2008 Toyota Sequoia Body & Structure Problems

Your mechanic discovered severe rust and corrosion on your rear subframe during routine service, with actual holes forming in the metal. You were told the vehicle is unsafe to drive in this condition. The dealer and Toyota were notified, but your vehicle is no longer covered under the extended warranty for this damage.

During a frame replacement covered by a Toyota class action lawsuit, the service center discovered rust on your rear sub-frame and warned that the rear wheels could eventually separate from the vehicle. The rust damage wasn't covered under the class action suit, so Toyota is asking you to pay the full $2,550 repair cost out of pocket. Fixing this will likely involve removing the rusted sub-frame and replacing it with a new one.

Your vehicle's chassis has developed severe rust, which was discovered during a routine oil change at an independent mechanic. When you contacted Toyota dealerships about repairs, they informed you that Toyota Campaign Number ZH7—which would have covered this rust issue—has expired and is no longer available. Toyota confirmed the rust problem exists but cannot repair it under the expired campaign.

Your Sequoia's sub-frame (the structural component that supports major parts of the vehicle) was found to be heavily corroded during a dealer visit at around 125,000 miles. The corrosion could potentially affect the structural integrity and safety of your vehicle. Addressing this typically involves inspecting the sub-frame for damage, treating corrosion, and potentially replacing severely corroded sections.

Your vehicle is part of a recall due to excessive rust forming in the frame, a problem that typically occurs in snowy states that use road salt like Michigan where your car was originally registered. Toyota has acknowledged your vehicle is affected by this recall, but they're refusing to perform the repair now that you've relocated to California, insisting you'd need to drive your car 3,000 miles back to Michigan to have the work done. The frame rust repair will likely involve inspection of affected areas, cleaning, and application of rust protection or replacement of corroded frame components.

The back cover panels on your middle row seats are broken and missing, exposing the metal support bars underneath—which could be a safety concern, especially for passengers with longer legs. Additionally, your radio and CD player make a loud, strange noise when you try to use them, even while driving.

THE REAR LIFTGATE ON OUR 2008 TOYOTA SEQUOIA STARTED ACTING UP LATE MAY 2016. THE LIFTGATE LOCK ACTUATOR BEGAN GETTING STUCK AND VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. NOW IT CANNOT BE OPENED BY NEITHER THE POWER LIFTGATE BUTTON NOR MANUALLY WITH THE HANDLE. WE CAN SEE THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE OF EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE ACTUATOR. IT HAS SEIZED AND ARE NOW VERY CONCERNED THAT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE THROUGH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD ALL OTHER EXITS ARE BLOCKED. NOT EVEN THE REAR WINDOW IS WORKING AND BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT AFFECTING THE COMPONENTS INSIDE THE LIFTGATE ITSELF. UPON RESEARCHING THE MATTER WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. WE FEEL THIS WARRANTS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE EXCESSIVE RUST/CORROSION AND MECHANICAL FAILURE.

I WAS DRIVING ON I-15 IN UTAH WHEN MY PASSENGERS HEARD HONKING AND LOOKED AROUND. SUDDENLY A WHITE CAR SWERVED CLOSE TO ME AND CUT ME OFF. THE DRIVER WAS LOOKING DOWN AND CONTINUED TO SWERVE AROUND. THEN SLOWED AND PUT ON HER FLASHERS. SHE CONTINUED TO SWERVE AND THEN FOLLOWED US OFF THE FREEWAY. SHE STOPPED AT THE STOP LIGHT AND SAID WE HAD HIT HER. I SAID THAT WAS A LIE AND SHE HAD BEEN SWERVING INTO MY LANE AND PEOPLE WERE HONKING AT HER. WE DROVE TO IKEA AND SHE DID NOT FOLLOW. THEN I FILED THIS COMPLAINT. I AM CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY PASSENGERS. SHE WAS NOT FRIENDLY. I ATTACHED HER LICENSE NUMBER.

THE REAR HATCH SWITCH PAD MELTS RENDERING THE HANDLE INOPERABLE. TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS IS NOT A DEFECT YET, MANY SEQUOIA OWNERS HAVE SAME COMPLAINT. TOYOTA SAYS OVER $400 TO REPAIR. TOYOTA DENIES THE REAR HATCH IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR DOORS 11/5/17

THE REAR LIFTGATE EXTERIOR HANDLE LITERALLY MELTS IN THE SUMMER AND FREEZES IN THE WINTER. IT MAKES IT SO THE REAR LIFTGATE DOESN'T OPEN AND SOMETIMES DOESN'T CLOSE. I RECENTLY GOT A RECALL NOTICE FOR EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES NOT OPERATING DUE TO THE ABOVE DESCRIBED MANLFUCTION BUT HALEY TOYOTA IN MIDLOTHIAN VIRGINIA SAID IT'S NOT COVERED. THEY SAID IT'S OVER $400 TO FIX.

THE REAR LIFT GATE HAS AN ELECTRONIC BUTTON THAT YOU PUSH TO OPEN. THIS IS COVERED BY A RUBBER THAT DEGRADES AND MELTS OVER A SHORT TIME, EXPOSING THE ELECTRONIC SWITCH WITCH HAS CONSTANT POWER, RESULTING IN WHAT COULD BE A FIRE HAZARD. IT ALSO FREEZES AND BECOMES INOPERABLE AT TIMES DURING COLD WEATHER AND THERE IS NO OTHER WAY TO OPEN THE HATCH. IN THE SUMMER, IT BECOMES STICKY AND A MESS. I REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA AND THEIR RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EFFECTS OF COLD TEMPERATURES. IT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR USED. I HAVE NOTICED IT IS A POPULAR ITEM ON MANY TOYOTA WEBPAGES, AND NOT SPECIFIC TO JUST THE SEQUOIA MODEL.

THE 2008 TOYOTA SEQUOIA ONLY HAS 35,300 MILES ON IT AND WHILE IT WAS IN FOR OIL CHANGED AND ON THE RACK, THE MECHANIC NOTICED A SEVERE RUSTING ISSUE ON THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE HAS SEVERE RUST ON THE FRAME IN PARTICULAR THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY, INCLUDING THE WELDS THAT HOLD THE FRAME TOGETHER. I AM VERY CONCERNED WITH THE ISSUE OF THE ROADS AND STRESS OF POTHOLES THAT THE FRAME AND WELDS COULD BECOME SEVERELY DAMAGED AND POSSIBLY BREAK OFF ON THE ROAD IN PARTICULAR AT HIGH SPEEDS. I HAVE NEVER SEEN RUSTING THIS BAD SINCE THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRIES USE OF RECYCLED METALS. I AM CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE USE OF THIS VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT MY FAMILY.