Toyota OKs Use of Imperfect Parts to Keep Production Going

https://www.thedrive.com/news/43430/toyota-oks-use-of-imperfect-parts-to-keep-production-going


DOOOOOOOMMMMMM!
Carry on.

 

Sounds like cosmetic-only in places you can't see. But still, a backward move for a brand that is based primarily on quality (rather than bling and tech). Loose that, whatcha got?

 

Damn it your aren't supposed to actually read the article.

It also applies to non performance and non safety related parts.

 

* Lose

 

I read the same story this morning in my Google Newsfeed. The story isn't as dramatic as the "sensational" headline implies.

If you want the cliff notes of the story:

• Toyota approved use of parts with "inconsequential defects" to keep up with production & has been doing that since 2019.
• The "inconsequential defects" are typically cosmetic and only in places of the vehicle that are typically not visible to the consumer
• These 2 lines from the article pretty much say it all: "Toyota reportedly started meeting with its suppliers in 2019 to let them know blemishes are alright if they don't impact performance, safety, or consumer-facing aesthetics. This reportedly allowed one supplier of plastic seatbelt parts to reduce its component rejections by some 75 percent."

You're welcome. Have an awesome day.

 

Depending on what they allow, maybe there won't be a difference.

For example if they got a carpet kit in and the corners were stained, but those corners are hidden by plastic covers, who cares?

If its more blatant like this steering wheel has a 6" scuff across the front but they use it anyway, thats another story.

 

any BLEM discounts?

 

this is not good
how do they determine if something is fucked up on the outside but still structurally sound and performant?? A human QA can fuck up that determination process and let defective parts go to production vehicle
when in doubt, just get a new part, that should be the Toyota way. This is also a slippery slope, is Toyota going to roll back to higher acceptance criteria after all the shortages are over? Or this is the new norm to padding profit going forward?

 

Well that explains the loss of the tranny cooler.

 

Whew! My Tundra is a defect free 2018, WITH A TRANNY COOLER (Can we say that on this woke forum?). LOL

This isn't good for Toyota's rep, raise the prices and get defect parts? But this is SOP for Ford, GM, Ram. We'll see what happens with the Tundra.

I never buy first year of any new vehicle, usually I wait until the third year or longer anyway. I'm just about to upgrade the suspension on my Tundra, and put bigger tires on it, so I'm keeping it for a bit. I love my truck and hate to jump into an unknown.

All that said, I think I might want to buy the new Gen Tundra, but I'm in a wait and see mode. OR I may buy the new Gen Tacoma whenever that finally comes out.

 

This is going to open a can of Rattles.

 

posted that in the main thread few days ago (day before the drive article came out)

https://www.tundras.com/threads/official-2022-tundra-3rd-gen-thread.97603/page-61#post-2527728

 

So that's why my 2020 doesn't have a tranny cooler! Damn you Toyota!!1!

/s

 

The QA Inspector sends an NMR (Nonconforming Material Report) to an Engineer for approval/rejection. The suspect part could go through 3 or 4 dispositions between Engineering, Purchasing and the Supplier before it gets In-Stocked or Rejected. Most American manufacturers have adopted these Toyota Kaizen principles. If anyone thinks ALL PARTS MUST BE PERFECT, you're just kidding yourself.

 

As a follow-up, GM has stated they will accept any parts that Toyota does not want to use.

 

Sure..,,,, charge a premium and use imperfect parts!

 

Man, I don't know if I should be feeling ok or not ok with that.

 

Mystery solved!

 

So this explains the rust on the seat frames. Hmmmmm

 

For Sale:

2018 V8 Tundra with a transmission cooler. No low-ballers, I know what I have.

 

1-800-GOU-GING

 

As they should. Parts where it makes no difference, shouldn't be wasted and used, not only to "keep production going" but to reduce production waste as well, in my opinion.

 

Things are a little "too equal" now in the light truck market. Toyota has put the research into the implications of making a cut-back like this. But in the same breath, I will say I would lose loyalty in a heartbeat over this admission. The late model F-150's have some appeal to me despite never being a Ford fan.

Love my Tundras.

 

There are a lot of places you can’t see that matter structurally and electronically. Doesn’t say anything about cosmetic. Just you won’t see it if you don’t look.

 

Thankfully, it is just cosmetic defects. The problem with this article from The Drive is that it doesn't represent the original source 100% accurately. The source article from Reuters makes it pretty clear that Toyota stated it's accepting cosmetic issues only from its suppliers.

On a side note: This is the problem when people write articles based on someone else's reporting. Just like the game of telephone...some information gets lost each time you get farther away from the source. In this case, a fairly important piece of clarity is missing.

Here is a link to the Reuters article for more clarity.

 

Just be glad you’re not in line for a Ford Bronco like me. Quality has been a sh@t show.
https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/thre...ustomer-feedback-proposal-and-response.29636/

 

I don’t disagree, but whose making parts where 1 out of 4 are crap. What does that say about the other 3? The part manufacturer is obviously doing a crappy job if they have so many quality issues.

 

I honestly thought long & hard about getting one of the new Broncos.

I was looking at it like this...I've $55k and there are 2 vehicles that excite me right now: The new Tundra and the new Bronco. Which one is going to get my money? The brand-new iteration of a truck that's been produced since 1999 or the brand-new iteration of an SUV that hasn't been produced since 1996? I did a ton of research on the Bronco before putting a deposit down on the Tundra.

The quality issues with the Broncos is one of the big things that tipped me. I'm not saying the new Tundra won't have the same number of issues as the Bronco. I hope not, but it's a new platform so I'm expecting some issues (hopefully minor & covered under warranty). In the end, it came down to me asking myself which company I trusted more to follow through & correct any issues that crop-up. My vote was Toyota. Hopefully, my faith doesn't go misplaced.

 

Especially with the seatbelts. Now they are using the other 3 that got rejected. A little concerning. You now get a quick exit out of the truck if you rear end someone.