NHTSA Complaint #10714286 — 2007 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

THE REAR LATCH WOULD NOT WORK DURING A CAMPING TRIP IN A REMOTE AREA. THE REAR SEATS HAD BEEN REMOVED AS PER THE OWNERS MANUAL PRIOR TO THE TRIP. THE REAR PORTION OF THE VEHICLE WAS FULL OF CAMPING GEAR, FOOD, WATER, AND OUR FIRST AIDE KIT . I SPRAINED MY HAND AND BACK WHILE FIRST ATTEMPTING REPEATED TIMES TO OPEN THE TAILGATE AND THEN HAVING TO RESORT TO LIFTING HEAVY EQUIPMENT THROUGH THE BACK WINDOW AND ALSO OVER THE PASSENGER SEATS. WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A TOYOTA DEALER AT OUT FIRST OPPORTUNITY. WE WERE TOLD THAT TOYOTA WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WHICH WAS DESCRIBED TO MY WIFE AND I AS WEAK ENGINEERING AND A PLASTIC PART ALSO KNOW TO FAIL. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FAILURE COULD HAVE BEEN RAISED BY DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON DUSTY ROADS, BECAUSE THE LATCH WAS NOT PROTECTED FROM DUST AND IT WAS POORLY DESIGNED AND WAS LIKELY TO FAIL IF IT GOT DIRTY. WE LEARNED FROM THIS DEALER THAT WE HAD ALREADY HAD THE LATCH REPLACED A YEAR PRIOR. WE WERE TOLD THAT TOYOTA WOULD NO LONGER STAND BEHIND REPAIRS TO THIS VEHICLES TAILGATE LATCH BECAUSE THE PROBLEM WAS CHRONIC AND THE REPLACEMENT PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN IMPROVE TO PREVENT EXPECTED FAILURES. THE DEALER REPLACED, CLEANED AND LUBRICATE THE LATCH PARTS AND THEN ATTEMPTED TO PROTECT THEM USING A SURPLUS PLASTIC BAG. I AM CONCERNED THAT WHEN THE LATCH FAILS AGAIN IT MAY BE DURING AN EMERGENCY, OR CAUSE ANOTHER INJURY, OR ENTRAPMENT... *TR