NHTSA Complaint #11386488 — 2005 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

THESE VEHICLES HAVE A WELL KNOWN FRAME RUST ISSUE. IN MARCH OF 2018, TOYOTA DEEMED THIS FRAME SAFE AFTER AN INSPECTION AND APPLIED AN UNDERCOATING TO COVER UP THE RUST. A YEAR LATER THE UNDERCOATING BEGAN TO FLAKE OFF, REVEALING THE SEVERE RUST UNDERNEATH. LAST WEEK, NOT EVEN THREE YEARS LATER, WE WERE MAKING A RIGHT TURN AND FELT A POP UNDERNEATH. THE PASSENGER SIDE SWAY BAR MOUNT BROKE LOOSE FROM THE FRAME, AND THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TOLD US THE FRAME IS SO ROTTED THERE'S NOTHING LEFT TO WELD IT BACK TO. OTHER THAN THE FRAME ROT, THE VEHICLE RUNS, LOOKS, AND DRIVES LIKE NEW. THIS FRAME, AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS, SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED INSTEAD OF UNDERCOATED. THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AND SERVICE CAMPAIGN ARE OVER, BUT I THINK THIS SHOULD BE REVISITED, AS THERE ARE STILL MANY INSTANCES OF THIS HAPPENING.