NHTSA Complaint #10155434 — 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA POWER ANTENNA PROBLEM. ANTENNA WAS NOT OPERATING PROPERLY EXTENDING UP AND DOWN, ALONG WITH A MIDDLE ROW SEAT BELT RETRACTION PROBLEM AND THE PLASTIC CAR HINGE PROTECTORS ALWAYS POPPING OFF WHEN ONE FOLDS UP THE RIGHT MIDDLE SEAT. I WENT TO ROSEVILLE TOYOTA TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD REPLACE THE ANTENNA FOR APPROX $200, BECAUSE THE GROOVES WERE WEARING OFF, AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GO TO THE MANUFACTURER TO ADDRESS IT BECAUSE OF HAVING TO PAY $200. HAVING ONLY HAD THIS "FAMILY" CAR DRIVEN AROUND TOWN FOR 2 YEARS, I DIDN'T THINK A TOYOTA SHOULD HAVE THIS PROBLEM, THUS THAT'S WHY WE KEEP BUYING TOYOTA. THE MANAGER OFFERED TO FIX IT FOR $60. I RELUCTANTLY AGREED AND FELT THAT THEY WERE TRYING TO ACCOMODATE ME. THREE MONTHS LATER, IT'S NOT OPERATING PROPERLY AGAIN. WE BROUGHT IT TO ROSEVILLE TOYOTA AGAIN, ALONG WITH A MAJOR SCHEDULED $600 TUNE-UP, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS TIME, THE MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, COSTING $325! HOW CAN A POWER ANTENNA HAVE THIS MUCH PROBLEMS ON AN EXPENSIVE CAR LIKE THE SEQUOIA? WE BOUGHT IT AS A FAMILY CAR EXPECTING NOT TO KEEP SHELLING OUT MONEY FOR A 2 1/2-YEAR-OLD CAR. WE CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING LITTLE FIXES LIKE THIS FOR A CAR WHICH WE THOUGHT WAS A QUALITY BUY. WE EXPECTED PAYING FOR THE SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, BUT ITS PRECISELY AVOIDING THIS "MISC FIXES" IS THE REASON WE BUY TOYOTA. NOW WE HAVE TO KEEP PAYING FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT REALLY KEEP BREAKING DOWN BECAUSE OF THE IMPLIED QUALITY. THE SIGN OF A GOOD QUALITY CAR IS THE AMOUNT OF LITTLE FIXES THAT NEED TO BE DONE WHICH SHOULD BE NIL. WE HAVE HAD OTHER MANUFACTURERS BEFORE AND KNOW THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT CAN ADD UP BECAUSE OF THESE "FIXES." I SINCERELY HOPE THAT TOYOTA CAN ADDRESS THIS TYPE OF COMPLAINT AND SHOW THAT THEY ARE A RESPONSIBLE COMPANY THAT ADDRESSES THEIR CONSUMER NEEDS. *NM *TR