NHTSA Complaint #10162969 — 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

IN NOVEMBER 2001, I PURCHASED A NEW 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR-5. DURING THE SUMMER OF 2002, I HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE AC SYSTEM AND TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. IT WORKED FINE UNTIL THE SUMMER OF 2003 WHEN I HAD TO TAKE IT BACK FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE SUMMER OF 2004 IT HAPPENED AGAIN BUT BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, I DID NOT TAKE IT IN HOPING A RECALL WOULD SOON BE ISSUED. SUMMER 2005 - I HAVE SPOKEN TO OTHER SEQUOIA OWNERS AND HAVE READ NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET THAT THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM SPECIFIC TO MY VEHICLE ALONE. ALL THE ISSUES ARE THE SAME: 1) AC DOES NOT WORK WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 80 DEGREES. 2) WHEN IT DOES WORK (BELOW 80 DEGREES), IT DOES NOT WORK WELL AND INTERMITTENTLY. 3) SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN THEIR VEHICLES IN FOR REPAIR WITH COSTS RANGING FROM $2300-$2900. 4) I CANNOT DEFROST MY WINDOWS WHEN IT IS RAINING - THIS IS A VISUAL IMPAIRMENT. MANY OF THE PEOPLE HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS AND TOYOTA CLAIMS IT IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE SO A RECALL IS NOT WARRANTED. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!! BECAUSE MY AC SYSTEM DOES NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY, I CANNOT TAKE MY FAMILY ANYWHERE ON THE ROAD FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. I AM AFRAID ANY PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE WILL SUFFER FROM HEAT EXHAUSTION OR WORSE. I URGE NHTSA TO FOLLOW UP WITH TOYOTA TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *NM