Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Toyota Sequoia submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 32 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 32, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED AND THE HOOD AND TAILGATE LATCHES WERE UNABLE TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.
DRIVING ON NY THRUWAY TRANSMISSION WENT. TOWED TO NEAREST SERVICE STATION WHERE NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED AFTER WHICH WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CHASSIS WAS EXTREMELY RUSTY. TWO DAYS LATER, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - TOOK CAR TO SEARS TO FIND OUT TRANS FLUID LEAK AND FRAME ROTTED AND DECLINED SERVICING VEHICLE. FOLLOWED UP AT TOYOTA DEALER FOR LEAK AND FRAME INSPECTION. TECHNICIAN FOUND POWER STEERING LINE LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID AND EXCESSIVE FRAME PERFORATION / CORROSION. THEY WOULD NOT WORK ON IT. TECHNICIAN INSTALLED A NEW HOOK LOCK AND CABLE ASSEMBLY AS HOOD WOULD NOT LOCK.
I WENT TO EXIT MY CAR ONE NIGHT AND THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED OFF IN MY HAND LEAVING ME TO FIND ANOTHER WAY TO EXIT MY VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE ONE THAT ALL PEOPLE USE TO EXIT THEIR VEHICLE THE DRIVERS DOOR. SHOULD I HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AT THE TIME I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN MY VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THAT MY REAR LID HANDLE STOPPED WORKING. TOYOTA REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY IS UP AND THEY FEEL THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. IN CONTACTING MY LOCAL DEALER I WAS TOLD THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND WAS JUST LAUGHED AT I WAS TOLD WHAT DO YOU EXPECT IT IS ONLY PLASTIC.
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
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 STATED HE WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE REAR TRUNK HATCH WITH HIS KEYS OR THE TRUNK RELEASE SWITCH. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED HAVING THE DEALER INSPECT THE VEHICLE TO ASSESS THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT YET BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 67,200 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 67,500.
2002 SEQUOIA. NOW HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TRUNK LATCH TWICE AS EACH TIME IT HAS RUSTED OUT AND WOULD NOT LATCH. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. *TR
IN JULY OF LAST YEAR, MY 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA EXPERIENCED CAR TROUBLE. THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED 3 MAJOR PROBLEMS. FIRST, THE REAR WINDOW ON THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY OPEN ALL BY ITSELF. THIS SELF OPENING WOULD OCCUR AT NUMEROUS TIMES. THE WINDOW WOULD OPEN WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, WHEN IT WAS STATIONARY OR EVEN WHILE IT WAS UNOCCUPIED. THE SCARIEST HOWEVER, WAS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. FORTUNATELY FOR ME AND MY FAMILY NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE SECOND MAJOR PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE DOOR LOCKS. THE LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK THEMSELVES REPEATEDLY WITHOUT ANYONE TOUCHING THEM. THIS LOCKING/UNLOCKING WOULD AGAIN TAKE PLACE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, STATIONARY OR EVEN UNOCCUPIED. THE LAST COMPLAINT IS THAT THE GAS GAUGE WILL DROP TO EMPTY WITHOUT ANY REASON SO THERE ARE MANY TIMES THAT I DO NOT KNOW HOW MUCH GASOLINE I HAVE LEFT IN THE TANK. THIS TOO IS OCCURRING ON A RANDOM BASIS. IT'S LIKE THE VEHICLE IS HAUNTED. *TR
TO DATE, THE REAR DOOR HATCH, INSIDE DRIVER PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE AND NOW THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE HAVE CRACKED. ALL COMPONENT HAVE BROKEN OFF COMPLETELY, MAKING OPENING THE DOORS IMPOSSIBLE. THIS CREATES A DANGER FOR DRIVER AND PASSENGERS BECAUSE THEY CANNOT READILY EXIT VEHICLE. *TR
WHILE MAKING A TURN ON THE ROAD THE REAR TRUNK OPENED SPILLING ALL CONTENTS OUT ON THE HIGHWAY. THE LATCH HAS BEEN AN ISSUE BEFORE - APPEARS LOCKED BUT REALLY IS NOT. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH SOMEONE BEHIND ME NOT TO MENTION THAT IF A CHILD (OR ANIMAL) WAS IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE THEY WOULD HAVE FALLEN OUT. THE LATCH WAS RUSTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF OVER $300.00. TOYOTA HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT NOT ON THE RECALL LIST. THIS SHOULD BE - ALONG WITH THE LEATHER SEATS PEELING AND THE RUST ALL OVER THE BOTTOM OF THE VEHICLE. I HAD TO ALSO REPLACE STABILITY LINKS (NOT BALL JOINTS WHICH ARE UNDER RECALL) RODS AS WELL - TO THE TUNE OF ALMOST 1K...ALSO RUSTED. THERE APPEARS TO BE A SIGNIFICANT RUSTING ISSUE WITH THESE PARTICULAR VEHICLES! (TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2002). *TR
THE LOCK TO THE REAR HATCH WILL NOT OPEN. WITH THIS PROBLEM I'M NOT ABLE TO GET TO MY SPARE TIRE. THE REAR HATCH HAS TO BE OPEN IN ORDER TO CRANK THE SPARE TIRE DOWN FROM ITS STORAGE SPOT UNDER THE TRUCK. *TR
MY REAR LATCH HANDLE SNAPPED AND BROKE. I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE REAR LATCH. I PURCHASED THE LATCH PART AT A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER FOR $72.00. I FOUND A LINK ON THE INTERNET WITH STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS FOR REPLACING THE LATCH. ONLY TOOK ABOUT A HALF HOUR. *TR
THE BACK DOOR HANDLE/LATCH MALFUNCTIONS AND I CAN NO LONGER OPEN THE BACK DOOR. IN 2007 I WENT TO OPEN THE BACK DOOR AS USUAL AND THE HANDLE SNAPPED. I TRIED TO CLOSE THE LIFTGATE AND IT DIDN'T LATCH. HAD TO TIE THE DOOR SHUT. THE NEXT DAY I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY REPLACED THE LATCH AND HANDLE FOR APPX 280.00. A FEW WEEKS AGO THE HANDLE SNAPPED AGAIN, AND NOW THE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN. THE DEALER SAID I CAN HAVE THEM REPLACE IT AGAIN. WHY SHOULD I HAVE TO FORK OUT MORE MONEY. IN MY OPINION THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. ALL DOORS IN A VEHICLE SHOULD WORK. HEAVEN FORBID THERE WAS A CRASH AND THE ONLY EXIT IS THE BACK DOOR. DEALER IS NO HELP AT ALL. *TR
THE REAR LIFT DOOR ON OUR 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA REFUSED TO OPEN. AS I ATTEMPTED TO OPEN THE DOOR, IT FINALLY OCCURRED TO ME THAT, IF SOMETHING HAPPENED TO DISABLE THE BATTERY AND A FIRE WERE TO START IN THE FRONT HALF OF THE VEHICLE, THE IS NO WAY TO REMOVE OCCUPANTS FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE OR FOR THE OCCUPANTS TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR FROM THE INSIDE. THERE IS NO PHYSICAL MECHANISM FOR UNLOCKING AND OPENING THE REAR DOOR WITHOUT ELECTRICITY BEING AVAILABLE TO THE DOOR AND THE ELECTRICAL PART OF THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM WORKING PROPERLY. WHY HAVE MANUFACTURERS OF SUVS BEEN ALLOWED TO DESIGN AUTOMOBILES THAT DO NOT ALLOW FOR AN ESCAPE MECHANISM FROM THE INSIDE GOING OUT THE REAR DOOR? THIS IS A DISASTER WAITING TO HAPPEN (IT PROBABLY ALREADY HAS HAPPENED DURING A WRECK). *TR
THE LOCK ON THE REAR DOOR IS BROKEN AND THERE'S NO WAY TO OPEN DOOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE ANYONE SITTING IN THE THIRD ROW OF THE TRUCK HAS NO WAY TO GET OUT OF TRUCK,ALSO YOU CAN'T GET TO SPARE TIRE IF YOU HAVE A FLAT. THE REAR WINDOW WILL NOT OPEN EITHER. TOOK IT TO BE REPAIR AND THE PARTS ARE ON ORDER AND THE DEALER WANTS 850.00 DOLLARS TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM. THIS LOCK IS SUPPOSE TO BE STAINLESS STEEL AND ENCLOSED IN A COMPARTMENT WHERE IT SHOULDN'T RUST. *TR
REAR DOOR OPENER LATCH HAS BROKEN TWICE IN SIX YEARS FOR NO GOOD REASON. I HAVE NO WAY TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR ONCE THIS OPENER LATCH IS BROKEN. THE LAST BROKEN LATCH IS AVAILABLE. *TR
THE REAR HATCH LATCH ON MY 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA HAS FAILED TWICE IN SIX YEARS. THIS GIVES THE LATCH AN AVERAGE LIFE SPAN OF 2 YEARS. THIS IS AN OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AS THE LATCH JUST PRIOR TO FAILURE WOULD NOT HOLD THE DOOR CLOSED IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. THE LATCH WHEN IT FAILS DOES NOT ALLOW THE DOOR TO BE CLOSED AND SECURED. IF THIS FAILS WHILE OUT IN THE VEHICLE THIS FORCES ONE TO DRIVE HOME OR TO A REPAIR FACILITY WITHOUT THE REAR HATCH PROPERLY CLOSED. *TR
DRIVE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CRACKED MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN DOOR FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. I CALLED MOTOR IMPORTS IN HONOLULU, HAWAII AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THE DEFECTIVE PART. ABOUT ONE YEAR EARLIER, THE HANDLE FOR THE LATCH TAILGATE SNAPPED. I HAD TO GO TO A REPAIR SHOP TO REPLACE BOTH THESE PARTS BECAUSE THE DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE FOR FREE. I AM SERIOUSLY CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY. THE TAILGATE MAY BE THE ONLY ESCAPE ROUTE FOR REAR PASSENGERS AND THERE IS NO INTERIOR LATCH TO OPEN THE TAILGATE. IF THE REAR EXTERIOR LATCH BREAKS OFF, THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE TAILGATE. WHEN MY DRIVER INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED, I REALIZE HOW DANGEROUS THIS VEHICLE CAN BE IN AN ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY WHERE EXITING THE VEHICLE IS IMPORTANT SUCH AS A FIRE OR IN THE WATER.
BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF FROM NORMAL USE. AS A RESULT WE HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS IN ORDER TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. AS THESE ARE POWER WINDOWS THIS COULD BE A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS FAILURE. *NM
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
I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA AND HAVE HAD THREE INSTANCES OF THE BACK HATCH LATCH ASSEMBLY BREAKING AND BECOMING UNLATCHED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE LATCH ASSEMBLY BECAME UNLATCHED AFTER THE REAR WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN. IN EACH CASE THE REAR HATCH WOULD NOT RELATCH AND TO BE TIED SHUT. THE LATCH ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED BY A DEALER IN ORDER TO RESTORE THE HATCH TO OPERATION IN EACH CASE. DURING THE THIRD REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR HATCH LATCH ASSEMBLY THE DEALER TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE LATCH OPERATING CABLE HARNESS WAS ROUTED INCORRECTLY INSIDE THE REAR HATCH WHICH IS WHY THE REAR WINDOW WAS PUTTING STRESS ON IT AND DAMAGING THE LATCH ASSEMBLY. THE LATCH BROKE TWICE IN 08/2002, AND AGAIN IN 06/2005. *NM
INSIDE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE BROKE. CAN NOT EXIT VEHICLE ON PASSENGER SIDE. *NM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE REAR LIFT GATE, THE KEY LOCK ASSEMBLY WOULD NOT OPEN AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE REAR LIFT GATE LOCK ASSEMBLY WAS CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
1. INSIDE DOOR HANDLE SNAPS/BREAKS OFF AT 30,000 MILES. 3 SEPARATE HANDLES HAVE BROKEN. DRIVER SIDE HAS BROKEN TWICE. MULTIPLE TIMES INCLUDING 3 OF 4 HANDLES OVER A PERIOD OF A FEW YEARS. 2 WHEN HANDLE BREAKS OFF YOU CAN'T EXIT THE CAR. 3. PARTS PLUS LABOR $70.00 - I HAVE OLD PART. *JB
2002 SEQUOIA REAR LATCH DOES NOT WORK. THIS CAUSED REAR DOORS NOT TO LOCK. *TS *NM
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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