2002 Toyota Tundra SR5 from North America - All Comments

28th Jun 2008, 11:44,

I think your comment about 13,000,000 "Lives being destroyed" by Japanese car companies places the blame in the wrong place. The outright simple truth is that had Toyota or Honda come to the US and sold poorly made, unreliable cars and trucks, then they would be just like Yugo, Fiat, Peugeot, or any number of other foreign branded vehicles that are no longer sold here. Or at the very least, they would be like VW, Mitsubishi and only have a small niche market.

But the stark reality that none of you guys will admit is that Toyota and Honda did make good products, built a reputation for reliable vehicles, and won over consumers fair and square. That GM or Ford might be having problems isn't anyone's fault but their own.

Additionally, had GM or Ford not been exposed to international competition, they would probably still be making the throwaway cars they produced prior to competition from import brands. A global economy is for the benefit of the consumer meaning they have the choice of the best products at their disposal.

I also have zero allusions as to what the US economy has become and will continue to be, which is an economy less focussed on manufacturing and hard labor and more of one based in technology, research, communications, and service.

Lastly, I am from the South. Tennessee to be exact. We never had much of an industry in the area until more recently. One of the bigger players in the area is Nippondenso USA, Toyota, and Honda. These companies employee thousands of my fellow residents and they get taken care of quite well.

Lastly - let's not fool ourselves. The Ford Fusion isn't what I'd call a "World class car". Seeing as how it is actually a Mazda made in Mexico, I fail to see how it holds up as a shining example in what is obviously a heated patriotic debate, since it is in fact a "foreign" car itself.

Thousands of Toyotas have come from the FACTORY with warped rotors. If this "isn't the manufacturer's fault, whose is it? The rotor fairy??

The excessive tire wear on the Tundras (and most Toyotas) is due to the factory poorly aligning the front ends (and in some cases even the rear alignment is off). This is due to Toyota's hurried and slip-shod manufacturing processes.

Consumers gravitate towards quality products. Take a look at market share of the "big 3", and Toyota and Honda over the last 25 years. GM, Ford, Chrysler have never cared what the consumer wants, and it's paying off.

Wave your flags all you want: in a free market economy, the strong win. The domestics are reaping what they sowed, and what they sowed was pitifully designed, engineered, and manufactured vehicles. They can blame themselves for the rise of the Japanese auto companies in the USA.

20:28... please go to Consumer Affairs.com and review about issues that were prevalent on new full size Toyota trucks. I doubt the new Tundra owner drove their brand new vehicle home at night and then overtorqued their 4 brand new wheels, and then bought new brakes and rotors.

The information is from Toyota owners, not the domestic crowd. For some reason you are afraid to acknowledge issues, and just lightly dismiss major issues.

I guess if it were your blown engine or trans gone at 800 miles, or airbag issue or braking failure, you would say at least I do not own a domestic. Amazing logic...

I find it unacceptable. I will never buy another new import after reading all the issues. I might do like you and keep a 13 year or older import, as they were better.

I had 2 new Toyotas myself; Celica GT's bought new, and never one return during the warranty period in the 70's. Why all the issues some 30 years later?... as you read all the ones on Consumer Affairs.com.

What isn't crap is not being in service departments, and after seeing the Tundra concerns I was enlightened. I suspect the solution is for everyone that needs a full size truck is to buy a small Tacoma instead from this commenter.

Due to recent lapses in quality, the Tundra and Camry are no longer recommended by Consumer Reports (last month issue)

To 11:44 No. Ford does not and never has outranked Honda in quality. Ford isn't even in the same ballpark as Honda when it comes to reliable engines. Japanese auto manufacturers are still at the top of every review I've read.

Show where you read that Ford outranks Honda. And just because Ford claims in their tv commercials that they are 'as reliable as Toyota' doesn't make it true. It isn't. And never was.

Ford has made some forward progress. They're a little better than the complete garbage that GM is pumping out, and certainly ahead of Dodge's completely ridiculous line of cars, but they're nowhere near the level of a Honda or a Toyota.

The Ford Fusion (yes, that is a FORD the last time I looked) outranks EVERY CAR (including Honda) that Consumer Reports has ever reported on in its history. Look it up.

If some of you flag-waving domestic folks want to go out and put your trust in a GM or Ford product, then go ahead and be my guest. We who have owned Toyotas for decades with zero problems won't stand in your way.

Here's the brief history of automobiles in the U.S.: it started out with the domestics getting big, the BIG 3. They made decent cars in the beginning years. They made money. With no competition in the states, they felt no pressure to improve their product; people had no choice but to buy from them because there was nothing else available. Quality slipped drastically through the 70's, 80's, and '90's.

In the 1070's, Toyota and Honda began selling cars in the United States that were so much better built than any American product that people immediately took notice and started buying them. Through the 80's, 90's, and right up until this day, more and more people are leaving the Big 3 and buying foreign cars, because they last longer, run better, have less trouble... many reasons.

NOW, the Big 3 are beginning to see the error of their ways, and are just beginning to make their stuff a little better. The problem is, it's too little, and way too late. There are millions of loyal Toyota and Honda owners, like myself, who have been driving them for 10-20 years, having practically no trouble at all with them, and will continue to buy them because we know how much better they are than any GM, Ford, or Chevy. And our numbers are growing.

And by 'us', I mean smart consumers. We're not getting burned again by the Big 3. I understand why you domestic owners get all excited. GM and Ford aren't making the complete and total junky, disposable cars they were in the 80's and 90's. They're improving, and you see that. However, they are still miles and miles behind the kind of build quality that Toyota and Honda were holding themselves to almost 30 years ago.

I understand you guys get all excited because a few domestics have gotten decent Consumer Report ratings now. I know the feeling; the difference is, as a Toyota owner, I can look at the ratings over the last 25 years and see my Toyota's right on top, consistently. Not a flash in the pan Ford Fusion or anything. Cars like the Corolla, tried and true for three decades.

Ford always raves about their new cars, then as a few years pass, they end up being recalled nightmares, same as GM's cars. They're all good when they're new. The difference is that Toyota's and Honda's stay 'good' when the GM's and Fords fall apart.

I noticed 21:40 conveniently leaving out transmissions in their Honda comment. How about 3 transmissions in a 2002 Honda? And an automatic to boot. GM makes far superior quality my large pickup and SUV have had absolutely no issues. I bought both brand new and know their repair history.

I would not comment ever on a used vehicle on here as who knows if there was neglect, hidden accidents etc etc. that can sway a review. I think a comment should include the year being commented on, and if acquired new, before condemning an entire brand.

14:20 Over and over disregarding recent serious issues with Toyota quality and mechanical concerns. Toyota is the best so the dissenter says to us... so here's a way to really test that theory even is its just hypothetical. If you were handed the opportunity to have 3 cars just given to you.... worth any dollar value... you want past or present vehicles (that you could not resell and had to keep) how many would be any Honda or any Toyotas? Think it over, what would you pick? It's just a way to test hearing how they are the best. It would take me days however to select many domestics past or present. Not one choice would even remotely be any Honda or Toyota. It would seem anything that is the so called best would be either without hesitation.

Maybe why that is even more of a consideration when you work and buy a vehicle, to never lose sight of that.

I would really appreciate a clear and concise definition of "quality" (and "because I say so" or "I own a 10 year-old Tacoma that still runs" does NOT count).

Is it number of repairs in a given time? If so, please cite records indicating this.

I've NEVER had a transmission or engine replaced in a domestic truck. Wouldn't that constitute "quality"? I know Tundra owners who HAVE had engines replaced (and the truck has only been out a very few years).

I also know people who have replaced transmissions, brake rotors and suspension parts in Tundras. Is this "quality"? What about Honda and Acuras many failed transmissions. These repairs are EXTREMELY expensive. Is that "quality"?

If the Ford Fusion is ranked HIGHER than the Accord, isn't that a sign of "quality"? If not, WHY not? In most forums simple opinion is of absolutely NO value. If a person has no personal experience with a vehicle and cannot cite reliable and unbiased data to support their claims, it means nothing. We've seen the plea made hundreds of times on here to the import fan who constantly belittles anything American to PROVIDE DATA. We have never seen a single source quoted or a single piece of data including frequency of repairs (the ONLY proof of "quality"). Why not? Could it be there simply is none?

This is my original review. I cannot believe this ridiculous debate going back and forth in these comments. Most of it having nothing to do what so ever with Tundra's.

The truck I wrote this review about is still as awesome as it was the day it was new. Nothing has gone wrong, 6 plus years now. It looks like it did the day I brought her home. Granted, with gas prices what they are, its only driven now on the weekends when I pull a camper with it.

This quality debate between the domestic haters and japanese haters is ridiculous. It's a free country, you can buy whatever you want. You like Fords, good for you, buy one. You like Toyota, good for you, buy one. Most people find a brand they like, and remain loyal, no matter what the quality is.

I love my 'Yota and have had some great times in it with my kids, treking to campgrounds out in the woods. I had an old F150 I felt the same way about. NOTE: my review says "no more GM". Ford makes some awesome trucks.

20:25 I'll be glad to define 'quality' for you. The definition of quality is "the degree of excellence of a thing". The degree of excellence of a Toyota or Honda automobile is high, therefore 'high quality'. The degree of excellence of a Ford or GM automobile is low. They are 'low quality' vehicles. Which is exactly why they sell for less, don't last as long, and lose a greater percentage of their value over the years than a Toyota does.

That is a fact. Even if you do not agree with it or choose not to believe it, it still remains a fact. Not because I say so, but because that's the way it happens in reality.