NHTSA Complaint #10479277 — 2007 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

THE REAR LATCH WHICH CONTROLS THE OPENING OF THE REAR HATCH BROKE. THIS PART IS MADE OF PLASTIC (PERHAPS COSTING 0.30), AND IT IS SHELTERED FROM DIRECT SUN AND WEAR AND TEAR BY BEING COVERED WITH A PART OF THE HATCH WHICH IS MADE OF STEEL. THE HATCH WHEN THIS PART IS BROKEN CANNOT BE OPENED. THIS MEANS ONE CANNOT GAIN ACCESS TO THE SPARE TIRE OR THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THIS PART COSTS OVER $90, AND THE LABOR TO REPAIR IS APPROXIMATELY $170. COMBINED THIS APPROACHES $300 WITH TAX. WHEN I BROUGHT THIS INTO THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, AND THEY POINTED OUT THAT THEY HAD TWO OTHER SEQUOIAS CURRENTLY IN THE SHOP HAVING THE SAME REPAIR BEING PERFORMED. THEY HAD THE PART IN STOCK BECAUSE IT OCCURS SO OFTEN. A SEARCH ON THE INTERNET HAS SHOWN THAT THIS HAS OCCURRED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF TIMES. A RECALL WOULD APPEAR TO BE IN ORDER. *TR