4runnerWBY
New member
Toyota's are just built right!
What makes a Toyota so reliable?
- Thread starter bigdon
- Start date
fromLRtoT4R
New member
Toyota is not the only one who has good engines.. in fact there some engines that are somewhat longer lasting.. but Toyota is one of the only car companies that has all good engines, which go into all good cars. probably due to superior management, quality control, and emphasis on reliability.. almost any major car company can build a reliable car, its just not all of them want to.. there are some companies that use Toyotas management model as blueprint for theirs, and they have nothing to do with building cars
txbonds
Senior Member
Here is why: 
"A heritage of toughness
It’s no secret that at the core of a superior off-road vehicle lies a body-on-frame construction. 4Runner is one of the last SUVs to still be built this way, keeping true to a heritage that has proven that body-on-frame is the answer to extreme ruggedness. Even after thousands of miles of treacherous, weather-beaten, harsh trails, 90% of 4Runners sold in the last ten years are still on the road." (from Toyota website)
.
"A heritage of toughness
It’s no secret that at the core of a superior off-road vehicle lies a body-on-frame construction. 4Runner is one of the last SUVs to still be built this way, keeping true to a heritage that has proven that body-on-frame is the answer to extreme ruggedness. Even after thousands of miles of treacherous, weather-beaten, harsh trails, 90% of 4Runners sold in the last ten years are still on the road." (from Toyota website)
.
wadle5
New member
THIS
THIS
The great thing now though is craft brew and all of your options. No longer are you tied to just Busch or Schlitz?!?!when beer tasted more like beer and less like tap wateround:
That's just marketing. But yes they are pretty reliable vehicles. Also I would affiliate it to the buyer. With these vehicles costing significantly more than domestics, I believe they are bought by "more mature" individuals. By that I mean early 2000 4runners were being bought by adults, doctors, etc. . .early 2000 explorers were like the escape of the time and were driven by a younger crowd that could afford them and or more likely to thrash them. If that makes sense. Also note how I said usually. . .I am not taking into account the 5th gen section where those yokels are modding and mudding their 45k vehicles. . . .even still the enthusiast is taking better care of their vehicle than a typical explorer owner would.Here is why:
"A heritage of toughness
It’s no secret that at the core of a superior off-road vehicle lies a body-on-frame construction. 4Runner is one of the last SUVs to still be built this way, keeping true to a heritage that has proven that body-on-frame is the answer to extreme ruggedness. Even after thousands of miles of treacherous, weather-beaten, harsh trails, 90% of 4Runners sold in the last ten years are still on the road." (from Toyota website)
.
4runnerWBY
New member
I am an artist and a woodworker. My eye is trained to look for detail. One thing I have always noticed about Toyota is the detail and accuracy in the workmanship and in the "fit'n finish". When I look at even a brand new GM (for example), I'm sometimes amazed at how, even in a brand new vehicle, things often don't line up (like contours in the body shape), or gaps between doors (another example). Variances are often randomly and shockingly different (to my eye anyway).
This is what I don't see in Toyota's, and, I think that what shows on the outside reflects what's on the inside as well (including the engine). Toyota's are simply engineered and put together with a higher degree of accuracy than I see in the domestic brands.
Just my 2 cents.
Oh, and for what it's worth - 463000km's on my '98 Runner - haven't touched the engine beyond regular maintenance.
300000km's on my GM Astro - not only is it finished, to get it there cost me dearly - the thing eats parts like it eats gas.
This is what I don't see in Toyota's, and, I think that what shows on the outside reflects what's on the inside as well (including the engine). Toyota's are simply engineered and put together with a higher degree of accuracy than I see in the domestic brands.
Just my 2 cents.
Oh, and for what it's worth - 463000km's on my '98 Runner - haven't touched the engine beyond regular maintenance.
300000km's on my GM Astro - not only is it finished, to get it there cost me dearly - the thing eats parts like it eats gas.
Last edited:
txbonds
Senior Member
Oh, I know. I was posting it sort of tongue in cheek with regards to the fact that 90% still being on the road meant they were better quality. Honestly I bet most any brand looked at over only a 10 year period has a high percentage of vehicles still on the road.
LandCruiser
New member
Having owned an LC76, an FJ Cruiser, and a 5th Gen in less than a decade's time I can tell you that the plastic US market Toyotas are not like their 3rd world tested brethren.
The LC76 was a solid tank of thick body panels, scratch resistant plastics, indestructible interiors, a beast of a diesel engine, and an SFA mofo with three locking differentials.
You could kick the door and not dent it (you might break your foot in the process).
It had a radio and AC, that's about it. The snorkel came from the factory.
If you drove an LC76 and a FJ Cruiser back to back, you wouldn't believe both were Toyotas. If you drove one and the 5th gen, you'd still be hard pressed to believe both vehicles are made by the same company.
It's like a magnesium frame professional DSLR and a chintzy plastic superzoom camera. Yes, both take photographs and may be made by the same company, but that's where the similarities end.
The LC76 was a solid tank of thick body panels, scratch resistant plastics, indestructible interiors, a beast of a diesel engine, and an SFA mofo with three locking differentials.
You could kick the door and not dent it (you might break your foot in the process).
It had a radio and AC, that's about it. The snorkel came from the factory.
If you drove an LC76 and a FJ Cruiser back to back, you wouldn't believe both were Toyotas. If you drove one and the 5th gen, you'd still be hard pressed to believe both vehicles are made by the same company.
It's like a magnesium frame professional DSLR and a chintzy plastic superzoom camera. Yes, both take photographs and may be made by the same company, but that's where the similarities end.
Last edited:
A big part of Toyotas success with reliability is the fact they they are never quick to adopt new technology. They sit back and wait before implementing tech into their cars. For example, Toyota still has a lot of new vehicles with ancient 5-speed automatics while other manufacturers have moved to 8- or 9-speed transmissions. I think this is a big key to success for Toyota's reliability. The down side is not having access to the latest and greatest, but instead making due with old tech in a new car.
green_manalishi
New member
I've worked for a Japanese corporation as well as in the auto industry. This is the correct answer.
My famil bought a 2002 Corolla made it 300 k km with that last 150 k km with neglecting oil changes. Started to burn oil at 280 k km. Other then a wheel bearing my brother hit a curb it was reliable.
Gf bought a Corolla at 200 k km now at 230 k km dealer maintained. Needs a rear o2 sensor and axle cover needs replacing.
I bought a 04 civic brand new. At 293 k km and other then 3 timing belts and water pump. A cam shaft sensor. Nothing else has needed to be replaced
Let's see how long my 16 trail last.
Gf bought a Corolla at 200 k km now at 230 k km dealer maintained. Needs a rear o2 sensor and axle cover needs replacing.
I bought a 04 civic brand new. At 293 k km and other then 3 timing belts and water pump. A cam shaft sensor. Nothing else has needed to be replaced
Let's see how long my 16 trail last.
From what I know; most vehicle companies all have vehicles that are put together well and some that are not. A good Toyota will be about bomb proof. There are crappy ones out there too tho.
From my families experience, all we buy is Toyota now because overall the company doesn't make parts too heavy and doesn't put bunch of extra bs. Toyota started out right and the legacy continues. Although their late 90's models still hold a special place in my history books. F-ing solid well built vehicles. There is a reason Toyota is renowned around the world for being almost bomb proof. Because thru war, swamp, desert, or Siberian snow slides, they are da bomb.
From my families experience, all we buy is Toyota now because overall the company doesn't make parts too heavy and doesn't put bunch of extra bs. Toyota started out right and the legacy continues. Although their late 90's models still hold a special place in my history books. F-ing solid well built vehicles. There is a reason Toyota is renowned around the world for being almost bomb proof. Because thru war, swamp, desert, or Siberian snow slides, they are da bomb.
Last edited:
SantaFeTrailer
New member
My '85 has 203k, so yeah too soon to tell. My '14 has 23k. I wonder how long it will take me to catch up, then I will have to drive both the exact same amount of miles a week to calm my OCD.
NuclearN8
New member
If you listen to Mike Sweers speak at any new SUV or Truck debuts he ineveitably says the acronym, QDR. Quality, Durability, Reliability. Quality thru all aspects of the design process (from peer checking analysis calculations and FEA models to manufacturing processes to supply chain logistics of subcontrator incoming inspections) to over-engineering something beyond it's realistic expected use (using larger safety factors in load & force calculations) provides a "Reliable" product to the end cusumer.
At the end of day only You can decide if a Toyota is reliable as your scale may be different than someone else's...
As a RAMS engineer, I'm convinced Toyota does it right (they're not perfect by any means, but they're quality process and attention to detail early on in the design stage means that quality is built in from the get go.). Most of the current day issues we see with Toyota's are not design issues, they're manufacturing issues due to poor quality, which luckily are more easily fixed and have less evere consequences through TSB's than Safety Recalls.
At the end of day only You can decide if a Toyota is reliable as your scale may be different than someone else's...
As a RAMS engineer, I'm convinced Toyota does it right (they're not perfect by any means, but they're quality process and attention to detail early on in the design stage means that quality is built in from the get go.). Most of the current day issues we see with Toyota's are not design issues, they're manufacturing issues due to poor quality, which luckily are more easily fixed and have less evere consequences through TSB's than Safety Recalls.
This quote isn't getting enough attention on this thread.
The OP likely intended to praise the 80s and 90s Toyota tech which was known for bulletproof reliability and the ocd and anal Japanese manufacturing process mentioned earlier.
Since Tacoma and tundra and so on have been built in the US, there hasn't been nearly the reliability in comparison and one only has to navigate to tacoma world or the 5th gen section here and reference the numerous problems the newer breed Toyota 4x4 SUVs have which never struck the older gens. I pretty much consider buying a new Toyota truck not far off from buying a competing American manufacture truck... which is a whole different can of worms since the competitors offer diesels turbos and v8s.
Last edited:
Good analogy on the camera example. To me the 70 Series is unmatched world over for toughness, durability and reliability. Toyota’s built in the 80’s were imo of better quality than their current products. Most were then made in Japan. Of their new vehicles I still feel those made in Japan are their higher quality offerings. The 4Runner is a prime example. The day it is made stateside quality will suffer. And let’s hope it will always be body on frame. The Land Cruiser was traditionally built with a higher quality parts spec. A solid axle 70 Series Troopy or maybe Wagon has been a dream vehicle for me
octanejunkie
Elite Member
Toyota hired William Edward Deming as a consultant in the 60s who helped launch Toyota on the production systems and total quality mission that fueled Toyota to produce the vehicles that we still enjoy so much today, 3 decades later.
Company's quality crusade was launched by an American | Automotive News
Toyota's Management History - The W. Edwards Deming Institute
W. Edwards Deming - Wikipedia
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
Company's quality crusade was launched by an American | Automotive News
Toyota's Management History - The W. Edwards Deming Institute
W. Edwards Deming - Wikipedia
Sent from my Pixel 4 XL using Tapatalk
After reading this thread, piston rings come to mind. The trend in modern vehicles is to cheap out on piston rings, so that there is less friction and better MPG in order to satisfy strict emissions requirements. Obviously that hurts long term reliability of the engine. The Tacoma & 4Runner are notorious for getting bad gas mileage, because I suspect Toyota does not cheap out on things like that like other manufacturers do.
AuSeeker
Elite Member
How do you come up with cheap piston rings equate to better MPG and less friction and that is why Toyotas lasts longer and have worst mileage.
I can't attest to the MPG part but if Toyota has piston rings that have more friction in the cylinder, how do you explain the findings when Toyota bought back the two 1,000,000 miles V8 Tundras and when they took the engines apart they found the original honing marks still on the cylinder walls looking very much like they did when the engine was assembled, so I would say the piston rings which I'm sure are some of the best would have minimum friction judging by what Toyota found in their tear down of the engine!
I think why Toyotas last as long as they do is the quality of all the components and the workmanship of how they are built!
Thin piston rings (cheaper) have less surface area contacting the cylinder walls and therefore less friction. This requires less energy to move the piston, requiring less fuel.
I suspect Toyota does not cheap out on their piston rings, and use thicker rings. The thicker rings have greater surface area contacting the cylinder walls, resulting in more friction and requiring more fuel burnt to move the piston.
The thicker rings will last longer than the thinner ones, because there is more material that needs to be worn away before they reach the failure point than the thinner ones. That's why you see so many 300K mile Toyota engines not burning a ton of oil.
