Toyota has been having some growing pains. Lexus, the paragon of quality is having it's first problems of any note. This past year, Toyota, all but caught GM, with 191 billion in revenue to GM's 192. Toyota has had fewer quality problems and made a 6.5% profit. Toyota made about 6 and a half million vehicles to GM's 9 something million. So with these growing problems, Toyota has to adjust to maintaining quality during this growth period. If Toyota just maintains their numbers, they will pass GM very soon in any useful metrics you would like to use.
I don't think Toyota quality is a myth. They do a pretty good job, mistakes and all. In 2003 CR listed 31 best quality vehicles and Toyota had 17, and I think that represented almost every model in their lineup. Ford had 2, GM was either 1 or none. Those numbers are not the gospel on quality but they indicate that Toyota might be doing a good job, at least as good as any other manufacturer. One final note, Toyota is doing all this growth, building pretty good cars and making the highest profit margins in the business. They must be doing something right.
I don't think Toyota quality is a myth. They do a pretty good job, mistakes and all. In 2003 CR listed 31 best quality vehicles and Toyota had 17, and I think that represented almost every model in their lineup. Ford had 2, GM was either 1 or none. Those numbers are not the gospel on quality but they indicate that Toyota might be doing a good job, at least as good as any other manufacturer. One final note, Toyota is doing all this growth, building pretty good cars and making the highest profit margins in the business. They must be doing something right.