2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA Complaints

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.

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that the vehicle was rusted and towed to the local dealer and diagnosed that the rear differential casing and steering column needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted however, no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 240,000.Note: While driving, a loud grinding noise was heard and the vehicle was shaking. 1 pulled over and had the car towed. It was determined the rear differential casing was completely rusted and the oil leaked out. It-was also determined the Steering column was completely rusted. The vehicle was recalled in 2012, due to rust issues. The dealership stated they would do the recall work but the vehicle was in poor shape. When I contacted Toyota, they said it was a courtesy recall and will not do any further. Consumer is asking for assistance with the cost of repair due to poor workmanship.

WHEN TAKING MY 2003 SEQUOIA TO HAVE THE POWER STEERING ISSUE I WAS HAVING, I WAS TOLD THE FRAME WAS SO RUSTED OUT IS WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO COVER ANY COSTS INVOLVED IN REPAIRING OR REPLACING THE FRAME.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE AIR BAG COVER WOULD DETACH WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CALLED PASSPORT TOYOTA (5001 AUTH WAY, CAMP SPRINGS, MD 20746, (301) 899-6000) HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN FOR ROUTINE SERVICE, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED RUSTING AND CORROSION. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER HENDRICK TOYOTA LOCATED AT 9505 W 67TH ST, MERRIAM, KS 66203 AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED IN 2013 UNDER A MANUFACTURERS CAMPAIGN REGARDING THE FAILURE HOWEVER, NO FAILURE WAS FOUND. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 181,000.

RUSTED THROUGH OF FRAME. COMPLETELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE, VEHICLE COULD LITERALLY BREAK IN HALF. OUTSIDE OF THE YEARS TOYOTA INCLUDED IN THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PREVIOUSLY FILED

ON 12/21/2020, AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS, I PUT MY VEHICLE INSIDE MY LOCKED GARAGE AT 10:30 A.M. AND ALL WAS FINE. AT AROUND 9:00 P.M. THAT SAME NIGHT, I OPENED MY GARAGE TO FIND IT FULL OF SMOKE. AFTER INSPECTING EVERYTHING, I SAW NOTHING WAS STILL ON FIRE AND WAITED UNTIL THE MORNING TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. I FIRST TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT HAD BATTERY POWER BUT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I THEN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND BACKED THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE TO OPEN THE HOOD. I SAW THE ENGINE HAD BURNED UP FROM SOMEWHERE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BUT HAD PUT ITSELF OUT. THE FIRE CRACKED THE EXTERIOR HOOD, BURNED HOSES, ELECTRICAL AND OTHER AREAS OF THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. BLACK SOOT HAD ALSO DROPPED ON THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE UNDERNEATH WHERE THE FIRE WAS. THE WOOD BEAMS INSIDE MY GARAGED WERE ALSO SCORCHED BLACK FROM THE INTENSE HEAT FROM THE FIRE/SMOKE BUT LUCKILY HAD NOT CAUGHT FIRE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID I SHOULD HAVE MY CAR INSURANCE TAKE OVER. MERCURY HAS NOT DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE BUT I AM PUSHING FOR THE EXACT CAUSE SINCE IF IT'S RELATED TO A RECALL ISSUE, THEN TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED. MY VEHICLE HAS 37,200 MILES LESS THAN THE AVERAGE AND I HAVE A SPREADSHEET OF ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, SMOG CHECKS AND RECALLS COMPLETED. THERE WAS NO REASON THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED INSIDE MY GARAGE. LUCKILY, I WASN'T DRIVING, WASN'T HURT, AND NO OTHER PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.

AS I CAME RO STOP AUTO THEN PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR THE AUTO ACTED AS IF IT DIDNT WANT TO MOVE BUT STARTED OUT SLOW . THIS OCCURED EVERYTIME I STOPPED AND PRESSED TO ACCELL THE AUTO. THE AUTO WAS IN MOTION , DURING TURNING.

I TOOK MY SEQUOIA TO HAVE AN AIRBAG RECALL FIXED AND A RECALL THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SKID CONTROL MODULE BEFORE I TOOK IT TO HAVE THESE RECALLS DONE MY 2 VSC LIGHTS (VSC OFF LIGHT AND VSC TRAC LIGHT) ON THE DASH WERE ON AND SO WAS THE ENGINE LIGHT I THOUGHT MAYBE THE SKID CONTROL RECALL WOULD FIX THE VSC LIGHT BUT NOW BOTH OF THE VSC LIGHTS ARE STILL ON AND MY BRAKE LIGHT IS NOW ALSO COMING ON WHEN I START MY VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENS MY BRAKE POWER IS DIMINISHED AND MY VEHICLE SHAKES BAD WHEN HITTING MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A TURN OR JUST TO SLOW DOWN IN GENERAL AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHEREVER I'M DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT THE TIME BUT AS LONG AS THE VSC LIGHTS AND THE BRAKE LIGHT AREN'T ALL LIT UP ON MY DASHBOARD AT THE SAME TIME MY BRAKES AREN'T AS DIMINISHED BUT BOTH OF THE VSC LIGHTS STAY ON AND MY VEHICLE STILL SHAKES WHEN I'M SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN. ALSO WHEN BOTH OF THE VSC LIGHTS ARE ON ALONG WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT MY VEHICLE WANTS TO SPIN THE BACK TIRES WHEN I'M TAKING OFF FROM A DEAD STOP I HAVE TO LET OFF THE GAS COMPLETELY FOR A SECOND THEN PROCEED.