2003 Toyota Sequoia Interior & seats Problems

3/22/17, DRIVING OM I 85 HIGHWAY FROM GREENVILLE, S.C. TO GA.. SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, TURNED OFF MY AIR AND RADIO. SEAT BEGAN TO HEAT UP. 45 MINUTES TO GO. PARKED DID NOT GET BACK INTO THE CAR UNTIL 4/3/2007. NOTICED SIDE OF SEAT COVERED IN SMOKE AND SEAT ADJUSTERS MELTED AND BLACKENED. UNABLE TO ADJUST SEATS. TOOK CAR BACK TO GREENVILLE TO DEALER WEEK OF APRIL 10TH. TOLD I HAD TO REPORT THIS TO CORPORATE. I CALLED CORPORATE AND THEY ASKED ME TO SEND PICTURES, I DID, CORPORATE SENT INSPECTOR OUT ON MAY 15TH, 2017. PROMISED A RESPONSE IN 30 DAYS. THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE, I WAS FEARFUL, BUT I CONTINUED TO DRIVE IT. I WAITED ON A RESPONSE, AND MADE SEVERAL PHONE CALLS, AND WAS TOLD PICTURES WERE SENT TO CHINA, AND IT WOULD TAKE MORE TIME. I CONTINUED TO CALL CORPORATE AND IN AUGUST I FINALLY RECEIVED INFORMATION TELLING ME THAT I HAD CAUSED THE PROBLEM AND TOYOTA WOULD NOT FIX MY CAR. I HAVE HAD THE SUV SERVICED AS DIRECTED BY THE MANUEL BY A TOYOTA DEALER SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2003. I DID NOTHING TO CAUSE THIS MALFUNCTION IN MY POWER POSITION CONTROL SYSTEM. I INFORMED CORPORATE SEVERAL TIMES THAT THIS WAS AGGRAVATING MY ALREADY INJURED BACK BECAUSE I COULD NOT ADJUST MY SEAT. I AM NOW SCHEDULED FOR BACK SURGERY NEXT MONTH. THIS MALFUNCTION COULD HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE AND I AM FEARFUL OF MY WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME AND WHAT COULD HAPPEN TO SOMEONE ELSE. I HAD ABOUT 223601 MILES ON THE CAR AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE.

NHTSA ID

11046552

Incident

Mar 22, 2017

Mileage

223,601 mi

WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR LOCK ASSEMBLY AND VARIOUS OTHER PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT 4 TIMES DUE TO RUSTING. DUE TO THE PART RUSTING IT WILL NO LONGER LATCH THE DOOR CLOSED. THE DOOR CAN EITHER POP OPEN AND THUS CAUSE A ISSUE! WHEN IT WON'T LOCK INORDER TO DRIVE THE CAR IT HAS TO BE BUNGEE CORDED SHUT. WHICH ISN'T SAFE EITHER. WE HAVE SPENT ALMOST $3000 ON THESE REPAIRS FROM 2005 UNTIL TODAY. RESEARCHING THE WEB HAS REVEALED THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SEQUOIA SYSTEM. TOYOTA DOESN'T FEEL IT IS A CONCERN WHEN THEIR 1-800 NUMBER IS CALLED AND THE ISSUE REPORTED. I FEEL THIS ISSUE IS A CONCERN AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THIS ASSEMBLY ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10704493

Incident

Jul 13, 2005

Mileage

55,650 mi

ALL OF A SUDDEN THE REAR LIFT GATE HANDLE STOPPED WORKING.. A PLASTIC PART BROKE. I REPAIRED THE LIFT GATE BY DRILLING IT AND INSERTING A NUT AND SCREW TO HOLD IT IN PLACE THUS MAKING IT STRONGER. THAT WORKED FOR ABOUT A YEAR. IT JUST BROKE AGAIN. *LN

NHTSA ID

10379535

Incident

Jan 28, 2011

Mileage

93,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10365646

Incident

Nov 14, 2010

Mileage

126,000 mi

INSIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF ON THREE OF THE DOORS. THE ONLY DOOR THAT STILL WORKS IS THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND WALK AROUND OPENING EVERYONE ELSE'S DOOR SO THEY CAN GET OUT OF THE CAR. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SAFE IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, FIRE, ETC WHERE I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN ALL THE DOORS IN TIME. I AM THOROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED BY THE DESIGN FLAW THAT LEAD TO THIS SITUATION. TOYOTA WANTS OVER 200 PER DOOR TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. ANYTIME A PASSENGER IS TRAPPED INSIDE A CAR IT CAN BECOME A DANGEROUS SITUATION VERY QUICKLY. THE SECOND PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH THE SEQUOIA INVOLVES THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. IT WAS FIXED ONE TIME UNDER A TSB, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS SINCE RETURNED. I DO NOT FEEL LIKE SPENDING 100 FOR A DIAGNOSIS TO TELL ME WHAT I ALREADY KNOW IS WRONG WITH THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ID

10318754

Incident

Aug 21, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

TOYOTA SEQUOIA REAR DOOR LATCH BROKE. CAN'T OPEN IT FROM INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. TWO PREVIOUS DOOR HANDLES BROKE LAST YEAR. DRIVER DOOR AND PASSENGER DOOR. BACK DOORS ARE ONLY ONES THAT HAVE LASTED. THREE DOOR HANDLES FAILED ON ONE CAR WITHIN ONE YEAR. ON A TRUCK NONETHELESS, SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE STURDY. WHAT IF THEY BROKE UPON FALLING IN AN EMERGENCY? *TR

NHTSA ID

10315781

Incident

Feb 1, 2010

2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VSC/TRAC COMPUTER PROBLEMS CAUSING UNNECESSARY BRAKING. ALSO BREAKING OF REAR DOOR LATCH AND INABILITY TO OPEN REAR DOOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10311740

Incident

Nov 14, 2009

Mileage

20,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10263918

Incident

Mar 26, 2009

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TWO REAR INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES CRACKED BEFORE FALLING COMPLETELY OFF WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE FRONT PASSENGER INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE CRACKED AND FELL OFF APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR LATER. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE FAILURES WERE NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 05/21/08 *BF

NHTSA ID

10226368

Incident

May 1, 2007

Mileage

70,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10210947

Incident

Apr 12, 2005

Mileage

20,000 mi

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

NHTSA ID

10200099

Incident

Aug 14, 2007

Mileage

84,000 mi

PASSENGER SIDE, MIDDLE ROW, FOLDING SEAT DOES NOT LATCH. HAD PROBLEMS W/ IT BEING VERY DIFFICULT TO LATCH STARTING AROUND ONE YEAR OF US, LATER BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO LATCH. DEALER SAYS THE BAR IN THE SEAT IS BROKEN (BUT NOW OUT OF WARRANTY). $800+ TO REPLACE, DEALER OFFERED $300 DISCOUNT TOWARD REPAIR. *JB

NHTSA ID

10172921

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

REAR LATCH MECHANISM ON 2003 SEQUOIA WITH 48000 MILES HAS RUSTED AND WILL NO LONGER KEEP LIFT GATE CLOSED, THUS ALLOWING EXHAUST INTO VEHICLE AND PRESENTING HAZARD OF LIFT GATE OPENING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10150379

Incident

Feb 15, 2006

Mileage

48,761 mi

THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ON MY 2002 SEQUOIA ARE BOTH BROKEN, ONE TO THE POINT THAT THE DOOR CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE AFTER FIRST ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE HANDLES ON MY 1995 CAMRY BUT FIGURED THAT WAS DUE TO IT BEING OUTSIDE ALL THE TIME IN THE HOT TEXAS SUN. MY SEQUOIA THOUGH IS GARAGE KEPT. THIS IS NOT NO DOUBT A SAFETY ISSUE. I ALSO HAVE A 2005 CAMRY AND ITS INTERIOR DOOR. *NM

NHTSA ID

10141230

Incident

Oct 17, 2005

DOOR LATCH FAILURE - PASANGER DOOR HANDLE DID NOT RETURN TO CLOSED POSITION RESULTING IN LATCH FAILURE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, THE DOOR OPENED.*AK

NHTSA ID

10075440

Incident

Oct 15, 2003