NHTSA Complaint #10328305 — 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

OUR 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA FREQUENTLY LOSES POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH BECAUSE THE VSC TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM UNNECESSARILY ENGAGES. THIS OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS, INCLUDING WHEN IT IS SUNNY OUT AND THE ROAD IS COMPLETELY DRY AND SMOOTH. WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER A FULL FILL-UP OF GASOLINE. WHEN THE VSC ENGAGES, THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES EACH TIME WE TRY TO REAPPLY THE ACCELERATOR. WE EITHER HAVE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND RECRANK THE CAR TO GET THE VSC TO STOP ENGAGING, OR SIMPLY COAST TO 20 OR 30 MPH -- AGAIN, ON THE HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC -- AND SLOWLY REAPPLY THE ACCELERATOR AGAIN BEFORE THE VSC STOPS ENGAGING ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO REGAIN SPEED. WHEN LOSING POWER AND THEREFORE SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY, WE'VE HAD CARS NEARLY REAR-END US. WE CALLED TOYOTA AFTER WE LEARNED THAT THEY ANNOUNCED A VOLUNTARY RECALL OF '03 SEQUOIAS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, AND WERE TOLD THAT WE'D HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR OURSELVES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IS NOT THE RESULT OF ANYTHING WE DID TO THIS VEHICLE. *TR