Meaning that Camry (which is built in US) quality has suffered? Or Corolla quality (which used to be built at NUMMI in fremont) suffered?
I believe that goes to Honda, though Toyota do come a close second. But for how much longer? The locally built European Toyota Aygo has a dreadful reputation for reliability, though the Auris is good. Does reliability for a manufacturer become hit and miss once they outsource a model to be built locally? The new US Prius could either be a cracker or a lemon. Do the manufacturers lower quality (and costs) to reflect the local market expectations?
^ It would take a better man to figure out how "car experts" come up with nameplate reliability figures. As we all know, statistics is a rather flexible science. Sometimes it's best to look at resale values and cost of ownership over X years or Y miles - in a certain price category and in a given market, of course. From what I can see, the popular reliability vote (<$30K, US) goes to Subaru, but there could be an element of self-fulfilling prophecy. All Subaru owners I have known (none of them had a WRX, though) see their cars a long-term investment and treat them with TLC. Regarding the globalized manufacturing process, it's getting increasingly harder to pinpoint what "nationality" a given vehicle is. R&D facilities and parts suppliers (especially if you look at all subcontractor tiers) can be located just about anywhere in the world.
I've heard the same hypothesis in relation to all reliable brands, and expanded to the owners of brands with unreliable reputations not keeping up with regular maintenance because they didn't plan on the car lasting long anyway. Growing up through the 80's and 90's, the majority of family cars were American brands, and I don't recall any serious problems or regular minor ones with them.
Well I can only speak to the Corolla because I have one as mentioned in my post. Compared to the Prius, it lacks in quality.
Honda is actually pretty proud of the fact that all their models sold in North America will soon be assembled in the USA, Canada, or Mexico. My opinion is that whatever happens, the days of buying a Japanese Assembled true import if you live in North America are numbered. Large automakers are global entities. They are going to build and assemble where they can make the largest profit margin.
i'd say our camry's and hycam's have been about the same as our pri. not perfect, but better than anything else we've owned. could be, you seem to see a lot worse from toyota than we do. it's very odd.
I'd bet Toyota's tend to be a bit more reliable than Hondas because is a bit more conservative with employing technology. For example, in 2013 Honda made the leap to direct injection in the 4 cylinder Accords and by far most of them have CVT transmission in the 4cyl. Camry 4 cylinder is still port injection and 6 speed automatic. But you know that auto transmission is going to be crazy reliable and very low maintenance. CVT from Honda needs more frequent oil change. Edit meant to say Toyota can be more conservative in employing technology.
Because very few Toyotas here are now built in Japan; the Prius and the IQ and some of the SUVs. The Aygo, Yaris, Auris and Avensis are all locally built and in the popular end of the Toyota range. They all have varying levels of reliability with the Avensis being generally OK but certain diesel engines were a nightmare and the Aygo was pretty much a rebadged Citroen and had the reliability to match. If it wasn't leaking water into the cabin, it was breaking down. That's why I'm sceptical of locally built cars; they're hit and miss for reliability.
I honestly have to say my wife's 2010 Venza (all of them are made in Kentucky) has been a rock and shows no real signs of wear and tear through 5 upstate New York winters you might see in a 5 year old car. No new rattles or squeaks (not even a light bulb) and runs like a champ.
^ they have just announced that the US-market Venza is going to be discontinued after this model year .. isn't it ironic? (I believe they will continue to make them for overseas markets, but that won't last forever either).
I hope they don't start making the Prius in the USA... One of the reasons why I like the car so much is because it is made in Japan... I don't trust some American guy named Chuck to put my car together.... though that semtiment is slowly starting to change.
they do a good job with the hycam. and japanese built prius are not immune to poor american quality. read: gas pedals made in indiana.
I must say the same thing about my '86 Accord, also built in Marysville Ohio. While the Prius has an opportunity to beat it, I won't know for another decade. (Not all U.S. market Accords of that vintage were built in Ohio, some were built in Japan. But mine was clearly labeled as a Marysville unit.).
Is the problem that a Prius is made in the US OR A US built Prius will be tuned for US customers? 2.5 litre engine? Bit longer, wider, less economical, more power of course.....? Then the Worlds most economical petrol powered production car will become just another anonymous car that happens to be a hybrid, and not a particularly economical one at that.
