Problems with 2003 Toyota Sequoia STRUCTURE

The frame on my 2003 sequoia is rotting. *tr

The undercarriage on my sequoia has much rust. it is an '03 that has been garage kept since new. my husband has an '03 acura with absolutely no rust... yet has faced the exact same conditions. i saw the recall for tundra undercarriage rust and wondered why the sequoia (which is basically the same frame) wasn't included. i've read about many sequoia's that won't pass inspection due to undercarriage rust. *tr

Toyota sequoia (2003): january 2012 we attempted to have our 2003 toyota sequoia with 75,000 miles inspected here in maine. it failed due to holes in frame. amazing issue is the body has no rust at all! none, yet the frame is swiss cheese. our winters are harsh, and so is the salt our state dumps on the roads, however, i just retired my 1990 toyota p/u in 2010 with 220,000 miles due to rust (20 years), and we traded our 1992 toyota privia van in 2009 with 225,000 mi. for a vehicle with double the fuel economy....again no rust issue in 17 years. it is quite clear toyota did not treat the metal on the frame properly or used inferior materials to begin with. the toyota tacoma and tundra of the same year both had massive rusting frame issues which have had recalls for repairs, recoating, and even entire vehicles purchased back by toyota. the sequoia with practically the same frame as the tundra has not been recalled to date likely due to the smaller numbers of sequoias sold making this vehicles safety not as important to toyota and the nhtsa as the others. my main objection to this theory is i believe the people in these vehicles are as important and deserve the same treatment and resolution. caution: your toyota sequoia may be very unsafe if involved in an accident with this condition. *tr

The frame on my vehicle cracked, and this caused the top of the strut to come up through the floorboard. the toyota dealer, body shop, and independent insurance appraiser say that this was not caused by an accident or other impact. they said the frame had metal fatigue and simply failed. this poses a serious hazard if a lightly driven vehicle such as mine, well-cared for and driven in a suburban setting, the frame would crack in 8 years. i saw online that there was a frame recall for 2001-2003 tundras and sequoias (which share the same frame). the recall was for only 18 states where there is heavy snow, causing the frames to rust through. toyota was forced to replace the entire frame. i believe that the frames were faulty from a manufacturing defect for this to occur. i want to make sure that you have this information as it may be part of a more wide-spread problem that toyota is not telling anyone about. *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

Frame has rusted through. *tr

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

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

When i came to pick up my vehicle from my personal mechanic (june 2011) after he had replaced the brake pads and rotors, he warned me about serious undercarriage rust. despite my vehicle only having 64000 miles on it at the time he indirectly suggested selling the vehicle in the next year or two as this premature rusting will be a very serious problem that i won't want to deal with. i wonder why the tundra had a recall on the frame and not the sequoia? is this vehicle safe?

2003 toyota sequoia has an unusual amount of rust on the undercarriage . could present a safety issue. *tr

2003 toyota sequoia limited rear hatch handle breaks off. can't open rear liftgate. this is a known problem since 1999 with toyota. there are several toyota forums with over 500 complaints of the same problem. apparently, the handle part is inferior it is made out of plastic. the part has not been changed since 1999 and is still used. most sequoia owners have had to have this problem fixed more than one time. the problem starts from water pooling in the hatch area under the liftgate. as a result, the lock /hatch handle area corrodes/rusts puts tension on the handle and then eventually breaks. the part fails without warning except that the latch may be hard to open for quite awhile before completely breaking. i am the original owner and have had this latch problem since the first year of ownership . ask anyone who owns a sequoia, and the will have or have had the same problem. the repair cost is approximately $500.00. this is a safety issue, you cannot access the rear properly and or get to the spare tire. toyota dealership if out of warranty will charge you anywhere from $500 to as much as $800 dollars to repair the problem. generally, they seem to tell the owners that it is a wear item. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota sequoia. the contact stated that the interior door molding was bending and looked as if were melting or separating. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that she would have to replace it. the manufacturer was not contacted. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileages were 52,000.

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

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota sequoia. the contact stated that one year ago he was advised by the dealer there was light rusting of the frame. the dealer advised that the vehicle was safe to drive. one year later, the vehicle was taken to a local repair facility for routine maintenance when the contact was informed that the frame exhibited severe rust. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where the vehicle was investigated for the failure. the dealer escalated pictures of the frame to the manufacturer however; the manufacturer would not provide any assistance. the manufacturer stated that any repairs would be the liability of the contact. the contact was concerned that the vehicle would not pass inspection and that the vehicle was not safe to drive. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 139,000. updated 11/16/10. *lj

My 2003 sequoia has failed new york state inspection due to perforation of the frame due to excessive rust. toyota refuses to admit that this is unacceptable on a 7 year old vehicle. toyota refuses to correct the problem. concerned that tundra had the same issues and was recalled for safety reasons. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota sequoia. the contact stated there was severe rust and corrosion deterioration on the frame of the vehicle. the dealer advised replacing the rear axles at the owner's expense. the manufacturer was not contacted. the vin was not available at the time of the complaint. the failure mileage was 100,000 and the current was unknown.

I have a 2003 sequoia and the safety concern is on the plastic trim around the door frames on the interior of the vehicle. my vehicle rolled trim is coming loose around all four doors. only one edge is coming loose but therefore leaving a razor sharp edge exposed. i have already had to doctor my daughter and grand daughter because of this safety issue. if safety is number 1 in the car industry then this needs to be reviewed. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr

The rust recall for the 2000-2003 toyota tundras should also include the toyota sequoia's for they are built on the same chasis. i have a lot of visible rust on my 2003 sequoia and am getting worried about driving my kids in the truck. we do live in illinois which is one of the states involved in the recall. *tr

I have a 2003 toyota sequoia and the door lock was vandalized in 2007 the door lock was opened and the windows down. now it happened again in 2009 and how it is possible that this sequoia came with factory alarm which is '!@#$% because the lock can be open so easy they just detach it from the door so easy that you see it because the windows are down. i do not want another sequoia of toyota. what security do i have with this locks. it is so simple to open. i would like an explanation. what i do not understand is that how come they open the door and the windows go down i have to start the car for the windows to come down. this was at the morning. imaging at night. i could not find a website to complain just your site. it seems that the door lock it not attach to the door it is over the door don't you think this is the cheapest way for a sequoia toyota it costs a lot of money and i paid for nothing. i do not feel secure in my sequoia. can someone help me? i lost all my documents. i can not go to places because i think it will happened again and probably wont see it again. i am afraid to leave my car anywhere even at the garage because the alarm will never ring. can someone explain to me if the door is open how come the alarm never rang. i do not want to use it at again. *tr

In june 2008 at 88,000 miles i brought vehicle in for service, and was told the sway bar links were broken. this was covered under my extended warranty. *tr

The rear latch of the vehicle rotted out and the tailgate opened while on the highway, also the two front door handles cracked on the inside at separate times not allowing you to get out of the vehicle from the inside. the new handles and latch were replaced. *tr

Rear hatch handle inoperable, replaced at owner's expense. *tr

Rear window began operating only off and on over a long period of time. finally it quit working completely in 2007. fortunately it was closed, so owner just didn't use until having it fixed along with rear door hatch. a new power motor assembly was installed at owners expense. the incident date is actually the date of repair. *tr

The vsc & vsc trac has failed twice on this vehicle with costly repairs, the dealer was of no help with this situation the interior door handle snapped on this car. *ak

My 2003 toyota door handles are breaking off. the driver door broke off at about 41,000 miles and they said i would have to fix it at a cost of 180.00 dollars. then at about 56,000 miles the right rear passenger door handle broke off. if i was to get into an accident god forbid, i would be unable to get out of the car. i have written toyota several times and no response. *tr

In july 2006 at 52000 miles i went to exit the vehicle and the door handle breaks off in my hand. dealer said not covered as it is wear & tear. i am not a tough guy, but cheap plastic handles, especially on the driver door as it is the most used? $139 is a waste of consumer $ and for an extra dollar they could have made a stronger handle. *tr

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

Every interior door handle has broken at one time or another. i have had all of them replaced at least once (at a cost of $175.00 per handle) and i have to replace one for a second time. the handles are made of plastic that cracks easily and eventually breaks. all of the handles were broken during the course of normal use. no undue or excessive force was exerted when the handles were broken. when the handles are broken, it is impossible to exit the vehicle unless someone opens the door from the outside. if my family and i were involved in an accident and needed to get out of the vehicle quickly, they may not be able to get out in time. this is not only expensive, frustrating and inconvenient, it can lead to a deadly situation. there is no reason that equipment as important as door handles should ever break under normal circumstances. *tr

Dt: the interior door handle on driver's side door fractured with very minor force. there were no previous problems with the door handle, this was the first incident. took vehicle to a dealership, who did not have part in stock. the part itself was plastic, no metal reinforcement. however, consumers felt the part should be metal. vehicle had not been repaired at this time. consumer did contact toyota's complaint line and filed a complaint with the company. *ak

Toyota sequoia - consistent failure of the traction control system while driving. this issue has been addressed by the dealer multiple times to no successful repair. we also have had significant issues with the rear window seals leaking and causing the window motor to fail. *nm

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota sequoia. the contact stated that the door handle broke off the inside of the vehicle, which prevented him from exiting the vehicle. within a year, the remaining four door handles have broken, including the handle on the hatchback. the dealer stated that they were aware of the failure however; this was not included in the warranty. the contact submitted a complaint to the manufacturer. as of december 5, 2007, the dealer had not repaired the vehicle. the failure mileage was 20,000 and current mileage 35,000.

Trac,vsc, brake light had been coming on and then going out. this particular incident involved them coming on during a turn into traffic at which time all power was lost nearly causing an accident. dealer treated this as 2 different problems:an induction service was performed for the "hesitation" at my expense, and a brake booster gasket and assembly were installed under the warranty. the lights continued to go off and on from time to time, but the car did not lose power again after this "fix".the lights continued to come on and off intermittently until in august 2006 the check engine light and vcs/trac lights came on and would not go out. this time, my dealer replaced the oxygen sensor at my expense. now, with 70,000 miles on 9-26-07 the vsc/trac & check engine lights came on while traveling on the road and will not go out on turning off the engine as they sometimes did in the past. i believe after reading all the complaints about this problem on various internet sites some sort of action should be taken at toyota's expense. i am also filing a report about the new rear window motor and hatch release handle i had to replace in july on this vehicle which also is mentioned in many reports i've read on the internet. i can't tell you how many failures on the light situation i've had because they've been in the dozens. *tr

My 2003 toyota sequoia's interior door handles, 3 of them, are made of plastic and were broken after a year of usage. with the hot weather here in florida, these door handles becomes weak, easily cracked and then broken. this is going to be an emergency issue because we open our doors from the outside. with the heavy and large doors of these sequoias, the plastic handles are not heavy duty enough material like metal to withstand the open and close operation of these heavy doors. these are defective or below quality to use plastic material for these doors. please help in correcting these manufacturer defect. i owned several toyotas like a 1987 toyota corolla,1991toyota camry, 1997 toyota avalon and a 1999 toyota tacoma...all of which i never had a problem with the interior door handles because they're made of metal. i don't know why they used plastic to the heavy doors of the sequoias...thank you. *tr