2003 Toyota Sequoia Wipers & Visibility Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW ON THE 5TH DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REGULATOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED HAS A DRIVER'S SIDE EXTERIOR MIRROR WITH MOTORS IN IT. THE MOTOR THAT RETRACTS IT TO THE BODY IS STUCK ON AND AS A RESULT, I HAD TO DISABLE ALL THE ELECTRICAL POWER THAT CONTROLS THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE MIRRORS INCLUDING THE MIRROR GLASS (BOTH SIDES OF VEHICLE). AS A RESULT THE DRIVER CANNOT ADJUST THE MIRRORS AS THEY ARE REMOTE-CONTROLLED. MY WIFE ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE SHE CANNOT ADJUST THE MIRRORS ANY MORE. THE MIRRORS CANNOT BE HAND ADJUSTED FROM THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE DEFECTIVE MIRROR ASSEMBLY CANNOT BE REPAIRED, EXCEPT FOR REPLACING THE ENTIRE UNIT (TOYOTA SAYS) AND THEY DO NOT "CURRENTLY" HAVE A RECALL, ALTHOUGH I HAVE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DEFECT (IE. TUNDRA/SEQUOIA USER'S GROUPS) I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT AND TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPAIR THIS AS THE PART ALONE RETAILS FOR 400-600 DOLLARS. *TR

THIS OCCURS DAILY (SINCE I NOW LIVE IN ARIZONA). THE VENT RECIRCULATE SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY OVERIDES TO RECIRCULATE MODE IN MANUAL MODE WHEN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES DIFFER. THIS CAUSES THE WINDOW FOGGING AND LIMITED VISIBILITY. THE RECIRCULATE WILL TURN ON EVEN IN FRONT WINDOW DEFROST MODE - A COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR VISIBILITY SAFETY. TOYOTA SERVICE TECH STATED THE ONBOARD COMPUTERS FIRMWARE IS TO BLAME AND THERE IS NO FIX AVAILABLE. TOYOTA UNRESPONSIVE OTHERWISE. *TR

SUNROOF SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH DOWN A QUIET STREET. *CN

03 TOYOTA SEQUOIA OIL GAUGE FAILED TO WORK AND REAR WINDOW WILL NOT ROLL DOWN. *TR

REAR WINDOW BEGAN OPERATING ONLY OFF AND ON OVER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. FINALLY IT QUIT WORKING COMPLETELY IN 2007. FORTUNATELY IT WAS CLOSED, SO OWNER JUST DIDN'T USE UNTIL HAVING IT FIXED ALONG WITH REAR DOOR HATCH. A NEW POWER MOTOR ASSEMBLY WAS INSTALLED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. THE INCIDENT DATE IS ACTUALLY THE DATE OF REPAIR. *TR

REAR WINDOW STOPPED WORKING. I HAD ABOUT 55,000 MILES ON MY TOYOTA WHEN THIS STARTED. MY REAR WINDOW WOULD NOT ROLL DOWN. A FEW WEEKS LATER, I TRIED IT AND IT WORKED, THEN NEXT TIME I TRIED TO ROLL IT DOWN, IT FAILED AGAIN. I WAS JUST TOLD TODAY THAT IT WAS THE MOTOR AND IT WOULD BE $300 FOR THE PART AND $200 FOR LABOR. COME ON.... THIS CAR IS NOT THAT OLD......

HOW DO I REPORT SOMETHING THAT I FEEL NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED? I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. I ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF ACQUAINTANCES THAT HAVE 2002 AND 2004 MODELS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO NOTED ON THE WEB PAGES WHERE SEQUOIA OWNERS GO TO ASK QUESTIONS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE REAR WINDOW STOPS WORKING. IF ITS UP WHEN IT STOPS IT IS OK (THAT IS WHERE MINE STOPPED AT), BUT IF IT STOPS IN THE DOWN POSITION A PERSON HAS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR ($400- 500). THE MOTOR IN THE TAILGATE RUSTS AND IS COVERED UNDER A SERVICE BULLETIN BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE BULLETIN IS GOOD, BECAUSE THEY READILY FIX IT SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. IS IT WIDESPREAD ENOUGH TO ISSUE A RECALL? BECAUSE I DID NOT DISCOVER MINE UNTIL AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. *JB

DRIVER DESCRIBED THE REARVIEW MIRROR AS A PROBLEM; REARVIEW MIRROR WAS TOO SMALL , COULDN'T SEE CLEARLY WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE. DEALER STATED THIS FEATURE WAS DESIGNED THAT WAY BY MANUFACTURER. *AK