2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5 Suspension Problems

"BALL JOINT FAILURE" WHILE TRAVELLING DOWN FREEWAY AT 35-40 MPH THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE HAD COME OFF AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DROP. LOST STEERING, BRAKES AND ANY CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE VEHICLE SKID INTO THE GUARD RAIL SPINNING IT AROUND AND SLIDING UNTIL IT CAME TO A STOP. THE ARM CAME DIRECTLY OFF THE VEHICLE AND IS STILL ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL.

THE CHASSIS IS VERY RUSTY AND I WANT TO CHANGE THE SHOCKS BUT I DON'T WANT TO DAMAGE THE CAR BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT CHASSIS HAVE TO BE FIXED FIRST AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MUCH THAT COST OR WHERE TO GO TO FIXED

FRAME IS RUSTING AWAY AT ONLY 40K. HOLES IN FRAME.

THE 2003 SEQUIOA FRAME IS RUST IS EATING AWAY THE FRAME. WE PAID A LOT OF MONEY FOR THIS VECHICLE. WOULD TOYOTA STANDBY THERE VECHICLE AND REPLACE THIS FRAME OR WE HAVE PAY FOR REPLACEMENT .

I NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM REAR AXLE HOUSING. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE I WAS TOLD THAT THE AXLE HOUSING IS LEAKING DUE TO DEFECTIVE WELDS AND MUST BE REPLACED, IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED. AT THE SAME TIME I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE FRAME HAS ROTTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT DUE TO DEFECTIVE OR INADEQUATE FACTORY RUSTPROOFING. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS PROBLEM IS PERVASIVE IN TOYOTA SEQUOIAS WHICH HAVE THE SAME FRAME AS TOYOTA TUNDRAS. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED THE TUNDRAS AND REPLACED THE FRAMES BUT TO DATE REFUSES TO DO THE SAME FOR SEQUOIAS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN DETERMINED TO BE UNSAFE TO DRIVE AT THIS TIME. ASIDE FROM THE DEFECTS STATED ABOVE THE VEHICLE IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. *KB