NHTSA Complaint #10082904 — 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

PURCHASED 2001 SEQUIOA APPROX. 7/2001 SLOANE TOYOTA- DEVON, PA. APPROX. 13K CAR BEGAN TO SHUDDERS WHEN BRAKING. DEALER ADVISED NEEDED NEW BRAKES REASON "DUE TO THE SIZE OF VEHICLE, IS NOT UNCOMMON FOR BRAKES NEED REPLACING EVERY 8-13K MILES" WAS LATER ADVISED ROTORS NEED GRINDING. SERVICE GUY SAID I MUST HAVE "HIT THE BRAKES REAL HARD." NO WAY. I BABY THIS CAR. DEALER THEN ADVISED ROTOR WORK WAS UNDER WARRANTY.NOW LIFE OF ROTORS COMPROMISED. I WAS NOT ADVISED ABOUT TSB RE: ROTORS/ BRAKE CALIPERS. 7/28/2004 WENT FOR OIL CHANGE. WAS ADVISED I NEEDED BRAKE PADS =$250, VEHICLE NOW HAS 19K. AGAIN I'M REMINDED " BIG CARS NEED TO HAVE BRAKES REPLACED EVERY 15 -20K IF NOT SOONER." IS APPARENT SERVICE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN "COACHED" TO FOLLOW SCRIPT RE: BRAKE/ ROTOR PROBS W/VEHICLE. FOUND MANY POSTS ON INTERNET RE: THIS PROB. DEALERS ALL OVER U.S. FEEDING CONSUMERS SAME LINE. IS INSANITY TO HAVE CONSUMERS INSTALL BRAKES EVERY 15K-20K MILES (NORMAL DRIVING) AND ROTORS GOUND EVERY 13K. ALSO- TIRES THAT CAME W/CAR ARE BALD/NEED REPLACING. DUNLOPS (SORRY, DON'T HAVE THE MODEL HANDY AND I WANT POST TO GO). VERY LOW MILEAGE ON CAR, IT SHOULD BE "MINT." CONSUMERS APPARENTLY EXPECTED TO REPLACE BRAKES/ TIRES AND HAVE THE ROTORS GROUND EVERY 13K - 19K MILES FOR LIFE OF VEHICLE. CONSIDERING COST OF VEHICLE DEALERS SHOULD OWN UP TO THE VEHICLE FAULTS, ADVISE CONSUMERS OF CURRENT PROBS AND "REPLACE" (NOT GRIND) BADLY ENGINEERED PARTS, TIRES, ETC. AND EAT THOSE SERVICE COSTS. IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE FACT THAT I AM LEAVING FOR VACATION IN A FEW DAYS, I WOULD GO RIGHT BACK WITH INTERNET POSTS IN HANDAND PRESS THEM FOR A GOOD EXPLANATION AND A REFUND FOR THE BRAKE WORK, GET NEW ROTORS AND CALIPERS INSTALLED AND BE COMPENSATED FOR THE LOUSY TIRES THE VEHICLE CAME WITH. I RESEARCHED SUV'S FOR OVER 1.5 YEARS BEFORE DECIDING ON THE SEQUOIA, I WISH IT WOULD LIVE UP TO CONSUMER EXPECTATIONS. KIRBY MCGHEE PAOLI, PA. 19301. *AK