NHTSA Complaint #10439958 — 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5 - 66,462M. MECHANIC DISCOVERED THAT THE FRAME OF THIS VEHICLE IS COMPLETELY RUSTED. HOLES IN THE FRAME AND LOTS OF RUST IN KEY JOINS COMPROMISING THE SAFETY OF VEHICLE. TOYOTA CORP. HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE FRAMES OF THE TACOMAS AND TUNDRAS HAD A PREMATURELY RUSTING PROBLEM. THE TOYOTA SEQUOIA HAVE THE SAME FRAME. TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL ON THESE TWO VEHICLES BUT NOT THE SEQUOIAS. UPON CONTACTING TOYOTA CORP. THEY ASKED THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR FRAME INSPECTION. THE INSPECTION REPORT SAY: CUSTOMER REQ. INSPECTION - -> LOOKS LIKE HAMMER HOLE IN BOTTOM OF LT RAIL @ TRANS MOUNT CROSS MEMBER LOTS OF ROT/ MISSING METAL FROM FT RT SWAY BAR MOUNT LOTS OF ROT AT RR CROSS MEMBER (THAT SPARE HANGS FROM) WHERE MEETS RAIL ON LT SIDE. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT IN ALL HIS LIFE WORKING WITH VEHICLES HAS NEVER SEEN A VEHICLE SO DETERIORATED FROM RUST. ADVISED TO CONTACT TOYOTA BECAUSE OF THE TUNDRA'S RECALL. TOYOTA CORP. WILL NOT ADDRESS MY VEHICLE NOR THOSE OF OTHER SEQUOIA OWNERS THAT I FOUND ON INTERNET FORUMS WITH THE EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEMS. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW INSTANCES WHERE TOYOTA HAS REPLACED THE FRAME IN VEHICLES WITH HIGHER MILEAGE AND OLDER VEHICLE. TOYOTA CORP. CLAIMS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF THE 36K MILE WARRANTY THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PREMATURE ROTTING OF THE FRAME. VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN AN AVERAGE OF 7K MILES A YEAR, MAINTAINED PROPERLY AND IN MINT CONDITION. THE SEQUOIAS SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE FRAME RECALL FROM TOYOTA SINCE IT IS THE SAME FRAME AND MANUFACTURER OF THE TACOMA AND TUNDRA MODELS WHICH TOYOTA HAS ACCEPTED THESE VEHICLES WERE MANUFACTURED WITH SUBSTANDARD FRAMES WHICH LEADS TO PREMATURE ROTTING. I ASK YOUR AGENCY TO FURTHER INVESTIGATE THIS FRAME ISSUE WHICH MAY BE A SERIOUS SAFETY VIOLATION SPECIALLY FOR THOSE UNAWARE THAT THEIR VEHICLES ARE ABOUT TO COLLAPSE BECAUSE OF FRAME ROT. *TR