Toyota and Nissan have started offering three vehicles produced in the United States to buyers in Japan, yet the marketing materials for each model include warnings about possible quality and comfort issues.

The Nissan Murano along with the Toyota Tundra and Highlander are now on sale for Japanese customers. Unlike previous North American imports, these vehicles were not originally engineered for the Japanese market and fall short of full compliance with local rules.

Although they do not meet every Japanese safety requirement, the vehicles enter under a tariff pact reached between the United States and Japan in late 2025. That agreement caps duties on Japanese exports at 15 per cent and permits US-made cars to reach the domestic market after only minor adjustments.

Required modifications cover headlight recalibration, addition of amber rear turn signals, metric gauges, plus fitting of emergency flares and load labels.

These items appear on the official pages for the Murano, Tundra and Highlander. The sites also flag certain quality aspects that may seem unfamiliar to buyers accustomed to domestic brands.

Toyota states that paint finishes are intended for overseas markets and notes that thin coatings, uneven tones, polishing marks or slight bulging may appear, yet these do not impair function or performance.

Nissan similarly alerts buyers to possible dust in paint finishes, inconsistent panel gaps and misaligned trim pieces. Certain features have also been omitted, including the Murano panic alarm and remote starter, while in-car television, AM/FM radio, HDMI ports, emergency calling, road-sign recognition and remote services either remain unavailable or fail to operate in Japan.

Infotainment and instrument displays support only English, Spanish or French. Japanese navigation and media require a connected smartphone running Android Auto or Apple CarPlay.

The Murano and Tundra reach Japan in left-hand-drive configuration, whereas the Highlander arrives in right-hand-drive form because its platform already supports that layout for markets such as Australia, where it is known as the Kluger.

Although the Tundra is sold in right-hand-drive guise in Australia, it is manufactured solely in left-hand-drive form in San Antonio, Texas. Conversion by a specialist adds substantially to the final price.

Japanese brands have previously re-imported North American products. Past examples include the Honda LaGreat based on the US Odyssey, early Toyota Avalon models sold locally as the Pronard, and the second-generation Honda NSX.

One notable earlier case was the Toyota Cavalier, a rebadged Chevrolet Cavalier built in Ohio and supplied to Japan amid trade pressures. That model carried a higher price than local rivals yet suffered from build-quality shortcomings linked to its origin.