The Toyota motoring corporation was founded by Kiichiro Toyoda in 1937 and was initially influenced by his father's company, Toyota Industries. These days the car manufacturer is the fifth largest company in the world (by revenue) and is the second largest automobile manufacturer. In fact, the company is so big that in 2012  it became the world's first car manufacturer to build over 10 million vehicles per year. Yes, it's one mammoth car company. Lots of cars to produce means lots of staff, with Toyota having one of the biggest workforce imaginable. However, the company is often accused of overworking their staff members, an issue that wasn't helped when in 2002 a 30-year-old quality control manager collapsed and died at work followed by an unnamed chief engineer who died of heart failure at just 45 years old.

Interestingly, Toyota is the world's leading market leader in hybrid electric vehicles and is one of the largest companies invested in encouraging people to switch over. The environment plays a major impact on how they work and the company has been the leader in environmentally friendly vehicle technology for some time. Toyota has many standout and recognizable vehicles but it is the Toyota pickup that has become the most legendary. The design and model have become extremely popular over the years and has generated a number of spin-offs and different versions. However, is it really as good as it claims to be? The answer is a definite no and here are twenty reasons why.

19 The Engines Are Manic

Toyota has a history of recalling their vehicles and it has had many issues and problems with regards to their set up, mechanical systems and engine trouble. In 2014, Toyota issued a recall for select models of the popular Tacoma pickup.

So what was the problem? The engine of course!

Yep, the Tacoma V6 was said to stall in inappropriate places as well dangerous ones, leading to a number of disgruntled customers. Overall, a whopping 3,795 vehicles were recalled, leaving Toyota severely embarrassed. However, it's not just the Toyota pickup that has engine problems, with Toyota once recalling 1.1 million cars between 2005 and 2008. Crazy!

18 They Are Incredibly Loud

The Toyota Tacoma is one of the most popular brands in the Toyota range and is loved all over the world, however, that doesn't mean it comes without problems. The Tacoma is famously noisy and several customers have complained about the loud and strange noises that often come out of the engine. In fact, some even go as far as selling their pickups in order to buy a completely different truck altogether.

But it's not just one noise, it's a number of squeals, whistles, and high pitch whines, all doing their best to distract the driver. Then, to make matters worse, another recall was announced with a humungous 228,000 pickups called back to the factories. So, the next time you are driving and hear a noise, make sure you don't ignore it.

17 The Paint Fades Too Quickly

The Toyota pickup truck might look nice from afar but look a little closer and you will see signs of trouble. Customers have regularly complained of faded paint and unruly paint jobs on their Tacomas and have no idea how to fix or repair it.  So what do you do to combat this problem? The ideal scenario would be to go back in time and choose a different car, unfortunately, time machines don't exist yet so rather than buying a whole different truck it is probably best to figure out how to fix it. One of the best ways to protect your pickups paint job is to wax regularly which protects against rough materials such as gravel and road salt. You should also be thinking about parking undercover, away from the sun and any other interfering weather-related issues.

16 They Are Really Heavy

Pickup trucks are for carrying heavy and large objects, but that doesn't mean the actual truck itself needs to be heavy. In the past, pickups were small, agile and designed for the road as well as the building site, however, these days, pickups are growing and growing.

Toyota pickups have become large and luxury trucks, which although sounds nice, instead takes away from the original point. Big pickups don't handle well off-road and are prone to stalling or getting stuck. In fact, the only good thing pickups do is carry heavy things, which is great because that is what they are supposed to do!

15 They're Thirsty

The price of gasoline increases all the time, in some cases by the minute. In order to combat such looming prices, it's important to choose a car that isn't so thirsty. Sadly, pickup trucks are known for being the ultimate gas-guzzlers, so no matter what you do it's going to cost you.

It's also worth remembering that pickups are usually about 20-50 percent heavier than the bog standard 3,000-pound automobile, and have stronger frames, engines and just about everything else. 

However, some pickups are better than others and aren't too pricey when it comes to filling up. Frustratingly, Toyota pickups are known for their salivating mouths with the Toyota Tundra the highest consuming gasoline pickup on the market. The truck, which is probably the most famous of the Toyota fleet, averages more than $3,000 per year on fuel.

14 They Take Up So Much Space

These days pickups just keep getting bigger and bigger, it's absurd. For instance, the 2016 Toyota Tacoma is a giant when compared to its mini self in 1995. The Tacoma was initially based on the Land Cruiser Prado and was sold as a smaller version designed to go off-road. Toyota was interested in drawing in the American market and realized that pickup trucks were much more than just work vehicles, they were also part of the family. Since then, the 1995 version has expanded into something entirely new.

However, it's the size that is the real difference, with the 2016 Tacoma much longer and wider than the 1995 version. Plus, the 2016 Tacoma has a longer wheelbase and is also extremely heavier. We can only imagine what the 2026 version will look like...

13 They Have Passenger Issues

Toyota pickups are designed to move cargo from one place to another, as well as carry heavy and dangerous objects. They can tow humungous items from afar and also help with construction and dangerous terrains. However, although that's the main reason why people buy a pickup, it doesn't mean that it shouldn't do anything else. A truck is not just for working, and it is likely it will eventually end up being the family truck, ride to the grocery store truck and giving people a ride truck.

Modern trucks are now luxurious family hoarders, moving your family members from one destination to the next. For some reason, Toyota hasn't factored this into their genetic makeup, making it extremely difficult to fit two or more passengers in their vehicles. On the outside, the Toyota's are monsters but on the inside, the interior and seating is exceptionally small, which becomes more of a hindrance. And you can forget about kids, with the Toyota pickups renowned for being "child unfriendly" with car seats and any other kid-friendly necessities a big no.

12 They Are High Maintainance 

To be honest, most cars these days are high maintenance and are prone to breaking down. However, it seems the Toyota brand is the most delicate when it comes to unruly behavior. Yes, you might think that Toyota vehicles are made with reliability in mind, but when it comes to their pickups, Toyota has seemingly lost the plot.

The Toyota Tundra is a classic example and has been an irritable piece of machinery since it was launched way back in 1999. In fact, all Tundra's made before 2004 are pretty much useless due to a safety recall from 2000-2003. And as for the remaining vehicles? Don't bother. They are probably rust buckets gone rogue or suffering from a flat engine.

11 They Have Poor Headlights

Headlamps have been around since the horse and carriage and are now a necessity in the world of driving and the law that beholds it. The first headlamps were fueled by acetylene or oil but would often blow out due to wind, rain and a variety of other weather-related issues. Then came electric headlamps which were introduced in 1898 and were powered by an eight-volt battery.

These days, headlamps are electrically operated and positioned on either side of the front of the vehicle and are supposed to keep the driver safe. Annoyingly, Toyota doesn't seem to understand this rule.

They have had a number of complaints with regards to their poorly designed headlamps. In fact, many drivers have reported strange electrical problems when turning on their headlights, with one customer claiming that the headlights took more than ten minutes to come on and were accompanied by a buzzing sound.

10 No One Will Take You Seriously

Toyota pickups come with a number of stereotypes and presumptions with most people believing those who drive Toyota pickups to be unprofessional, amateurs and lazy. The Toyota pickup screams immature and those who drive them are constantly mocked by those who understand the pickup truck world.

One customer even claimed that his Toyota Tacoma stopped him from getting work, with customers refusing to do business with him after they had seen what he was driving. So why are they so popular when everybody hates them? A recent study suggested that those who drive pickups are extremely attractive to women and that a pickup truck is the sexiest vehicle on the market. Ah, that's why people drive them? The study asked 2,000 men and women what vehicle they preferred the opposite sex to drive, and what brand, color, and type. Women ranked pickup trucks as their favorite and declared those who drive them as the most attractive in the world. Interestingly, the Toyota was nowhere to be seen, with women citing men who drive Fords, Chevrolets, and Porsches as the sexiest. Oh well Toyota, maybe next time?

9 The Electrical Systems Are Terrible 

The numerous recent recalls have turned Toyota into an unreliable and high maintenance car brand, with a recent study by J.D. Power and Associates showing that new car buyers tend to avoid Toyota due to the numerous quality and safety issues. Toyota later agreed and stated that they had gotten "confused" with their priorities.

In fact, Toyota's "shining star" the Tacoma, was recently outed for its shoddy electricals.

Strangely, the Tacoma has been the face of the Toyota brand since its conception in 1995 and is often lauded as being the most reliable when it comes to pickup trucks. However, to this day, customers regularly complain about its faulty electrics, patchy engine and flat batteries.

8 They're Expensive

These days pickup trucks are getting more and more expensive, with even the second-hand models becoming just as expensive as brand new cars. Toyota is right at the top and has increased the price of the Toyota Tacoma and the Toyota Tundra upon every new model. However, that's not to say that the model is improving, with the design still basically the same old design from when it was originally released. Yep, the affordable pickup truck is no more, with the prices likely to increase every single year. Rest in peace.

7 The Braking System Sucks

In 2014, Toyota recalled a large number of vehicles due to various safety issues such as broken systems, insufficient stability control, faulty anti-lock breaks and a whole load of other electrical issues. Toyota has a history of recalling and in 2010 the company was fined a whopping $1.2bn by US regulators over an investigation into misleading statements that the company had made about safety problems within its vehicles.

The investigation blew Toyota's reputation apart, with the car manufacturer still struggling to get back on top.

Peter Shervington (an associate specializing in product liability) claimed, "each announcement puts another dent in Toyota's efforts to recover its reputation and resurrects questions about the impact of its strategy of rapid expansion on previously enviable standards of design and production quality."

6 They Have A History Of Rust

In 2016, Toyota reached an agreement which saw a class action suit brought by U.S. owners of numerous Toyota models over the issue of frame rust protection. The agreement ended in a $3.4 billion settlement with those who owned specific yearly based Toyota Tacomas, Tundras and Sequoia trucks. The problem was rust, with the vehicles receiving inadequate rust protection which was said to be dangerous and life-threatening. Toyota vehicles are famed for being prone to rust and have long been shamed for not at least attempting to rust proof their vehicles. I bet they are regretting that!

5 They Are Dated And Old Fashioned

The Toyota Hilux is one of the world's most popular pickups and the truck has offloaded a whopping 18 million since its creation in 1968. However, although it might be popular, other brands such as Ford, Fiat, Nissan, Mitsubishi, and even Mercedes, are delivering just as many. In fact, the Mitsubishi L200 recently won the best pickup truck award, leaving poor old Toyota in sixth place.

The Toyota is extremely dated with the interior famed for its old school and boring appearance.

Plus, both the switchgear and the dials (in several of their pickup ranges) are archaic and old-fashioned with the plastic like material and old leather seating emphasizing its dated image. But it's not just the Hilux, the Toyota Tundra is also guilty for choosing to reside in the past and has barely had an upgrade since its beginning in 1999.

4 Everybody Has One

These days everybody from your next door neighbor, your great Aunt Norma, and your ex-college roommate has a Toyota pickup. And for some reason, the Toyota Tacoma, in particular, seems to be the most popular truck on the market, with thousands and thousands of them selling each year. But why? One source pinpointed the reliability factor, claiming, "The Tacoma has a tremendous reputation for reliability, In the car world, the joke is that after the zombie apocalypse the only things to survive will be cockroaches and Tacomas."

However, although customers might enjoy this supposed "reliability factor," the Tacoma is now everywhere as a result, and nobody wants a car that everybody else has.

Yep, the Toyota can be found across the globe, from the USA and Europe to the Middle East and Asia. In fact, according to recent data, the most popular car in the world is the Toyota Hilux, with the pickup selling in over 25 countries. Furthermore, Toyota has a whopping 11 best-selling models in 54 different countries, with the car manufacturer making sure to provide for the masses. So if you want a car that everyone in the whole world has, then go for it, be that person.

3 Your Friends Always Want To Borrow Your Pickup

As soon as you buy a pickup truck you immediately become that person who owns a pickup truck which then means "that person who can help move stuff". Yep, get ready for numerous people asking you to help them move things, asking you to help them move house, and even asking you if they can borrow your truck. The storage bed becomes hot property as soon as you purchase it, with all sorts of people crawling out of the woodwork hoping to steal your pickup for "the weekend" or even a couple of months. Don't say we didn't warn you.

2 They Have A Particularly Sketchy Fan Base

For some reason, the renowned terrorist group ISIS have grown fond of the Toyota pickup and somehow managed to get their hands on several of their models. In fact, the situation was so baffling that an inquiry was launched into how Isis had even obtained the vehicles in the first place. The group has been pictured with the Toyota Hilux, Tacoma and Tundra, along with Toyota land cruisers and SUV's. The connection between ISIS and Toyota has also somewhat damaged the Toyota brand, with Mark Wallace (the former US Ambassador to the United Nations, claiming that "the Toyota Land Cruiser and Hilux have effectively become almost part of the ISIS brand." Ouch.

1 They Aren't Ford

Ford is probably one of the most well-known car manufacturers in the world, as well as the most reliable. In fact, Ford is the second largest car brand in the U.S and the fifth largest in the entire world. Ford and Toyota have always had a strange relationship and have gone head to head on a number of occasions. But who really is the best? Ford of course.

In 2018, the car giants went head to head with Ford releasing the F-150 and Toyota the Tundra. The Ford was the standout winner, offering customers better amenities, a nicer interior, and a lower price. In addition, the Ford F-150 is also faster, with its 450-horsepower twin-turbo V6 engine knocking the Tundra's 310 horsepower off the map. And in terms of gas guzzling, the Tundra is extremely pricey when it comes to fuel, guzzling up 15pmpg in the city and 19mpg on the highway.

Sources: www.consumerreports.org, www.bbcnews.com, www.autotrader.com, www.theguardian.com