Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | ||||||||||||||||
| 05V225000 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. | from 08/01/2001 to 09/26/2003 | V (Vehicle) | 768379 | 07/05/2005 | ODI | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. | 05/17/2005 | 05/17/2005 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | On certain sport utility vehicles, due to a manufacturing issue in the front suspension lower ball joint, there is a possibility that the surface of the ball of the joint may have been scratched. the ball joint may eventually experience excessive wear and looseness, resulting in increased steering effort. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | The lower ball joint may separate from the knuckle causing loss of steering control and a crash could occur. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints free of charge. the recall began on july 5, 2005. owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Toyota recall no. 50j.customers may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov. | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | |||||
| 05015 | 06/27/2005 | 10015504 | Special service campaign 50j - phase i - front suspension lower ball joint may experience excessive wear and looseness causing increased steering, effort, reduced vehicle self-centering, and noise in the front suspension. *tt | 07/26/2005 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSPENSION | |||
| 01/22/2013 | 107433 | ||
| Received a letter from toyota for a limited service campaign, for rusting of the frame. i took my toyota to koons toyota in annapolis, md. they called me the next day and said it failed for rust. there was a hole in my frame and toyota woud replace the frame at no cost to me. then they called me to tell me it would cost $6,400.00 to replace everything under the vehicle, because it was so rusted out that when they took the parts off they would crumble. two days later they called and told me it would cost $6,900.00 to replace parts. they called last night and said it would cost me $7,845.00 and they could not guarantee the price would not be higher.they sent me pictures of my frame and there is a large hole in the frame. my question is shouldn't i get my truck back in working condition without me paying for anything? i contacted toyota in ca. and talked to the rust specialist, and he said thay would not pay for my parts. my husband and i are retired and live on a fixed income. we can not afford to pay for the parts. the truck has been paid for once, why should i take out a loan for a truck that has been paid for. the dealer also asked us to come pick up my truck if i would not authorize to pay for the parts. when i picked up my truck today, they said if anything happened to the truck while i was driving it home, they would not be responsible, because i didn't get it fixed. please make toyota recall these rusted trucks back. the rusted frame also includes tundras, because they use the same frame. thank you. | |||
| 12/01/2010 | 117000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 toyota sequoia. the contact stated that he noticed rust spots on the frame of the vehicle. over time, he would hear a loud banging noise from the vehicle. the contact inspected the vehicle and found that the stabilizer bar had become completely detached from the frame. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who advised that because of the vehicle weight, the frame could not handle the stress. the contact was advised to park and no longer drive the vehicle. the manufacturer was contacted but advised that they would provide no assistance. the re were no recalls for the year, make and model that pertained to the failure the contact experienced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 117,000. kmj | |||
| 03/08/2011 | 146300 | 1 | |
| Problem one: brake warning light comes on at random but then doesn't come back on at next restart of car. brake fluid and all mechanics are ok. braking doesn't seem to be affected but i am worried that there will be an abs failure that i'll ignore because of this faulty warning light. sometimes the stability control activates for no reason at low speed. problem two: frame is nearly rusted out. there is a recall for the similar tundra, and supposedly a recall for these particular sequoias in some states, but nothing comes up for my vehicle in indiana. vehicle, purchased from toyota dealer oxmoor toyota a year ago, is unsafe to drive. *tr | |||
| 03/08/2011 | 146300 | ||
| Problem one: brake warning light comes on at random but then doesn't come back on at next restart of car. brake fluid and all mechanics are ok. braking doesn't seem to be affected but i am worried that there will be an abs failure that i'll ignore because of this faulty warning light. sometimes the stability control activates for no reason at low speed. problem two: frame is nearly rusted out. there is a recall for the similar tundra, and supposedly a recall for these particular sequoias in some states, but nothing comes up for my vehicle in indiana. vehicle, purchased from toyota dealer oxmoor toyota a year ago, is unsafe to drive. | |||
| 08/10/2012 | 133432 | 1 | |
| Frame is completely rusted and cracked in various areas. *tr | |||
| 08/10/2012 | 133432 | ||
| Frame is completely rusted and cracked in various areas. | |||
| 07/21/2012 | 84000 | 1 | |
| I took the sequoia to a mechanic to repair a clunking noise in the front and squeaking noise in the back. upon examination, the mechanic noticed unusually advanced rust and corrosion for a vehicle of its age. for safety reasons, the mechanic warned against driving the vehicle until repairs were made. mechanic had to cut out front passenger control arm bolts, rear shock mounts, and other hardware due to the corrosion. mechanic noted that future repairs will require the same cutting and replacement of new hardware. this corrosion issue may be related to the 2000-2003 toyota tundra recall of 2009, since the sequoia shares the chassis and manufacturing facility with the tundra. *tr | |||
| 07/21/2012 | 84000 | ||
| I took the sequoia to a mechanic to repair a clunking noise in the front and squeaking noise in the back. upon examination, the mechanic noticed unusually advanced rust and corrosion for a vehicle of its age. for safety reasons, the mechanic warned against driving the vehicle until repairs were made. mechanic had to cut out front passenger control arm bolts, rear shock mounts, and other hardware due to the corrosion. mechanic noted that future repairs will require the same cutting and replacement of new hardware. this corrosion issue may be related to the 2000-2003 toyota tundra recall of 2009, since the sequoia shares the chassis and manufacturing facility with the tundra. | |||
| 04/09/2012 | |||
| There is an extreme amount of rust on the frame of my wifes 2003 seqouia. the rust is just flaking off in huge chunks which is more than just the under coat of paint, its actual chunks of desentegrated/coroded metal. i can not believe the tudnra frames which were produced on the same manufacturing line and used the same meatl as the seqouia were recalled but the seqouia's are not. most of the frame damage seems to be isolated to the rear of the car. | |||
| 11/25/2011 | 104000 | ||
| The frame on my vehicle cracked, and this caused the top of the strut to come up through the floorboard. the toyota dealer, body shop, and independant insurance appraiser say that this was not caused by an accident or other impact. they said the frame had metal fatigue and simply failed. this poses a serious hazard if a lightly driven vehicle such as mine, well-cared for and driven in a suburban setting, the frame would crack in 8 years. i saw online that there was a frame recall for 2001-2003 tundras and seqouias (which share the same frame). the recall was for only 18 states where there is heavy snow, causing the frames to rust through. toyata was forced to replace the entire frame. i believe that the frames were faulty from a manufacturing defect for this to occur. i want to make sure that you have this information as it may be part of a more wide-spread problem that toyota is not telling anyone about. | |||
| 10/13/2011 | 81903 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 toyota sequoia. the contact stated that the vehicle was taken in for a routine maintenance when she was advised that the front frame was rusted, corroded and exhibited a hole in the frame. the dealer then advised the contact that the vehicle was unsafe to operate. the manufacturer was notified of the failure who offered her a credit to purchase another vehicle but the contact declined. the failure mileage was 81,903. kmj | |||
| 10/13/2011 | 81903 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 toyota sequoia. the contact stated the front frame has a hole and was rusted and corroded. the vehicle was taken in for a routine maintenance and after inspection the dealer informed her of the rust on the frame. they advised her not to drive the vehicle. the manufacturer was notified who offered her a credit to purchase another vehicle but she does not want to take that option. the failure mileage was 81,903. mw | |||
| 12/07/2009 | 1 | ||
| The rust recall for the 2000-2003 toyota tundras should also include the toyota sequoia's for they are built on the same chasis. i have a lot of visible rust on my 2003 sequoia and am getting worried about driving my kids in the truck. we do live in illinois which is one of the states involved in the recall. *tr | |||
| 07/30/2007 | 6 | 03/09/2007 | |
| The vsc/trac error light on my 2003 toyota sequoia with 80,000mi is illuminated and the trac systems is engaging randomly causing the entire vehicle to shake violently and it is difficult to control the vehicle when this happens. i have almost been involved in an accident several times because of the problem. the dealership said the computer will have to be replaced at a cost of $1800. i spoke with the previous owner and she took the vehicle to the dealership on 4 diff occasions for the same problem but it was never corrected. at the time it would have been under warranty. after conducting some research on the web i have found 250+ people who have had the exact same problem with their sequoias (most of them were models from 2001-2003). i feel there is something causing this to happen and a recall should have been issued. the first incidences are occurring at less than 13,000 miles. my vehicle is only 4 years old and the computer should last longer than that. i value toyota and the quality of vehicles they produce and i do not understand why customers are being required to replace the computers after such a short period of time. there is obviously a problem and toyota should be taking care of it. *tr | |||
| 01/19/2007 | 28900 | 2 | 08/01/2003 |
| I have a 2003 toyota sequoia that just had a major computer system failure with the skid control systems. there was no warning, the vsc lights came on in the dashboard and a loud sound came from the engine, like bending metal. this vehicle only has 28k in 3 1/2 years, and that means i'm 6 months past bumper to bumper warranty. i had heard about this problem previously because i had a similar problem within months of buying the car, but that was covered under warranty. as i research on-line at www.tundrasolutions.com/forums/sequoia, i discovered that many people had the exact same problem and toyota was not willing to fix the problem. i took the vehicle to toyota and they replaced 2 computers related to the traction control systems at a cost of $2,300. they replaced: translate computer assembly & skid control computer assembly. i'm upset because toyota knows about this dangerous problem, and obvious expensive repair, and will do nothing about it. moreover, my case is only one of many owners with the same problem. i ask you to review this ever growing issue with sequoia's and tundras and persuade toyota to do the right thing, and issue a recall for the defective computer systems. *nm | |||
| 02/13/2006 | 10 | ||
| I purchased my vehicle from sunnyvale toyota in oct of 2002. it is a 2003 toyota sequoia. from the time i reached home found multiple problems. start with hub caps not seated correctly, defective roof racks, entry door molding with inked print on them. went on to a defective air conditioner compressor, pungent awful smell from the ac, defective radio/ cd changer. brakes are spongy and don't respond well. if you pump it once it works well. the vehicle repeatedly veers to the right. they have checked it at least 15 times. there is hair in the paint. i went through the ncds process and ended up with a judgment to have them repair the veering problem and air conditioning. toyota never complied and ncds closed the case without my consent. i worked with toyota and they finally worked on the trouble. i got a new set of tires but the veering returned. what happens is the tires wear more on the outside of the front right tire. as you rotate the trouble goes away until the tire wears and the problem becomes more pronounces. now the tires are bald and ncds is giving me trouble to reopen the case or stand behind the arbitrators judgment. now even the door molding are coming off even with no damage. *jb | |||
| 02/02/2004 | 12000 | 15 | 05/27/2003 |
| We purchased a 2003 toyota sequoia 2wd, in may of 2003. at first the only problem we had was the rotten egg smell, now it's tire problems. starting in february 2004 my husband have had to take the truck back every two weeks. at first the dealership said that they couldn't find anything. the next time they said that it was the tires, so they replace all of the tires.we had to pay about $150.00 for the tires.the dealership change from dunlop tire to bf goodrich which is a harder tire, now they we are back with the dunlop tires which is a softer tire. all they are doing is covering up the problem. after changing the tires 3 times, they told us it was the drive shift. they claim they ordered the part it took three weeks to get it in. after getting it in the service manager at reinhardt here in montgomery, alabama, told my husband that the shop manager didn't think anything was wrong with the truck, but when you are going 60 mph on the interstate the truck start to shakes.now were are on the 4th set of tires what is that. we have contacted the toyota headquarters for the paper to have the truck inspected again. it took about a month to get them.you can call the toyota customer service number in the owners manual. i feel if we have enough complaint we can get a recall. jh montgomery, alabama. *ak | |||
| 2500 | 1 | ||
| When the back windows are rolled down and vehicle is in motion there is a violent wind tunnel that bends the roof and makes a horrendous sound. vehicle sounds as if it is airborne. *ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - AUTOMATIC STABILITY CONTROL (ASC) | |||
| 12/03/2007 | 1 | 07/12/2003 | |
| 2003 toyota sequoia vehicle skid control failure. mechanic told the consumer that they were having problems with the lights. mechanic suggested replacing both controlling computers. *kb the consumer stated as soon as the vehicle moves forward, the vsc off and vsc trac lights illuminate. *jb | |||
| 12/04/2004 | 29000 | 1 | 07/30/2003 |
| Trac,vsc, brake light had been coming on and then going out. this particular incident involved them coming on during a turn into traffic at which time all power was lost nearly causing an accident. dealer treated this as 2 different problems:an induction service was performed for the hesitation at my expense, and a brake booster gasket and assembly were installed under the warranty. the lights continued to go off and on from time to time, but the car did not lose power again after this fix.the lights continued to come on and off intermittently until in august 2006 the check engine light and vcs/trac lights came on and would not go out. this time, my dealer replaced the oxygen sensor at my expense. now, with 70,000 miles on 9-26-07 the vsc/trac & check engine lights came on while traveling on the road and will not go out on turning off the engine as they sometimes did in the past. i believe after reading all the complaints about this problem on various internet sites some sort of action should be taken at toyota's expense. i am also filing a report about the new rear window motor and hatch release handle i had to replace in july on this vehicle which also is mentioned in many reports i've read on the internet. i can't tell you how many failures on the light situation i've had because they've been in the dozens. *tr | |||
| 04/17/2007 | 1 | 04/01/2003 | |
| Vsc trac off lights are on after i start the car and put into drive. dealers service department said vsc computer is faulty and needs replacement, but they will not pay for the replacement because the warranty has expired. *jb | |||
| 04/01/2007 | 41800 | 1 | 11/10/2006 |
| I own a 2003 toyota sequoia that has the vsc light on. the dealer is stating that the vsc computer and possibly another computer need to be replaced. the danger is losing control of the vehicle during brake malfunction. i have read of several others having the same problem. i have not had the vehicle repaired due to the high cost. *ak | |||
| 03/01/2007 | 82000 | 30 | 10/01/2006 |
| 2003 sequoia limited vsc / trac control lights have been on almost continuously since 3/1/2007, indicating that the stability control and traction control were not functioning. at various times the abs kicked in even though the brakes were not applied. in wet conditions on 3/17/07, the suv did not properly respond to brake or steering, causing the suv to drift into the oncoming lane. fortunately, there was no traffic in the lane at the time. this was a huge safety issue. at the dealer, codes c1241, c1231, c1223, and c1203 came up. diagnosis - translate and skid control computers needed to be replaced. toyota tsbs br002-03 and br003-03 appeared to be related, and lead me to believe there was a known flaw in computer logic. *ak | |||
| 06/29/2006 | 800 | 3 | |
| I own a 2003 toyota sequoia. for the third time now, the vsc off and vsc trac lights have illuminated for no reason. local toyota dealer can't figure it out and every time it's a different diagnose. i have purchased toyota's for their reliability, but this one has me thinking otherwise. i saw on an edmunds forum site that other folks have reported this to the nhtsa gov site. i thought it is a good idea since it has to do with a brake system. from the number of complaints on the forum sites i think toyota has a problem they don't want to admit. that is until someone gets hurt. *jb | |||
| 12/17/2004 | 45805 | 1 | 10/11/2003 |
| Last month, the vehicle stability control (vsc) feature of my 2003 toyota sequoia failed. as a result, a safety feature (the system designed to help maintain control of the vehicle in a skid situation) which was a reason i purchased this particular suv was not engaged (i.e., the skid protection feature was not functional). the failure is alleged to have resulted from an open module in the electronic control unit that governs the vsc system. the controller was replaced at a toyota dealership.*ak | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT | |||
| 03/16/2011 | 86000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 2003 toyota sequoia. the contact stated that while driving at various he noticed that it sounded like a flat tire. after pulling to the side of the road he noticed the front right passenger tire separated from the vehicle due to a broken lug nut. the vehicle was inspected by a independent mechanic and they advised him that he needed to put studs on the rotors, and get new lug nuts. the vehicle was repaired. the failure and current mileages were approximately 86,000. tb | |||
| 04/05/2010 | 134000 | ||
| I purchased a new 2003 toyota sequoia from colorado springs toyota. in november 2008 i noticed a severe vibration at highway speed. the toyota service department found and replaced a left front sway bar stabilizer link which had broken. i was told it was not a saftey item and would not be covered by toyota. on april 10th, 2010 i was on a cross country trip when the toyota developed a very strong vibration at highway speeds that could allow the vehicle to not respond safely to a need for quick manuvering. i had the vehicle inspected by toyota upon my return home and the right side sway bar link was found to have failed. the service department was very aware of this defect and treated it like a common occurance. this is a safety issue and should be addressed by toyota before some one else is killed. | |||
| 10/02/2009 | 12000 | 1 | |
| My 2003 toyota sequoia has started to show signs of irregular tire wear. the front end suspension makes noises while driving between the speeds of 40 - 60 mph. also showing are signs of irregular tire wear on the front two tires equally, the inside treads are wearing causing me to have the tires rotated early. since i have notice the tire wear, my sequoia has had an alignment, but there are still signs of tire wear. what can i do to resolve the front end and tire wear problems with my vehicle. *tr | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - LOWER BALL JOINT | |||
| 07/30/2007 | 0 | 01/14/2005 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota sequoia. the contact stated that he is aware that the front suspension lower ball joints were under recall. he is currently overseas and cannot get his vehicle serviced at this time. there have been no failures to date. the recall number was unknown. the current mileage was 67,000. | |||
| 02/16/2006 | 30847 | 2 | 06/12/2003 |
| Toyota sequoia ball joint recall svc performed, subsequently vehicle tires severely scalloping outer edges leading to tread fracture and tire splitting. dealer svc mgr mike latham, maita toyota of sacramento, insists nothing is wrong with vehicle although he admits something is wrong with tires; insists that recall svc correctly performed and alignment within specs. dealer refuses attempt to correct problem. dealer offers to sell me new tires; effectively attempting to release hazardous and unsafe vehicle to me. vehicle is under warranty both in mileage and time. dealer still has vehicle. *nm | |||
| 07/05/2005 | 40000 | 1 | 01/01/2003 |
| Dt*: the contact stated while having no problems with the vehicle, a recall notification was received. there is a nhtsa recall, #05v225000, regarding the suspension. the parts needed to repair the vehicle are not available at the local dealership. the manufacturer confirmed the parts were not available and no repairs were made. | |||
| 08/07/2005 | 35000 | 1 | 04/09/2005 |
| Dt: the contact received a recall letter in august 2005 regarding front suspension: lower ball joints on 2003 toyota sequoia. she called the dealership, and was told she would be contacted in 2-4 weeks. she called on 9-20-05, and was told she would be contacted within one week. the contact called again on 10-6-05, and they said they would get in touch with her on 10-10-05 because the parts were not in yet. the contact felt this was not being taken care off in a timely manner. she was afraid to drive the vehicle. she has yet to be contacted by the dealership.*ak | |||
| 01/01/2004 | 6000 | 1 | 11/14/2002 |
| Dt: the contact owns a 2003 toyota sequoia. the contact stated that there was a recall on the lower ball joints. recall repairs were done. but the contact felt that this recall problem caused the tires to wear out on the outside of the tread. the service dealer stated that this would not be caused from the recall, but the consumer felt that it was. if it was not related to the recall, then the consumer felt that it may be due to a defect within the tire or another defect within the suspension system. the contact stated the tires were rotated every 5,000 miles. the manufacturer referred the consumer to arbitration, but this could take up to 60 days. *ak | |||
| 01/02/2005 | 1 | 02/02/2003 | |
| Dt: 2003 toyota sequoia. the consumer stated recall 05v225000 repairs concerning lower ball joints were done. there has been excessive wear on the outer part of the tires. the consumer felt that this was due to the lower ball joint problem as stated in the recall. the consumer was not sure whether or not the tires were still wearing out since the repairs. after contacting toyota, they told him that they were not going to replace the tires. these tires came with the vehicle and they have been properly maintained according to the consumer.*ak *mr *jb | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - CONTROL ARM - UPPER BALL JOINT | |||
| 02/16/2006 | 30847 | 2 | 06/12/2003 |
| Toyota sequoia ball joint recall svc performed, subsequently vehicle tires severely scalloping outer edges leading to tread fracture and tire splitting. dealer svc mgr mike latham, maita toyota of sacramento, insists nothing is wrong with vehicle although he admits something is wrong with tires; insists that recall svc correctly performed and alignment within specs. dealer refuses attempt to correct problem. dealer offers to sell me new tires; effectively attempting to release hazardous and unsafe vehicle to me. vehicle is under warranty both in mileage and time. dealer still has vehicle. *nm | |||
| SUSPENSION - FRONT - STABILIZER BAR | |||
| 12/01/2010 | 117000 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota sequoia. the contact stated that he noticed rust spots on the frame of the vehicle. over time, he would hear a loud banging noise. the contact inspected the vehicle and found that the stabilizer bar had become completely detached from the frame. the vehicle was taken to the dealer, who advised that because of the vehicle weight, the frame could not handle the stress. the contact was advised to park and no longer drive the vehicle. the manufacturer was contacted but advised that they would provide no assistance. there were no recalls for the year, make and model that pertained to the failure the contact experienced. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was approximately 117,000. kmj | |||
| SUSPENSION - REAR | |||
| 08/23/2011 | |||
| Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota sequoia. while driving approximately 40 mph the vehicle suddenly accelerated and the steering wheel locked causing the vehicle to crash into a wall at his residence. the vehicle was towed to an auto body repair shop. a police report was filed. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the contact previously experienced a failure with the rear axle detaching from the vehicle. the rear axle was replaced and the vehicle was repaired. the approximate failure mileage was unknown. | |||
| 08/23/2011 | |||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 toyota sequoia. while driving approximately 40 mph the vehicle suddenly accelerated and the steering wheel locked causing the vehicle to crash into a wall at his residence. the vehicle was towed to an auto body repair shop. a police report was filed. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. the contact previously experienced a failure with the rear axle detaching from the vehicle. the rear axle was replaced and the vehicle was repaired. the approximate failure mileage was unknown. rvk | |||
| 08/23/2011 | |||
| Tl- the contact owns a 2003 toyota sequoia. while driving at approximately 40 mph the vehicle suddenly accelerated and the steering wheel locked up causing the vehicle to crash into the wall of a home. the vehicle was towed to an auto body shop for repair. the police reported to the scene and a report was filed. the vehicle was not repaired. the vin was not available. also, the contact previously experienced a failure with the rear axle detaching from the vehicle. the rear axle was replaced and the vehicle was repaired. the approximate failure mileage was unknown. ds | |||