members literally went to where he said it happened to look for skid marks from the seized differential).

He was branded a troll and worse, eventually leaving the site.

Lo and behold, 2 weeks later Toyota issues a massive recall on the TRD Off Road model rear differential because it could leak and possibly (Gasp!) seize up while driving.

Almost every member with an Off Road model looked and found their rear axle leaking.

Some found out the hard way when they took their truck in for routine maintenance, only to be told that their vehicle was unsafe to drive and they could not leave with it until Toyota provided a resolution.

While the Tacoma has built a reputation for reliability, the 2016 and up versions are not cut from the same cloth.

The 3rd gen was shepherded by Mike Sweers who came over from Chrysler, and we all know that Chrysler is the paradigm of reliability and engineering that all car makers strive toward.

Edit: It's rumored that if you mention his name on TW you'll get banned.

I would say that you could go and lookup the thread on the rear axle because it was BIG, but it's probably locked and buried just like the thread on engines spitting pistons out the side of the block.

Good lord lol! That is embarrassing and creepy.

You almost have to assume most Tacoma special operators have little to no knowledge about mechanical things.

The Ranger is superior in every single category. Better gas mileage, more power, better towing, better riding. It’s proof that a huge segment of the Tacoma base just buy off past reputation.

I would literally buy a Honda Ridgeline before a Tacoma just based on the horrible ride of the Tacoma.

 

[AzScorpion]

Lets just ignore the rusted frame replacement issue. After all, its a Toyota.

I see the Toyota fanboys all over. I have a friend - Toyota lover all his life. He's had several Tacoma's and raves about them. He fails to mention the many replacements of U-Joints (yes, MANY), wheel bearings, paint peeling, rust and so on. He feels that because he does the repairs himself, and doesn't go to the dealer or other shop, there's not really a problem. He puts way over 100,000 miles on them but also spends lots of money and time in constant repairs.

I don't mind that he rags on my 2019 Ranger for all the issues I've had (not ONE issue, by the way) because facts are facts.

After all, it IS a Toyota.

Jump on me for what I've seen if you want. Facts ARE facts.

Edit - add: I DO like comparing my higher tow ratings and MUCH BETTER gas mileage to his. Same exact trips, I consistently get 5 mpgs better. Facts are still facts.

Is the Ranger perfect...NO. But tell me what vehicle is? Like you I'm basing my opinion on facts. Having owned a 2016 Tacoma for 3 1/2 years and now my Ranger for almost 2 there's really no comparison. I hated my Tacoma from the start and unfortunately it was ordered before I could test drive one as the 3rd gen wasn't out yet. Probably the biggest mistake I've ever made purchasing a vehicle since I was young. The only saving grace was they hold their value and I got a super trade in towards my Ranger. Toyota corporate was a nightmare to deal with trying to get the transmission issues fixed. They had the attitude of "hey it's a Toyota, take it or leave it". Well the happiest day was when I left it at the Ford dealer!

 

[FX4Offroad]

Good lord lol! That is embarrassing and creepy.

You almost have to assume most Tacoma special operators have little to no knowledge about mechanical things.

The Ranger is superior in every single category. Better gas mileage, more power, better towing, better riding. It’s proof that a huge segment of the Tacoma base just buy off past reputation.

I would literally buy a Honda Ridgeline before a Tacoma just based on the horrible ride of the Tacoma.

I have a neighbor with a Ridgeline. VERY nice car. Yeah, it's more like a car than a truck. Not dissing it, just not a truck to me.

If I wanted a car, I'd get that.

 

[Dr. Zaius]

Good lord lol! That is embarrassing and creepy.

You almost have to assume most Tacoma special operators have little to no knowledge about mechanical things.

The Ranger is superior in every single category. Better gas mileage, more power, better towing, better riding. It’s proof that a huge segment of the Tacoma base just buy off past reputation.

I would literally buy a Honda Ridgeline before a Tacoma just based on the horrible ride of the Tacoma.

Lots of the owners seem to be young guys who are very much into "fitting in".

There are plenty that are savvy but then they aren't the ones who beat on the TOYOTA IS KING drum at every opportunity.

I remember a member there posted about driving a Ranger and called it several names, one of them being slow.

Not surprisingly, several other members jumped on his bandwagon dissing the Ranger.

Then, surprisingly, a member questioned if he had even actually driven one since "slow" was a term that no one had applied to the new Ranger when comparing it to other mid-size trucks, especially when compared to the Tacoma.

He never admitted that he hadn't actually driven one but his cheerleaders dropped off significantly after seeing that boat was about to sink.

 

[VAMike]

I'm not anti Ford, this is my second consectutive, just saying all companies do dirty things to save face/money.

Yes, that's exactly the point--anybody who proclaims that one manufacturer or another doesn't have any problems is just full of poop. In 2021 IMO there's no evidence that there's a statistically significant difference in whether someone will have problems by buying one truck over another. They all have issues, but the incidence of problems for all of them is so low that you've got about the same chance of avoiding problems by picking a different truck of the same model off the lot as you'd have choosing a truck from a different manufacturer. Every person who's gotten a lemon and is convinced that if they'd bought from manufacturer X instead of manufacturer Y everything would have been better almost certainly wouldn't have had any problems with manufacturer Y if they'd randomly chosen an otherwise identical truck built on a different day.

 

[F150stxguy]

Lots of the owners seem to be young guys who are very much into "fitting in".

There are plenty that are savvy but then they aren't the ones who beat on the TOYOTA IS KING drum at every opportunity.

I remember a member there posted about driving a Ranger and called it several names, one of them being slow.

Not surprisingly, several other members jumped on his bandwagon dissing the Ranger.

Then, surprisingly, a member questioned if he had even actually driven one since "slow" was a term that no one had applied to the new Ranger when comparing it to other mid-size trucks, especially when compared to the Tacoma.

He never admitted that he hadn't actually driven one but his cheerleaders dropped off significantly after seeing that boat was about to sink.

I believe it. I’ve read enough on that forum when I was (for a very short time) interested in the Tacoma when it was redesigned.

The Ranger slow. Wow, lol. Compared to the Tacoma it’s a mustang.

 

[Jrel209]

The numbers show Toyota, including the Tacoma, the last few decades that they are in fact the most reliable vehicle manufacturer, period. Whether or not the new generation vehicles will fare the same, no one knows. But history is usually a good indicator who will be more reliable in the end.

 

[Langwilliams]

Kinda like Ford denying the exploding gas tanks because it was cheaper to pay law suits than admit to the problem and PR nightmare?

Are you comparing cars from the 60's to cars built today? My little brother had a 70's pinto an spun out in the rain going too fast for the conditions (he was 16). He hit a telephone pole square going backwards hard enough to break it. There was a perfect U shape in the rear of the car an the gas tank never leaked. It was on that list. I think the 65/66 mustang were the biggest potential ones for that because they were rushed from show car to showroom to cash in a being a huge North American Auto Show smash hit.

Competition from Asia in the 80's really pushed the US car companies to improve their products an they have.

All companies have had their bad run or lemon model. I had a 2000 taurus an it left me stranded with a bad fuel pump with only 5K on it an had a problem with the brake interlock not releasing the gear shifter. That was the only ford that left me disappointed. We replaced it with a focus that was dogged by bad reports, that car is still on the road with well over 200K on it...mostly from teenaged drivers who abused it.

Mid 2000's BMW went through a quality problem period...the 100K M6 was a POS. The turbo engine in the VW/Audi had the oil sludge ruining their motors. The turbo Toyota MR2 had the $5 hose that caused a massive leak an required dropping the engine to repair. The toyota 1.5 tdgi has the same fuel in oil issue pop up as the ranger 2.3.

All the car companies buy parts from the same supplier on a lot of the parts. 30 years ago the Toyota an BMW an others sold way fewer cars than ford an gm so they could control quality easier.....I'd say now the quality gap is pretty much gone.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

Are you comparing cars from the 60's to cars built today? My little brother had a 70's pinto an spun out in the rain going too fast for the conditions (he was 16). He hit a telephone pole square going backwards hard enough to break it. There was a perfect U shape in the rear of the car an the gas tank never leaked. It was on that list. I think the 65/66 mustang were the biggest potential ones for that because they were rushed from show car to showroom to cash in a being a huge North American Auto Show smash hit.

Competition from Asia in the 80's really pushed the US car companies to improve their products an they have.

All companies have had their bad run or lemon model. I had a 2000 taurus an it left me stranded with a bad fuel pump with only 5K on it an had a problem with the brake interlock not releasing the gear shifter. That was the only ford that left me disappointed. We replaced it with a focus that was dogged by bad reports, that car is still on the road with well over 200K on it...mostly from teenaged drivers who abused it.

Mid 2000's BMW went through a quality problem period...the 100K M6 was a POS. The turbo engine in the VW/Audi had the oil sludge ruining their motors. The turbo Toyota MR2 had the $5 hose that caused a massive leak an required dropping the engine to repair. The toyota 1.5 tdgi has the same fuel in oil issue pop up as the ranger 2.3.

All the car companies buy parts from the same supplier on a lot of the parts. 30 years ago the Toyota an BMW an others sold way fewer cars than ford an gm so they could control quality easier.....I'd say now the quality gap is pretty much gone.

The car I was referencing was Crown Victorias which exploded with high speed rear end impacts, and the business decision to deny that fact, because the resulting lawsuits would be cheaper than doing a model wide recall.

It has nothing to do with this company or that making a lemon from time to time, just that all companies will put image and or bottom line in front of truth and or customers lives.

 

[JACKSMYDOG]

All the car companies buy parts from the same supplier on a lot of the parts. 30 years ago the Toyota an BMW an others sold way fewer cars than ford an gm so they could control quality easier.....I'd say now the quality gap is pretty much gone.

From my other post on this topic, I'd say bottom line we agree..


...his 20 Taco has any factual reliability claim over my 20 Ranger, now or likely in 5, 10 or 20 years. Assuming both get comparable maintenance, I'd wager both will serve their duties equally well.

 

[FoD]

The car I was referencing was Crown Victorias which exploded with high speed rear end impacts, and the business decision to deny that fact, because the resulting lawsuits would be cheaper than doing a model wide recall.

It has nothing to do with this company or that making a lemon from time to time, just that all companies will put image and or bottom line in front of truth and or customers lives.

Interesting because Ford had same issue in the 70's with the Pinto if I remember right.

 

[Trigganometry]

Ate another Taco for lunch today. He wanted to race so who am I to not oblige? 1/4 mile later I see him pounding on the steering wheel. Yup Natasha buried another fan boi! ?

 

[AzScorpion]

Ate another Taco for lunch today. He wanted to race so who am I to not oblige? 1/4 mile later I see him pounding on the steering wheel. Yup Natasha buried another fan boi! ?

Priceless! You'd better reward her with a nice 93 premium dinner. lol

Sponsored