What to make of this...? Take a look at this AutoWeek article:
http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl...024/LATESTNEWS

 

Unfortunately, quality has declined, but it's not to say quality isn't there anymore.


People will definitely throw this out of proportion. Toyota is paranoid and believe them when they said they are. Toyota accepts no imperfection so even little things will be treated as the next major component.

 

I actually thought that Toyota was one of the few manufactureres that is keeping their quality up.

 

Toyota vehicles are still exceptionally well-assembled and well-engineered. Compared to, say, 10 years ago, the only really noticeble drop-off in quality that I have seen is in some of the interior materials....primarily the use of cheap-looking and feeling silver-painted plastic in a lot of places, and the idiotic center-mount gauges in the xA, xB, Echo, and Yaris. Toyota interiors IMO were better 10 years ago than they are today....especially the Camry, Avalon, RAV4, and 4Runner. The Corolla, though, is the opposite...its interior, especially the wood-trimmed LE, is MUCH better today. But paint quality, panel gaps, fit-and-finish, and general overall quality of assembly are all still first-rate....even more so with Lexus.

 

well at least they acknowledge it, unlike 99% of the other companies out there, its amazing they are keeping their quality where it is while basically encompassing 90% of the types of cars people would buy from scion to lexus

 

If Toyota's quality slips to 50% of what they've got now, they'd still be better than 80% of other cars out there...

 

Not sure the meaning of those percentages really, but if by "slips by 50%" their initial defects or problems found DOUBLED then they'd drop WAY down in the ratings. Not going to happen thankfully.

Companies like Hyundai and Audi though have also been on FANATICAL quality initiatives in the past few years though and making big strides.

And of course Honda's record on quality is stellar too.

 

I am glad you actually read the article, that talks about lower warranty costs, being first in quality, etc, etc.

 

Repost.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=207474

 

I didn't see where that article said that Toyotas quality is slipping. They did say that the rest of the industry is starting to catch up and that is leading to Toyotas falling advantage but they still build the most dependable cars. They mentioned the recalls increasing but recalls are up across the board because of newer standards.

 

1 word: DELPHI.