2001 Toyota Sequoia

Recently I took the vehicle in to investigate a clunking noise. I was informed by the shop that the frame had completely rusted through, causing the rear stabilizer arm to become detached. I also had a front stabilizer link fail twice in a year, presumably from the frame excessively flexing. Upon further investigation, I came to learn that Toyota is quite aware of this very issue, they’ve issued recalls where insufficient measures may have been taken to temporarily stop the rusting, and that many many other Sequoia owners have the same exact problems that I’m having, and Toyota refuses to take responsibility for this premature failure and provide some sort of relief. Given the frequency and number of complaints, I’m kind of shocked that NHTSA hasn’t banned these vehicles from the roadways. Seems like a serious accident waiting to happen. It’s not like the facts are in question in this case. There must be hundreds or thousands of examples. If you do a web search for “2001-2004 toyota sequoia rust corrosion on frame” you’ll find a bunch of examples, as well as accounts of Toyota’s numerous refusals to stand behind their mistakes. I still have the vehicle, and would gladly help you with any investigation. I did have part of the frame welded just so I could limp it back home to WI. I towed it on a trailer. It runs great, and is in very good condition, which is why this is all such a shame.

TOYOTA RUST ISSUE ON MY 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA R5. MY VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY USED TO TRANSPORT CHILDREN TO AND FROM PRACTICES AND GAMES TWICE A WEEK. THIS PAST SUMMER, I STARTED DRIVING IT DAILY. I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE BECAUSE I KEPT HEARING A KNOCKING AND MY ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE MECHANIC, WE DISCOVERED IT WAS AN O2 SENSOR CAUSING THE ENGINE LIGHT ON, BUT ALSO NOTICED EXTREME RUST ON THE ENTIRE FRAME. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE AND RECOMMENDED THE ENTIRE FRAME BE REPLACED AS THAT KNOCKING WOULD CAUSE THE FRONT HALF OF THE VEHICLE TO SEPARATE FROM THE BACK HALF AND CAUSE A SERIOUS ISSUE. AFTER TALKING TO TOYOTA BODY SHOP, SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND A MECHANIC, I LEARNED OF A CAMPAIGN THAT TOYOTA HAD ISSUED. TOYOTA ISSUED THE CAMPAIGN DUE TO SEVERE RUST OF ITS TOYOTA TUNDRA BUT FAILED TO OFFER THE SAME COVERAGE FOR TOYOTA SEQUOIA ISSUED FOR 2001. THE CAMPAIGN THAT WAS ISSUED WAS FOR 2005-2008 SEQUOIA, HOWEVER MY TOYOTA WAS MADE IN 2001. CURRENTLY, MY VEHICLE WHICH TRANSPORTS MY FAMILY, INCLUDING YOUNG CHILDREN HAS TO SIT UNTIL I CAN FIND $15,000-$17,500 TO HAVE IT FIXED BY A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. AT THIS POINT, I CAN NOT AFFORD THIS, ESPECIALLY FOR A VEHICLE I PURCHASED USED LAST YEAR. MY MECHANIC AND TOYOTA HAS DEEMED THIS VEHICLE UNSAFE. I'M REQUESTING TO HAVE TOYOTA REPLACE AND FIX THE ENTIRE FRAME OR BUY THE VEHICLE BACK FROM ME SO THAT I CAN PURCHASE ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT'S SAFE, RELIABLE AND SPECIOUS FOR MY FAMILY. I WOULD HOPE TO HAVE THIS ISSUE EXPEDITED SO I CAN CONTINUE TRANSPORTING MY FAMILY SAFELY.