NHTSA Complaint #10475777 — 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

WHEN I WAS ABOUT TO LEAVE THE CHURCH PARKING LOT, I STARTED TO FEEL THE STEERING WHEEL WAS A LITTLE BIT HARD TO TURN. AS I MADE 2 MORE TURNS, IT SEEMED THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME HARDER TO MANEUVER AND IT EVEN GOT ME TO A NEAR ACCIDENT WHEN I ALMOST HIT A CAR WHILE MY SEQUOIA WAS TRYING TO MAKE A WIDE TURN TO THE RIGHT. LUCKILY I REACHED HOME FROM A MILE AND A HALF DRIVE WITHOUT HAVING ANY ACCIDENT. WHEN I CHECKED THE TRUCK UNDERNEATH, I FOUND OUT, THERE WAS A STEERING OIL LEAK COMING FROM THE GEAR ASSEMBLY NEAR THE BOOT. WHAT MADE ME MORE DISAPPOINTED WAS THAT I FOUND OUT THERE WAS AN EXCESSIVE RUSTING ON THE GEAR ASSEMBLY AND WITH MOST PARTS OF THE CHASSIS ASSY AS WELL. I THINK THE RUST HAS EATEN THE METAL SO MUCH THAT IT MADE A HOLE THROUGH THE OIL LINE IN THE GEAR ASSY. THE RUSTING, I BELIEVE, WAS TOO MUCH FOR A TEN YEAR OLD SUV. *TR