NHTSA Complaint #10339623 — 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

ON 6/21/2010, MY 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SRS 2-WHEEL DRIVE MODEL AT 74K MILES HAD FAILURE WITH ITS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHILE RUNNING ON HIGHWAY. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION REPEATEDLY FAILED TO PROPERLY ENGAGE THE OVERDRIVE GEARS, RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT DROPPING OF ENGINE RPM, CAUSED SUDDEN DROP OF VEHICLE SPEED, CAUSED VEHICLE VIBRATION AND LOUD CLANKING SOUNDS, AND RESULTED IN DIFFICULT DRIVING CONDITION. THIS WAS PARTIALLY CORRECTABLE ONLY BY TAKING THE VEHICLE OFF THE OVERDRIVE MODE. ALTHOUGH NO VEHICLE ACCIDENT NOR INJURY RESULTED FROM THIS MECHANICAL FAILURE, I NOTED THAT MANY DISCUSSION BOARDS LISTED THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR 2000-2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA AND TUNDRA. THE PROBLEM WAS ATTRIBUTED TO OD PLANETARY GEARS AND SUN GEAR IN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. THIS PATTERN OF DEFECT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED WITH THE MANUFACTURE TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER POTENTIAL DANGEROUS INCIDENTS. IN MY OPINION, TOYOTA SHOULD ISSUE A SAFETY RECALL FOR THESE VEHICLES WITH THIS PATTERN OF ISSUES FOR ITS AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS. MY VEHICLE WAS NEVER USED FOR TOW AND HAD MOSTLY HIGHWAY MILES. *TR