Quality control on new 5th generation

[T4Fun]

anyone feel it is lacking? I think this gas pedal issue may make the engineers there wake up a little and perhaps make modifications for 2011 version.
I was planning on calling TOyota in japan and finding out who was chief engineer who finalized the nooks and crannies. My biggest peevs. No leds on outside lights of 4runner, no integrated running board/side skirt like on NEw gx 460, no v8, no locking gas cap, no integrated antenna, no mud flaps, no KDSS available on limited, crappy rims on the Limited. How much more would it cost to add this? 2000? I dont think people here would mind that at all. Just my two cents and unless my car suddenly brakes down, i will be waiting for the 2011.

 

[sandcrawler]

to be clear, it sounds like your "peevs" are more about the vehicle's specifications—not quality control, which is a measure of, well, quality.

 

[T4Fun]

when they take a step backwards from previous models and cut corners, cost cutting and not focusing on details - that to me is poor workmanship and construction. its pretty bad when of all companies Hyundai and even mazda for gods sakes can offer all the basic modern gadgetry that toyota lacks. you spend around 40k on a suv, it should be expected to have these things.

 

[adoihcj]

I have to admit that I was upset that the 5th Gen did not have the LEDs. Not sure theh are really necessary though. I've seen 4th Gens with LEDs and while they do have the quick turn on/off feature, they are not as "pretty" as the reflectors on the back of the 5th Gen. I was following my wife the other day when we were hauling some furniture, and I noticed how beautiful the rear tail lights are. Also, the headlights in the 5th Gen seem to be extremely bright. My wife was following me back from delivering the furniture and the lights were extremely bright behind me. Might be because new headlights burn brighter when new, but I noticed that driving with them at night gives and extremely clear view of the road.

 

[sandcrawler]

i hear what you're saying. strictly speaking, however, it's not accurate to categorize it as a measure of "quality control."

when they take a step backwards from previous models and cut corners, cost cutting and not focusing on details…

this has been hammered out in great detail in this thread.

 

[Poke]

The quality is exceptional. They added some things and removed others. Why did you buy the car? Did you think it would grow led tail lights?

 

[Quentin]

As a former quality control engineer.... none of the items listed are part of quality control.

Do Mazda and Kia make a BoF SUV? That is news to me.

Are ipod integration, bluetooth, navigation, and rear view camera not modern enough for you? KDSS is a $1750 option on the TE, so I seriously doubt all that could be added for $2k. I sure as hell wouldn't want to pay another $2k for all that inconsequential stuff. V6 is perfect for me.

My only complaints of the 4Runner are the antenna (but, frankly, who gives a ****) and no lane change turn signals (just a nice feature I'm used to from my VW). I'm thrilled it doesn't have HIDs after paying $900 to replace the HID housings on my GTI after hitting a deer. I do wish the SR5 got the smoked headlights, but that is just because they look cooler.

 

[jerhu]

As a former quality control engineer.... none of the items listed are part of quality control.

Do Mazda and Kia make a BoF SUV? That is news to me.

Are ipod integration, bluetooth, navigation, and rear view camera not modern enough for you? KDSS is a $1750 option on the TE, so I seriously doubt all that could be added for $2k. I sure as hell wouldn't want to pay another $2k for all that inconsequential stuff. V6 is perfect for me.

My only complaints of the 4Runner are the antenna (but, frankly, who gives a ****) and no lane change turn signals (just a nice feature I'm used to from my VW). I'm thrilled it doesn't have HIDs after paying $900 to replace the HID housings on my GTI after hitting a deer. I do wish the SR5 got the smoked headlights, but that is just because they look cooler.

Do the SR5's not come with them? My limited has them.

 

[Quentin]

Do the SR5's not come with them? My limited has them.

I don't recall having them during my test drive. I test drove a limited, as well, and don't recall having them. I'm talking about the turn signals that you just tap and they flash 3~5 times (depending on manufacturer) for lane changes.

 

[Norcal_Mike]

There are several things on the 4runner that are annoying, but quality wise ite seems top notch. I only noticed two things that I would categorize as poor quality so far... the sheet metal on the hood vibrates on semi rough surfaces screaming that it is too thin for the intended purpose. Also... there are two corner plastic pieces on either side of the cowl/window housing... these do not fit flush and will be a magnet for debris.

As for the dumb engineering... 1) iPod interface is rediculous 3) Satellite radio controls switch stations way too fast as you are going through menu. 4) button lighting: are they on or off (i.e. Party Mode switch) 5) As stated in earlier posts - Accelerator hesitation is moronic.

Other than that... 4Runner is built very well and I will learn to live with the few shortcomings.

 

[qs933]

Do Mazda and Kia make a BoF SUV? That is news to me.

Kia makes the Borrego, which is BoF. Mazda's CX-7 and CX-9 are unibody designs.

There's a $3K rebate and a $1.5K loyalty or competitive rebate on the 2009 model still on the Kia website. The 2010 is reportedly "dead" in the US market due to poor sales of the 2009 model (the first model year).

The Borrego does have a V8 option with 6-speed auto, projector headlights, a nice roof-mounted stub antenna, and what looks like a locking fuel door. If these options are critical, I'm sure Kia would love to place a few new Borregos former 4Runner-owners' driveways.

when they take a step backwards from previous models and cut corners, cost cutting and not focusing on details - that to me is poor workmanship and construction.

No, you're mixing up "quality control," which is how the vehicle is made, with "product design," which defines what is being made.

 

[Uneek]

Not quality control, just back to its roots as Toyota calls it.

 

[LyteFly]

when they take a step backwards from previous models and cut corners, cost cutting and not focusing on details - that to me is poor workmanship and construction.

That's a novel concept. Not sure how you come to that conclusion

 

[TheDude]

anyone feel it is lacking? I think this gas pedal issue may make the engineers there wake up a little and perhaps make modifications for 2011 version.
I was planning on calling TOyota in japan and finding out who was chief engineer who finalized the nooks and crannies. My biggest peevs. No leds on outside lights of 4runner, no integrated running board/side skirt like on NEw gx 460, no v8, no locking gas cap, no integrated antenna, no mud flaps, no KDSS available on limited, crappy rims on the Limited. How much more would it cost to add this? 2000? I dont think people here would mind that at all. Just my two cents and unless my car suddenly brakes down, i will be waiting for the 2011.

I don't remember where I saw it, but I think the Toyota Canada site has the locking gas cap as an accessory

 

[simonj]

I don't remember where I saw it, but I think the Toyota Canada site has the locking gas cap as an accessory

They do.

As a first time toyota owner, I don't have another 4runner to compare my 2010 Limited to.

As far as quality control goes, so far I have yet to find a fault.
Feature wise? Sure, I wish it had HID's and an integrated attenna, but to be quite honest, the positives of this truck far outweigh the minor negatives.

 

[adrift]

My dashboard rattles already:redbrick:and i need to have a alignment already.My ford excursion never saw the service department in the 5 years I owned it.

 

[adoihcj]

My dashboard rattles already:redbrick:and i need to have a alignment already.My ford excursion never saw the service department in the 5 years I owned it.

How many miles are you? I'm at 2,400 and no rattles - completely solid all around. You sure your rattle isn't your sunglasses in the sunglass holder - someone else on here had that problem. Regarding the alignment, did you hit a curb or pothole?

By the way, my '03 Explorer was in the shop at least 10 times in the seven years I owned it (and I think 10 is an understatement).

 

[RonMAIDEN]

You say Toyota could add the missing things for $2k but people are already whining about the prices as it is and those options would add up to most likely over $4000 to the price and then you figure it over say 20,000 4Runners and the prices add up for Toyota too and you end up with a $41-43k SR5 and the Limited would encroach close to the $50k mark which isn't reasonable when the Lexus is close to that price range.

Like I said before Toyota is narrowing the focus for the 4Runner realizing some customers will be lost and some will be gained as they aren't making any more 4Runners than they can sell.

 

[adrift]

How many miles are you? I'm at 2,400 and no rattles - completely solid all around. You sure your rattle isn't your sunglasses in the sunglass holder - someone else on here had that problem. Regarding the alignment, did you hit a curb or pothole?

By the way, my '03 Explorer was in the shop at least 10 times in the seven years I owned it (and I think 10 is an understatement).

Around 2000 miles. Dashboard rattles on the passenger side.Haven't hit any potholes. Maybe driving over railroad tracks might have cause the dashboard to rattle and the alignment problem. It shouldn't have. Taken it in this week to get the alignment fixed. Hope to be able to track down the rattle and fix it myself.

 

[5thGenJenn]

06 SR5 to 10 SR5

Personally I love my SR5. I went from having a 2006 SR5 to the 2010 SR5 and there's not really much that I miss from the old one. I do miss the mud flaps but I will either learn to live with it, find a carwash, or buy some aftermarket. My 06 had he led tail lights and they were wonderful but come on really how much time do you spend following your own vehicle to see the led tail lights? Are they really that important? I know mine on the 2010 can be seen just as well as my old led's could be. For everything that is added from the 2010 (sat radio, bluetooth, remote start, heated seats, auto up and down on the windows) I can think of much less that I miss about my 06. For my vote and for my money the 2010 T4R was the best option. I work in an industry where "quality control" is extremely important and nothing I have seen listed as a "quality complaint" is a true quality issue. You have to realize what is a problem with engineering and what is a problem with operator malfunction or owner dislike, there is a major difference. Hope you learn to like the vehicle as much as clearly the rest of us do or that you are able to find one that meets your needs and expectations.