2003 Toyota Sequoia Suspension Problems

Hello, I am writing to you to have an investigation started on 2003 Toyota Sequoia, I own one and there has been concerns with the Frame of the vehicle rotting out, there was Warranty Enhancement Program sent out in United States to cover frames of 2001 to 2004 Toyota Sequoias which replaced severely rusted out frames at the dealership. I use this vehicle for my family and I do not want to endanger the lives of them and the people around the community where the frame may break due to rust and cause a severe accident. Please take a look at the details below and get back to me. Subject: Limited Service Campaign (LSC) CSD Certain 2001 through 2004 Model Year Sequoia Vehicles Frame Inspection I am located in Canada would like NHSTA to investigate and see if this program can be administered to vehicles in Canada since I have severe rotting of the frame and I have had to have it welded many times to not compromise the safety of the vehicle

The latch hook/truck door release has a defect. It has been replaced 3 times after purchase of my vehicle , by the following Toyota dealerships (Tejas Toyota in Humble Texas (2x); Maund Toyota in Austin, Tx (1x). Each dealership service said it was/is manufacture defect with the latch hook and it stops “un latching when the vehicle the button is pressed to unlock and the handle can not open the hatchback” This time I was traveling out of state with my pet in the kennel and when we stopped for restroom break the latch would not open to retrieve the pet to let out the kennel. We were traveling with a vehicle full of items, which the entire inside of the vehicle had to be emptied I ordered to let all the seats down and try to maneuver to try to get my dog out of kennel I. Such a small confined space that was hard to open because it was in the side. It took over and hour to cut the cage at the top to retrieve my pet. The sad part is there was no warning because we were traveling a 13 hour trip, stopping every couple hours for breaks and stretches, and the couple hours before we open the hatchback just fine. This is more than a safety concern for the animal. This is also the ares for retrieving the spare tire underneath the vehicle when the spare has to be released. I have replaced the part 3 times and I am charged $600 cost for parts and labor, when Toyota is aware of the defect. I just had the part replaced 19 months ago and Toyota only gives a 12 warranty on the part. This is ludicrous when the manufacture is aware of the ongoing problem. I have purchased 4 prior Toyota’s and never had had this type of problem. My second safety issue is the case gage drops below the empty gage and stays there even though there is gas in the vehicle. The dealership said there was a recall years ago but I never received any notice. Please advise.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HAVING A TIRE REPLACED ON THE VEHICLE, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY CORRODED. THE TECHNICIAN DEEMED THE VEHICLE UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. NO DEALER WAS CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT UNDER RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 235,000.*DT*DT

TOOK VEHICLE TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DUE TO STEERING ISSUE - WHEN I WOULD HIT A BUMP I WOULD LOOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. INSPECTION SHOWED THE VEHICLE UNDER BODY AND FRAME HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED, THERE ARE SEVER HOLES AND THE TRAILING ARM HAS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME. I AM NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER, BUT TOYOTA HAD A RECALL ON THE FRAME DURING THE PRIOR OWNERSHIP AND THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED MULTIPLE TIMES AT A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DURING THE RECALL AND THE PROBLEM WAS NOT ADDRESSED. TOYOTA REFUSES TO OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE AT THIS TIME.

WHEN DRIVING ABOUT 45 OR 60 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES REAL BAD AN VIBRATES FEELS LIKE I GOT A FLAT TIRE OR FEELS LIKE I'M GONNA HAVE A TIRE COME OFF WHEN I BOUGHT IT ALSO CONSUMES A LOT OF GAS UST TO GET REAL GOOD GAS MILEAGE BUT NOW NOT SO GOOD JUUST TO FILL UP TWICE A WEEK BUT NOW SOMETIMES 3 TO 5 TIMESWHICH IS WEIRD DIDN'T KNOW I HAD A RECALL WARRANTY I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE A LOT OF THINGS ESPECIALLY IN THE EMISSIONS PART FOR CAR BOUGHT NEW FUEL LINE SOLENOIDS , PURGE SOLENOID, NOW IT SAYS I NEED A NEW VALVE VENT SOLENOID. THERE IS A VACUUM LEAK OTHER THAN THAT RUNS GOOD DOESN'T OVER HEAT OR BREAK UNLESS I NEEDED TO BUT USES A LOT OF GA SHAKES REAL BAD I DON'T WANNA DRIVEMORETHAN 70 MPH ALL THE TIRES ARE AT 41 PSI

2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED 4X4 FAILED MASSACHUSETTS INSPECTION THIS MONTH FOR A SEVERELY RUSTED FRAME WITH SEVERE PERFORATION. ADDITIONALLY, THE REAR SUSPENSION AND TRAILING ARMS MAY BREAK OFF AT ANY TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS RECALLED AND HAD A COATING APPLIED SEVERAL YEARS AGO - THIS ONLY MASKED THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS ALWAYS GARAGED. THE ENGINE AND BODY OF THE VEHICLE ARE IN GOOD CONDITION. THE VEHICLE HAS 300,000 MILES AND RUNS WELL. THE TOYOTA DEALER DEEMED THE VEHICLE "NOT REPAIRABLE." THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO DEEMED UNSAFE AND ADVISED TO TAKE OFF THE ROAD.

SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, AND A MAJOR PROBLEM NOT ONLY WITH THIS VEHICLE BUT OTHER YEARS AND MODELS AS WELL THE PAINT BUBBLING AND COMING OFF THE VEHICLE ESPECIALLY HOOD AREA AND TOP OF VEHICLE, HAS TO BE BAD PAINT TOYOTA IS USING

THE CHASSIS IS VERY RUSTY AND I WANT TO CHANGE THE SHOCKS BUT I DON'T WANT TO DAMAGE THE CAR BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT CHASSIS HAVE TO BE FIXED FIRST AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THAT COST OR WHERE TO GO TO FIXED

REPLACED O2 SENSOR AND WAS UNABLE TO OBTAIN STICKER DUE TO FRAME IS RUSTED. HAVE THREE TEENAGE DRIVERS USING TRUCK AND IS NOW UNSAFE. HAVE OWNED VEHICLE SINCE 2007 AND HAVE SERVICED AT WOBURN TOYOTA IN WOBURN,MA. I HAVE NEVER GOT AN EMAIL OR MAIL FROM TOYOTA PERTAINING ANY ISSUE. WHEN ASKED ABOUT IT SAID BEEN OUT FOR A WHILE!!!

I PURCHASE THIS 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA IN 2003 BRAND NEW AND AT THE MOMENT THE FRAME IS RUSTING AT AN ALARMING RATE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE MANUFACTURER (TOYOTA) IS MAKING ANY PLANS TO RECTIFYING THIS PROBLEM?

THE 2003 SEQUIOA FRAME IS RUST IS EATING AWAY THE FRAME. WE PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS VECHICLE. WOULD TOYOTA STANDBY THERE VECHICLE AND REPLACE THIS FRAME OR WE HAVE PAY FOR REPLACEMENT .

THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING NOISES WHILE DRIVING THAT WE COULD NOT IDENTIFY. MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING IT TO PICK UP A FRIEND AND WHEN SHE TURNED INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE RIGHT REAR AXLE DISCONNECTED FROM THE FRAME. THE OVERALL FRAME IS ENTIRELY RUSTED OUT. PRETTY BIG SAFETY ISSUE. THANKFULLY, SHE WAS NOT DRIVING FASTER WHEN THIS OCCURRED.

GOING AROUND A TURN IN THE MOUNTAINS AT A SLOW SPEED, MY TRACTION CONTROL KICKS IN AND THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE, I LOOSE THE USE OF THE BRAKES COMPLETELY UNTIL THE TRACTION CONTROL TURNS OFF. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME MY SPRINGS AND SHOCKS WERE BAD. I REPLACED ALL 4 OF THE SPRINGS AND SHOCKS AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND SCARY. *TR

THERE IS AN EXTREME AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE FRAME OF MY WIFE'S 2003 SEQUOIA. THE RUST IS JUST FLAKING OFF IN HUGE CHUNKS WHICH IS MORE THAN JUST THE UNDER COAT OF PAINT, ITS ACTUAL CHUNKS OF DISINTEGRATED/CORRODED METAL. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THE TUNDRA FRAMES WHICH WERE PRODUCED ON THE SAME MANUFACTURING LINE AND USED THE SAME METAL AS THE SEQUOIA WERE RECALLED BUT THE SEQUOIA'S ARE NOT. MOST OF THE FRAME DAMAGE SEEMS TO BE ISOLATED TO THE REAR OF THE CAR. *TR

ANTI SWAY BAR CANNOT BE CONNECTED BACK TO FRAME SINCE THE FRAME IS RUSTED. I WAS TOLD THAT IN ORDER TO FIX IT, I WOULD NEED MY ENTIRE FRAME REPLACED AND THAT NONE OF THIS WAS COVERED UNDER ANY WARRANTY OR RECALL. ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR IS ESTIMATED TO BE AT LEAST $13,000. THE VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. SINCE THE SEQUOIA HAS THE SAME FRAME AS A TUNDRA, WHY ISN'T THE SEQUOIA FRAME RUST PROBLEM ALSO BEING RECALLED LIKE THE TUNDRA? *TR

THE FRAME ON MY VEHICLE CRACKED, AND THIS CAUSED THE TOP OF THE STRUT TO COME UP THROUGH THE FLOORBOARD. THE TOYOTA DEALER, BODY SHOP, AND INDEPENDENT INSURANCE APPRAISER SAY THAT THIS WAS NOT CAUSED BY AN ACCIDENT OR OTHER IMPACT. THEY SAID THE FRAME HAD METAL FATIGUE AND SIMPLY FAILED. THIS POSES A SERIOUS HAZARD IF A LIGHTLY DRIVEN VEHICLE SUCH AS MINE, WELL-CARED FOR AND DRIVEN IN A SUBURBAN SETTING, THE FRAME WOULD CRACK IN 8 YEARS. I SAW ONLINE THAT THERE WAS A FRAME RECALL FOR 2001-2003 TUNDRAS AND SEQUOIAS (WHICH SHARE THE SAME FRAME). THE RECALL WAS FOR ONLY 18 STATES WHERE THERE IS HEAVY SNOW, CAUSING THE FRAMES TO RUST THROUGH. TOYOTA WAS FORCED TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE FRAME. I BELIEVE THAT THE FRAMES WERE FAULTY FROM A MANUFACTURING DEFECT FOR THIS TO OCCUR. I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THIS INFORMATION AS IT MAY BE PART OF A MORE WIDE-SPREAD PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA IS NOT TELLING ANYONE ABOUT. *TR

I NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM REAR AXLE HOUSING. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT THE AXLE HOUSING IS LEAKING DUE TO DEFECTIVE WELDS AND MUST BE REPLACED, IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED. AT THE SAME TIME I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE FRAME HAS ROTTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT DUE TO DEFECTIVE OR INADEQUATE FACTORY RUSTPROOFING. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM IS PERVASIVE IN TOYOTA SEQUOIAS WHICH HAVE THE SAME FRAME AS TOYOTA TUNDRAS. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE TUNDRAS AND REPLACED THE FRAMES BUT TO DATE REFUSES TO DO THE SAME FOR SEQUOIAS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS TIME. ASIDE FROM THE DEFECTS STATED ABOVE THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. *KB

PROBLEM ONE: "BRAKE" WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AT RANDOM BUT THEN DOESN'T COME BACK ON AT NEXT RESTART OF CAR. BRAKE FLUID AND ALL MECHANICS ARE OK. BRAKING DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AFFECTED BUT I AM WORRIED THAT THERE WILL BE AN ABS FAILURE THAT I'LL IGNORE BECAUSE OF THIS FAULTY WARNING LIGHT. SOMETIMES THE STABILITY CONTROL ACTIVATES FOR NO REASON AT LOW SPEED. PROBLEM TWO: FRAME IS NEARLY RUSTED OUT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE SIMILAR TUNDRA, AND SUPPOSEDLY A RECALL FOR THESE PARTICULAR SEQUOIAS IN SOME STATES, BUT NOTHING COMES UP FOR MY VEHICLE IN INDIANA. VEHICLE, PURCHASED FROM TOYOTA DEALER OXMOOR TOYOTA A YEAR AGO, IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED RUST SPOTS ON THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. OVER TIME, HE WOULD HEAR A LOUD BANGING NOISE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE STABILIZER BAR HAD BECOME COMPLETELY DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO ADVISED THAT BECAUSE OF THE VEHICLE WEIGHT, THE FRAME COULD NOT HANDLE THE STRESS. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO PARK AND NO LONGER DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED BUT ADVISED THAT THEY WOULD PROVIDE NO ASSISTANCE. THERE WERE NO RECALLS FOR THE YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL THAT PERTAINED TO THE FAILURE THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 117,000.

I PURCHASED A NEW 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA FROM COLORADO SPRINGS TOYOTA. IN NOVEMBER 2008 I NOTICED A SEVERE VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOUND AND REPLACED A LEFT FRONT SWAY BAR STABILIZER LINK WHICH HAD BROKEN. I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ITEM AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED BY TOYOTA. ON APRIL 10TH, 2010 I WAS ON A CROSS COUNTRY TRIP WHEN THE TOYOTA DEVELOPED A VERY STRONG VIBRATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THAT COULD ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO NOT RESPOND SAFELY TO A NEED FOR QUICK MANEUVERING. I HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED BY TOYOTA UPON MY RETURN HOME AND THE RIGHT SIDE SWAY BAR LINK WAS FOUND TO HAVE FAILED. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS VERY AWARE OF THIS DEFECT AND TREATED IT LIKE A COMMON OCCURRENCE. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY TOYOTA BEFORE SOME ONE ELSE IS KILLED. *TR