2007 Toyota Sequoia Suspension Problems

Your vehicle's frame has severely rusted through and deteriorated, which was discovered during a recall service appointment. You experienced unstable handling and buckling while driving on the highway before stopping use of the vehicle. The Toyota dealer confirmed this is a safety issue and documented it on video. Addressing this would require professional frame inspection and likely welding, reinforcement, or replacement of affected frame sections.

Your Sequoia's front suspension feels unstable, with worn joints on the passenger side causing sudden side movements like the wheel might fall off, even though your tires are properly inflated. You've noticed ball joints and other steering-related joints are worn in multiple places. The repair could cost $600–$1,200 depending on the extent of the wear, and may involve replacing worn suspension components like ball joints and steering linkage parts.

THERE IS SEVERE ABNORMAL FRAME RUST & PERFORATIONS IN THE VEHICLES FRAME. I RECEIVED NOTICED TO ADDRESS TOYOTA FRAME RECALL WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER RELATIONS TO INQUIRY ABOUT ANY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE. THE REP EXPLAINED OF TWO RECALLS & SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT AT MY LOCAL TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER (FITZGERALD LAKEFOREST TOYOTA) TO ADDRESS THE FRAME RECALL CAMPAIGN & AIRBAG RECALL. THE SERVICE ADVISER EXPLAINED FRAME RECALL REMEDY WAS NOT APPLICABLE BECAUSE THERE WERE PERFORATIONS DISCOVERED IN THE VEHICLES FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS ENTITLED TO A FRAME REPLACEMENT. THE ADVISER EXPLAINED THE FRAME RECALL REPLACEMENT HAS EXPIRED & THAT I NEEDED TO CALL TOYOTA CUSTOMERS RELATIONS TO LOOK INTO THE PROBLEM. THE AIRBAG RECALL WAS CORRECTED. I CALLED THEM. THE TOYOTA CUSTOMERS RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE EXPLAINED THE FRAME RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE EXPIRED JANUARY 31, 2019 & TOYOTA IS NOT ABLE TO HELP ME WITH THIS PROBLEM. I AM NOT SURE WHY THERE IS A EXPIRATION DATE ON THIS RECALL IF THERE ARE STILL VEHICLES OUT ON THE ROAD WITH FAULTY VEHICLE FRAMES. I HAVE ATTACHED THE PICTURE OF PERFORATION IN THE FRAME.

ON WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7, I WAS DRIVING OUR 2007 TOYOTA SEQUOIA 4X4 ON A RURAL ROAD THAT HAD HAD FRESH SNOW THE NIGHT BEFORE, BUT NO SAND OR OTHER ROAD SALT WAS LAID DOWN. IT IS A CURVY AND HILLY ROAD. I HAD DRIVEN ON THE ROAD AN HOUR EARLIER WITH NO PROBLEMS. AT APPROXIMATELY 9AM, I ENCOUNTERED A PATCH OF ICE WHERE THERE WAS A CURVE IN THE ROAD AND MY SUV THAT HAD BRAND NEW MICHELIN TIRES ON COLLIDED WITH A TREE THAT WAS PART OF AN ISLAND IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE TREE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15 INCHES IN DIAMETER. THE COLLISION STRUCK DIRECTLY ON LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE BY HEADLIGHT'PLOWING IN APPROXIMATELY 9 INCHES AND DEFLATED FRONT TIRE. FRONT SUSPENSION WAS BROKEN AS IS HOOD ( SEE PICTURE). NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED?? I WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 25-30 MPH AT IMPACT. MY AIRBAG ON DRIVERS SIDE WAS RECALLED WITH TAKATA RECALL AND REPLACED , BUT I WONDER IF IT WAS INSTALLED PROPERLY OR WRONG? I SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND OTHER TRAUMA TOYOTA DEALER BODY SHOP INDICATES THAT ALL SENSORS FOR AIRBAGS ON FRAME ONLY AND SINCE FRAME NOT HIT NO DEPLOYMENT??

I WAS TOLD I NEED A 2ND AIR INCEPTION FLOW BECAUSE IT IS BAD. MY BALL JOINTS ARE ALSO NEEDING TO BE REPLACED AS THEY HAVE BEEN BAD AND ITS DANGEROUS, THE PLASTIC HANDLE FOR HATCH BROKE, THE ARM FOR HATCH BROKE, SUSPENSION SWING ARM BAD, TRAMSMISSION MISSES FIRST GEAR ON AND OFF. I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE I WANTED SOMETHING I WOULDN'T HAVE ISSUES WITH AND I HAVE HAD PLENTY OF ISSUES SINCE I PURCHASED IT ESPECIALLY WITH FRONT END. ONCE IN A WHILE THE ENGINE REFFS UP HIGH AND I'M JUST SITTING THERE WITH FOOT ON THE BREAK.

LOWER BALL JOINTS ON BOTH SIDES CAME LOOSE AND TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE THEM UNDER THE PREVIOUS RECALL FOR SAME MAKE MODEL YEAR VEHICLE WITH SAME PROBLEM FOR ONLY AT 90 K MILES

THE VEHICLE FRAME HAS STRUCTURAL RUST AND THE SPARE TIRE CARRIER IS ALMOST RUSTED THRU. THE UNDER CAR SPARE TIRE CARRIER IS GETTING READY TO FALL OUT FROM THE VEHICLE.

WHEN AT A COMPLETE STOP (BRAKES APPLIED), ONCE RELEASING BRAKE AND SLOWLY STARTING TO MOVE (LESS THAN 1 MPH), EVERYONE IN THE VEHICLE FEELS A NUDGE (LIKE GETTING REAR ENDED OR A BAD DRIVE-LINE U-JOINT). ALSO, FEEL A SIMILAR NUDGE WHEN THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM 3RD TO 4TH GEAR (POSSIBLY 4TH TO 5TH GEAR WITH THE OVER-DRIVE ON) AT ABOUT 50 MPH. THESE CONDITIONS CONSTANTLY OCCUR EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN (EVERYDAY!). REPORTED BOTH CONDITIONS TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE NOV 2012 (WHILE UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY), AND THE DEALER CONTINUES TO SAY THIS IS NORMAL AND CONTINUES TO DIAGNOSE AS SUSPENSION SPRING WRAP/TENSION. THE DEALER ACTION WAS TO LUBE THE DRIVE-LINE U-JOINTS (WITH NO IMPROVEMENT). I DO NOT BUY IT, AND BELIEVE THERE IS A MUCH BIGGER ISSUE/DEFECT POTENTIALLY WITH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND OVER-DRIVE. NOW MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND THE NUDGE CONTINUES AND HAS INTENSIFIED. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN NOT TO MENTION I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SELL THE VEHICLE WITH THIS CONDITION (S.O.L). MY RECOMMENDATION, DO NOT BUY A TOYOTA TRUCK OR SPORT UTILITY VEHICLE UNTIL TOYOTA ADDRESSES THE ISSUE/DEFECT. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2007 TOYOTA SEQUOIA FROM THE POWER CERRITOS DEALERSHIP IN CA ON JAN. 14, 2007. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE BACK ON SATURDAY JAN. 27, 2007 TO HAVE THE LO JACK INSTALLED. AT THIS TIME I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE FRONT BALL JOINTS ON THE 2 FRONT WHEELS. THE POWER TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT REPAIRED THE RECALL AT THIS TIME. I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE LATER THAT AFTERNOON, AT WHICH TIME I WAS TOLD EVERYTHING WAS OK. ON FRIDAY FEB. 2, 2007 I PROCEEDED TO BACK OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY OF MY HOME AND HEARD A LARGE GRINDING NOISE, SOUNDING LIKE MY CAR BOTTOMED OUT ON THE DRIVEWAY. I PROCEEDED DOWN MY STREET WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED A LEFT HAND TURN, AT WHICH TIME MY CAR RESISTED THE TURN AND MADE A VERY LOUD GRINDING NOISE AGAIN AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE AND THE CAR BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. I ACTUALLY DROVE MY CAR BACKWARDS IN A STRAIGHT LINE, ONCE I SLOWED TO A STOP AND REALIZED I COULD DRIVE THE CAR AS LONG AS I DIDN'T TURN THE WHEEL. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED POWER TOYOTA CERRITOS AND SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT MANAGER AND TOLD HIM THE PROBLEM AND THAT I THOUGHT IT WAS THE SAME ISSUE AS THE RECALL REPAIR, HE CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK AND SENT HIS SERVICE SPECIALIST TO MY HOME TO LOOK AT THE CAR. I EXPRESSED TO HIM MY EXTREME CONCERN, BECAUSE HAD I BEEN ON THE FREEWAY, MY CAR WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL AT HIGH SPEEDS , WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED INJURY, IF NOT DEATH TO MY CHILDREN AND MYSELF. I WAS APPALLED THAT THEIR SERVICE DEPARTMENT DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME AND SENT ME HOME TO DRIVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS STILL AT THE POWER TOYOTA CERRITOS AND I HAVE YET TO HEAR FORM THE GENERAL MANAGER, EVEN AFTER LEAVING MULTIPLE MESSAGES. THE SERVICE MANAGER HAS BEEN TRYING TO TAKE CARE OF MY CAR, BUT HOW AM I TO FEEL SAFE AFTER 500,000 HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM? *JB