What is going on with Toyota?

[John105]

That car was randomly slamming on brakes and activating stability control during turns. His dealer could not find any issues and gave up. So instead of going to another mechanic, indy or dealer locally, he decided to go the youtube mechanic route.
The issue was a reman steering rack that his dealer installed a year ago.

Bottom line we all want quality and price (everything). I was just trying to find out how much to sharpen my skates at the place we’re going to today, or if I should wait (and have to just use them as is)…concept applies to most things including our cars

 

[Blinker]

I’ve never cared for Toyota, but personally I think the last well built car of theirs was the 2003-2008 Corolla. Everything built since then it’s clearly evident where Toyota has cut corners. The Camry was severely cheapened up for the 2007MY.

I recently had the displeasure of riding in a friends new 2024 Sequoia. I was astounded by how much engine and exhaust noise that thing made. Toyota must have skimped out on insulation.

 

[KrisZ]

I recently had the displeasure of riding in a friends new 2024 Sequoia. I was astounded by how much engine and exhaust noise that thing made. Toyota must have skimped out on insulation.

They could be faking it with speakers, it’s a stupid trend these days.

 

[edyvw]

They could be faking it with speakers, it’s a stupid trend these days.

Nah. Fit and finish and materials on new Sequoia are sub par. Definitely not what you would expect in that price range. Car Care Nut guy made point about that. While I disagree about some of his technical descriptions of Sequoia, where complications he blames on “Germans” (interestingly BMW, which I think he alluded to, doesn’t use those solutions) he was really clear how cheaply build it is.

 

[Blinker]

They could be faking it with speakers, it’s a stupid trend these days.

I agree it’s a very stupid trend these days. I don’t think the engine/exhaust noise I heard was artificially piped in thru the speakers. It was a very unpleasant sound, sounded very industrial like a tractor almost. Whatever the deal is, it was clear from a passenger comfort perspective that Toyota took a couple steps back.

 

[PWMDMD]

I have to say messaging seats are pretty low on my list, especially for an $2000 increase in price, and tow hooks seem more practical. That Rally Edition is HIDEOUS. The only way I’d accept that truck is if they promised to take the stickers off. The more time goes by, the less interested I am in the current generation Tundra and Toyota in general.

 

[PWMDMD]

I’ve never cared for Toyota, but personally I think the last well built car of theirs was the 2003-2008 Corolla. Everything built since then it’s clearly evident where Toyota has cut corners. The Camry was severely cheapened up for the 2007MY.

I recently had the displeasure of riding in a friends new 2024 Sequoia. I was astounded by how much engine and exhaust noise that thing made. Toyota must have skimped out on insulation.

Apples to zebras and I love my 2020 Tundra at it’s 5.7 V8 but it is very loud and you feel a lot of vibration from the engine throughout the cabin. I’m not sure if it’s because of the body-on-frame design but compared to any unibody vehicle I’ve been in of any size there seems to be a more direct connection from the cabin to the drivetrain in the Tundra.

 

[zzyzzx]

Toyota will be fine IMO. I noticed Toyota owners don't mind spending $$$ to keep their Toyotas going and tend to brush off big expenses as bad luck.

Here is an example that popped in my feed. Second gen Sienna, so at least 14-15 years old and the owner drives 750 miles to this youtube mechanic, leaves the car for a week and flies back home, then has to fly again to pick up this minivan and drive it home 750 miles. And he's already spent a lot of money with his dealer chasing this issue.

Most people would have traded it in or sold it privately.

It's unclear to me if it's just the rack bushings, why would they even be interested in replacing the rack. Did I miss something?

 

[drtyler]

It's unclear to me if it's just the rack bushings, why would they even be interested in replacing the rack. Did I miss something?

Not sure about that particular car, but Toyota does not always offer separate rack bushings. They are considered part of the steering rack assembly. In the truck world, most replace with aftermarket urethane bushings when the time comes, but that probably is not a solution offered by the dealer.

 

[OVERKILL]

Apples to zebras and I love my 2020 Tundra at it’s 5.7 V8 but it is very loud and you feel a lot of vibration from the engine throughout the cabin. I’m not sure if it’s because of the body-on-frame design but compared to any unibody vehicle I’ve been in of any size there seems to be a more direct connection from the cabin to the drivetrain in the Tundra.

No, definitely not inherent to BOF, as the DT RAM is extremely isolated from the powertrain.

 

[drtyler]

No, definitely not inherent to BOF, as the DT RAM is extremely isolated from the powertrain.

Not inherent to 2nd Gen (07-21) Tundras either.

 

[thescreensavers]

It's unclear to me if it's just the rack bushings, why would they even be interested in replacing the rack. Did I miss something?

The part was a reman with original bushings. The bushings seem to have a significant amount of compliance. So much that it was obvious in 5min of driving the vehicle. (Steering wheel all over the place)

Tldr dealers suck, this would have been any easy fix for any competent shop.

 

[PWMDMD]

Not inherent to 2nd Gen (07-21) Tundras either.

Well, I beg to differ. I’ve driven several Tundras and you are just acutely aware of what the 5.7 is doing from the cabin noise and vibration in a way I’m not in the RX 350 or even the Kia. It’s not harsh, you’re just aware it’s there.

 

[andrew_j]

I must be outlier who for first time thinks Toyota 2025 compact trucks look good in person especially near paint colors. I would not buy this year however 1-2 years Toyota reliability quirks will be worked out .

 

[Mcbeem5]

Any brand neglected log enough in a highly corrosive environment, will eventually rot away.

IIRC, this was a 10 year old Explorer, that had to be scrapped due to extreme rust.


View attachment 235745

"Customer States Compilation (Rusted Death Traps) | Just Rolled In" on YouTube
Amazing what people will drive!!

 

[02SE]

"Customer States Compilation (Rusted Death Traps) | Just Rolled In" on YouTube
Amazing what people will drive!!

The thought that these rolling death traps are out there on the roads, is more than a little concerning.

I AM grateful I no longer have to work on neglected rust buckets.

 

[Strumpan_]

"Customer States Compilation (Rusted Death Traps) | Just Rolled In" on YouTube
Amazing what people will drive!!

Problem is not having yearly inspections.

 

[mikeduf]

I will chime in!
In the 80s I was going to school in Long Island. I needed a cheap car for transportation and bought the shipyard manager's daughters Chevy Impala that kind of looked like a police car with push bars on it.
Little I had known about East Coast salt and rust on cars.
One day I looked underneath and saw that the front seats were about ready to fall right through the floor and the only thing pretty much holding it up was the carpet and insulation.

I knew I had kind of a cushy ride but I did not know it was that extreme!, not to mention that the drum brakes were so out of adjustment that when I would stop at a intersection on a icy Road the back end would just start to swing around. No braking power whatsoever, would have been better putting my foot down through the floor like Fred flintstone. Anyway came back to sunny California; got the hell out of the Arctic tundra!!
Just my two cents

 

[grampi]

I understand supply chain issues plague many manufacturers. Not an excuse, but certainly a problem.
It is sad to see the mighty Toyota struggle. If you can't trust Toyota, who can you trust?

Mazda. I think their build quality has surpassed that of Toyota...

 

[John105]

That's how it goes. If GM or Ford eliminated the strut in favor of a prop rod, the forum would be all over them for their cheapness. But when Toyota does it, its awesome! Suddenly we all prefer prop rods.

Same thing happened with the center dash pod on the Yaris.

Just watched a review of the new 4Runner vs 2024 Land Cruiser. I actually did not know the new Land Cruiser was considered premium, I thought it was like say the Chevy Blazer. Keep the name alive. Amazing that a 1996 4Runner has struts and a 2025 costing I think $70k has a rod. I don’t want a car with a rod. Our Chevy on order has 2 struts