Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
EQUIPMENT
0010402/12/200410006226Accessory hood protector. *mr04/26/2004
EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL
0030108/30/20020030110000545Immobilizer key code reset. *tt03/24/2003
EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL - AIR CONDITIONER
0010411/18/20020010210007868A/c compressor durability improvement. *mj07/13/2004
0040405/20/200410007665The air conditioning system does not sufficiently cool the cabin. *tt07/07/2004
0010202/11/20040010410000433Air conditioner compressor durability improvement. *tt02/27/2003
EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL - RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
0010401/13/200410005802Jbl audio system popping noise. *jb03/16/2004

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
EQUIPMENT
12/15/200860000
 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 vechicle.
05/11/200480000
 While travling 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
08/01/2005311/01/2002
 2002 toyota sequoia power antenna problem. antenna was not operating properly extending up and down, along with a middle row seat belt retraction problem and the plastic car hinge protectors always popping off when one folds up the right middle seat. i went to roseville toyota to fix the problem and was told that they could replace the antenna for approx $200, because the grooves were wearing off, and that i would have to go to the manufacturer to address it because of having to pay $200. having only had this family car driven around town for 2 years, i didn't think a toyota should have this problem, thus that's why we keep buying toyota. the manager offered to fix it for $60. i reluctantly agreed and felt that they were trying to accomodate me. three months later, it's not operating properly again. we brought it to roseville toyota again, along with a major scheduled $600 tune-up, and was told that this time, the motor needed to be replaced, costing $325! how can a power antenna have this much problems on an expensive car like the sequoia? we bought it as a family car expecting not to keep shelling out money for a 2 1/2-year-old car. we cannot afford to keep paying little fixes like this for a car which we thought was a quality buy. we expected paying for the scheduled maintenance, but its precisely avoiding this misc fixes is the reason we buy toyota. now we have to keep paying for something that should not really keep breaking down because of the implied quality. the sign of a good quality car is the amount of little fixes that need to be done which should be nil. we have had other manufacturers before and know the amount of money that can add up because of these fixes. i sincerely hope that toyota can address this type of complaint and show that they are a responsible company that addresses their consumer needs. *nm
03/13/2006570002
 Dt*: the contact stated recalled work was not performed in what the contact considers a timely matter. the dealer was contacted about the recall; however could not work the vehicle into the schedule for 2 weeks. the recall notice received was nhtsa # 05v225000, concerning the lower ball joints. additionally, the contact was jacking up the vehicle and the housing around the jack fractured and broke. the dealer was contacted and suggested replacing the jack.
05/13/200215817
 Driveshaft was defective. after coming to a complete stop if felt as if consumer had been rear ended. vehicle was serviced seventeen times, and the dealer stated it was normal.*ak there is also a thumping noise and vehicle lurches forward associated with a hard start condition. brakes grab at times. rear speakers inoperative 3rd row. sunroof rattle. water inside marker light covers when raining. rubbng noise from rear wheels. center wheel cap was tightened. *tt *tc
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE
03/29/2009900001
 While driving a 2002 toyota sequoia sr5 2 wheel drive suv near the end of march 2009, the trac off, vsc trac, brake and abs warning lights simultaneously came on. i was traveling approximately 55 mph on a dry road at night in heavy traffic. i moved off the highway to check the manual which emphasized the possible seriousness of each light. it said to contact a toyota dealer. i called earnhardt toyota in mesa arizona who finally worked on the vehicle several days later for the vsc/trac/brake/abs problem, and a front brake vibration/pulsation. no help on the pulsation problem since i was told i needed to turn the rotors again. on the vehicle stability control/traction control/anti-lock braking system/brake warning lights, the service associate offered that it was a common problem, could be caused by a loose gas cap or an expensive computer (in the thousands of dollars). he sated that no codes were set other than a low voltage which could be caused by a bad battery or corroded connection. i cleaned the battery terminals completely, checked the battery, and made sure the gas cap was tight. the warning lights now come on at some point every time i drive the sequoia. earnhardt toyota told me it should not affect the actual braking systems. how do they know that? being told of a false continuous or intermittent safety warning light can lull one into a questionable sense of safety. these lights and safety systems need to work reliably without having toyota just say they know about this common problem. does it affect actual vehicle stability control and emergency braking? on numerous internet sites, i find this same problem is mentioned frequently. also a large number of complaints are on file now with the nhtsa. i rely on the warning lights and their underlying systems to work as advertised, but toyota now makes me doubt that reliance. does there have to be a large body count for nhtsa to order a recall to fix this well known safety problem? *tr
EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL - AIR CONDITIONER
06/30/200551789106/17/2002
 Air conditioning unit failed. *tr
07/15/200726200112/01/2002
 My ac is not working on my 2002 toyota sequoia with only 26500 miles on it. after replacing the ac compressor for $1700 everything is okay. *jb
02/11/2007240001012/01/2001
 I have two problems with my 2002 toyota sequoia with 27k miles on it. 1. the vsc light will sometimes comes on and stay on during normal driving conditions. it will only turn off if the engine is turn off and back on. 2. the ac does not work, the ac led will flashes but no cold air. *tr
05/15/2002211/12/2001
 1) i purchased a 2002 toyota sequoia in nov 2001. the summer of 2002, the ac had malfunctioned and i brought it back to dealer for repair. summer of 2003, the ac had malfunctioned again and i brought it back to dealer for repair. the subsequent summers 2004, 2005 and 2006, i have been without a properly functioning ac system because i refuse to pay $2300-$3000 for something that should not break every year! 2) the ac system works marginally if the outside temperature is below 80 degrees and not humid. i cannot defog my window when it is raining during hot months. this poses a safety threat to me and others on the road. i cannot transport kids or elderly in my vehicle during hot months for fear of heat exhaustion (or worse) of my passengers. 3) the vehicle was taken to dealer for two years (during warranty period) for ac repair. i refuse to pay for something that should not break every year. i have a 1995 camry that has an ac system that still works. *jb
07/01/2006411/21/2001
 In november 2001, i purchased a new 2002 toyota sequoia sr-5. during the summer of 2002, i had problems with the ac system and took it to the dealership for repair under warranty. it worked fine until the summer of 2003 when i had to take it back for the same problem. the summer of 2004 it happened again but because my vehicle is no longer under warranty, i did not take it in hoping a recall would soon be issued. summer 2005 - i have spoken to other sequoia owners and have read numerous complaints on the internet that this is not a problem specific to my vehicle alone. all the issues are the same: 1) ac does not work when the outside temperature is above 80 degrees. 2) when it does work (below 80 degrees), it does not work well and intermittently. 3) several people have taken their vehicles in for repair with costs ranging from $2300-$2900. 4) i cannot defrost my windows when it is raining - this is a visual impairment. many of the people have contacted toyota about this and toyota claims it is not a safety issue so a recall is not warranted. this is unacceptable!!! because my ac system does not function properly, i cannot take my family anywhere on the road for an extended period of time. i am afraid any passengers in the vehicle will suffer from heat exhaustion or worse. i urge nhtsa to follow up with toyota to resolve this problem. *nm
05/09/20051
 The a/c in the consumer's 2002 toyota sequoia failed. *nm the compressor failed, the failure of this part sent metal shavings throughout the entire system, which required the whole system to be replaced. the consumer discovered the compressor was under sized for the vehicles front and back systems and the back unit robbed the compressor of it lubrication which caused it to seize. *jb *nm
09/25/2004508/24/2001
 I live 4 miles from the beach, and rarely need to use my air conditioner. in the past few weeks however, i did attempt to use it, only to find out that all that was blowing was hot air - i took it to an independent service agency, that told me the compressor needs to be replaced. my car is a 2002 toyota sequoia. the dealer tells me that it is past the warranty period, so they have no recourse, and that i should call toyota directly. toyota referred me back to the dealer - i don't ever recall having to replace an air conditioning compressor in any car that i have owned. i had told family toyota about two years ago that my air conditioning button would be flashing when i would attempt to use it, but of course, when i took it in for service, it was working fine, and they looked at me like i was crazy. now, i have no air conditioning and i think this should be investigated, especially since toyota sent out a service bulletin informing dealers that some cars did, in fact, have compressors that had poor durability. - they want to charge me $1100 to replace this part, and i don't believe i should because this should be some type of dealer recall. *ak
03/20/200412000106/15/2002
 I purchased a 2002 sequoia which i have taken to the champion toyota service center twice for them to look at the air conditioning system. there was a moldy, musty smell to the air blowing through the vents on both the recycle and fresh air. the first time champion toyota simply sprayed a disinfectant in the system and this helped for about two to three months. the next time before i took the auto to champion i made a call to what i remember as the toyota manufacturing service center and the person on the phone told me that the disinfectant spray would do nothing to solve the problem and that the service center must go into the air side of the a/c system and make some changes and clean out the system from all the mold. i then took the auto to champion (corpus christi, tx) and gave them this information and the department i spoke with. they, from what i understand, made the call and then attempted to fix the problem. this was late last summer and we used the a/c system very little. we are currently using the system much more and the moldy, musty smell is back and it is now even stronger. i want to know if there is a recall as champion told me they have had other sequoia's in for the same issues. *jb
EQUIPMENT - ELECTRICAL - RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
12/29/20061
 2002 toyota sequoia with dvd repair problems customer states that the service department messed up his sun roof and broke his dvd player trying to refasten it**nar**cc the dealer damaged the sun roof by putting a bolt in the roof. the consumer stated the dealer performed a botch job on the repairs to the vehicle and will not admit to damaging the vehicle but the consumer was not charged for the repairs to the system. the consumer contacted toyota in regards to the repairs and they stated there was nothing that they could do and the consumer is also questioning the charges for the repair. *tr
EQUIPMENT - MECHANICAL - JACKS
08/05/2007109/03/2002
 I had trouble with the jack on my toyota sequoia sr-5 2002. i had already raised the tire off the ground when the part in the jack where you insert the stick that you turn to raise the vehicle broke off. i had my wife and kids with me, all we could do was wait for a tow truck. *jb