Problems with 2002 Toyota Sequoia STRUCTURE

I recently learned from my mechanic that the frame of my 2002 toyota sequoia has multiple rust holes and is so badly rotted that it will not pass the state safety inspection. therefore, i had my local toyota dealership schedule an inspection by representatives from toyota. these representatives agreed that my sequoia frame is badly rusted and full of rust holes, but are blaming the salt used in the northeast and not taking responsibility for the materials used to construct the vehicle. i was also told that it is unsafe to drive this vehicle on freeways or interstate highways that require higher speeds. in addition, i was told not to tow anything behind it, because the strength of the undercarriage was compromised and whatever i was towing could separate from the car. needless to say this is a major concern regarding the safety factor and use of the car. my wife and i intentionally bought our sequoia for towing purposes and long trips with family. they took pictures, measurements of holes, and other info and told me that they would file a report and get back to me within two weeks. after reading many statements from other toyota sequoia owners, i am not confident that toyota will resolve this major issue with the toyota sequoia, and will continue to refuse to resolve this serious situation to protect the consumer. therefore, i want my complaint to be added to the nhtsa database and the nhtsa to take action on this serious "frame rot" safety issue with sequoias. *tr

Frame rusting through with at least one hole fond, not thoroughly checked yet. *tr

I am the owner of a 2002 toyota sequoia with 186,000 miles. on july 19th i picked up the vehicle from some my repair shop after some routine maintenance (timing belt replacement). the mechanic noted that '' when checking the vehicle on lift, found front frame arches near feet rusted through and cracked almost a foot long on both sides.' i made an appointment with grappone toyota in concord, new hampshire and on july 21st they confirmed the damage and reported that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. the damage is caused by a defective frame design that allows water to collect and not drain. my research shows this is a known problem with this frame as used on the sequoia and tundra. it also apparently was a problem on the tacoma which has a similar defective design. i contacted the toyota us corporate officeby phone on the 21st and was informed that toyota does not recognize the problem on the sequoia as requiring any program to rectify such as toyota has reportedly done for the tundra and tacoma. given the unsafe nature of the defective design, and the implications should it fail on the road, i find this unacceptable. i subsequently took the vehicle to a reputable welding shop who found the damage was more extensive and welded 21 inch long plates on both frame arches. he confirmed that the damage was caused by a frame design that allowed water to accumulate in the frame and corrode the metal. *tr

The rear hatch on my 2002 toyota sequoia will open intermittently. sometimes it will open , but most of the time it will not. when it does open, it will not lock. this should be a safety recall because if you have a flat tire, there is no way to lower the spare. *tr

While getting a routine oil change at toyota of wallingford inct i was shown frame rot near the rear strut and other declining areas of rust/ rot. it is on record and a call was made to toyota which nothing was done as far as recalls go. the tundra which has the same frame has been recalled. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota sequoia. the contact stated that he noticed that the bottom of vehicle was severely rusted. in addition, the inner line of the doors was beginning to exhibit rust. the vehicle was not inspected by a dealer nor was it repaired. the manufacturer was contacted and they advised him that his warranty was expired and offered no assistance. the failure mileage was approximately 94,000.

Frame rust through, 2002 toyota sequoia. frame is completely rusted through along the bottom directly below where the front left support mount is attached. the opening as a result of this rusting is large enough to put at least three fingers through. the rust through then extends back to below where the front frame cross member is attached. this was first observed november15, 2010. it is believed this is the same as the frame which is used on the toyota tundra for which a replacement program has been in effect. this vehicle was purchased in connecticut where it was driven for its first six and one half years. the remaining time having been in ohio. we now have a questionably safe vehicle for which toyota customer service tells us nothing can be done. *tr

During my annual nys vehicle inspection, 11/6/2010, i was notified by the mechanic that he would be unable to pass on inspection my 2002 toyota sequoia due to a sizable hole rusted through the frame. based on my review of information on the internet, this is not an unknown issue with the sequoia. the sequoia and the tundra are built on the same frame and toyota is replacing frames on toyota tundra pickup trucks that exhibit this defect. apparently, this is an acknowledged defect in the toyota tundra, based on a recall notice dated may, 2010 for the tundra for years 2000 to 2003. however, i don't find anything pertaining to the 2002 toyota sequoia, which is the vehicle in question, although it is built on the same frame as the toyota tundra, which should be similarly treated. as an additional fact, this sequoia issue has been taken up by tv stations in boston, and the massachusetts attorney general has also been involved in resolution of a sequoia complaint. this is not an isolated defect for the sequoia and is apparently a significant issue for toyota. *tr

Interior door handle failure - only method of exiting vehicle. failed for a third time under normal use before reporting to nhtsa. if vehicle is in a crash, on fire, or under water, a person will panic and exert greater force than normal on the handle, snapping it, leading to potential death. dealer told me they have "hundreds" of these come through. ask toyota how many they have replaced to get actual scope. they have no incentive to correct failure since dealer makes $250.00 to correct the failure. no egress in a burning car is equivalent to no fire exit doors in a burning building. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota sequoia. the contact was informed by a mechanic that there were 3 holes in the frame of the crossmember that held the transmission. the contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. the vehicle was not repaired. the current and failure mileages were approximately 100,000.

Toyota vehicle frame seriously rusting through. identical to problems with toyota tundra. dealer and toyota claim they do not have a program to cure the frame problem on sequoia's even though they have the same frame as the tundra. *tr

My traction lights have been on and have remained on for several years now. my husband says my panel looks like a christmas tree. i have contacted the dealership to see if there was a recall but was advised there is not. i haven't had any issues,until this past weekend, other than not realizing i had engaged my emergency brake since the light constantly stays on. i nearly wrecked this weekend. it was dark and raining. i had to apply the brakes to miss another car, the brakes locked up and started sliding out of control. luckily i was able to get it stopped in time to avoid another accident. my traction control doesn't work either, i guess it went out when all the other control lights went out. i just wonder if the airbags work, hope i don't have to find out the hard way. i keep reading numerous complaints on the 2002 model but haven't seen a recall. appears there was a recall on the 2003 model for the same issues. my steering column is broken. i had it checked out several years ago. apparently the main metal component is broken and therefore my gears engagement doesn't light up when i am in drive. if someone else drives my car, they don't know what gear it's in. i ready many complaints about the same but no recall. my rear hatch handle has broken 2 times now within a year of the other which costs me $100 to repair each time. it appears to be cheaply made and plastic and it can't be repaired without a lot of labor to dismantle the rear door plate on the inside to install a new handle. my main concern is the electronic stability control system. *tr

2002 toyota sequoia undercarriage rust. purchased the car new. about five years ago complained to dealer when serviced. dealer did nothing about it. told me nothing wrong with car. as of today their is major rust on frame and components under the car. truck is built in same factory as tundra which has been recalled for major rust problem. both cars share basic components. *tr

There are two issues that i would like to report to you. first is the abs braking/vsc system. second is the excessive rust through out the vehicle under carriage/chassis. first, i have a 2002 toyota sequoia. at 38,620 miles, the brake, abs, vsc on, ans vsc off lights come on when the engine started and while driving. i took it the dealer, thompson toyota, 122 w swamp road, doylestown, pa 18901, tel 215 245 9460. they stated that it is the rear brake pads that being worn out and required replacement. the dealer replaced the rear brake pads. after approximately 40 miles on the road (at 38660 miles), the identical situation occurred again: the brake, abs, vsc on, ans vsc off lights come on when the engine started and while driving. i took the car back to the dealer and they said that the vehicle needs 'abs ecu' replacement. furthermore, the dealer said that there is no guarantee that the same warning lights won't take place in the near future based on the abs ecu repair. the cost of the repair is quoted at $2100.00. however, the most disturbing safety factor the dealer stated is that when the abs and vsc light are on there is no abs and vsc functions while the vehicle is in operational status. second. i have owned three toyota in the past. the sequoia is the only vehicle exhibits excessive rust through out the chassis despite regular under the carriage washes after exposure to salt due to snowstorms. a search on the internet disclosed that these are common issues with the sequoia. for safety and financial reasons, nhtsa should encourage toyota to address/recall the abs/vsc defect(s) and excessive chassis rust in all the sequoia(s) on the road today. thank you very much for your attention in advance. keep up the good work, folks! *tr

I have a 2002 toyota sequoia that has had 3 door handles replace in the last year. all three broke from inside, making it necessary to roll down the window to exit the vehicle. the rear cargo door handle broke this year and i have had the rear window motor replaced. the rear window constantly goes off track and has to be fixed for it to open again. i am highly disappointed with this toyota. i had gas pedal and brake issues the first year i bought the vehicle. it is the exact issues the company is recalling for other models. i was told by the dealership that i am a woman who didn't know how to handle this large of a vehicle. still no recall on the vehicle and yet i've read many complaints about the same issues! *tr

Significant rust on frame and underbody of 2002 toyota sequoia has been in evidence during the last 3-4 years. rust is spreading to body panels as well. mechanic comments regularly about unusual amount of rust. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota sequoia. the contact stated that the majority of the frame was rusted at points where the frame was bolted to the vehicle. there was also rust on the rear differential and the front steering rack and pinion. the vehicle was not inspected or repaired for the failure. the failure mileage was unknown, but the current mileage was 155,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2002 toyota sequoia. the contact stated that the entire vehicle was covered in rust. she constantly has to replace different parts of the vehicle. the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they stated that the repair would cost over $3,000. she was also informed that the vehicle was out of warranty. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 95,000.

According to the toyota tundra recall for excessive rust and corrosion from using high salt usage for snow.nhtsa campaign id number: 09v444000 i have 2 issues. 1st i live in washington state which uses high salt on all roads for excessive months during the year and should be included in this recall. 2nd they aren't recalling any toyota sequoias which are the exact same frame and crossmember as the tundra and should be included in this recall as well. to do one and not the other makes completely no sense since they are the same minus the shell. *tr

Frequently, the power side door does not open when you click on the door open button. worst yet, the door continues to close when you try to open it manually. you have to be careful it does not close on your arm if you reach in the vehicle. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota sequoia. the contact stated that the rear plastic door handle failed. the vehicle was taken to the dealer several times for the failure and the latch was replaced each time, but the failure always recurred. the vehicle was not further repaired. the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. the failure mileage was 80,000 and the current mileage was 174,941.

Headlight relay goes out causing headlights to shutoff while driving. for the 2nd time in a year. part was replaced with a new part. rear door will not latch and rattles. rear latch assembly was replaced. it does not shut or seal so carbon monoxide enters the cabin. this has happened 3 times. brake calipers seize up front driver and passenger side, rear driver side. *tr

I have a 2002 toyota sequoia. the frame, undercarriage and hitch are all rusted. the undercoating peels right off at the carwash. i asked my toyota dealer about it when it was in for a oil change and he said nothing to worry about. every year it is getting worse and my husband said it is something to worry about. is toyota going to stand behind there products? i am worry this year about it passing inspection. *tr

During 2006, the rear liftgate window frame rusted causing the rear window to fall open. the dealer stated it would cost ~$1,600 to replace the equipment and associated parts. i decided not to replace due to the infrequent usage of the rear liftgate window. around march 15, 2015, the rear window fell open due to complete destruction of the window frame and associated hardware due to corrosion. also, in february 2015, noticed that the frame of the vehicle was "soft" while jacking the vehicle for brake inspection. the vehicle has the same frame as the toyota tacoma which was recalled by toyota many years ago due to excessive corrosion issues. my vehicle is exhibiting the same problem. *tr

Door handle breaking: 2002 toyota sequoia (1) events leading up to the failure nothing abnormal. housewife exiting vehicle after dropping kids off at school. (2) failure and its consequences the door handle snapped in half, rendering no exit from vehicle impossible, other than rolling down electric window, and reaching outside, opening with exterior handle. although the immediate consequences in this case were minimal, if the plastic door handle were flawed on a large scale, it is probable that the door handle will break repeatedly, (also confirmed with technician, "we replace these all the time".) the deadly combination of an accident, and subsequent high-stress conditions, potentially creating a life-threatening circumstance of an emergency exit, result in a significantly greater amount of force to be used than normal, i.e. yanking the handle to get out. bottom line, if a kindergarten teacher casually exiting a vehicle will snap it in half, what happens when a person is inhaling smoke surrounded by flames, trying to get their kids out? they will exert a tremendous amount of force on the handle to get out, snapping it in half, the window method will not work, or not come to mind. issue a recall, or at a minimum, obtain from toyota the number of door handles replaced in after-market parts. unfortunately, toyota postures itself that this is a warranty item. it is not. human life is not a warranty item. this is a matter for the nhtsa to decide. *nm

Rear hatch door not staying up when door is raised. therefore falling on persons head

Rust in the rear frame and tailgate area is rendering my vehicle unusable and unsafe to drive. the tailgate drain holes quickly clogged with environmental debris resulting in excess moisture in the tailgate and caused all internal parts to rust to the point that the tailgate latch cable/handle has broken twice and the rear window is not functional. recently i realized that underneath the original frame paint, my frame has severe rust. also very concerning, i recently realized that holes manufactured into the rear of the frame are allowing sand to accumulate in the frame. the sand is holding moisture and i have not found a way to get it out of the frame. my rear cross member and spare tire carrier are also seriously rusted. most concerning is that i pull a landscape trailer and my vehicle has serious rust on the trailer hitch and the frame area where the hitch connects to the vehicle. when i took my vehicle to the local toyota dealership years ago, they told me that there was nothing they could do as my rust issues were a result of the area in which i live. i paid nearly $40,000 for this vehicle new in 2002 and have cared for it very well. it is deplorable that the poor design of the frame and tailgate will render this vehicle to the scrap yard well before its time...if it doesn't kill someone first. *tr

While traveling any where i would lose power and my vsc trac warning lights and skid trac lights will come on and i will have to wait for the lights to go off in order to get my power back. and also i had to replace two of my door handles. and before my suv was 3yrs i had to replace the transmission. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota sequoia sr5. during routine maintenance at 60,000 miles, he was advised that the entire rear left and right axle assembly was corroded. the left and right rear axle assembly, and the oxygen sensor were replaced under the warranty. in 2004 the failure resurfaced. the cost for the repair was $3,000.00. however at 90,000 miles the garage discovered that the under frame carriage was severely corroded. a sand blast might correct the failure, but it was not guaranteed. he contacted the manufacturer. the manufacturer stated they were aware of premature corrosion, but they would not provide assistance. the failure mileage was 60,000. the current mileage was 90,000.

Consumer states while driving and reach 55-60mph the vehicle shakes violently. please add any additional information. ts

Rear bumper/tail light damaged, blind spot, design issue and need object sensors. dt

Dt: in september 2002 the owner went to open the door handle and it fell off in her hand. it was the driver's door handle that broke. then the owner called the dealership and made appointment for repairs. t the dealership repaired the door handle without charge since the car was under warranty. then, in june 2005 there was a passenger who got of out of the passenger side door and the door wouldn't close. the owner got it to close by using a bungee cord. in june while owner was driving on a main road the passenger's door opened. the owner did not know what caused the door to open. the dealership repaired the inside door latch for about $300. then, last week the owner was trying to open the hatch back and couldn't get the hatchback door open. the owner called the manufacturer. toyota will pay for the part, but the owner will pay for the labor. however, the owner was worried that the doors could open while driving. the owner signed a piece of paper in june of 2005 that stated the owner would be responsible for any damage or injuries caused by the doors coming open.*ak updated 03/07/07. *jb