Recall Friday Part II: Toyota Recalls 15,600 Tundra For Drivetrain Issues

not really, it is a first year effort for a new vehicle.

— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/14/2007 4:44:09 PM | | Votes: -6   

I agree with fastone...

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 12/15/2007 12:01:06 PM | | Votes: 1   

What!?!

— 0to60 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/14/2007 3:12:38 PM | | Votes: 1   

I think they will keep the holiday cheer...didn't they buy rights to that?

— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/14/2007 4:45:21 PM | | Votes: -1   

Sales will only go up 3% annually vs 10% ...like this year

— Agent009 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/14/2007 4:43:41 PM | | Votes: -4   

LOL good one.... until the toyota worshippers realise their cars are worst in reliability than their competitors..

— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 12/15/2007 4:20:56 AM | | Votes: 0   

LOL!

009 IS TOTALLY CORRECT!

toyota can drop 50% from their current levels of reliability, and it would STILL BE some 10 - 100% more reliable than most any brand.

— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 12/15/2007 6:00:08 AM | | Votes: -1   

The difference in reliability is closer than you think. If Toyotas reliability drops 50%, it would be half way through the most reliable car makers list.

— M53R (View Profile)

Posted on 12/15/2007 10:25:02 AM | | Votes: 0   

XYZZ, you can't quantify reliability. There's no such thing as a car being "50% less reliable." But if it did go down "50%," M53R is correct, they would be halfway down the list.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 12/15/2007 12:02:37 PM | | Votes: 1   

if you chart reliability by the number of years before a brand reaches the point of having 100 problems per 100 vehicles, IT IS POSSIBLE to quantify reliability.

that is the measure used almost universally for NEW cars.

CR is the only organization that tracks it for cars older than 3 years, thru their annual surveys which covered 1.3+ vehicles the past couple of years.

from their charts, most mfgrs reach that 100/100 point in 5 to 6 years. honda gets there in about 10.3 years. toyota, OVER 17 years. these are extrapolations as the chart only goes out to 10 years.

— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 12/17/2007 5:18:33 AM | | Votes: 1   

that's 1.3 million. excuse the typo.

— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 12/17/2007 5:38:05 AM | | Votes: 1   

not at all like mercedes situation...people buy mercedes for style, safety, innovation, prestige and reliability. lots of reasons. that's why sales went up even when they had reliability issues in 2003 and 2004.

people buy toyota/lexus for reliability. so when that goes...

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/14/2007 6:59:09 PM | | Votes: 2   

Check out 2007, Lexus_Admirer. And beyond! Mercedes is moving back up!

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 12/15/2007 12:03:35 PM | | Votes: 5   

lexus admirer:

take a look who LEADS in overall quality in the premium sporty, premium midsize and premium full size categories of JD power: MERCEDES.

know your facts instead of talking out of your ass.

http://www.jdpower.com/autos/ratings/segment-quality-ratings

— enthusiastx11 (View Profile)

Posted on 12/15/2007 6:17:58 PM | | Votes: -2   

As an individual who works for the US domestic auto industry as an engineer...

I have always had a mercedes-benz vehicle in my life, from day 1 (except for now, I have a domestic). They have always had prestigious, well built vehicles. Yes, there was a slight reliability snafoo in the late 90's, but once again as I have stated a million times before, people whine about little things. So a few of their cars had some problems, big damn deal.

The biggest problem I ever heard about mercedes was the 1st gen M-class. There seemed to have problems with window motors. Oh well. The other problems I read about all seemed to do with their outsourced electrical systems supplier. Mercedes has since shored up their electrical systems and I've heard they've even brought their 4matic system back in house.

As for if mercedes is back on the up & up, hell yes they are. They are posting record sales, and their cars are well built, gorgeous, prestigious vehicles. People say the C-class is last place amongst its competitors, but we must take the entire segment into account. Its one of the most competitive markets today. Most people buy cars in that segment based on what they personally find the most attractive. All Merc needs to do add the direct injected 3.5 to the lineup.

— neutral (View Profile)

Posted on 12/16/2007 9:05:54 PM | | Votes: 0   

neutral... interesting comments, and i respect that it is coming from an engineer.

however, methinks you minimize how significant even electrical problems can be. (just about NO mfgr. has any problems with engine reliability these days.)

friend of mine just had the window motor go out on her 4Runner. which happens to be a 1993 model. so 1 of her 5 toyota window motors conked out, after FOURTEEN YEARS. how long has the M-class been out? how many owners had problems with them?

two more points: 1) it will cost her ~$500 to get that window to operate again. what would it cost if it were a mercedes? 2) it got down to -21 Fahrenheit today here in central alaska. if you had a window out (and stuck in the down position), at highway speeds you would have a wind chill factor of somewhere bet'n -80 and -120+. (depending on how fast you dared to drive.)

in some situations, a "mere electrical" problem could become almost life threatening!

— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 12/17/2007 5:34:08 AM | | Votes: 2   

another friend had the alternator on her mercedes wagon conk out, near McKinley park. she was ~120 miles from home.

fortunately for her, there was enuff juice in the battery for her to limp home.

IF there HADN'T been...

these are among the reasons why alaskans put a HIGH VALUE on reliability. and why toyota cars AND TRUCKS are among the most desirable. USED toyotas don't take long to sell, unless they've REALLY been trashed by a neglectful owner.

— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 12/17/2007 5:50:05 AM | | Votes: 2   

I know. And that's why I don't want VW to set stupid goals like "we want to pass Toyota." The only way to get there is to look at what you put into it, not what comes out. i.e., make better products. Sales will come with them. That's how Toyota got to where they are now... but unfortunately they're not following their own principles any more.

— S4cabriofoxone (View Profile)

Posted on 12/15/2007 12:06:48 PM | | Votes: 3   

AS IF vw could EVER pass toyota!


keep dreaming!

— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 12/17/2007 5:12:13 AM | | Votes: 3   

LOL! i did read the article and was about to mention the mindboggling figure of ONE, but you beat me to it.

the toyota bashers are SO DESPARATE THAT they have to make such a big deal about this SINGLE incident involving an untoward mere NOISE.

how many like and worse noises do we hear from big 3 trucks? from far WORSE problems?

— XYZZ (View Profile)

Posted on 12/15/2007 6:07:33 AM | | Votes: 0