NHTSA Complaint #10577800 — 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

WE PURCHASED OUR SEQUOIA IN JULY OF 2004. ON DEC. 20, 2006 THE VSC OFF AND VSC TRAC LIGHTS CAME ON. WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO OUR TOYOTA DEALER ON JAN. 3, 2007 (48,127 MI) TO HAVE THEM TAKE A LOOK AT IT. WE WERE TOLD THE LIGHTS WERE ON BECAUSE OF A CHARCOAL CANISTER THAT NEEDED REPLACING. WE REPLACED THE CANISTER ON AUG. 8, 2007 (58,184 MI.) AT A COST OF APPROX. $425. WE BELIEVE THIS COST SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER THE EMISSION SYSTEM'S WARRANTY BUT THE DEALER SAID 'NO' AND WE RELUCTANTLY PAID IT. ON A TRIP TO CA, THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE QUIT WORKING. WE WENT TO A TOYOTA DEALER IN VICTORVILLE, CA ON DEC.3, 2007 (66,587 MI.) WE WERE TOLD THE OIL PRESSURE WAS FINE BUT THE 'COMBO METER' NEEDED REPLACING AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $900. WE DECLINED THE SERVICE. AT SOME POINT AFTER THAT, THE VSC OFF AND VSC TRAC LIGHTS CAME BACK ON. ON APRIL 1, 2009 (87,456 MI.) WE TOOK THE CAR IN TO THE TOYOTA DEALER TO HAVE THEM CHECK ON THE LIGHTS. WE WERE TOLD THE 'SKID CONTROL ECU' NEEDED REPLACING AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF $1400. WE DECLINED THE SERVICE. THE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON TO THIS DAY AT 165,977 MILES. IN DEC. 2011, AFTER A SNOWY DAY, WE WERE TRAVELING ABOUT 25 MPH WHEN THE CAR BROKE TRACTION AND SENT US SPINNING 180* OUT-OF-CONTROL. IF IT WASN'T FOR A SNOW BERM WE WOULD HAVE ROLLED DOWN A HILL INTO A POND. THIS VEHICLE IS UNSAFE!! I'M SURE WE HAVE PAID DEARLY FOR THE STABILITY CONTROL FEATURE IN THIS CAR BUT IT HAS BEEN INOPERABLE FOR MOST OF TIME WE'VE OWNED IT. THIS IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT THAT SHOULD BE RECALLED AND MADE RIGHT. WE DON'T BELIEVE WE SHOULD HAVE TO BEAR THE COST OF FIXING THIS PROBLEM OURSELVES. *TR