2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA Complaints

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

IT WAS RAINING, I WAS GOING AROUND A TURN ,10 - 15 MPH THE BACK TIRE STARTED TO SPIN, THE VSC TRAC,VSC OFF,AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON, THIS IS AFTER THE TRK. WENT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK OUT A RECALL ON THE VSC. THEY SAID IT WASN'T UNDER A RECALL, WE PARKED THE SEQUOIA AND WONT DRIVE IT UNTIL IT'S REPAIRED, SAFETY REASONS, I MOVED IT , TRIED TO GO OVER A CURB ON AN ANGLE AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE JUST WAS SPINNING ON THE ASPHALT ROAD. THIS CANT BE GOOD FOR THE SEQUOIA ,ITS 4 WHEEL DRIVE, AND ITS MAKING A NOISE, IN THE DRIVE TRAIN ,CLUNKING?? IT SLIDES IN THE RAIN (BAD ) AND WONT STOP ON WET ROADS VERY WELL , IT SLIDES TO A STOP. I DON'T HAVE ALOT OF TIME TO RESEARCH THE VSC PROBLEM ,BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE ALL THE SEQUOIA'S 03-05 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, FOR THE COST OF THIS TRK. I HOPE TOYOTA WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR A ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WHEN SHE WAS ADVISED THAT THE FRONT FRAME WAS RUSTED, CORRODED AND EXHIBITED A HOLE IN THE FRAME. THE DEALER THEN ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO OPERATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED HER A CREDIT TO PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE BUT THE CONTACT DECLINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,903. THE CONSUMER STATED THE CHECK ENGINE, VSC AND TRAC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. UPDATED 06/05/12

BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE/SCHEDULE MAINTENANCE WHICH WAS NOT COMPLETED; WAS ADVISED BY SERVICE TECHNICIAN THAT THERE WAS A HOLE ROTTED IN THE FRAME BEHIND THE DRIVER SIDE FRONT WHEEL. WAS ADVISED TO CALL CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER & OPEN A CASE NUMBER WITH THEM. WAS ADVISED SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE TUNDRA & TACOMA MODELS.

FRAME SHOWS SIGNS OF EXTREME RUST, ESPECIALLY AT ALL WELD POINTS. MANY INTEGRAL COMPONENTS OF THE FRAME HAVE MULTIPLE LAYERS OF RUST THROUGH. THE REAR AXLE TORSION BARS HAVE HEAVY RUST AND APPEAR TO SHOW DIMINISHED DIAMETER. THE REAR AXLE DRAIN BOLT LOOKS LIKE IT WILL FALL OFF IF AN ATTEMPT IS MADE TO CHECK FLUID. I HAVE POSTED SOME PICTURES AT HTTP://WWW.AUTOBUFF.COM/TOYOTA-SEQUOIA FOR YOUR REVIEW. *TR

A FEW MONTHS AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN DECEMBER 2004 WE NOTICED THAT THE TRACTION LIGHTS ARE COMING ON PERIODICALLY. WE TOOK THE CAR TO TOYOTA SERVICE TO CHECK THE ISSUE AND BEEN CHARGED HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND SENSOR REPLACEMENT. HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WAS NOT SOLVED AND EVEN GOT WORST: THE TRACTION AND BRAKE LIGHTS WERE CONTINUOUSLY ON NOW. IN 2010 WE RECEIVED A NOTICE ABOUT A RECALL WITH REGARD TO THE ABOVE ISSUE AND BROUGHT THE CAR TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP LOCATED AT 4248 MORSE RD., COLUMBUS, OH 43230. THE CAR WAS SERVICED BUT A FEW HOURS AFTERWARDS ALL THE LIGHTS WERE ON AGAIN. WHEN WE RETURNED TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT WE WERE TOLD THAT THE RECALL WAS ON THE VEHICLE COMPUTER ADJUSTMENT, WHICH WAS DONE, AND THAT AND ANY ADDITIONAL SERVICES WILL BE CHARGED IN FULL. WE LOOKED UP THE RECALL DOCUMENT AND REALIZED THAT IT IS CLEARLY SPECIFIED UNDER REMEDY THAT: IF THE REFLASH CANNOT BE COMPLETED ON A PARTICULAR VEHICLE, THE ECU WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. SINCE THE MANUFACTURER DEALERSHIP IS REFUSING TO COMPLY WITH THE RECALL REQUIREMENTS WE WOULD LIKE TO BRING THE ISSUE TO YOUR ATTENTION AND SEEK YOUR INTERVENTION. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STABILIZER CONTROL SYSTEM FAILED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH AND ATTEMPTING A RIGHT TURN. THE REAR TIRES BEGAN TO SPIN AND THE VEHICLE WOUKLD NOT RESPOND OR ACCELERATE FOR SEVERAL SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO ADVISED THAT THE ECU NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.

TOOK 2003 SEQUOIA TO BAIERL DEALERSHIP ON AUGUST 26, 2011 IN CRANBERRY, PA FOR 130,000 MILE CHECK UP. MECHANIC NOTICED "HOLE' IN FRAME BEHIND FRONT RIGHT WHEEL. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION WITH ANOTHER MECHANIC THERE ARE SEVERAL AREAS WHERE FRAME IS RUSTED THROUGH BEHIND FRONT WHEELS. TOYOTA SAYS THIS ISSUE IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. UPON INVESTIGATION ON THIS SITE AND OTHERS, IT SEEMS THAT MODEL YEARS 2000-2003 TACOMA'S, TUNDRA'S AND SEQUOIA'S ALL HAVE THIS ISSUE. TOYOTA HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE ON TACOMA'S AND TUNDRA'S, BUT NOT SEQUOIA'S FOR SOME REASON. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION NOW AND TOYOTA THEMSELVES HAVE SAID I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A BODY SHOP WHERE IT COULD POSSIBLY BE REPAIRED, BUT NO GUARANTEES. I AM LOOKING FOR A RESOLUTION TO THIS ISSUE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A WALL AT HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE REAR AXLE DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE REAR AXLE WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WAS RUSTPROOFED ANNUALLY BUT EXHIBITS AN UNUSUAL AMOUNT OF RUST ON THE FRAME. THE SPARE TIME IS READY TO FALL OFF. *KB