Consumer Reports rates Tundra 4x4 v8, Camry v6 and GS 430 poorly

[Koz]

Anyone can find quotes to support their point of view!

8/11/07 - The repair invoice reports the transmission was addressed with TSIB-TC005-07, which re-calibrated the transmission control module.

When I picked up the car, I listened to the engine and watched the tachometer very carefully for any anomalies with the transmission. I didn't see or feel any.

I've waited until I drove 1,600 miles with the "re-flash" before reporting my experience here (as I originally noticed the flare at 1,600 miles).

And -- the car runs beautifully. No problems with the transmission.

10/9/07 - Personally for me it is no big deal. My 6 speed has been changed out and then tweaked so it is running just fine.

10/17/07 - This is how I look at it.
I had my V6 transmission replaced then adjusted. It has worked fine ever since.
I have the 6yr/100K warranty on the car.
I have been getting excellent service from my local dealer.
I have been getting a loaner for anything and everything...including oil changes.
Since I have received such excellent service then I have no worries for the future of my XLE.

I have never from any GM dealer recieved overall satisfactory service. I always got excuses...then attitude.


10/17/07 - It's kinda funny that you mention the surveys as someone called me several months ago about my Camry's reliability and known issues (hesitation and shifting issues) and I answered him honestly. I said the car was great EXCEPT for the hesitation, which was still a problem before the last TSB. Now the car is 100% IMO..............I still want a supercharger for it!!!

The fact is, yes there is issues with specific build date trans' from the Camry and ES350 V6s (which may be resolved) which justifiably had lowered their repair rating. But, it will not keep these vehicles from ultimately achieving a recommended rating. The GS and Tundra issues were absolutely cheap shots!

Koz

 

[Falls]

I was only stating my experiences.

I also have got attitude and the "its normal" , from several Toyota dealerships.So I have to pull parts list from the manual and explain them to the dealer and have to pull my own TSB's and show them to the dealer. None give out loaners here.

My problems have been very minor compared to some here , but still at the dealer more than my other vehicles.

I should have clarified that the only reason it would be gone is because I would like something a little bigger ( not like the new Tundra size though ) that things is a huge beast. Just a little wider and seats that go back further. Otherwise I appreciate the power , milage , solid feel . Hate the VSC with a passion though.

Sorry to get off topic ......

 

[Thai]

From what I've read, there were some problems with the NEW 6 speed auto that only affected a VERY SMALL percentage of the FIRST cars hitting the market and HAS SINCE BEEN CORRECTED. I'd like to see some info on the "tons of TSBs and unresolved issues"!

Koz, i think that you answer your original question! BTW, the quote above is from a post 7/05/07! Hmm, it sure seems like you did not do much research prior to posting the above quote.

8/11/07 - The repair invoice reports the transmission was addressed with TSIB-TC005-07, which re-calibrated the transmission control module.

10/17/07 - This is how I look at it.
I had my V6 transmission replaced then adjusted. It has worked fine ever since.

10/17/07 -I said the car was great EXCEPT for the hesitation, which was still a problem before the last TSB.

The fact is, yes there is issues with specific build date trans' from the Camry and ES350 V6s (which MAY be resolved)
Koz

Note the dates on the Koz's quotes. It is NOT from last year, but just 1 or 2 months ago.

Thanks for the quotes...but according to YOUR expertise as well documented the above quote, those trannies should have been fixed loooooonnnnnngggg before 8/07, right?? According to you, it was just the first batches. Hint: over a year is NOT a few batches! Hmmm, in those quotes, how many of those "satisfied" owners had to have their transmission REPLACED?? I would be an unhappy camper if i had to dump my transmission before the 1st year of ownership!

Oh yeah, "specific build dates" usually just a month or two...not the whole damn year!

BTW, in the last sentence where i underlined "MAY", it seems like you are NOT sure of yourself there...I thought that YOU said the tranny was fixed loooonnnnngggg time ago. Why the change of heart, Koz????? Thanks for confirming what i wrote.:bash:

 

[Thai]

Thai, you seem to have some sort of axe to grind with Koz, and I don't understand why. Koz usually has good and fair input on this board, as good as anyone else.

You asked me why...see my previous post. Koz's statements and "facts" are not even close to being accurate, much less being truthful.

Koz needs to be like everyone else on this forum...he must use good judgement and simple honesty to the best of his ability when posting information.

We are all Toyota enthusiast here...i own 2 Toyotas. However, i do not want this forum to turn into a bunch of "YES MAN" from Toyota. It will just be boring and be just another Toyota.com branch. Mainly, i want this forum to be a car enthusiast forum where we can judge all vehicles good or bad in a fair light. Granted, i do expect some bias since this is a 4runner forum, but i refuse to let this forum be blinded by brand loyalty to the point of not being useful for the average consumer.

 

[Northof49]

We can bash and post smartass little snipets that tell the stories we want them to till the cows come home. In the end, it all comes down to if you're happy with what you've got.

Hell, Thai even likes his Mercedes and those things are a trainwreck compared to Toyota in any recent VDS survey

 

[Thai]

Hell, Thai even likes his Mercedes and those things are a trainwreck compared to Toyota in any recent VDS survey

Yeah, but my MB is not made in Germany nor Alabama....

 

[juneau92]

Yeah, but my MB is not made in Germany nor Alabama....

German anything in a way of cars is a trainwreck.

 

[Northof49]

Yeah, but my MB is not made in Germany nor Alabama....

Sooooo it doesn't have an accent?

I'm just joshin....like I give a shiat, I just bought a GM

 

[Thai]

Sooooo it doesn't have an accent?

I'm just joshin....like I give a shiat, I just bought a GM

What GM did you buy??

 

[Thai]

German anything in a way of cars is a trainwreck.

This is actually NOT true. You need to do more research before making such a general statement. Porsche is well-known to be very durable and reliable. According to JD Powers, Porsche suffers from small issues when you first buy it, but afterwards, it is as reliable as anything from the land of the rising sun. Thus, Porsche would be the exception to your statement.

More info: http://money.cnn.com/2007/06/06/autos/jdpa_quality/index.htm?postversion=2007060709

MB is increasing it's quality ever since it dumped Chrysler...so, it is going up, but it does have a long road ahead.

Juneau...so, are you saying that the G-wagen is also a trainwreck in reliability and durability??

 

[juneau92]

Juneau...so, are you saying that the G-wagen is also a trainwreck in reliability and durability??

No, not saying that, Thai. I should have said that most German made autos are a trainwreck. Not only that, they're for the most part expensive for what you get! I think many folks purchase one of the German "big three" for bragging rights more than anything else.

All experiences I've had with any recent German made car has been negative. The older cars from Germany were much better in terms of reliability, but the newer ones are terrible. Also, they seem impossible to work on.

My neighbor a few doors down two years ago traded her MB in after owning it for only one year. She had so much trouble with it! She traded it on an Acura, and couldn't of been happier.

You'll never catch me spending my good money on any German made automobile. That's just me.

 

[brad6841]

Originally posted by Northof49
I'm just joshin....like I give a shiat, I just bought a GM

Good for you...... :bigok:

What did you buy......

 

[Northof49]

I bought an 03 Sierra 1500 for a winter beater/sled/dirtbike hauler....extended cab, 5.3L, SLT, white on black leather. It's got absolutely all the BS in it....signal foldaway mirrors, onstar, 12-way memory seats, 8 bazillion trip/mileage/hour meters, BFG's, blah blah blah....

It's got so many toys and crap in it, makes a limited 4runner looked stripped out haha. I like driving it actually...tons of power from the 5.3, feels a lot like the 'yoda 4.7 except the GM tranny isn't as smooth. Suspension is decent, interior is nice, seats are COMFY, Bose stereo is only ok, steering is typical GM squishbox, but overall it's a good rig and for the price, I basically had to buy it

 

[brad6841]

except the GM tranny isn't as smooth.

4L60E........:bash:

Trash, trash, and more trash......if you throw more power at it then the 5.3L has to offer.....it'll blow.....if you tow heavily too much.....it'll blow.....:bash:

Other than that a good truck.....just keep an eye on your e-brake.....does it still work....

Plus I believe the issue with the fuel gauge was corrected by '03..... :bigok:

Let me know if you need any more info on it, or if you have any issues.....had mine for 90,000 now and I'm a member of a few good GM boards..... :bigok:

 

[Thai]

You'll never catch me spending my good money on any German made automobile. That's just me.

Sadly, i actually agree with you on this...nothing really beats Honda/Acura or Toyota/Lexus these days.

 

[Northof49]

Other than that a good truck.....just keep an eye on your e-brake.....does it still work....

Plus I believe the issue with the fuel gauge was corrected by '03..... :bigok:

Let me know if you need any more info on it, or if you have any issues.....had mine for 90,000 now and I'm a member of a few good GM boards..... :bigok:

The e-brake seems like some soft-touch type setup? Feels like nothing's happening while pushing it, but it holds and releases normally.

What's the fuel gauge issue you speak of? Mine seems to drop off overly-quick in the low 1/4 range?

 

[brad6841]

The e-brake seems like some soft-touch type setup? Feels like nothing's happening while pushing it, but it holds and releases normally.

What's the fuel gauge issue you speak of? Mine seems to drop off overly-quick in the low 1/4 range?

There was a major issue with the e-brake that caused GM to revert to a rear drum brake setup on the '05 and newer models. The e-brake on the earlier 1500s was so bad it would not hold a vehicle in Neutral....it was basically non existent.:bash: If yours is holding consider yourself lucky.

The fuel gauge issue is the fuel level sensor on the sending unit fails after repeated exposure to gas. What begins to happen is the fuel gauge will jump around from reading normal, to empty, to full depending on the situation. I believe the '03 and newer models have a redesigned fuel level sensor, and to help protect GM recommends running a fuel additive in the tank at around oil change intervals. GM recommends their additive, but it's basically the Chevron with Techron fuel additive that you can purchase at most any auto parts store. :bigok:

Speaking of oil changes......read any into the oil change monitoring system that GM uses.....

 

[Northof49]

Thanks for the info, sounds like I'm good on both issues so that's nice.

I dunno about the oil life monitor....I'll likely only own the thing for 2-3 oil changes and do them myself, at ym usual interval regardless, so probably a feature I'll never use haha

 

[brad6841]

Well if you use it, you may only have to do 1 or 2......

Not much of a long term owner.....eh.....:biggrin2:

 

[Ghostface80]

Did Honda ever get over their tranny issues with their V6's? What about their manual tranny grinding problems? It's been a while since I've followed Honda but they were on their way down in reliability in the early 2000s.

It seems the glory years for Honda and Toyota were in the 90s and they're seeing the benefits today. I wonder what it'll be like a decade from now?