NHTSA Complaint #10382562 — 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA REAR TRUNK LATCH BROKEN. APPARENTLY THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THE SEQUOIA. ONCE LATCH IS BROKEN, REAR TRUNK CAN NOT BE OPENED. YOU CAN NOT OPEN IT FROM THE INTERIOR SINCE THERE IS NOT MECHANISM TO DO SO. COST TO REPLACE THE BROKEN LATCH IS COSTLY TO CONSUMERS. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH THEIR SEQUOIA, BUT WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY COMPLAINTS. I DID A WEB SEARCH AND THERE ARE THOUSANDS WHO HAVE ENCOUNTERED THIS PROBLEM. THEREFORE, IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR RECALL. BAD DESIGN AND CHEAP MATERIAL USED BY TOYOTA. FAR AS SAFETY, YOU CAN NOT HAVE ANY PASSENGERS IN THE THIRD ROW SINCE THE BROKEN LATCH DOES NOT PERMIT OPENING OPERATION SHOULD ONE NEED TO GET THOSE PASSENGERS OUT. DIFFIDENTLY A SAFETY HAZARD AND POTENTIAL ENTRAPMENT FOR THOSE IN THE REAR SEATS. PART IS AVAILABLE AT A MODEST COST, BUT HAVING DEALING INSTALL IS COSTLY. *TR