2010 Toyota Sequoia Body & Structure Problems

I PURCHASED THIS 2010 SEQUOIA IN OHIO A FEW YEARS AGO. I BELIEVE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED IN MA. THE REAR HATCH DOOR LOCK LOOKED LIKE IT HAD GOTTEN WATER DAMAGE AND HAS BEEN GETTING STUCK, MORE NOW THAN WHEN I GOT IT. IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES TO MANUALLY OPEN, FEELS LIKE IT'S STILL LOCKED EVEN THOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE IT UNLOCKS. SOMETIMES I CAN'T GET IT TO OPEN AT ALL AFTER 10 MINUTES OF TRYING. I'VE GIVEN UP ON THE TRYING THE INTERIOR BUTTON AND THE BUTTON ON THE FOB TO TRY TO OPEN IT. IT ACTS LIKE IT'S GOING TO OPEN AND THEN BEEPS TWICE AND STOPS. AGAIN, THE LATCH IS LOCKED TIGHT WHEN IT SHOULD BE UNLATCHED. IVE TRIED SPYING LUBRICATIONS IN IT WHEN IT'S OPEN. SOMETIMES IT HELPS FOR A WHILE THEN IT GETS STUCK AGAIN. I COULDN'T GET OUR SOFTBALL TEAM EQUIPMENT OUT FOR THE GAME. EMBARRASSING.

DOOR NOT UNLOCKING. CAR WAS PARKED AND CHILD ENTERED VEHICLE FROM DRIVERS SIDE AND CLIMBED INTO THE BACK SEAT TO RETRIEVE TOY. MOM WAS STANDING AT FRONT PASSENGERS DOOR OUTSIDE AND COULD NOT OPEN DOOR TO COOL OFF INTERIOR OF CAR AS CHILDS PANTS LEG BECAME STUCK WHILE CLIMBING OVER SEATS. PARENT HAD UNLOCKING FOB IN HAND AND DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK ON PASSENGER SIDE. MOM HAD TO RUSH AROUND TO DRIVERS SIDE OF THE CAR AND OPEN DOOR THAT CHILD ENTERED AND ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW IN THE BACK SEAT TO GAIN ACCESS TO CHILD. DOOR LOCK DID NOT DISENGAGE UNTIL WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN AND THE LOCK WAS RELEASE FROM INSIDE THE CAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR DOOR LATCH WAS CORRODED AND MELTED AWAY. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE DOOR LATCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

2007 TOYOTA SEQUOIA: LATCH ON REAR TAILGATE BROKE WITH 62K MILES AND 2.5 YEARS INTO OWNING NEW VEHICLE PURCHASED FROM DEALER. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH MANY SEQUOIA AND SIENNA OWNERS (BASED ON VARIOUS BLOGS AND MESSAGE BOARDS THAT ARE FOUND ON THE INTERNET). THE PART APPEARS TO BE MADE OF PLASTIC AND CONNECTS OFF CENTER TO THE CABLE THAT ALLOWS THE REAR DOOR TO BE OPENED. THE DEALER CHARGES $254 FOR THE PARTS AND LABOR FOR THE REPAIR. BASED ON HOW MANY COMPLAINTS EXIST REGARDING A PIECE THAT SHOULD WORK FOR MANY, MANY YEARS, IT SEEMS TO BE APPARENT THAT THIS PART HAS DEFICIENCIES IN ITS DESIGN. TOYOTA, AT THIS TIME, DOES NOT HAVE THIS ON ANY RECALL LIST AND DOESN'T MAKE SENSE. MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE WAS A 2001 TOYOTA 4-RUNNER AND WORKED PERFECTLY FOR 7 YEARS AND 155K MILES BEFORE TRADING IT IN FOR THE EXISTING SEQUOIA. TOYOTA NEEDS TO BE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE FLAW IN THE DESIGN AND PROVIDE OWNERS WITH THE NECESSARY REPAIRS AT NO COST, WHICH SHOULD ALSO INCLUDE A REDESIGNED LATCH THAT WILL NOT FAIL TIME AFTER TIME. *TR