Problems with 2003 Toyota Sequoia EQUIPMENT

2003 toyota sequoia (and a number of toyota mini-vans) are plagued with a defective and costly repair associated with the rear hatches on a number of toyota vehicles. the handle that operated the hatch is very fragile and breaks frequently. this plastic handle breaks on a 1-2 year basis and the repair cost is over 400 dollars to replace the handle. opening the hatch is not possible when this breakage occurs and anything that was placed in the rear of the vehicle will be difficult or impossible to retrieve. also, when the hatch is closed and the latch is broken, none of these vehicles can gain access to their spare tire which is located underneath the vehicle and is removed using a tool that is only accessible when the hatch is open. so, when the hatch breaks, you are stuck on the road if you have a flat. this is completely unacceptable and seriously dangerous. it is one thing to change a tire - it is another to not be able to change a tire due to toyota's ignorance. i have had 4 handles that have broken to the tune of 1600 dollars for a 1 dollar piece of plastic. someone needs to slap toyota around and get this on a recall list. various u-tube and other forums go into the toyota hatch problem. please consider contacting toyota and requiring them to fix their time bomb just waiting to either hurt or leave buyers on the side of the road for a cheap piece of plastic. thanks for your assistance. *tr

My 2003 toyota sequoia vehicle has experienced severe corrosion of the frame, resulting in under-body mount spare tire separation and rear brake failure. the affected vehicle was purchased in . *tr

The vsc track and engine lights came on at the same time at exactly 108,000 miles. this has been a very reliable vehicle except when it seems the computer parts are programmed to fail. i use to commute in heavy slow traffic in southern california when my brake light would come on when using the brakes in traffic. the dealer could not find a problem.. the brake light will go off after the key is turned off and back on again however the vsc/track light still on appear t be a computer defect. i see many problems with this could lead to vehicle tipping big problem maybe this issue is related to toyotas vehicles super accelerating just a thought! *tr

On sept 6,2006. the trac off, vsc trac and check engine lights are coming. my 2003 sequoia only has 31,786 miles and paid $2891.48 for the service. today 8-26-09 my car only has 58,000 miles and the trac off, vsc trac and the check engine lights are coming back, they want to charge to fix the same problem. i am not sure they fixed the previous problem in 2006? because i asked them to save the parts and give it to me when i pick up the car, but they did have it, something is fishy? if they replace now the problem is back, my car have low miles. i do some research on the internet, could be the problem from the toyota, they need to "recall" all sequoia to fix the problem. i don't want pay $3,000 every 2 years or every 30,000 miles. *tr

While under warranty, my 2003 sequoia's electronic stability control system activated when accelerating around corners. the dealer replaced the vsc computer. yesterday, august 13, while on vacation, the vsc, trac off, and abs lights came on. the dealer stated that the vsc computer was not functional and would again have to be replaced. the cost is between 1500-2100 dollars. the dealer (west ashley toyota, charleston, sc) stated if i did not replace it, it could activate and cause me to lose control. i asked if there was a fail safe and he did not know. i have not yet replaced the computer. *tr

On 4 occasions dash light indicating vsc and brake problem appeared. each time the braking of the 2003 toyota sequoia was compromised. each time the truck was brought to toyota service center for repair. each toyota said they could not replicate the problem but replaced skid computer anyway. 8/20/08 problem recurred with dash brake indicator light coming on. braking again compromised, heard loud "clunking sound" coming from car while driving. immediately brought to scottsdale toyota service center. again, said they could not replicate problem and returned car with no repair. called toyota customer service and filed a complaint. toyota indicated complaint is now on record. problem with dash brake light coming on and braking diminished recurred again 8/27/08. after shutting engine off, indicator no longer lit and braking back to normal. i fear for both my safety and my families. simple google search indicates a large number of sequoia owners are having the same problem. *tr

Vsc,tcs lights go on after a noise coming from right anterior wheel / engine. lights stay on. *tr

2003 toyota sequoia factory jack failed resulting in vehicle crashing down**cw** the gear inside the jack broke into 3 pieces which caused the failure and the suv to fall down. *jb

Toyota sequoia ball joint recall svc performed, subsequently vehicle tires severely scalloping outer edges leading to tread fracture and tire splitting. dealer svc mgr mike latham, maita toyota of sacramento, insists nothing is wrong with vehicle although he admits something is wrong with tires; insists that recall svc correctly performed and alignment within specs. dealer refuses attempt to correct problem. dealer offers to sell me new tires; effectively attempting to release hazardous and unsafe vehicle to me. vehicle is under warranty both in mileage and time. dealer still has vehicle. *nm

I purchased my vehicle from sunnyvale toyota in oct of 2002. it is a 2003 toyota sequoia. from the time i reached home found multiple problems. start with hub caps not seated correctly, defective roof racks, entry door molding with inked print on them. went on to a defective air conditioner compressor, pungent awful smell from the ac, defective radio/ cd changer. brakes are spongy and don't respond well. if you pump it once it works well. the vehicle repeatedly veers to the right. they have checked it at least 15 times. there is hair in the paint. i went through the ncds process and ended up with a judgment to have them repair the veering problem and air conditioning. toyota never complied and ncds closed the case without my consent. i worked with toyota and they finally worked on the trouble. i got a new set of tires but the veering returned. what happens is the tires wear more on the outside of the front right tire. as you rotate the trouble goes away until the tire wears and the problem becomes more pronounces. now the tires are bald and ncds is giving me trouble to reopen the case or stand behind the arbitrators judgment. now even the door molding are coming off even with no damage. *jb

When we first bought the vehicle the trac system lights kept coming on and the brakes felt mushy; we took it in to toyota and they replaced the computer system which seemed to rectify the problem. then about 9 mo to a year later the lights kept coming on again and the brakes failed twice, toyota stated they would replace the brake system fluid and the master cylinder at our cost because we had taken it elsewhere and they felt that it had contaminated brake fluid, which our mechanic stated in writing was not. although we tried numerous times to have toyota fix it under warranty; we got the vehicle repaired through our own mechanic and then shortly later the brakes failed resulting in a crash on the freeway. when it was decided that the seq would be repaired via ins there was a code that showed up on the computer system that showed that brakes indeed did fail; however when taking it to toyota the same code did not show up. the vehicle did well, however we live by a dirt road and when traveling down the road or going around a corner quickly the trac system lights go on and now the vehicle acts like it won't go when the trac system is on and you slow down or start up again--at present the system is turned off; it has really never worked correctly. *nm

Re: vin [xxx] i am writing this letter in regards to the 2003 toyota sequoia i purchased in january 2003 with approximately 40 miles from toyota town dealership in stockton california. after making several attempts to resolve this problem with the dealership, i am now writing to you as a last resort. my vehicle expels a very strong ammonia smell from the vent system after acceleration. the smell has been strong enough to make one sneeze or your eyes watery. the third and final time i took my vehicle to the dealership for a solution, the technician informed me he had contacted toyota manufacturer mechanics. they stated it was a condensation smell from the air-conditioning system that was very common. they suggested using the air conditioning system more often. i informed him i was aware of that smell but that was also different from the ammonia. the representative informed they would contact me when the manufacturer had a solution. he wanted to set up another appointment to service my car, but i refused. toyota town had the car twice before to check the problem and did not come up with a solution, but was only able to inconvenience me from getting to work etc. i am disappointed that i have had my vehicle for 9 months and cannot relax because i have an ongoing problem that has not been fixed, but yet i am paying for it. the ammonia smell is not normal and it is not comforting to know that toyota does not stand by their word and try to come up with a solution. thank you in advance for looking into this matter. please feel to call me at[xxx]. sincerely, [xxx]. *jb information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

Sunroof shattered while driving 30 mph down a quiet street. *cn