NHTSA Complaint #10433955 — 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

UPON HAVING VEHICLE INSPECTED BY ASE-CERT. TECH., I WAS INFORMED THAT 18"-24" OF THE VEHICLE'S LEFT MAIN FRAME RAIL WAS ROTTED/RUSTED THROUGH ALONG THE BOTTOM SURFACE. THE ROTTED SECTION IS LOCATED ADJACENT TO THE TRANSMISSION CROSS-MEMBER ON THE LEFT SIDE, AS WELL AS SMALLER PERFORATIONS ON THE RIGHT MAIN FRAME RAIL IN THE SAME LOCATION (TRANSMISSION CROSS MEMBER). ALSO, THE FRAME RAIL IS ROTTED THROUGH AT THE JUNCTION WHERE THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER SUPPORT IS WELDED TO THE FRAME. TECHNICIANS HAVE ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE IS DEFINITELY UNSAFE TO DRIVE, AS FRAME IS IN DANGER OF COLLAPSING, AS WELL AS SPARE TIRE FALLING OFF VEHICLE WHILE IN OPERATION. ITS BEEN BROUGHT TO LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT. FACTORY "TRUCK FRAME TEAM" WAS CONTACTED TO DISCUSS REPLACEMENT OF FRAME, AS DONE IN RESPONSE TO THE RUSTED FRAME EPIDEMIC ON TUNDRAS. THIS PRODUCED NO RESULTS OTHER THAN TOYOTA STATING THAT "THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS WITH SEQUOIA FRAMES", AND "THERE IS NO PROGRAM TO REPLACE THEM". TOYOTA WILL *NOT* REPAIR OR REPLACE THIS FRAME, NOR OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WITH VEHICLE THAT IS IN OTHERWISE EXCELLENT CONDITION, WITH A BOOK VALUES OF $9000.00-$10,000.00, NOW MADE WORTHLESS AND UN-DRIVABLE DUE TO THE RUSTED FRAME. THERE ARE MANY DOZENS OF OTHER IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS REGARDING DANGEROUSLY RUSTED/ROTTED FRAMES ON 2001-2003 SEQUOIAS WITH RUST DAMAGE ALL IN THE EXACT SAME LOCATIONS, ON THIS NHTSA WEBSITE (SEE LISTINGS), BUT TOYOTA WILL NOT ADMIT TO THIS OBVIOUS DESIGN/MATERIAL DEFECT, AS THEY HAVE WITH THE TUNDRA, WHICH USES A NEARLY IDENTICAL FRAME FROM SAME MANUFACTURER AND ASSEMBLED IN THE SAME FACTORY. NEITHER HAS THE NHTSA YET INITIATED ANY SORT OF INTERVENTION ON BEHALF OF CONSUMERS. EARLY SEQUOIA OWNERS IN NORTHERN US/CANADA WOULD BE WELL ADVISED TO HAVE THEIR VEHICLE FRAMES INSPECTED BY QUALIFIED TECHNICIAN, AND REPORT THOSE FINDINGS IMMEDIATELY. *TR