2005 Toyota Sequoia Body & Structure Problems

The contact owned a 2005 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that the vehicle had been taken to the dealer on August 7th, 2023, where a protective chemical coating was sprayed on the sub frame. The contact stated that after driving, he noticed that power steering fluid was leaking from the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact’s brother who is an independent mechanic, informed him about the source of the leak and noticed there was rust on the puncher frame. The vehicle was towed to the same local dealer, where it was placed on the lift, and it was diagnosed that the frame had rusted and was damaged beyond repair. The mechanic was able to peel and remove rust while using a screwdriver. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.

The frame is damage by the weather.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE FRAME CORRODED AND THE SUSPENSION ARMS THAT HOLDS THE FRAME SPRINGS WERE ALSO CORRODED. THE CONTACT BECAME AWARE OF THE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, WHEN THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMALLY LOUD SOUND. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED FOR THE CORROSION REPAIR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 240,000.

ON 1/31/20 I TOOK POSSESSION OF 2005 TOYOTA SEQUOIA, VIN [XXX] AND ON 2/3/20 I REGISTERED THE VEHICLE IN THE STATE OF MASSACHUSETTS. THE PREVIOUS OWNER [XXX] HAD ORIGINALLY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON NOVEMBER 27, 2007 WITH 48,836 MILES. [XXX]. TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA HAD INSPECTED THE FRAME AND COATED IT. ON 2/4/20 I VISITED TOYOTA OF DARTMOUTH IN NORTH DARTMOUTH, MA 02747 FOR SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE TWO AIR BAG RECALLS ADDRESSED. UPON THEIR REVIEW OF THE VEHICLE'S TOYOTA SERVICE RECORD THEY INFORMED ME THAT NO RECORD REGARDING THE FRAME OR FRAME COATING EXISTS. ON 2/11/20 TOYOTA DARTMOUTH TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR THE TWO AIR BAG RECALLS AND DURING THAT TIME I HAD ASKED FOR AN OPINION OF THE FRAME. THEY COMPLETED THE AIR BAG RECALLS AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO LIFT THE VEHICLE. SEVERE ROT HOLES ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR OF FRAME WHERE DRAG LINK CONNECTS TO FRAME. VEHICLE IS UNSAFE.? THEY RECOMMENDED I CALL TOYOTA BECAUSE THE FRAME PROGRAM HAD EXPIRED BUT SAID THAT TOYOTA MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP. I CALLED TOYOTA THAT AFTERNOON AND WAS TOLD A CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AGENT WOULD CALL ME BACK THE FOLLOWING DAY. ON 2/12/20 A TOYOTA AGENT CALLED ME AND EXPLAINED THAT BECAUSE THE FRAME PROGRAM HAD EXPIRED IN JANUARY 2019 THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT TOYOTA COULD DO. I ASKED TO SPEAK WITH SOMEONE HIGHER UP WHO COULD REVIEW THE CASE. I WAS CONNECTED WITH [XXX], OPERATIONS SUPERVISOR OF CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE AT THE TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS IN PLANO, TX. [XXX] ALSO EXPLAINED THAT BECAUSE THE FRAME INSPECTION/REPLACEMENT PROGRAM FOR MY VEHICLE HAD EXPIRED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING TOYOTA COULD DO. I REQUESTED THAT HE ELEVATE THE CASE HIGHER TO SOMEONE WHO COULD REVIEW THE CASE ON A STAND ALONE BASIS. [XXX] TOLD ME THAT HE WAS THE HIGHEST THIS COULD GO AND THAT THERE WOULD BE NO FURTHER ACTION BY TOYOTA FOR THIS CASE # [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

THE RECALL WARRANTY EXPIRED ON THIS VEHICLE ON JANUARY 31, 2017. I FIRST RECEIVED NOTICE OF THIS DEFECT WHEN I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANOTHER ISSUE I WAS EXPERIENCING. THE DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED ME THAT THE RECALL WAS FOR RUSTING OF THE VEHICLE'S CHASSIS AND IS DANGEROUS FOR ME TO CONTINUE DRIVING MY VEHICLE. I USUALLY RECEIVE NOTICES, AS I DID FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL, HOWEVER, I NEVER RECEIVED ANY NOTICE WITH REGARD TO THE RECALL FOR THE VEHICLE CHASSIS. I HAVE KEPT THE SAME ADDRESS FOR THE PAST 20 YEARS. I ATTEMPTED TO CALL TOYOTA AND TOYOTA TOLD ME I SHOULD HAVE VISUALLY NOTICED THE DEFECT. THE DEFECT IS THE RUST UNDERNEATH MY CAR, WHICH IS NOT OPEN AND OBVIOUS. THIS WAS ALSO ADMITTED BY THE AGENT/SUPERVISOR. TOYOTA FAILED TO EVEN OFFER 50% COVERAGE ON THIS RECALL. HOW CAN A CAR COMPANY ALLOW ITS CUSTOMERS TO CONTINUE DRIVING A VEHICLE WITH SUCH A DANGEROUS DEFECT THAT I NEVER RECEIVED NOTICE OF.

I OWN A 2005 SEQUOIA 4 WHEEL DRIVE LIMITED EDITION . I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA CORPORATION REGARDING THE RUSTING FRAME RECALL CAMPAIGN ON NOVEMBER 3,2017 AND SCHEDULED A SERVICE APT TO HAVE MY FRAME INSPECTED AND WAS TOLD THE INSPECTION TAKES APPROX. 2 HOURS . WITHIN 30 MINUTES MY TRUCK WAS "READY " MEANING THE INSPECTION WAS COMPLETE. I ASKED THE SERVICE WRITER OF THE OUTCOME AND WAS TOLD THE FRAME WAS GOOD. NOTHING WAS WRITTEN IN MY SERVICE ORDER THAT WAS HANDED TO ME SIGN REGARDING FINDINGS, PERFORATION OR STATUS OF THE INSPECTION RESULTS, OR THAT THE INSPECTION ACTUALLY TOOK PLACE. THE SERVICE WRITER TOLD ME VERBALLY THAT ANOTHER SERVICE WRITER WOULD CONTACT ME IN A FEW DAYS TO SCHEDULE A CLEANING AND SPRAYING OF THE ENTIRE FRAME IN A FEW WEEKS. I DON'T BELIEVE THE TECH REMOVED MY WHEELS TO EXAMINE THE FRAME OR THOROUGHLY INSPECTED MY VEHICLE . I AM A 5 TOYOTA VEHICLE OWNER AND EXPLAINED THAT TO THE SERVICE WRITER. MY SERVICE LOCATION IS LAKEWOOD TOYOTA LOCATED IN NJ, MY SERVICE WRITER WAS ANGEL BURGOS. I HAVE EXTENSIVE RUST ON MY FRAME IN NUMEROUS AREAS ESPECIALLY BEFORE THE REAR AXLE AND AFTER , IN THE AREA OF THE HITCH ASSEMBLY AS WELL AS THE REAR AXLE . I UNDERSTAND THE CRITERIA FOR REPLACING THE FRAME VERSUS A TEMPORARY COVERING OF SEALANT . I UNDERSTAND THAT THE FRAME ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE IS RUSTING FROM THE INSIDE DUE CONSTRUCTION METHODS OF THE DANA CORPORATION BEING FAULTY IN DRAINAGE DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE. MY CONCERN THAT THIS PRODUCT WAS NOT INSPECTED PROPERLY AND HASTILY ATTEMPTED TO GET ME OUT THE DOOR. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE BUSINESS PRACTICE TO ME.

FRAME HAS RUSTED THROUGH AND HAS CAUSED THE STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY OF THE VEHICLE TO BECOME UNSAFE

I WAS DRIVING WHEN I FELT THE VEHICLE SWAYING SIDE TO SIDE WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE PAST 40 MPH. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE TIRES THERE WAS NO PROBLEM THERE, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I NOTICED THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE HAD SNAPPED AND WAS ABOUT TO BREAK. I HAD IT TOWED TO A GARAGE WHERE I WAS TOLD IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AND THAT'S WHERE IT'S LOCATED NOW.

I TOOK MY TOYOTA IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT. THEY TOOK ME OUT TO LOOK AT IT AND THE FRAME WAS SO RUSTED THAT THE SWAYBAR HAD BROKEN AND WAS RESTING AGAINST THE BOOT, WHICH IT RIPPED A HOLE IN. THE OTHER SIDE WAS EATEN AWAY WITH RUST AND READY TO BREAK AT ANY MOMENT. THE WHOLE FRAME FROM FRONT TO BACK WAS RUSTED. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL DEALER AND THEY DECLARED IT UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I CALLED TOYOTA AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MINE. SO THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING. I STILL OWE ABOUT $7000 ON IT AND THE WAY IT IS, HAS NO RESALE VALUE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANYTHING ELSE AND SHOULDN'T HAVE TO. THIS IS NOT NORMAL AND THEY HAD TO HAVE USED SUBPAR METAL ON THESE FRAMES. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT I WASN'T IN A WRECK WITH DIRE CONSEQUENCES.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING INSPECTED BY THE DEALER, IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED AND WAS UNABLE TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND THE FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

MY 2005 SEQUOIA HAS THE VSC OFF AND VSC TRAC LIGHTS ON AND IT CAUSES A HESITATION IN ACCELERATION - WHICH IS A SIGNIFICANT CRASH HAZARD. I NOTIFIED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS AND ASKED IF THEY WOULD FIX IT BECAUSE THEY RECALLED OTHER YEARS OF SEQUOIAS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX IT AND SAID THAT THE 2005 HAS DIFFERENT PARTS THAN THE YEARS THAT THEY RECALLED. THAT IS SILLY BECAUSE THE PROBLEM IS THERE EVEN IF THE PARTS ARE DIFFERENT. THE HATCHBACK LATCH HAS ALSO BROKE AND THE HATCHBACK WILL NOT OPEN. I LOOKED ONLINE AND SAW THAT THIS IS ANOTHER WELL KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2005 SEQUOIAS THAT TOYOTA REFUSES TO FIX DESPITE THE DANGERS IF THERE WERE A CRASH AND SOMEBODY NEEDED TO EXIT FROM THE HATCH AREA.

VEHICLE HAD NEW FRONT SHOCKS PUT ON AS FRONT SHOCKS WERE RUSTED AND SEIZED, AFTER INSPECTION OF VEHICLE, TECHNICIAN TOLD US FRAME OF THE CAR WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND HAD HOLES IN IT. HE FELT IT WAS VERY UNSAFE AS SPARE TIRE COULD FALL OFF AND SUV MAY NOT TAKE IMPACT FROM A CRASH CORRECTLY. WE PHONED TOYOTA DIRECTLY AND WE ASKED FOR A TECHNICIAN TO COME OVER TO OUR DEALER TO VIEW THE SUV. WE WERE TOLD THEY COULD NOT DO THAT, AND WE HAD TO GO TO DEALER AND HAVE DEALER LOOK AT IT. DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND TOOK PICTURES AND ADVISED US THAT IS IN POOR CONDITION. THEY ARE SENDING THAT INFORMATION OVER TO TOYOTA. TOYOTA SHOULD TAKE THIS MUCH MORE SERIOUSLY AS THEY HAVE HAD RECALLS ON OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE AT ALL IN MY CAR AND I BOUGHT THIS NEW AND PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS VEHICLE. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE AS THIS IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

WE HAVE A 2005 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WITH EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST. THIS WAS ASSESSED BY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND DOCUMENTED 6/19/14. THERE WAS A RECALL BY TOYOTA FOR FRAME RUST FOR YEARS 2001-2004 ON BOTH TOYOTA SEQUOIAS AND TOYOTA TACOMAS WERE ALSO INVOLVED. TOYOTA RECENTLY EXTENDED RECALLS FOR RUST ON FRAMES FOR TACOMAS YEARS 2005-2012 BUT NOT SEQUOIA MODELS. WHEN I PLACED AN INQUIRY AND COMPLAIN WITH TOYOTA THEY STATED THERE ARE NO RECALLS FOR 2005 AND ABOVE TOYOTA SEQUOIAS FRAME RUST, AND THAT OUR 2005 SEQUOIA IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND REPLACEMENT OF FRAME WOULD BE AT THE EXPENSE OF US. WE DO NOT UNDERSTAND WHY SEQUOIAS AND TACOMAS WERE RECALLED INITIALLY WITH THE SAME RUST ISSUE, AND TACOMAS HAVE AN EXTENSION ON THE RECALL FOR RUST BUT NOT SEQUOIAS. WE PURCHASED TOYOTA BRAND WITH THE REPUTATION OF THE COMPANY AND VEHICLES RUNNING WITH OVER 200K MILES. HOWEVER, WITH A FRAME DETERIORATING WE DOUBT OUR TRUCK WILL LAST AND HAVE SERIOUS CONCERNS ABOUT SAFETY WITH A FRAME DECOMPOSING AS IT IS. TOYOTA IS AWARE OF ISSUES WITH THESE FRAMES IN SEQUOIA AND TACOMAS AS EVIDENCED BY RECALLS. BUT IF RECALL IS EXTENDED ON TACOMA'S WHY NOT ON SEQUOIAS? WE WOULD APPRECIATE HELP AND TOYOTA TO RECTIFY THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU. *TR

WE NOTICED THAT OUR FRAME HAD SEVERE RUST LAST WINTER. (2/14) WE ALWAYS DID THE REGULAR RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE. WE PURCHASED THIS NEW IN '05. I'M SURE OTHERS HAVEN'T REPORTED THIS AS THEY HAVEN'T LOOKED FOR THIS PROBLEM NOT EXPECTING IT FROM SUCH AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE THAT YOU WOULD EXPECT TO BE VERY RELIABLE. WE DID PUT IN A CLAIM TO TOYOTA LAST FEBRUARY AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IT WASN'T A PROBLEM THAT THEY HAD MANY COMPLAINTS ON. I KNOW THERE WERE RECALLS IN THE PAST WITH TOYOTA VEHICLES THAT HAD THE TUBULAR FRAMES. THIS ALSO HAS A TUBULAR FRAME. WE ALSO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM WITH VSC AND TRACKING THAT MANY OTHERS ON THIS SITE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT. *TR

REAR HATCH WINDOW FRAME AND MECHANISM HAS RUSTED TO POINT OF FAILURE. REAR WINDOW FELL INTO REAR HATCH AND WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER WHO INFORMED ME OF ENTIRE REAR DOOR/HATCH RUSTING AWAY FROM INSIDE. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY TYPE OF COLLISION. DEALER INFORMED ME THEY HAVE SEEN MANY SEQUOIA'S WHERE DOOR IS RUSTING OUT. DEALER REPORTED THAT TOYOTA IS AWARE OF ISSUE BUT WILL TO RECALL VEHICLE. I AM STILL HOPING THAT TOYOTA WILL RECTIFY ISSUE AS I WAS INFORMED FROM DEALER THAT REPAIR WOULD COST $1200.00. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR LIFT GATE WOULD NOT OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND THEY INFORMED HER THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW CABLE FOR THE LIFT GATE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 62,100. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A USED 2005 TOYOTA SEQUOIA FROM A DEALER. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 70K MILES ON IT AND LOOKS TO BE IN GREAT SHAPE INSIDE AND OUT. HOWEVER, UPON FURTHER INSPECTION, I DISCOVERED THAT THE ENTIRE FRAME OF THE CAR IS RUSTED OUT WITH SEVERE RUST AROUND THE JOINTS AND WELDS OF THE UNDERFRAME. I HAVE LIVED IN NE FOR THE PAST 12 YEARS AND HAVE OWNED MY FAIR SHARE OF CARS AND TRUCKS AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN A FRAME THAT IS THIS RUSTED ON A FAIRLY NEW CAR. MY PREVIOUS CAR WAS A 2003 FORD EXPLORER THAT I USED IN THE SNOW/DIRT/ROAD ALL YEAR LONG AND THE FRAME LOOKED BRAND NEW WHEN IT WAS SOLD. DOING RESEARCH ONLINE AND TALKING TO OTHER SEQUOIA OWNERS, IT IS CLEAR THAT THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR LACK OF QC. THE TOYOTA TUNDRA FROM THE SAME YEARS WAS RECALLED FOR THE SAME EXACT ISSUE AND THE WARRANTY WAS EXTENDED AND YET THE SEQUOIA OWNERS ARE LEFT WITH EXPENSIVE TRUCKS THAT CAN'T PASS INSPECTION AFTER 6 OR LESS YEARS ON THE ROAD. TO ME, THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND I REALLY HOPE THAT SOMETHING WILL BE DONE. *TR

ONE BOLT AND BRACKETS OF WIND DEFLECTOR OF 2005 TOYOTA SEQUOIA FELL OFF OF VEHICLE AND OTHER BOLT WAS LOOSE. BRACKET WAS HANGING DOWN. I NOTICED THIS AFTER DRIVING AND PARKING. CONCERNED THAT WIND DEFLECTOR COULD HAVE FLOWN OFF THE VEHICLE INTO THE WINDSHIELD OF MY VEHICLE OR ANOTHER VEHICLE WHILE MOVING. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO TOYOTA. I SPOKE TO THE PARTS AND SERVICE MANAGER AND WAS TOLD THAT I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE PART AT A COST TO ME OF $55.00. THIS IS A LEASED VEHICLE WITH A SAFETY ISSUE THAT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AND REPLACED AT THE COST OF TOYOTA. THE WIND DEFLECTOR CAME ON THE LEASED VEHICLE WHICH I ADVISED THEM WAS TO BE TURNED IN BY AUGUST 30, 2010. *TR

THERE IS EXCESSIVE RUSTING OF THE UNDERCARRIAGE ON MY 2005 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE THE VEHICLE IS 5 YEARS OLD IT HAS LESS THAN 38K MILES. THE RUST IS LITERALLY FLAKING OFF THE FRAME RAILS, SHOCK TOWERS, AND MOST OTHER STRUCTURAL COMPONENTS. SINCE THERE IS NO "PERFORATION" TOYOTA CLASSIFIES THE CONDITION AS NORMAL. MY CONCERN IS THAT IN A CRASH, I FEAR THAT THE STRUCTURAL STABILITY MAY BE COMPROMISED DUE TO TOYOTA'S METALURY DECISIONS. *TR

I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN 2005. OVERTIME THE VEHICLE FRAME IS SHOWING PROGRESSIVELY WORSENING RUST. I FEAR THIS WILL EVENTUALLY RENDER THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. *TR