NHTSA Complaint #10850861 — 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

LAST WEEK, (3/17/16) MY NEIGHBOR WAS TAKING HER THREE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL IN HER 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. SHE WAS TRAVELING ON A NEW ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED ON DRIVER'S SIDE. SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD A FLAT TIRE SO SHE STEERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT APPEARS THE DRIVER'S SIDE, LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED (SEE PHOTOS). I CALLED HENDRICK TOYOTA OF APEX, NC AND TALKED WITH MR. JOHN SPECHT (919-335-1678). HE CHECKED THE VIN AND SAID THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD A RECALL AND WERE CHANGED ON AUG. 15, 2007. HE ALSO SUGGESTED I CONTACT TOYOTA TO REQUEST THEIR ASSISTANCE TO COVER THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE (CASE NO.[XXX]). HE ADVISED THE VEHICLE BE BROUGHT IN FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL TOO. VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME ON A DOLLY TO PREVENT ANY DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAS 215,444 MILES AND WAS NOT USED FOR OFF-ROAD DRIVING. THE VEHICLE RECENTLY PASSED STATE INSPECTION WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED ABOUT THE FRONT END. IF THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE ALREADY REPLACED IN A RECALL (2007) WHAT DID THEY REPLACE THEM WITH, AND HOW DID THEY CORRECT THE PROBLEM? THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A DEADLY ACCIDENT AT HIGHER SPEED. WHEN A LOWER BALL JOINT BREAKS, THE DRIVER CAN ONLY STEER WITH ONE WHEEL.[XXX] 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *BF