NHTSA Complaint #10316044 — 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

THERE ARE TWO ISSUES THAT I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT TO YOU. FIRST IS THE ABS BRAKING/VSC SYSTEM. SECOND IS THE EXCESSIVE RUST THROUGH OUT THE VEHICLE UNDER CARRIAGE/CHASSIS. FIRST, I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. AT 38,620 MILES, THE BRAKE, ABS, VSC ON, ANS VSC OFF LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED AND WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK IT THE DEALER, THOMPSON TOYOTA, 122 W SWAMP ROAD, DOYLESTOWN, PA 18901, TEL 215 245 9460. THEY STATED THAT IT IS THE REAR BRAKE PADS THAT BEING WORN OUT AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE REAR BRAKE PADS. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES ON THE ROAD (AT 38660 MILES), THE IDENTICAL SITUATION OCCURRED AGAIN: THE BRAKE, ABS, VSC ON, ANS VSC OFF LIGHTS COME ON WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED AND WHILE DRIVING. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS 'ABS ECU' REPLACEMENT. FURTHERMORE, THE DEALER SAID THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE SAME WARNING LIGHTS WON'T TAKE PLACE IN THE NEAR FUTURE BASED ON THE ABS ECU REPAIR. THE COST OF THE REPAIR IS QUOTED AT $2100.00. HOWEVER, THE MOST DISTURBING SAFETY FACTOR THE DEALER STATED IS THAT WHEN THE ABS AND VSC LIGHT ARE ON THERE IS NO ABS AND VSC FUNCTIONS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATIONAL STATUS. SECOND. I HAVE OWNED THREE TOYOTA IN THE PAST. THE SEQUOIA IS THE ONLY VEHICLE EXHIBITS EXCESSIVE RUST THROUGH OUT THE CHASSIS DESPITE REGULAR UNDER THE CARRIAGE WASHES AFTER EXPOSURE TO SALT DUE TO SNOWSTORMS. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET DISCLOSED THAT THESE ARE COMMON ISSUES WITH THE SEQUOIA. FOR SAFETY AND FINANCIAL REASONS, NHTSA SHOULD ENCOURAGE TOYOTA TO ADDRESS/RECALL THE ABS/VSC DEFECT(S) AND EXCESSIVE CHASSIS RUST IN ALL THE SEQUOIA(S) ON THE ROAD TODAY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION IN ADVANCE. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK, FOLKS! *TR