NHTSA Complaint #10448361 — 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

THE REAR DOOR LATCH FAILED, MAKING THE DOOR INOPERABLE. USE OF THE DOOR FOR ENTRY AND EXIT WAS IMPOSSIBLE, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. REPAIR OF THIS LATCH FAILURE IS EXPENSIVE ($400 - $700) AND INCONVENIENT. THE DESIGN OF THE PART AND THE MATERIAL USED (PLASTIC) APPEARS TO BE AT FAULT. A HEAVIER DUTY METAL PART IS NOW AVAILABLE FROM AFTER MARKET PARTS DEALERS. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMMON AND WIDESPREAD JUDGING FROM A DISCUSSION WITH A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND JUDGING FROM THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET. *TR