2005 TOYOTA SEQUOIA Complaints

IN OCTOBER OF 2020, I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR MY AIRBAG RECALLS AT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER (LIA TOYOTA OF COLONIE). MY APPOINTMENT WAS ON OCTOBER 22, 2020. AFTER DEVOTING A DAY TO THIS, I WAS DISMAYED TO LEARN THAT MY VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE BACKORDERED. THEY SAID THEY WOULD LET ME KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WERE IN. SEVERAL WEEKS WENT BY, AND I HEARD NOTHING. THEN, I GET A CRYPTIC MESSAGE FROM SOMEONE IN THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT, AND GAVE ME A NUMBER TO CALL BACK. WHEN I CALLED THE NUMBER, A MAN ANSWERED WHO SAID IT WAS NOT LIA TOYOTA, AND THAT HE'D BEEN GETTING A LOT OF CALLS FROM PEOPLE THINKING THEY WERE CALLING LIA TOYOTA. (THE DEALERSHIP DID PICK UP WHEN I CALLED THE NUMBER, AND IT WAS WHEN I ENTERED THE CHOICE TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE PHONE SYSTEM THEN TRANSFERRED ME TO SOME INDIVIDUAL'S MOBILE PHONE!) SO, I THEN HAD TO TRY A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP AND FIND OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THIS LED TO SEVERAL CALLS WHERE NO ONE REALLY KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I FINALLY GOT MY ORIGINAL SERVICE MANAGER TO RESEARCH THE SITUATION, AND HE SAID THE PARTS WERE STILL ON BACK ORDER. FAST FORWARD TO DECEMBER 15, 2020, AND I TEXTED THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT WHO INFORMED ME THAT 1 PART WAS IN, BUT ANOTHER WAS STILL BACKORDERED. I THEN TEXTED THEM TODAY (JAN 29) AND THEY SAID THE PARTS WERE NOW IN. SO I AM FAIRLY CERTAIN THAT NO ONE WAS EVER GOING TO FOLLOW UP WITH ME TO NOTIFY ME OF THIS. IT'S BEEN 3.5 MONTHS, AND CUSTOMERS' SAFETY DOES NOT SEEM IMPORTANT TO EITHER TOYOTA OR LIA TOYOTA OF COLONIE. I OWN SEVERAL BUSINESSES, AND CUSTOMERS' VALUABLE TIME DOES NOT SEEM IMPORTANT TO THEM EITHER. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORK THIS HARD TO GET A RECALL REPAIR DONE.

THESE VEHICLES HAVE A WELL KNOWN FRAME RUST ISSUE. IN MARCH OF 2018, TOYOTA DEEMED THIS FRAME SAFE AFTER AN INSPECTION AND APPLIED AN UNDERCOATING TO COVER UP THE RUST. A YEAR LATER THE UNDERCOATING BEGAN TO FLAKE OFF, REVEALING THE SEVERE RUST UNDERNEATH. LAST WEEK, NOT EVEN THREE YEARS LATER, WE WERE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND FELT A POP UNDERNEATH. THE PASSENGER SIDE SWAY BAR MOUNT BROKE LOOSE FROM THE FRAME, AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TOLD US THE FRAME IS SO ROTTED THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO WELD IT BACK TO. OTHER THAN THE FRAME ROT, THE VEHICLE RUNS, LOOKS, AND DRIVES LIKE NEW. THIS FRAME, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS, SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED INSTEAD OF UNDERCOATED. THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND SERVICE CAMPAIGN ARE OVER, BUT I THINK THIS SHOULD BE REVISITED, AS THERE ARE STILL MANY INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING.

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.

LABEL FOR DOT COMPLIANT VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE. TRYING TO IMPORT VEHICLE INTO THE US FROM MX

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

BRAKE, VSC TRAC, TRAC OFF, AND ABS LIGHTS ALL COME ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AND STAY ON UNTIL THE CAR IS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED. SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM ACCORDING TO THE FORUMS.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60-65 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE BRAKES FAILED TO SLOW DOWN THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO USE THE PARKING BRAKE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PART WAS NO LONGER BEING MANUFACTURED. HUTCHINSON TOYOTA OF ALBANY (LOCATED AT 2865 LEDO RD, ALBANY, GA 31707, (229) 436-7751) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 242,000.

WHEN BACKING UP OR SOMETIMES SLOWING DOWN MOVING FORWARD THE VCS LIGHTS ALL COME ON AND THE BRAKES AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE (QUICKLY AND WITH A GRINDING SOUND) AND THE CAR MOVES TO THE RIGHT AND STOPS ABRUPTLY.

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.

ONE MORNING AROUND 11/20/2018, I NOTICED MY WINDOW SHIELD WAS CRACKED IN THE UPPER RIGHT HAND SIDE. PASSENGERS SIDE. IT ALSO DEVELOPED STRANGE NOISES, RATTLING, IN THE DASHBOARD. I HAD HAD THE EVAPORATOR REPLACED, SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE MECHANIC TO CHECK THE NOISE OUT. HE ADVISED THAT AFTER INSPECTION HE NOTICED THE WINDSHIELD WAS CRACKED AND LOOSE. IT HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THE EVAPORATOR INSTALLATION. SO I NOW HAVE A CRACKED AND LOOSE WINDSHIELD, WITH NO ACCIDENT OR CRASH, NO ROCK HIT MY WINSHIELD. SO I SUSPECT IT WAS A BADLY INSTALLED WINDSHIEL. I NOTICED THIS WINSHIELD ONE MORNING WHILE STILL IN THE DRIVEWAY.