2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA Complaints

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. SINCE DECEMBER 2002, I HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE 4-WD SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE. THE 4-WD PROBLEM WAS ORIGINALLY NOTICED BY ME IN LATE NOVEMBER 2002. I TOOK THE SEQUOIA BACK TO THE DEALER OF PURCHASE (BURT TOYOTA), HOWEVER THE PROBLEM WAS INCORRECTLY DIAGNOSED. SUBSEQUENTLY, SEEKING A SECOND OPINION I BROUGHT THE SEQUOIA TO STEVENSON TOYOTA EAST. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS ABLE TO VERIFY AND DOCUMENT THE PROBLEM WITH THE 4WD SYSTEM. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND THE ISSUE WAS FORWARDED TO TOYOTA ENGINEERING FOR A RESOLUTION. I WAS ADVISED AND SHOWN THAT THE PROBLEM WAS ENTERED INTO THE TOYOTA SERVICE COMPUTER SYSTEM. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT ONCE TOYOTA DETERMINES A RESOLUTION I WILL BE NOTIFIED AND THE PROBLEM COVERED AS A WARRANTY ISSUE. TO DATE, I HAVE HAD NO CONTACT FROM TOYOTA, YET THE PROBLEM CONTINUES TO EXIST. THE 4WD PROBLEM CONSISTENTLY OCCURS IN COLD WEATHER WITH TEMPERATURES BELOW 30 DEGREES F. I HAVE FOUND DURING WARMER TEMPERATURES, ABOVE 50 DEGREES F, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN NOTICED. DURING COLD WEATHER, FREQUENTLY THE VSC ON, VSC OFF AND BRAKE LIGHT INDICATORS REMAIN LIT ON THE DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING. SOMETIMES THE CENTER YELLOW INDICATOR IN THE 4WD DISPLAY ALSO FLASHES YELLOW. THE RESOLUTION TO THIS CONDITION MOST OF THE TIME, IS ONCE THE CAR IS COMPLETELY WARMED UP TO STOP, SHUT OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. MOSTLY, WE WATCH IT ALL THE WAY ON THE COMMUTE HOME AND TO WORK AS THERE ARE NOT MANY PLACES TO STOP ALONG THE HIGHWAY! IN 2WD MODE, THERE IS A NOTICEABLE GRINDING /WHINING COMING FROM THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE. THIS IS ESPECIALLY NOTICEABLE AT LOW SPEEDS. IT SOUNDS AS IF THE FRONT TRANSFER CASE IS PARTIALLY ENGAGED. THE RESOLUTION TO THE NOISE IS TO PLACE THE VEHICLE IN 4WD MODE. THE SOUND THEN SEEMS TO GO AWAY.*AK

THE FRONT BRAKES SEEM TO WEAR OUT AT AN EXCELERATED RATE. I HAD THE FRONT ROTORS REPLACED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD UNDER 30,000 MILES, DO TO GOUGING OF THE ROTORS. THE VEHICLE IS NOW JUST OVER 30,000 MILES AND THE VCS LIGHT COMES ON, AND ANTI-SKID ACTIVATES, AND WHEN I PRESS ON THE BRAKES THERE IS HORRIBLE VIBRATIONS AND GRINDING.*AK

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5 2 WHEEL DRIVE - THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN SEVERAL TIMES AND COMPLAINED OF THIS ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME (WITH ABOUT 15000 MILES) I WAS TOLD FRONT BRAKES NEEDED REPLACED - WHICH I DID. PROBLEM RETURNED AND WHEN I TAKE IT IN, DEALER SAYS THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, SO THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG, THEY ARE IGNORING IT. *LA

WHILE DRIVING AND WHEN DEPRESSING THE BRAKES BRAKE PEDAL IS DELAYED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 15-25 MPH ACROSS AN INTERSECTION WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE MADE A LEFT TURN INTO THE INTERSECTION. THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE BROAD SIDED THE OTHER VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CONSUMER SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES ALONG WITH ANOTHER PASSENGER IN THE VEHICLE. SEAT BELTS WERE WORN, BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *JB *JB

THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT ROLLED BACKWARDS.*AK THE ENGINE WAS LEFT RUNNING IN THE PARK POSITION WHEN IT ROLLED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY STRUCK THE CONSUMER AS HE/SHE WAS TRYING TO STOP IT AND CRASHED INTO A TREE *SCC *JB

WHERE TO BEGIN. WE HAVE HAD ON-GOING PROBLEMS WITH THE SEQUOIA. FORTUNATELY, THE DEALER ADDRESSED ALL BUT THE LAST ISSUE DUE TO THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE WARRANTY EXPIRING. FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE AIR CONDITIONER SEIZED. $1500 BILL DODGED. SECOND PROBLEM, THE BRAKES WORE OUT AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WE WERE ADVISED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE OUT OF OVERDRIVE WHEN GOING DOWN HILL AT THE COST OF FUEL EFFICIENCY. $1,000 BILL DODGED, BUT I'M PAYING FOR IT IN LOSS OF MPG. LASTLY, THE FLIP-SEAT WHICH ALLOWS PASSENGERS TO ACCESS THE REAR-MOST SEAT IS BROKEN AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED/REPAIRED TO THE TUNE OF $800! I'LL HAVE TO EAT THAT ONE.

BETWEEN 5000 AND 10000 MILES A BRAKE SQUEAL (REAR PASSENGER SIDE) BEGAN. DURING 10000 MILE SERVICE THE SERVICE DEPT AT THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED THE BRAKE AND "CLEANED". THE SQUEAL STOPPED FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS. DURING 15000 MILE CHECK THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT CHECKED THE BRAKE AND "CLEANED". AGAIN THE SQUEAL STOPPED FOR ABOUT 4 DAYS. DURING THE 20000 MILE CHECK THE "CLEANING" WAS PERFORMED AGAIN. AFTER ABOUT 4 DAYS THE SQUEAL RETURNED. I AM DRIVING A NEW SIENNA WITH A TERRIBLE BRAKE SQUEAL. GOOD ADVERTISEMENT FOR TOYOTA !!! THE SERVICE DEPT SAYS IT CAN'T BE FIXED. I THINK ON A NEW VEHICLE THE BRAKE SHOULD BE REPLACED. *JB

STRONG SMELL OF SULFUR INSIDE OF CAR. OCCURS EVEN WHEN AC SYSTEM IS SET ON RECIRCULATE. CONCERNED ABOUT PASSENGER SAFETY IF EXHAUST FUMES ARE ENTERING VEHICLE. TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAID AT FIRST THAT IT WAS "NORMAL" AND WOULD DISAPPEAR WITHIN 3000 - 5000 MILES OF DRIVING. WHEN SMELL WAS STILL THERE AT 10,000 MILES, WAS TOLD THAT THE SMELL IS "NORMAL" AND IS RELATED TO USING LOW OCTANE GAS. I NOW HAVE 25,000 MILES AND SWITCHED TO 93 OCTANE GAS AND STILL HAVE CONTINUING PROBLEMS WITH SMELL, IT MAY EVEN BE WORSE NOW THAN IT WAS AT FIRST. IT IS VERY EMBARRASSING WITH PASSENGERS IN THE CAR.*AK

THE BRAKES ON MY 2002 TOYATA SEQUOIA IS FAILING OR HAS FAILED. THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ON THE WEBSITES AND TOYOTA HAVE SOME SERVICE BULLETINS OUT. I CONSIDER THIS A VERY SERIOUS SAFTEY PROBLEM AND WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN INVESTIGATION AND POSSIBLE RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE.