Someone stated on one of my questions that Toyota is not the company they once were, is this true?

Question

they said that there are more and more recalls every year

Answer 1

When you grow to be the number two car maker in the world and begin producing cars all over the world - you're not going to be the same company.
More cars from more plants would naturally mean more recalls. And, as they move into more unchartered hybrid waters, you can probably expect more issues.
Toyota has a good run with reliability (unlike just about all other Japanese makes). It must be a tough fight to keep these quality standards up accross the globe.
Appearance wise, don't think Toyota has "heritage" of outstanding cars. They have flip-flopped with some real turkeys in the past.

Answer 2

Well I waited 5 hours to answer this Q because every time I write something negative about beloved Toyota, I get slammed.
The general consensus here seems to be that it's understandable & ok for Toyota to have recalls & complaints now that they are selling more & producing more.
Growing Pains, a Toyota employee calls it.

What bothers me is that it's considered Ok for them but when an American Manufacture has the same (problems/ratio due to mass production ), they are totally trashed by media & therefore quality 'perception' is diminished.

Has America forgotten what our auto manufacturers contribute to this country? Or do they just not know?
Regardless of where a vehicle is assembled, who assembles it, or where the parts needed to assemble it come from, all profits go th the manufacturers Homeland.
Do Americans realize how many other U.S. companies supply parts & services to American owned auto companies.
The American Auto Industry affects the entire countrys economy & it affects each of us and our day to day lives in more ways than I can type here.
Ford & GM do more for the US economy than any other industry.
Chrysler used to be American owned, but after our tax money bailed them out of financial woes, they were bought by Daimler & are no longer (as far as I can see) part of the "Big 3"

Does anybody know who manufactured the vehicles (tanks, jeeps, B24 bomber aircraft) that led to Victory in WWII ? it was the "Big 3" Does anybody remember what led the US to enter into that war? That would be the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Who will build vehicles for us the next time we are attacked?

YES, Toyota is NOT the company that it used to be. And American Manufacturers HAVE improved their quality issues but still the "perception" is the opposite.

Just look at the new Ford Fusion vs the new Toyota Camry .
Fusion= defect free.....Camry= VERY problematic.
Oh NO, Do NOT take my word for it.! Look it up yourself with the National HighwayTraffic Safety Administration- Office of Defect Investigation... http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/recalls/recallsearch.cfm

07 Camry= 89 Formal Complaints -6 mos. production
06 & 07 Fusion= 12 complaints -18 mos. production & out selling Camry.

I am sorry for the long winded answer !
I can't help getting steamed at the misperceptions vs facts.

Answer 3

I read in the NY Times a few months ago that Toyota expanded really rapidly and did not hire enough engineers to match their growth. They contracted with other (less stellar) companies to design/manufacture some main components of their cars. Toyota is now seeing a lot of problems with their cars from the 90s. They have just started to recognize this and correct the problem, but it may get worse before it gets better. I have a 2003 Corolla with valve noise. :( Strangely, Consumer Reports has not reflected this information and still gives Toyota excellent ratings. I am at a loss for what to choose for my next vehicle. Toyota was such an easy choice - no other car gets such high ratings across the board and is still affordable.

Answer 4

umm Toyota trucks have never out sold Ford or GM idividually or combined, like the guru guy says


U.S. Sales of Large Pickup Trucks

11 Months, 2006
11 Months, 2005
General Motors
Chevy Silverado
583,673
637,210

GMC Sierra
193,195
208,157


Ford Motor
F Series
725,459
811,972


Lincoln Mark LT
11,598
8,495

DaimlerChrysler
Dodge Ram
311,302
369,565

Toyota
Tundra
112,040
110,897

Nissan
Titan
66,617
79,666

Grand Total
2,003,884
2,225,962


uh american trucks outsell all the others together says Forbes
Source: Automotive News

Answer 5

I REALLY have mixed feelings about Toyota (kind of like a love-hate relationship).

On one hand, they make excellent cars that are reliable and durable and have done so for years.

However, they have had some isolated issues with a few of their cars, but I think that's an anamoly.

They seem to have lost a LOT of creative spark that they used to have.....When I drive by a Toyota dealer, I shake my head and wonder WHERE are the REALLY FUN cars that they used to make, like the Celica, MR2, and Supra??

While the new Camry does look a helluva lot better than the boring breadbox shaped Camry's of the past, they need to go BACK to the California design studios and get cracking with some kick-*** fun cars!!

Unless that EVER happens, you WON'T see ME at a Toyota dealer...

Answer 6

I sell them and have for the past 7 years, the more we sell the more recalls that happen. The cars are still some of the best on the market but the more you sell the more you will have to recall. It is just growing pains. I would not want to be selling anything else on the market right now, except maybe Lexus.

Answer 7

No. they are not the same. They are much better cars. Every car company has recalls and many may not concern your vehicle.

Answer 8

Yes its true, Toyota is much bigger and better now than ever. They topped all U.S. auto makers in sales in '06. I have a Toyota Tundra, my fifth Toyota. All the Toyotas I had were really good vehicles. I have over 100 thousand miles on Tundra and have never had it in a garage. They are the toughest vehicles on the road. They have better fuel mileage than comparible makes too.

Answer 9

There are more recalls because they sell more and more CARS every year. NO one is perfect.

They are STILL way better than American makes.

Answer 10

i would be interested to know the answer. i've just done 250,000 miles in my carina and she's still purring like a kitten