Honest thoughts on Toyota Reliability on 4th Gen going forward

If your planning on coming in the thread and raging because i dare speak anything but positive about Tacoma's its best find another thread to do it on.

I drive a lot for my job. I absolutely love my 2017 TRD Sport. But with the miles i put on and remote places i go at times i like to keep a newer vehicle under me. I'm not in the market immediately for a new truck but by next year( spring) i will be starting some serious research. I've never questioned Toyota's reliability in the past but lately their choices and the problems they are having with Quality are making me pause for the first time. The long term viability of the 4 cylinder Turbo. Not its power delivery, its reliability. The transmission issues they are having in 2024 Tacoma's. The Tundra's needing literally 100,000 engine replacements. This is all getting more then a little concerning.

The pricing of the vehicles being so much higher then they have been in the past is also a concern and coupled with reliability issues popping up gives me reason for concern. I've been pricing our Nissan and even the Chevy Colorado. I've heard the resale argument many times , but if reliability is a problem Tacoma revalues aren't going to be as good in the future either. If i can get a nice new Chevy Colarado cheaper , at a much better interest rate the resale value loses its punch since i will be paying from what I'm seeing a few hundred a month less over a shorter amortization time.

Just wanted to have an honest, drama free discussion with other Taco owners on your ideas and concerns if your planning on making a new purchase in future.

 

Like most posters that I assume will join the thread, I don't have any experience with the new Toyota trucks.

However, I think any real assessment needs to be done in 2027 or so. Yes, there have been a number of issues already, but time will tell if Toyota is able to fix those appropriately (with the TSBs, recalls, whatever). There may also be new issues that will take a year or so to present themselves, so it could go either way.

The current gen of Rav4 had a few recalls for the first few years, but now it's a solid vehicle. The Tundra has a number of recalls, and may be getting better, but again time will tell.

I believe the new generation of Toyotas will be less reliable than before, if just for the sole fact that historically Toyota has made very small changes over time, and the new generation has many changes at once (and are no longer ridiculously overbuilt engines like the 4.7, 2.7, and 4.0). The older vehicles also used to be super easy to work on, which has also changed in the new models.

I don't think they will be any less reliable than the competition, but I think the days of Toyota being head and shoulders above everyone else are gone, at least for the stuff coming out in the past few years. (I don't expect Prius, Camry, etc. to start sliding downhill just because the Tundra had some hiccups, for example).

 

The 3rd gen forum is an interesting place to put this by the way. You have a 2017: don't you remember the sky falling back then too?

 

The only thing that will answer your Q is time (for actual facts) or speculation (which will certainly appear in this thread).

If you're confident in a 3g, move up from your '17 to a '23. Another 5 years or so will give better data on the 4g.

 

Its the proper place to put this. Because quite a few 3rd Gen owners will be the next buyers of the 4th Tacoma's for Upgrades and the discussion should be had. There were definite concerns when 3rd gen came out but Toyota was using a revamped engine already known in their fleet and a reliable starting point and the transmission wasn't much a concern. This is a huge change in multiple models and the problems and Toyotas reputation is taking a severe beating and its loyal customers are rightfully concerned about paying out the premium prices they want. Why should i spend $200 a month more and higher Interest rates over a longer amortization period for a depreciating asset that i now question its long term viability .

 

you invest in stock market you speculate. You buy property, you speculate. You flip houses , you speculate. You start a new Job, you're Speculating. You start a new relationship, you're speculating. You move to a new city fo fresh start, you speculate. I made a post speculating.

Welcome to life.

 

You came to the wrong place. The drama free forum is four doors down on the left.

 

Most people are so zoomed in on the stats they fail to put it in perspective. Brand X has a major defect every 1:10000 units, Brand Y has a major defect 1:12500 units. And the journalists scream "Brand X is the least reliable ever, don't buy it!"

 

I agree with this. Find a new 23 or super low mileage 23 and ride out the next few years while the 4th gen proves it self. Seems like the safest and albeit smartest move given your criteria and needs.

 

I would wait it out. Toyota like all manufacturers are struggling with suppliers and build quality, they also seem to have some growing pains on new powertrains (Tundra engine and the transmission in the Tacoma, both new designs). We all know I have a Tacoma problem, I had a few deals and deposits on 4th gens but have put my shopping on hold after my few test drives and from the things I'm seeing on the other forum and facebook groups. Sure every new gen has some issues first year but despite what most will say not in the same nature as the 4th gen, broken radio knobs sure whatever, but rattling front glass, cross threaded oil filters and oil leaks and icing on the cake the increasing number of failing transmissions that story looks oh so similar to the Tundra engines. I also am not sold on the longevity of the new powertrain as I don't think Toyota is in the business of keeping butts in one of their vehicles for decades like they used to and consumers have changed as well, most want the latest and greatest, its really about your priorities. As far as needing something new and hoping to get 100k out of it before moving to something else in 5-6 years I think you'd be fine with the new gen. Me and my wife were looking at a new 2025 Explorer ST to replace her 23 Lexus RXh and honestly it was hard to tell the difference between the two in initial build quality and assembly. Not to mention the Ford dealer was bending over backwards to try to get me into one (free extra 2 years of maintainence, etc., etc.).

 

FWIW, I would never buy Brand X or Y. Especially now, but probably not even then...

 

You shouldn't. And I think you shouldn't buy the first or second year model of anything.

I like the late model 3rd gen idea, or you could even go 4Runner, if you can stomach the gas mileage. Or, if you don't need a truck for work, that would open the door to a lot of other less expensive vehicles with known reliability (that aren't first year redesigns).

 

I came from a 2013 Tundra 5.7 RW. Without question the most reliable 1/2 ton pickup. Purchased a gen4 TRD off road in July, now 8000 miles zero reliability problems. A couple fit and finish problems but nothing major. ​

My thoughts on the gen4 reliability, I bought the new model Tacoma based on Toyota’s long history of reliability. Odds are in favor of it continuing to represent Toyota’s typical reliability. The only way to know with 100% certainty is wait 10 years to make a decision. I did not know the answer to that question with 100% certainty when I bought my 2013 Tundra.

Toyota absolutely botched the gen 3 Tundra and learned a very costly lesson that will unlikely be repeated. The gen4 Tacoma transmission failures admittedly were being reported at an alarming rate a few months ago but that seems to have been addressed and is far less common now.

 

Aside from some first year glitches I predict the 4th gen will be fine.

 

I agree, give it time; too early to tell now.

 

Tacomas bought 10 years ago are still easy to fix today, not many sensors, electric motors, nimh batteries, turbos, info screens, the list goes on. Can you imagine that stuff failing in 12 years the cost. More gadgets = less reliability = more cost. After the warranty went out on the 4th I would be biting nails.

 

Oh, the uncountable number of Tacoma owners that would be so much better suited in another vehicle, albeit for pride...

 

Reliability may be similar but repair is going to be more expensive when something does go wrong. My 2020 with 70K had a throttle body got out, and took out the ECM, bill on that little glitch was over 2K (warranty covered it). No warning, just drove the truck, cut it off, tried to start it, lights everywhere truck went into limp mode...a week later got the truck back. Not a high mileage vehicle, etc.

I think with vehicles out of warranty it's going to be more about how much they are to fix and keep on the road when they do break and they will. In that case, a low mileage older truck might be better like 2nd gen. Or a new 2024 4 runner if you want the best of brand new and old at the same time.

When one is out of warranty I want them to be relatively reliable but more important, more inexpensive to repair.

I can only imagine the costs of repair on the newer powertrains.

 

Do you also say 70K is a lot of miles on a toyota in one breath and on the other say....100K ..the engine is just getting broken in on the for sale ad....lol

Maybe there should be a poll....is 70,000 miles a lot of miles on a Toyota Tacoma.

Relatively cheap as compared to what other vehicles?

Is the engine and transmission replacement cost relative to other mid size trucks?