2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA Suspension Problems

Frame is rotting out

I WAS SIMPLY PARKING MY 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA IN PARKING LOT SPACE. LEFT FRONT TIRE FELL COMPLETELY OFF THE CAR WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS WARNING OF PENDING PROBLEMS! BALL JOINT CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED! PRIOR RECENT NEW TIRES AND ALIGNMENT SHOWED NO PENDING PROBLEMS. DID A CHECK AND FOUND MANY PRIOR BALL JOINT ISSUES FOR THIS CAR AND A PRIOR RECALL YEARS AGO. TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN CAPITOLA CA. THEY REPLACED BALL JOINT AND RELATED PARTS. THEY CHARGED ME LOTS OF MONEY CLAIMING THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD "PREVIOUSLY BEEN RECALLED AND REPAIRED IN 2007 SO NO LIABILITY ON THEIR PART. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND COMPLAINED AND WAS BOUNCED AROUND UNTIL A FELLOW NAMED "GARRET" TOLD ME THE BALL JOINTS HAD BEEN "FIXED" IN 2007 DURING A RECALL. GREAT. THEN WHY DO THESE ISSUES CONTINUE? MY CAR IS DRIVEN ONLY ON PUBLIC STREETS AND THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THIS IMPENDING FAILURE....

LEFT FRONT (DRIVERS SIDE) WHEEL BALL JOINT(S) FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY CAUSING WHEEL TO FALL OFF AND WEDGE UNDER CAR WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. NO PRIOR WARNING, NO PRIOR NOISE, NO PRIOR STEERING ISSUES, NO STRANGE TIRE WEAR (TIRES JUST REPLACED 6 MONTHS AGO). JUST INSTANT AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE!

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF WITH NUMEROUS RECEIPTS TO PROVE IT. UPON FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE, I HAVE OBSERVED A 'ROT' HOLE IN THE REAR PART OF THE FRAME. THE WHOLE IN THE FRAME IS APPROXIMATELY THE SIZE OF A DOLLAR BILL AND SPREADING. THERE ARE OTHER PARTS OF THE FRAME THAT WILL NEED ATTENTION IN THE FUTURE. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED SEQUOIA MODEL YEARS 2005 AND UP AND HAVE NEGLECTED TO INCLUDE THE 2004. IT IS APPARENT THAT THE 2004 SEQUOIA IS SUBJECT TO THE SAME FAULTY FRAME MANUFACTURING AS OTHER MODELS/ YEARS OF NUMEROUS TOYOTA'S. MY VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 137,600 MILES ON IT. I HAVE MAINTAINED VEHICLES FROM FROM THE 90S THAT HAVE BETTER FRAME CONSTRUCTION THAN MY TOYOTA. I BELIEVE THAT THE FRAME ON MY 2004 SEQUOIA WILL NEED FRAME PATCHES IN THE FUTURE AS WELL AS MANY...

WE BOUGHT IT IN 2014 WITH 76K AND THE FRAME HAD RECENTLY BEEN COATED. SUPPOSEDLY IT WAS FROM TEXAS, AND WE LIVE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA. THE FRAME LOOKED GOOD AND SEEMED SOLID, BUT WITHIN A YEAR OR TWO ALL OF THE COATING FELL OFF REVEALING VERY RUSTY METAL. BY 3 YEARS (2017) THERE WERE HOLES IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FRAME MAINLY BEHIND THE FRONT TIRES AREA, AND THE REST OF THE FRAME IS ALSO QUITE RUSTY. I HAD TO REPLACE THE FRONT SWAY BAR END LINKS BUT THEY BROKE SOON AFTER AND KEPT BREAKING WITHIN A FEW MONTHS AFTER REPEATED REPLACEMENT DUE TO EXCESSIVE FRAME MOVEMENT. IT FEELS LESS SAFE WITHOUT A FUNCTIONAL SWAY BAR ATTACHED TO THE FRAME AND HAS MORE BODY ROLL WITH MORE RISK OF ROLLOVER. THE FRAME IS ROTTING FROM THE INSIDE OUT, AND THE RUST IS SPREADING LIKE CANCER IN THE SURROUNDING AREAS UNDERNEATH....

TOOK 2004 SEQUOIA TO KINGS TOYOTA FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL AS WELL AS DIAGNOSTIC EVAL OF VSC ABS LIGHTS ISSUE. RECEIVED A PHONE CALL THAT THE TECH COULD NOT DETERMINE THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM UNLESS WE PAID AN ADDITIONAL $360 FOR MORE TIME TO DIAGNOSE AND THAT THE FRAME WAS RUSTED THROUGH WITH LARGE HOLES. WONDERED IF WE WANTED TO PURSUE THE ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE LARGER SAFETY ISSUE WITH THE FRAME. ORIGINAL ISSUE OCCURRED WITH LIGHTS COMING ON (HAD HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES PREVIOUSLY) FOLLOWED BY THE POWER WINDOWS CEASING TO WORK, SEVERAL HOURS LATER THE WIPERS AND WINDOW SEEMED SLUGGISH AND THE CAR LOST ALL POWER. HAD TO JUMP THE CAR SEVERAL TIMES TO GET OFF THE ROAD AND THEN WHEN JUMPING NO LONGER WORKED, WE HAD TO PUSH THE VEHICLE INTO A CHURCH PARKING LOT. AFTER BEING TOLD BY MR. HOWARD THAT THEY DON'T SEE VEHICLES COME INTO SERVICE...

FRAME HAS RUST HOLES AND THE STEERING STABILIZER MOUNT RUSTED COMPLETELY OFF. VERY UNSAFE ! THE REST OF THE CAR IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION SO THE SEVERITY OF RUST ON THE FRAME SEEMS VERY OUT OF PLACE. THIS ISSUE IS EXTREME AND NOT NORMAL. NOT ACCEPTABLE FROM A MANUFACTURER KNOWN FOR ITS QUALITY SYSTEMS. TPS SIX SIGMA EMBARRASMENT IN MY OPINION

TOYOTA SEQUOIA WITH 139K MILES. THIS SUV HAD A FRAME RECALL IN 2014, TOYOTA DEALER APPLIED THE PAINT/EPOXY TO THE RUSTED FRAME INSTEAD OF REPLACING THE RUSTED FRAME. THE PAINT PEELED OFF WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF THE APPLICATION. NOW THE FRAME IS RUSTED VERY BADLY. WHEN DRIVING IT MAKES GRINDING NOISES. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT BECAUSE OF EXTENSIVE FRAME RUST, THE FRAME HAS GOTTEN WEAKER AND IS SLIGHTLY BENT. THIS MAKES THE MOVING PARTS TOUCH THE OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY/FRAME RESULTING IN THE NOISES. HE SUGGESTED REPLACING THE RUSTED FRAME.

ENTIRE FRAME ASSEMBLY HAS RUSTED AND VEHICLE IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, UPON AIR BAG RECALL FIX, INFORMED ME OF A RECALL OR WARRANTY REPAIR FOR THE SEQUOIA RUSTED FRAMES. TOYOTA CORPORATE CLAIMS THEY CANNOT DO ANYTHING SINCE THE "RECALL' HAS EXPIRED. I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION. MANY OTHERS HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE AND TOYOTA IS FULLY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND HAS RECALLED OTHER MODEL YEARS FOR FRAME REPLACEMENTS. DOES SOMEONE NEED TO DIE BEFORE WE GET APPROPRIATE ACTION?

THE REAR DRIVERS FRAME SNAPPED IN HALF. BROKE IN FRONT OF REAR WHEEL. NO HELP FROM TOYOTA. SO IT SITS IN DRIVEWAY. RUMOR HAS IT A RECALL IS ON WAY.

FRONT SUSPENSION MAKING HUMMING NOISE ALL THE TIME WHILE IN MOTION, AND VIBRSTION IS FELT THROUGHOUT VEHICLE, PASSENGER SIDE REAR AXLE SEAL IS LEAKING CAUSING ROTOR TO SMOKE. FRONT DRIVER SIDE CALIPER PISTON IS JAMMED.

FRAME IS RUSTING UNDERNEAYH TO THE POINT WHERE I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE CONTROL ARM WHICH RUSTED OFF AND BROKE WHILE DRIVING. MY TOW HITCH MOUNT HAS RUSTED OFF. THERE ARE MORE THAN 5 SPOTS ALONG THE FRAME WHERE RUST HAS PERFORATED AND THE FRAME HAS VISIBLE SIGNS OF ROT. I HAD A LICENSED GARAGE INSPECT THE FRAME AND WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS AND THAT THE FRAME SHOULD BE REPLACED. I AM HAVING CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE SUSPENSION COMPONENTS RUSTING OUT.

THE ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTING INCLUDING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, SUSPENSION AND OTHER STRUCTURAL COMPONENT. THE DEALER SPRAYED ON A LIQUID TAR BUT NOW THAT IS FALLING OFF WITH THE RUST WHICH WAS SPRAYED OVER.

ME AND MY FAMILY WERE DRIVING SOUTHEAST ON HIGHWAY 280 ON THE FAR RIGHT LANE TRYING TO TAKE JUNCTION 85 GILROY WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THROUGH TIRE ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE CAME OFF AND THE CAR JUST WAS LIMP ON THAT SIDE AND ALL I CAN SEE WAS SPARKS AND SMOKE MY WHOLE FAMILY WAS TERRIFIED .I WAS TRYING WITH ALL MY STRENGTH TO CONTROL THE CAR AND WITH THE WILL OF GOD I MANAGED TO SAFELY STOP THE CAR .I STEP OUT TO SEE WHAT HAPPENED AND THE TIRE WAS STUCK UNDER THE CAR AND COMPLETELY OF THE JOINT WITH THE BRECKSAME STILL CONNECTED TO THE TIRE

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...

OUR SITUATION IS VIRTUALLY THE SAME AS MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS IN YOUR SYSTEM. NAMELY THAT TOYOTA HAD OUR DEALER APPLY UNDERCOAT TO THE FRAME OF OUR 2004 SEQUOIA IN JULY OF 2013. ON SEPT. 5 THIS YEAR WENT TO THE DEALER FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND TIRE ROTATION AND AFTER WAITING A FEW HOURS WAS INFORMED THEY DID NOT PERFORM THE SERVICE AS THE FRAME WAS SO BAD. KNOWING THAT A NEIGHBOR HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA BOUGHT IT BACK I ASKED ABOUT IT AND WAS TOLD "THAT PROGRAM WAS OVER" THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND UPON CALLING TOYOTA USA WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T DO ANYTHING. THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO THIS ON THE NHTS WEBSITE. WHY ISN'T ANYTHING BEING DONE ABOUT THIS?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH OVER A MANHOLE, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL FOLDED UNDER THE VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A DITCH ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIGHT KNEE AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V013000 (SUSPENSION). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 175,000.

MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE CONTROL ARM BROKE OFF FROM RUSTED FRAME WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT TEN MPH. REPAIR CENTER SAYS THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS, BECAUSE THE FRAME IS NOT SAFE, NOTHING TO RE-ATTACH CONTROL ARM TO! *TR

*FILED WITH ATTORNEY GENERAL OF NEW YORK* RECALL WAS ISSUED ON THE 2004 SEQUOIA DUE TO CORROSION. ON JULY 25, 2013 WE BROUGHT OUR CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO APPLY A PROTECTIVE COAT AND WAITED A WEEK FOR THE CAR TO BE RETURNED TO US. WE HAD TO RETURN THE VEHICLE, SEPTEMBER, 2014, TO THE DEALER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, THE SPRAY WAS FLAKING OFF EXPOSING THE RUST UNDERNEATH. THE VEHICLE WAS SPRAYED FOR THE SECOND TIME IN ONE DAY AND THAT TIME WE WERE TOLD THE VEHICLE'S REAR AXLE TRAILING ARM MOUNT WAS ALMOST SEPARATED FROM THE REAR AXLE HOUSING DUE TO THE CORROSION AND IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE AXLE. AT THAT TIME WE ASKED IF THIS COULD HAVE BEEN TO THE RECALL OF THE CORROSION, FLAT OUT WE WERE TOLD NO. WE THEN PROCEED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO OUR PERSONAL MECHANIC FOR SECOND OPINION, OCTOBER...

VSC TRAC LIGHT AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS ON. ALSO SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ON. WON'T SHUT OFF. BRAKE LIGHT ALSO COMES ON AND THEN OFF FOR NO REASON. I SEE ON COMPLAINT LIST THIS IS ISSUE FOR MANY YEARS BUT TOYOTA REFUSES TO RECALL VEHICLES. MAYBE NOT ENOUGH INJURIES OR DEATHS OR LAW SUITS YET. NOT A GOOD WAY TOYOTA TREATS CUSTOMERS. TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL AND FIX VEHICLES THAT HAVE BUILT IN - DESIGNED IN DEFECTS. VERY DISAPPOINTING. ALSO A COUPLE YEARS AGO THE FRONT BALL JOINT BROKE...LUCKILY DRIVING SLOWLY AND NOT ON THE HIGHWAY. *JS

WE HAD A VOLUNTARY RECALL ON OUR SEQUOIA, WE TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP IN WILKESBORO NC AND THEY TOOK PICTURES AND SENT THE TOYOTA AND SAID WE WOULD BE SAFE DRIVING IT IN MARCH OF 2014. THAT WAS WRONG ON MAY 18TH THE SWAY BAR RIPPED FROM THE FRAME CAUSING TOYOTA TO HAVE TO COME GET IT ON A ROLL BACK AND I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN A SMALL CAR WITH THREE KIDS 13, 8, & 3 SINCE THAT DATE. I PERSONALLY DO NOT FEEL SAFE IN THE CAR EITHER AS OF COURSE THEY SENT ME IN IT. I WOULD LIKE FOR TOYOTA TO SEND OUT A APOLOGY TO OTHERS AS WELL AS MYSELF FOR SENDING VEHICLES OUT WITH A FRAME THAT WOULDN'T LAST. MY SEQUOIA IS IN GREAT CONDITION OTHER THAN THE FRAME WITH 116,500 MILES ON IT. I HAVE DEALT WITH CORPORATE AS IF MY HUSBAND WHO...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT A DEALER, THE TECHNICIAN NOTICED EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE FRAME AND SUSPENSION. THE TECHNICIAN ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL BUT THE DEALER WAS CHARGING FOR PARTS BECAUSE THERE WAS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE PART COULD HAVE FRACTURED DURING THE REMEDY REPAIR. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 132,000.

WAS DRIVING MY 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA AT 35-40MPHIN HEAVY TRAFFIC WHEN THERE WAS A LOUD BANG, A DROP IN THE FRONT LEFT OF THE TRUCK AND THE SOUND OF METAL SCRAPPING THE PAVEMENT. I TURNED THE WHEEL TO THE RIGHT AND HIT THE BRAKES TO AVOID GOING OVER THE MEDIAN INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. I THEN SKIDDED ACROSS 2 LANES OF TRAFFIC AND HIT A CAR TRYING TO ENTER THE PARKWAY. AN EYEWITNESS SAID HE SAW THE WHEEL COME DISLODGED FOR NO REASON. LUCKILY THE LADY WHO WAS IN THE OTHER CAR ONLY HAD MINOR INJURIES AND OTHER THAN A SO FAR MINOR CASE OF WHIP LASH EVERYONE IS OK. UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE WITH THE POLICE OFFICER IT LOOKED AS IF THE WHEEL AND AXLE WERE RIPPED FRON THE TRUCK. UNFORTUNATELY THE SEQUOIA GAVE ME NO INDICATIONS OF ANYTHING GOING WRONG OR I WOULD HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE...

UNDERCARRIAGE RUST HOLE 6" DIAMETER AND MORE THROUGH STEEL PLATE UNDER VEHICLE. 74,000 MILES ORIGINAL OWNER AND HEATED GARAGE. THIS SEQUOIA SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RUST RECALL. THE UNDERBODY RUST FOR AN '04 WITH ONLY 74,000 MILES IS RIDICULOUS. EXTREME RUST AROUND BRAKE COMPONENTS. *TR

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA THAT HAD THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED LAST WEEK AT MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS STAYING ON AS WELL AS THE VHS TRAC AND TRAC OFF INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE CAR JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR TWO MONTHS BUT IS NOW ALL THE TIME. *TR

MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA HAS 2 LIGHTS THAT COME ON WHEN I DRIVE (THE VSC AND TRAC OFF). SOMETIMES IT COMES ON IMMEDIATELY AFTER I START THE CAR, OTHER TIMES IT COMES ON AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT A MINUTE. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSED IT AS NEEDING A NEW SKID CONTROL ECU. THEY TOLD ME THAT THIS COMPUTER CONTROLS THE ABS OF THE VEHICLE AND THAT IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. HOWEVER, THE PRICE TAG IS TOO STEEP TO HAVE REPAIRED TODAY. *TR

THE SEQUIOA HAS BEEN PULLING AND MAKING EXCESSIVE NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. DRIFITING FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND HARD TO STEER.*AK

PURCHASED NEW AND VEHICLE SHOOK AT HIGH SPEED. FOUR TRIPS TO DEALER, NEW TIRES AND STILL THE SAME PROBLEM. WILL INITIATE LEMON LAW. ALSO VEHICLE DOESN'T TRACK WELL AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT TENDS TO DRIFT AND GET BLOWN AROUND TREMENDOUSLY.*AK