NHTSA Complaint #10553173 — 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE TOYOTA DEALER IN JANUARY 2013 PER A RECALL FOR POSSIBLE RUST IN THE FRAME. PER THE INSPECTION, RUST WAS NOT NOTED AND THE FRAME WAS TREATED WITH AN UNDERCOAT RUST INHIBITOR. HAD RUST BEEN NOTED, THE FRAME WOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED ACCORDING TO THE DEALER/RECALL. IN SEPTEMBER, 2013 A NOISE WAS NOTED IN THE FRONT END AREA WHEN TURNING AND GOING OVER BUMPS. UPON INSPECTION BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SWAY BAR HAD BECOME SEPARATED FROM ATTACHMENT TO THE FRAME DUE TO RUST. IT WAS FURTHER NOTED THAT THE SWAY BAR COULD NOT BE REATTACHED DUE TO A HOLE IN THE FRAME CAUSED BY RUST. THIS WAS LATER CONFIRMED BY THE TOYOTA MECHANIC ON 11/15/13. THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE IS NEITHER REPAIRABLE NOR SAFE TO DRIVE. EITHER TOYOTA'S TREATMENT FOR RUST PREVENTION WAS NOT EFFECTIVE OR RUST HAD ALREADY COMPROMISED THE FRAME BUT WAS NOT NOTED DURING THE INSPECTION. TOYOTA IS NOT HONORING THE ORIGINAL RECALL AND IS OFFERING NO SOLUTION IN ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM. TOYOTA CLAIMS IT'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR ADDRESSING THE RUST IN THE FRAME ENDED ON 1/18/13. YET, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND WE ARE LEFT WITH A VEHICLE THAT IS NEITHER SAFE, DRIVABLE, OR REPAIRABLE DUE TO A CONDITION FOR WHICH IT HAD BEEN RECALLED JUST A FEW MONTHS EARLIER. *TR