What complaints? The only complaints regarding the Everest per se, that I can remember are due to the "jeepney-like" ride, noisy auxiliary fan and poor power of the old Everest. The new one rides better and has a better engine.
There have always been complaints about the American trucks (the Explorer and Expedition), that will probably persist till Ford finally stops making those dinosaurs, but I must stress, once again, that the Ranger, Everest and Focus were designed and manufactured by Ford Asia and Europe... NOT Ford USA.
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Fuel consumption? Having gotten a mere 5 km/l in the Fortuner 3.0 in traffic... I'd say the D4Ds are about average...

...in the Innova, the 2.5 D4D can get almost as much as our Crosswind 2.5, but I don't think it'll be as fuel efficient in the much heavier Fortuner body.
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I don't put much by the choking issue myself, but I prefer the Everest 2.5 over the Fortuner 2.5 D4D. More power (much more!), similar, if not better, fuel consumption, and a better ride (not awesomely better... but definitely better).
Until Toyota updates their D4D for more power and fixes the tuning of the coil springs they use in the Fortuner, my recommendation still stands. If you're driving over that horrible mess called the South Super Highway or out in the provinces, your back-seat passengers in the Fortuner won't like it very much.
If Toyota does address the suspension issue, I'd consider it. It still looks better, has more shapely seats and its positive steering is just about as good as the Everest's. But as it is, the Everest is worth a long look. And a test-drive. If you're not convinced after the test drive, go ahead and get the Toyota.