Behind Toyota's reputation for quality is this: a deep-seated fear of failure.

"We are kind of paranoid," says Dennis Cuneo, senior vice president of Toyota Motor North America Inc. "You're going along, and things are going quite well, and you're always thinking: 'What could go wrong?'"
Industry watchers have wondered when the relentless growth of Toyota's manufacturing in North America would start to undermine the quality and reliability of its vehicles. The company's leaders have the same concern, Cuneo says.

Toyota and Lexus divisions still comfortably exceed industry averages in such measures as J.D. Power and Associates' Initial Quality Study and Vehicle Dependability Index Study, and surveys by Consumer Reports magazine. But the quality gap is closing as Toyota's competitors catch up. And recalls of Toyota cars and trucks spiked during the past two years.


Story: Autoweek