NHTSA Complaint #10735028 — 2007 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY WHEN I FELT MY VEHICLE RATTLED AND A SOMETHING CAME OFF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE AN EXIT AND SAFETY. I GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE TIRE AND FOUND A 2X5 CHUNK OF RUBBER WAS MISSING FROM THE TIRE WALL AND THE TIRE WAS GOING FLAT. WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE BACK-HATCH TO PUT ON THE SPARE TIRE THE HATCH LATCH WOULDN'T WORK. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION I FOUND THE PLASTIC LATCH WAS BROKER AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LOWER THE THE SPARE TIRE. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME TO DRIVE IT SLOWLY BEFORE THE TIRE WENT COMPLETELY FLAT. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE LATCH ISSUE TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SEQUOIA 2002-2007 DUE TO CHEAP PLASTIC PART AND WITH OUT PROVIDING A SECONDARY SAFETY RELEASE TO OPEN THE BACK-HATCH IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. THE DEALER IS CHARGING $400 - $500 DOLLARS LABOR TO MAKE THE REPAIR TO A $20 DOLLAR PART. HTTP://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/10071/TOYOTA/SEQUOIA/TOYOTA-SEQUOIA-REAR-HATCH-DOOR-PROBLEMS