Toyota built their rep on using many of the same parts for years with a laser focus on ironing out any kinks, their cars were basic transportation. Look at the last Tundra. A very basic truck, that cost more than a GM, Ford or Dodge. Unless you were a Toyota fanatic there was no way you bought the Tundra after testing an American truck loaded with features the Toyota couldnt even dream about.

Toyota has now had to add those elaborate features to stay in the fight, hence the dip in quality, but they'll get it under control.

I have worked for Toyota at an OEM and retail level a few times over the years, I didnt like any of their cars until I drove a 4runner. I could have got a sweet discount on a new limited but couldnt fathom popping that much coin on basically a 10 yr old SUV. Hence why I bought my 2006. If its the most reliable SUV, why buy new??? So far my decision has worked.

Understand, but to call the problematic turbo on the new Tundra an "elaborate feature" or body panels misaligned anything other then poor quality is disingenuous.

Yeah... I don't disagree about the Toyota vehicles being overpriced for what you get (particularly their truck/SUV line-up); though they have done a better job of fleshing out more realistic models with bells and whistles (the new Highlander being top of that list). But at the same time I also look at the domestic truck market, particularly anything under a 2500/F-250 line-up with "wow, they sure put plenty of polish to distract from that turd. Then again, you're making a point that I unfortunately see far too often these days, people don't plan out a vehicle purchase or consider what they need a vehicle for; they generally shop by phone compatibility or the number of "features" a vehicle has (even if they have no idea if their vehicle comes with those features or how to even use them). The majority of people I have to deal with who just buy a vehicle without any thought as to what they need or what they'll do with it is just staggering... it's very much the "Apple" consumerism mindset that's taken over much of the technology/vehicle segment in the last decade or two; poor engineering and flash sell more than function and reliability.

I don't know, maybe I am just old and jaded... but I would rather have a vehicle that I can trust rather than shiny features to distract me from one that barely stays together. Unfortunately Toyota seems to have been phoning it in for a while now, their go to is to outsource engineering and outright buy other vehicles to sell as their own rather than design or engineer their own stuff. Their partnership with BMW still makes me cringe and I think we're now starting to see some of the issues I predicted popping up in the newer vehicles; thermostat failures, awkward/weird engineering of computer systems and logic, poor design of components with no regard for realistic serviceability besides basically just pulling the drivetrain and tearing it down. Subaru didn't really want the D4S injection system on their BRZ and wanted to plop a turbo on that thing; Toyota was the one who foisted their injection system on that engine and continuously shot down the turbo, despite real world driving, modding community, and just about everyone with two braincells pointing out it could use more power for real world freeway driving/passing. What's worse is that it's not even that they can't design/engineer things, they've shown that they are clearly capable of making a proper sports car with the Yaris & Corolla GRs, the Lexus side of things have shown that Toyota can innovate on the "old ways" of doing things and maintain that Toyota DNA. But as I and others have pointed out earlier, they're rotting from the inside and just end up buying out vehicles and outsourcing their design and engineering these days (ala the Toyota Z4, the Toyota Mazda2, etc.) We could even look at the sudden shift of Toyota to heavily investing into EV tech all of the sudden after many many years of Mr. Toyoda himself having a huge stick up his ass above pure EVs after he was burned by Elon Musk in their not so great partnership with the Rav4 EV as signs that there is some serious disconnection internally.

@Carmaker1 has pointed out a lot of things that don't really surprise me at this point and honestly just make me wish that his source and/or others in his source's position could just leak some shit; maybe it'd be a wake-up call for Toyota to pull their heads out of their ass and fix their internal issues.

That I am not entirely surprised by, it's essentially the "Gen 2" version of the engine that was made for Lexus; though weirdly enough from everything I have heard from both Toyota and Lexus persons, the Tundra got the "Gen 2" version before even Lexus did (a bit of an oddity, given that Lexus is usually used to play with new technology/engineering ideas before trickling them down to Toyota; I'm guessing because the cost/risk ratio is more favorable in the Luxury segment and most people who buy a 100k vehicle just care that warranty covers an issue, rather than there being an issue?). From what I have seen/heard/dealt with, it honestly sounds like a manufacturing defect/supplier issue with the linkage assembly of the wastegate portion of the turbo; which is sort of to be expected with a new engine/model of vehicle. Far as I know, it should be fixed by now; the rest of the early production vehicles will likely end up being taken care of under powertrain warranty and/or I wouldn't be shocked if a CSP was released for it. These type of teething issues are fairly normal and if you look back at just about every first model year of a new Model/Generation you'll find plenty of TSBs, TechTips, and Campaigns for various teething issues; what bothers me is more of the quality control issues related to trim, fit, finish, and overall product quality. It hasn't been uncommon to have a smattering of QC issues on new models/gens, but the Tundra takes it to a level I honestly don't remember seeing in my career.

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Was parked in front of a brand spanking new Tundra at big orange yesterday. The whole front fascia was visibly diagonal to the hood line and wheels. LOL
I can't believe someone was willing to drive it off the lot.

Checking out the image that autoblog took while Toyota is testing out the Tacoma...but I noticed the 4runner, and a few things seemed off.
2024 Toyota Tacoma seems to have a rear coil spring suspension

This could be wild speculation but I think they are testing more than we see - perhaps the new engine. More than just the Tacoma. In addition, if we believe the Tacoma and 4runner are going to share more components - this may make sense.

Notice the 4runner...
1. The hood doesn't line up correctly.
2. There is something sticking out of the front of the grill.
3. The thing that is above the windshield is also on the Tacome - but not the other support vehicles.
4. The thing on the side (to the left of the passenger headlight) - it could be a shadow but it might be something else.

I think there could be a different engine shoved into the 4runner for testing. Thoughts?

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Dave Z, under the mirror looks like it maybe a shadow from the mirror itself.

My first thought was it was a hybrid plug, but that would be the wrong place on a Toyota, at least if you compare it to a Rav4.

looks too small for a plug. they're usually about the same size as a gas door.

Blue 5th gen appears to be a power train mule if that's what they're doing there, probably has the 2.4T or 2.4T w/ hybrid hacked into it for durability testing. Also to note above posts, most of these mandatory changes have been mandated - Toyota (and everyone else) is just doing their best to adapt.

The TT tundra V6 has been million mile tested (left at WOT on dyno 24/7) but you need them out in the field by the tens of thousands to really find the kinks, as they are. There will be fixes, then a "refresh" in 3-4 years and it'll be solid. Panel gaps have been a launch issue for everyone, most of that is robot automation. Or maybe the robot is prefect but the floor isn't 100% level at the factory?

Funny story about gaps, when Bob Lutz was very high up at Chrysler in the 80's, K-car era, he was at an auto show at BMW or VW booth and commented on how nice their panel gaps were. The German CEO pulled him aside and said the key to getting perfect gaps was to just fire people until it was right. Bob said that wouldnt fly over here but thanks for the tip lol

So it can now be confirmed that WOT does not find Turbocharger issues like the early Tundra's had.

Hopefully the 6th gen 4Runner gets a better test methodology.

I agree, likely a powertrain mule and easiest things for an engineering team to slap together for proof of concept. Either that or it's being used for comparison testing of some kind.

As for panel gaps... eh, it's like orange peel in paint; everyone has varying degrees of it in all their models. Between automation and the sheer volume of vehicles produced there is been a sort of "status quo" in regards to things like "acceptable amounts of orange peel" and "panel gap variance." I always laugh at the people who nit pick about the orange peel on new cars unless it's super bad; you can see the brand new Mercedes when they come off the truck have the same looking paint as most of the Toyotas in terms of that application.

But the issue isn't panel gaps, or orange peel (at least not to me), or even turbocharge wastegate actuator linkages; that's all teething issues. It's the things like the rear window belt molding being 3-6mm too short and not tucked into the window run and exterior window weather stripping like every other Toyota (seriously, I walked our lot for a TAS case and checked 5 other new Tundras with varying gaps and then checked all our service customer vehicles including older Tundras and not one had this issue). What's worse is that when you call TAS, the FTS, and/or anyone else above you who is supposed to have more information, no one seems to know if that is how it's supposed to be or if it's a supplier issue and if a new part will fix it. No one knew whether or not the 3rd Gen Tundras were supposed to have an auto-darkening passenger side exterior mirror; something customers had been complaining about for a bit; the manual didn't really specify one way or the other, the FSM was vague, TAS had no clue, every Tundra we checked all had the same "issue;" but no one outside of the engineers who actually designed the vehicle (who failed to mention it to anyone else...) knew if that was an actual problem or a new "feature." Weeks later, it turns out that's just how they come... despite just about every Toyota/Lexus that I can think of before then coming with the rearview mirror and both exterior mirrors having auto-darkening when equipped with that option... I guess for the Tundras (and presumably) the Sequoias they just have the driver's mirror and rearview mirror only. That's the stuff that genuinely disappoints me and to a degree worries me, Toyota is so all over the place they aren't even sure what the truck they designed and built is supposed to have and if it's an issue or a feature more than half the time.

Those go beyond simple teething issues, those are systemic and structural issues that shouldn't exist in a company as large and established as Toyota. It just seems to get worse and worse every year and the Tundra is probably the most glaring example to date, which has bothered a lot of people who had/have quite a bit of faith and trust in a company like Toyota.

I'll be back guys, but there's a very high chance that you're looking at the 2025 model year per a reliable source, who broke the 2024 MY delay in the first place last year.

930B is running later than hoped in terms of development. It's likely not a 2024 model now as recent of weeks, but I feel bad enough passing this on without his consent.

Two, I think you've already seen the 3rd generation GX since December. Not the 4Runner, but GX. Why? Many were under the impression the TX is the model in silhouette, that's really the next GX. Grand Highlander and TX have to be slightly bigger than what you see in the GX, in order to surpass the Highlander in length.

That vehicle is not any longer than a Highlander, so it must be the GX.

All of the design cues match the few descriptions of implying similarities to the 70-Series, especially the D-Pillar. It looks like an evolution of the current model, but not as miraculous as I had heard from someone at the 2/10/21 showcase. I get so tired of internal sources overhyping unseen product, especially at Lexus. If that is really the TX, I will eat my words, but I believe it's GX.

Update:

Yes, you have been already shown the next generation GX in rudimentary form. Compare the RX teaser to the revealed 2023 RX vehicle and you have an idea of how it's not shown 100%, but 95+% close. Please PM me instead, for more info on TNGA-F developments.

I think you're right and so far, the NX and RX have been pretty spot on.

2025... well, that is disappointing. For some reason I'm not surprised. Carmaker, will we see the GX as a 24 or 25 model?

At the pace things are going it might be longer, who knows how long this madness is going to go on and how long delays will keep happening. On the plus side maybe they'll actually add some much needed tech updates on the current 4-runner over the next 3 model years and keep the super reliable engine/drivetrain.

This. So much this.