Toyota Owners Are Quiet About These 10 Things
The following was previously published at HotCars.com.
Toyota Motor Corp is the golden automobile manufacturer to many. The company makes affordable and reliable cars for the general population and prime luxury cars, like Lexus and the Crown, for those who can afford it. But here’s where Toyota fans stop cheering.
The company has had some serious problems. In 2014, facing the Department of Justice, the FBI, and a federal lawsuit, it was forced to pay $1.2 billion to settle charges. It avoided being charged with criminal wire fraud and it settled over misleading consumers and federal agencies regarding vehicle unintended acceleration.
It was a bad day for Toyota. The company was accused of hiding the fact that it knew stuck pedal issues popped up in Europe a year before the U.S. And then proceeded to hide it from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Toyota employees stepped forward. Finally, Toyota faced a three-year audit of safety-related activities by the U.S. Attorney’s office and apologized profusely, promising to be a more “responsive company,” as said by Toyota’s chief legal officer.
So, Toyota has a few little secrets that belie is stellar reputation for producing top products. Let’s look at other disgraces brand owners don’t want to talk about.
Toyota's Record Recalls
Toyota is prone to recalls. In 2014, the manufacturer held the top spot for most recalls of any other company. Recalls became a major problem in 2010. That’s when Toyota faced congressional inquiry. In 2009 and 2010, 14 million recalls of Toyota’s biggest sellers were called back for a range of issues, from catching fire to sticky driver’s side power windows.
The Toyota recall crisis all started on September 14, 2009. A fiery crash involving a Lexus and four occupants was reported to 9-1-1 while the car was careening down an embankment. The caller said the brakes failed. The driver was Mark Saylor, an off-duty California Highway Patrol Officer. The incident evolved into a PR nightmare for Toyota that became a recall emergency and full-blown crisis.
Loose Wheels Falling Off New Toyotas
The Toyota bZ4X is a newer electric vehicle launched in Japan in 2022. In June, BBC was told that a recall was in effect for potential wheel hazards. Toyota said that bolts from the SUV’s wheels can potentially loosen and fall off at any time while driving. The safety recall went out for 2,700 bZ4Xs, including those in the U.S. The bZ4X electric SUV is Toyota’s first EV venture.
In October 2022, Toyota announced it restarted production after three months of halting everything, in light of the loose wheel issue. The recall issue also impacted Subaru, the new Solterra model, which is a joint production of the two companies.
Toyota Hybrid And Plug-in Models Software Issues
Last year, Toyota recalled 460,000 cars because of a software malfunction. A glitch might fail to switch the stability control system to “on” when restarted, which could disable the system, creating a hazard. Several 2020 to 2022 models like Venza, RAV4 Hybrid, RAV4 Prime, and Sienna Hybrid went on notice.
In 2023, vehicle software problems in the 2021 RAV4 Prime were announced. The Hybrid Vehicle Control ECU (HEV-ECU) in cars is subject to a glitch that could shut the system down after prolonged use of the EV mode. Loss of power while driving is a safety risk. About 16,000 RAV4s are so far affected. During the recall crisis, 1.9 million Prius hybrids were called back for a software flaw that caused electronic overheating. Seems like Toyota needs a new IT guy.
Poor Handling and Noisy Ride
All you have to do is take a test drive at a Toyota dealership to know that affordable models are noisy without any of the comforts of insulation. Handling can feel sketchy at high speeds. The noise, especially at highway speeds, precludes conversations with passengers as well as hearing music at low volumes. One notices immediately that Toyota Corolla is not a Lexus luxury ride.
But don't expect any happy Toyota owner to fess up about the cabin noise and bad ride. It's not that bad, they'll say.
Moldy Odors From The HVAC
Changing the air cabin filter will not fix this issue. Toyota Camry drivers complained for years about an unpleasant odor emanating from the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) unit. The odor was said to be caused by mold that collects on evaporators, according to a 1997 report by the company. People with mold allergies were most concerned, but most drivers just do not like the smell.
However, a March 2023 ruling found Toyota is not responsible for the odor issue. A Florida jury cleared all the company of the charges. Toyota was not guilty of concealing the odor issue because, it said, it told drivers the odor was possible. It was also cleared of wrongful death charges. The class action lawsuit ended after five years.
Toyota Tundra's Woes
The Toyota Tundra is a ridiculously popular pickup truck. But the aging 1st generation Toyota Tundra has real problems no one discusses, unless we’re talking about online forums relegated to the dark realms of automotive chat boards.
A transmission issue recognized widely as “pink milkshake,” affects early Tundra production years. Vehicle History says it happens when coolant from the radiator mixes with transmission fluids. Transmission fluid turns a pink milkshake color because a failing radiator compromises cooling hoses, allowing coolant fluid to leak into the gearbox.
But that’s not all. Vehicle History says that early gen Tundras are prone to air pump failure, cracked exhaust manifolds, and bad ball joints. Anyone looking for a used pickup truck should avoid a 2000 to 2006 Toyota Tundra.
Broken Toyota Truck Frames From Excessive Rust
Toyota pickup trucks breaking in half due to premature rusting really happened. Toyota paid for it in 2016 with a $3.4 million settlement from a class-action lawsuit. It affected 1.5 million Tacoma pickup trucks and Sequoia SUVs. The lawsuit found these vehicles lacked adequate rust protection, causing corrosive holes that compromised the frame.
The affected models are Tacoma trucks from 2005 to 2010, Sequoia SUVs from 2005 to 2008, and 2007 and 2008 Tundras.
Toyota's Braking Issues
Problems with brakes in Toyotas is widespread. In 2014, 1.7 Toyota cars were recalled for brake problems. And in 2021, over 227,000 Camrys were called back because of brake issues affecting the vacuum pump in the brake assist system.
There was a problem with brake boosters in 2007 Camrys that made braking less effective and more hazardous. In general, brake issues account for 6 percent of Toyota owners’ complaints. But don’t expect them to tell anyone else!
The Unintended Acceleration Pedal Problem
Toyota’s notorious sudden acceleration setback, the one that caused a recall crisis, starting with 2.8 million vehicles in 2009 for floormat obstruction, created a string of woes for the company. The high profile crash that killed CHP officer Mark Saylor and his family, caught on YouTube and heard on a 9-1-1 call, was not the only tragic accident Toyota was sued for.
Gas pedals getting stuck in full-throttle position while jammed on the floormat killed 89 people over a decade, according to the NHTSA. It said it received 6,200 complaints about sudden acceleration. In addition to the deaths reported, 57 injuries had been filed. It recalled 8 million vehicles worldwide for this problem.
Excessive Oil Consumption
One example of excessive oil burning is found in Toyota 2AZ engines, in a range of 2007 Toyota cars. Camry, Highlander, Scion, RAV4, Matrix, and Corolla models were all affected. The excessive oil burning issue causes overconsumption, and clogged parts.
The reason this happens in the Toyota 2AZ engine, found in the models listed, is that the pistons of that engine build were not made to drain oil properly. Improper drainage clogs the spring in the lower piston ring, and an accumulation of gunked up oil creates engine problems.
There was a warranty by Toyota to fix the issue. It replaced the badly designed pistons with those made with better drainage holes.
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