2004 Toyota Sequoia Steering Problems

WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT, AND AT LOW SPEEDS, VTS IS TURNING ON AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER. THIS HAPPENS WHEN PULLING OUT IN FRONT OF TRAFFIC AND I CANNOT SPEED UP UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS STRAIGHT. *TR

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

VSC TRACK SENSOR AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHTS CAME ON WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH IN THE CITY. I HAVE NOTICED IN THE PAST TWO MONTHS THAT WHEN I SLOW TO MAKE A TURN THE BREAKS LOCK UP AND GRIND, BUT NOT ALWAYS. THE SAFETY BREAK IS ALSO ON. I HAVE READ THAT WHEN THE VSC LIGHTS DO COME ON THAT YOU CANNOT GO OVER 50 MILES AN HOUR OR WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR WILL SLOW DOWN TO 50 AND CANNOT GO ANY FASTER. I'M AFRAID OF THIS HAPPENING WHEN TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY.

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 MILES AND WAS NOT USED FOR OFF-ROAD DRIVING. THE VEHICLE RECENTLY PASSED STATE INSPECTION WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED ABOUT THE FRONT END. IF THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE ALREADY REPLACED IN A RECALL (2007) WHAT DID THEY REPLACE THEM WITH, AND HOW DID THEY CORRECT THE PROBLEM? THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A DEADLY ACCIDENT AT HIGHER SPEED. WHEN A LOWER BALL JOINT BREAKS, THE DRIVER CAN ONLY STEER WITH ONE WHEEL.[XXX] 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *BF

BRAKES DO NOT WORK CORRECTLY. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SEQUOIA HOWEVER, WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA LAST MONTH THEY HAD TOLD ME THAT I WAS UNABLE TO HAVE THE RECALL TAKEN CARE OF BECAUSE MY TIME HAD EXPIRED! HOW CAN THAT BE POSSIBLE IF THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE SEQUOIA? SURE ENOUGH I WAS DRIVING AND THERE WAS A PROBLEM STOPPING AS HAD BEEN NOTED IN THE RECALL. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND UNFAIR! IF I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT TOYOTA WILL BE LIABLE! WHAT CAN I DO ABOUT THIS??? *TR

AFTER GETTING OFF THE HIGHWAY AND PARKING, I FOUND IT HARD TO MOVE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR BEGAN MAKING LOUD NOISE. WHEN OUR MECHANIC LOOKED AT IT, HE SAID THE ENTIRE FRAME HAD RUSTED, INCLUDING THE PART THAT HOLDS THE POWER STEERING FLUID, CAUSING THE POWER STEERING FLUID TO FALL OUT, AND CREATING THE STEERING PROBLEMS. HE DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE AND RECOMMENDED I CALLED TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS TO SEE IF THEY WOULD REPLACE THE FRAME AS PART OF TOYOTA'S FRAME REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. I TRIED CALLING 2 TOYOTA DEALERSHIPS (INCLUDING THE ONE FROM WHICH I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE) AND BOTH SAID THEY'RE NOT RUNNING THAT PROGRAM ANYMORE AND THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I THEN CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE, FILED MY CASE AND REQUESTING THAT FRAME BE REPLACED DUE TO THE EXTREME RUST AND THE PROBLEMS IT WAS CAUSING WITH UNDER 75,000 MI ON IT. THEY SIMPLY SAID THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. I AM NOW WITHOUT THE VEHICLE, WHICH I USE FOR MY BUSINESS, AND PURCHASED JUST A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. WHEN WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, WE WERE NOT TOLD THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL OR POSSIBLE PROBLEM WITH RUST. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, BUT NO CRASH OCCURRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 07V013000 (SUSPENSION), BUT DID NOT CONFIRM IF THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

AFTER PRESSING THE 4WD AND CENTER DIFFERENTIAL BUTTON, THE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL FROZE AND WOULD NOT UNLOCK. THE DEALER MECHANIC COULD NOT UNLOCK THE DIFFERENTIAL AND HAD TO REPLACE THE SOLENOID (SWITCH) IN ORDER TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER CLAIMS THIS IS DUE TO A MAINTENANCE ISSUE ( SUCH AS LOCK AND UNLOCK THE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL A FEW TIMES A YEAR) BUT WE DISAGREE. THERE I NO INFORMATION ABOUT THIS IN THE OWNER'S MANUAL OR MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS. THIS SHOULD NOT OCCUR OR IF THE SOLENOID IS FAULTY, THE CENTER DIFFERENTIAL SHOULD NOT REMAIN LOCKED AS THIS IS CAUSES A SERIOUS STEERING SAFETY PROBLEM. *TR

CORNERING AT ABOUT 65 OR SO ON HIGHWAY. SENSORS WENT OFF, TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE, SHAKY STEERING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE PASSENGER FRONT TIE ROD BROKE DUE TO DEFECTIVE MATERIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 108,000. UPDATED 12/12/12 *CN THE CONSUMER HIT A PARKED VEHICLE, AFTER HE LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER, BECAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE OUTER TIE ROD CRACKED IN HALF. UPDATED 12/12/12

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 SHOP. *TR

*******2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LTD VSC COMPUTER FAILURE, WHEEL LOCKUP ON LEFT********* BRAKE LIGHT, VSC AND TRAC LIGHT ALL CAME ON. I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 20 MPH AND THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL LOCKED UP AND THE CAR PULLED SHARPLY TO THE LEFT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I LOST BRAKE PEDAL EFFECTIVENESS. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND ALL LIGHTS WENT OUT AND BRAKE FEEL AND EFFECTIVENESS APPEARS OK. I TOOK THE CAR STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. FOR THE LAST 2 YEARS THE BRAKE LIGHT WOULD COME ON AND STAY ON AND WHEN I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTED IT THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. FOR 2 YEARS MY LOCAL DEALER IN BUTLER, PA COULD NOT GET A FAILURE CODE. WHEN I TOOK THE CAR FOR DIAGNOSTICS, THE CAUSE WAS THE ECM PART NUMBER 89541-OC062 AT A COST OF ABOUT $1377.00. THEY REPLACED IT AT THE GREAT DEALERSHIP IN LANGHORNE,PA. I HAVE 55,659 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. SINCE THE REPAIR THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT HAS COME ON ONE TIME AND STAYED ON, WHEN WE RESTARTED THE CAR IT WENT AWAY. I WILL RETURN TO DEALER TO HAVE THIS CHECKED AGAIN NEXT TIME IT COMES ON. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS LOCKUP OF THE WHEEL AND LOSS OF BRAKING EFFECTIVENESS IS A REAL BIG SAFETY ISSUE ON THESE VEHICLES. PLEASE GET BACK TO ME TO TELL ME IF NHTSA IS LOOKING INTO THIS SITUATION. THANK YOU! *TR

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2006, WHILE DRIVING I EXPERIENCED A SWIFT PULL TO THE DRIVER'S LEFT, CORRECTED IT THEN SECONDS, LATER THE VEHICLE GAVE A VIOLENT JERK, ACCOMPANIED BY A HORRIFIC SOUND OF STEEL SCRAPING WITH THE SMELL OF BURNING METAL. THE VEHICLE VEERED TOWARD TRAFFIC IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION SO I FOUGHT TO HOLD THE STIRRING FROM TURNING IN TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC OR ROLLING OFF THE ROAD DOWN THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. MY CHILDREN SCREAM AND CRIED HYSTERICALLY AS THEY WATCHED AND EXPERIENCE OUR VEHICLE VIOLENTLY THRASHED ABOUT. SMOKED AND SPARKS BELLOWED UP ALONG THE PASSENGER AND FRONT SIDES OF THE VEHICLE. I GOT THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OFF THE ROAD, OUT OF TRAFFIC INCHES FROM A 20' (TWENTY-FOOT) DROP OFF. THE VEHICLE CAME TO REST ON THE WHEEL WHICH HAD SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE DRIVER (ME) TO LOOSE STEERING CONTROL THEREFORE ENDING IN THE MOST TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE FOR MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF AS WELL AS A NEAR TRAFFIC COLLISION. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO TOYOTA OF EL CAJON. THEY CALLED AND SAID THE VEHICLE HAS APPROX $3900 IN DAMAGES. HE SAID THE ARM BROKE AND THE WHEEL SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE. HE ASSURED ME HE HAD EVEN LOOK FOR RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE AND THERE WERE NONE. HE EXPLAINED THE VEHICLE HAD 109,000 (ONE-HUNDRED-THOUSAND) MILES AND THIS WAS JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS. I TOLD HIM I NOT AGREE BECAUSE I ONCE OWNED A RAV 4 WITH 364,000 (THREE-HUNDRED-SIXTY-FOUR-THOUSAND) MILES AND NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH. THE SEQUOIA WAS PURCHASED NEW MAY OF 2004, IRREGARDLESS OF THE NUMBER OF MILES THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE OCCURRED. IT WAS THE FRIDAY OF A HOLIDAY WEEKEND I WAS UNABLE TO SPEAK TO THE DEALERSHIP'S CUSTOMER SERVICE. I DID HOWEVER REQUEST WHAT ACTION I COULD TAKE AND THE TELEPHONE NUMBER TO TOYOTA CORPORATE OFFICE. *NM