QC and pride in workmanship has definitely taken a big hit and not just in new vehicles. It seems to be across the board with everything.
You cant buy anything that isnt junk anymore.
Doesnt matter what it is. I was just thinking about this yesterday.
Back in 2014 i paid like 800 bucks for a new maytag washer. In 2019 i rebuilt it because the transmission was shot. Fast foward to last wed, the thing wouldnt agitate right. Crawled under it to find the clutch (or splutch or whatever it is) shot, the shift motor shot, and the trans leaking again.
I absolutly refuse to buy a new one on principal now. Wife was pissed but im not spending 1000 dollars for another 5 year washer when i can spend 200ish every 5 years and 3 or 4 hrs rebuilding this hunk of shit.
I bought a wireless phone charger from the truck stop just over a year ago. Because my cell phone would no longer charge on a cord (i feel they DONT WANT TO design robust charging ports), and now the plug in on the charger is shot. Every day i have to unplug it, bite then end of the cord slightly, and replug it in so it charges right. This was a 70 dollar charger.
I bought a pair of catapillar work boots (to replace my carhartt ones that lasted 1.5 years, 200 dollar boots), the cats were 100, got them in october, and they are ripping out already.
Its a friggin joke. I got stuff from the 70's and before that still work perfectly. I got a can opener from like 1974 that i still use. I got a sawzall from probably the early 80's, runs great. Could go on and on. Hell my 48 farmall cub fires up every time.
Then people sit and wonder why no one has spending money. It all goes to replacing shit that lasts 4-5 yrs when it should run 20.