NHTSA Complaint #11080786 — 2008 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

THE REAR LIFTGATE ON OUR 2008 TOYOTA SEQUOIA STARTED ACTING UP LATE MAY 2016. THE LIFTGATE LOCK ACTUATOR BEGAN GETTING STUCK AND VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. NOW IT CANNOT BE OPENED BY NEITHER THE POWER LIFTGATE BUTTON NOR MANUALLY WITH THE HANDLE. WE CAN SEE THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE OF EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE ACTUATOR. IT HAS SEIZED AND ARE NOW VERY CONCERNED THAT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE THROUGH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD ALL OTHER EXITS ARE BLOCKED. NOT EVEN THE REAR WINDOW IS WORKING AND BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT AFFECTING THE COMPONENTS INSIDE THE LIFTGATE ITSELF. UPON RESEARCHING THE MATTER WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. WE FEEL THIS WARRANTS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE EXCESSIVE RUST/CORROSION AND MECHANICAL FAILURE.