2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA Structurebodydoor Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE NOTICED THAT THE BOTTOM OF VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY RUSTED. IN ADDITION, THE INNER LINE OF THE DOORS WAS BEGINNING TO EXHIBIT RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED BY A DEALER NOR WAS IT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HIS WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 94,000.

FREQUENTLY, THE POWER SIDE DOOR DOES NOT OPEN WHEN YOU CLICK ON THE DOOR OPEN BUTTON. WORST YET, THE DOOR CONTINUES TO CLOSE WHEN YOU TRY TO OPEN IT MANUALLY. YOU HAVE TO BE CAREFUL IT DOES NOT CLOSE ON YOUR ARM IF YOU REACH IN THE VEHICLE. *TR

INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FAILURE - ONLY METHOD OF EXITING VEHICLE. FAILED FOR A THIRD TIME UNDER NORMAL USE BEFORE REPORTING TO NHTSA. IF VEHICLE IS IN A CRASH, ON FIRE, OR UNDER WATER, A PERSON WILL PANIC AND EXERT GREATER FORCE THAN NORMAL ON THE HANDLE, SNAPPING IT, LEADING TO POTENTIAL DEATH. DEALER TOLD ME THEY HAVE "HUNDREDS" OF THESE COME THROUGH. ASK TOYOTA HOW MANY THEY HAVE REPLACED TO GET ACTUAL SCOPE. THEY HAVE NO INCENTIVE TO CORRECT FAILURE SINCE DEALER MAKES $250.00 TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. NO EGRESS IN A BURNING CAR IS EQUIVALENT TO NO FIRE EXIT DOORS IN A BURNING BUILDING. *TR

WHILE TRAVELING ANY WHERE I WOULD LOSE POWER AND MY VSC TRAC WARNING LIGHTS AND SKID TRAC LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND I WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE LIGHTS TO GO OFF IN ORDER TO GET MY POWER BACK. AND ALSO I HAD TO REPLACE TWO OF MY DOOR HANDLES. AND BEFORE MY SUV WAS 3YRS I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA THAT HAS HAD 3 DOOR HANDLES REPLACE IN THE LAST YEAR. ALL THREE BROKE FROM INSIDE, MAKING IT NECESSARY TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOW TO EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE REAR CARGO DOOR HANDLE BROKE THIS YEAR AND I HAVE HAD THE REAR WINDOW MOTOR REPLACED. THE REAR WINDOW CONSTANTLY GOES OFF TRACK AND HAS TO BE FIXED FOR IT TO OPEN AGAIN. I AM HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED WITH THIS TOYOTA. I HAD GAS PEDAL AND BRAKE ISSUES THE FIRST YEAR I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. IT IS THE EXACT ISSUES THE COMPANY IS RECALLING FOR OTHER MODELS. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALERSHIP THAT I AM A WOMAN WHO DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO HANDLE THIS LARGE OF A VEHICLE. STILL NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND YET I'VE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES! *TR

DOOR HANDLE BREAKING: 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA (1) EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE NOTHING ABNORMAL. HOUSEWIFE EXITING VEHICLE AFTER DROPPING KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL. (2) FAILURE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES THE DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED IN HALF, RENDERING NO EXIT FROM VEHICLE IMPOSSIBLE, OTHER THAN ROLLING DOWN ELECTRIC WINDOW, AND REACHING OUTSIDE, OPENING WITH EXTERIOR HANDLE. ALTHOUGH THE IMMEDIATE CONSEQUENCES IN THIS CASE WERE MINIMAL, IF THE PLASTIC DOOR HANDLE WERE FLAWED ON A LARGE SCALE, IT IS PROBABLE THAT THE DOOR HANDLE WILL BREAK REPEATEDLY, (ALSO CONFIRMED WITH TECHNICIAN, "WE REPLACE THESE ALL THE TIME".) THE DEADLY COMBINATION OF AN ACCIDENT, AND SUBSEQUENT HIGH-STRESS CONDITIONS, POTENTIALLY CREATING A LIFE-THREATENING CIRCUMSTANCE OF AN EMERGENCY EXIT, RESULT IN A SIGNIFICANTLY GREATER AMOUNT OF FORCE TO BE USED THAN NORMAL, I.E. YANKING THE HANDLE TO GET OUT. BOTTOM LINE, IF A KINDERGARTEN TEACHER CASUALLY EXITING A VEHICLE WILL SNAP IT IN HALF, WHAT HAPPENS...