The real problem is a trade deficit. We import cars from Japan and abroad with very little penalties for foriegn companies. Toyota, Honda, Nissan, etc pay far less in tariffs and fees than Ford, GM, or MOPAR does in Japan or elsewhere.
Basically, they charge the U.S. more to sell our cars there than we do to them for selling their cars here.
In many other countries American cars are even sought after, but are very expensive to own due to the costs added to them by an unbalanced exchange.

As far as quality. I've owned two Nissans before, a truck and an Altima. Excellent Vehicles...my SVT Focus is just as well built if not better. After 60K and PLENTY of autocrossing, all my panels fit square, my interior doesn't squeek, there are no rattles, and it is just as quick today as it was when it was new. And, yes...I do know that my car was built in Mexico. Does that make me upset? No. If Ford has to build cars in Mexico to compete against Toyota and their low labor costs, then so be it. I can't blame them. Unions are part of the problem, they've bit the hand that fed them.
But, everytime I hear someone spout out that American companies can't build a good car, I just assume they are automotive morons. Building quality cars is not top secret technology people....open you eyes and minds. There are great cars built by the big three. Every bit as good as your Hondas and Toyotas. So next time you are buying a new car, do yourself a favor, erase your mind of mis-information and consider a trip to one of the big three's dealers, and stop being an automotive moron.
Its not about being patriotic. Its about broadening your horizons and stopping this urban legend that Japanese cars are somehow superior.