From humble beginnings as a loom production company in 1926, Toyota has woven its way to becoming the second-largest automotive manufacturer in the world after Tesla. But hey, who needs to be the biggest when you can be the best? Toyota is all about continuous improvement and treating their employees with respect (aka not treating them like robots…mostly). And it shows in their cars – reliable, sturdy, and all-around awesome. From Corollas to Land Cruisers, Toyota’s got the market covered. But no one’s perfect, not even Toyota. Some models have defects that make them less…”appreciated”. But hey, what is a great story without a few lows. So get ready as we explore the not-so-secret flaws of Toyota’s otherwise amazing cars.
1991 Toyota Previa
The first generation previa, when it first came out in ’91, can only be likened to a bloated animal tied to a tree. Spanning 187 inches from bumper to bumper, with its oval-shaped roof and large windows, it looked more like a see-through ambulance than something you’d take a ride in. You thought things would be better on the inside, didn’t you? Up front, you have a massive dashboard so far in front of you can play golf within the distance. It’s packed with scratchy plastic everywhere you look and the fact that it’s mid-engined means you’re sitting just above the powerhouse soaking up all that heat.
It comes with a naturally aspirated 4-cylinder engine with a supercharged variant for a little more zoom-zoom effect, that’s if you don’t go partially deaf from all the whining it makes. Things aren’t all bad though; you have a lot of space, acres of headroom so you don’t feel claustrophobic and the whole family can fit in. Who needs style when you have Toyota’s reliability. Despite all that, one thing is certain, we do not miss the previa even with the revamp of the second generation. We are in fact glad it was replaced by the mummy-friendly Sienna.
1999 Toyota Solara
The hall of fame for great coupes is packed with legends like the Porsche 911, Ford Mustang GT, and Corvette. And then, there’s the Toyota Solara… which is like trying to put a kid in elementary school on the national basketball team – it just doesn’t belong. The Solara is basically a Camry with two fewer doors and a name that sounds like a toddler’s babble. It’s like Toyota thought, “Hey, let’s chop off some doors and make a new car” But, they forgot to add the fun. Enthusiasts weren’t fooled; they opted for the Nissan 350Z, BMW 3 series coupe, Toyota Supra, and Infiniti G35 coupe instead. These cars had the power, handling, and style that the Solara lacked, making it a failed mission.
2000 Toyota Echo
The ultimate “get me from point A to B” car. No frills, no thrills, just a reliable ride for those who didn’t care about fancy features or speed. Ironically, in other markets, it was known as the Prius – Toyota’s hybrid superstar! But back to the Echo…its 1-liter engine was efficient, but let’s face it, it was as sluggish as a sloth on valium. And aesthetics? It was about as appealing as a kitchen sink full of nasty dishes. No wonder sales tanked from 10,000 in ’99 to a whopping 7 in 2007. Yes, you read that right…seven. Our advice? Get a Yaris instead! It has a peppy, fuel-efficient engine that we are sure you’ll love.
2007 RAV4
A reliable rockstar…except for that one year, 2007. It has received so many complaints that we have decided to put it on the naughty list. Honestly, If Santa were to own one, he would too. From water pump issues on the V6 models, unexplained knocking noise from the front suspension at low speeds to transmission issues and a bunch of other problems. It’s like, did someone sneak into a secret underground factory and slap a Toyota badge on a lemon? We are just as baffled as you are.
Our advice, go for the 2009 model years upwards as those tend to have fewer problems and complaints.
2007 Camry
Warning: the 2007 Camry, aka the “Camry muscle,” has a few quirks! It’s like that Yoruba friend who loves “Òróró”(Vegetable oil) too much. Let’s be real, who wants an engine that burns oils and a dashboard that’s stickier than bread dough slammed to a wall? But fear not, friend! The V6 model is the way to go for 2007. Toyota got its act together from 2008 onwards. So, go ahead and get your Camry, just avoid the 2007 4-cylinder models because it’s an oil-guzzling, sticky dashboard squad!
2007 – 2012 Corolla
The Corolla is the world’s best-selling sedan and it is so popular in Nigeria that some even jokingly refer to it as a citizen. You barely notice the transmission switching gears, a relatively quiet, smooth engine that sips fuel -its major selling point. Our grudge with the Corolla is due to an airbag defect. During an accident, the inflators in the faulty airbags could inflate with too much force, dispersing metal fragments at bullet speeds, potentially causing fatal injuries or death to occupants in the car. Not good!
Buying a car can be a thrilling adventure… until it turns into a disappointing nightmare. But don’t worry, we’re not trying to scare you off although, let’s be real, some of these cars might age quicker.. Our goal is to arm you with the knowledge you need to make an informed decision, so you know what you’re getting yourself into. After all, forewarned is forearmed right?
