2002 Toyota Sequoia latches/locks/linkages problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT THE FRAME WAS CORRODED AND THE HOOD AND TAILGATE LATCHES WERE UNABLE TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 138,000.”

“I WENT TO EXIT MY CAR ONE NIGHT AND THE DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE SNAPPED OFF IN MY HAND LEAVING ME TO FIND ANOTHER WAY TO EXIT MY VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE ONE THAT ALL PEOPLE USE TO EXIT THEIR VEHICLE THE DRIVERS DOOR. SHOULD I HAVE BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AT THE TIME I WOULD HAVE BEEN TRAPPED IN MY VEHICLE. PRIOR TO THAT MY REAR LID HANDLE STOPPED WORKING. TOYOTA REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE THE WARRANTY IS UP AND THEY FEEL THIS IS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. IN CONTACTING MY LOCAL DEALER I WAS TOLD THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND WAS JUST LAUGHED AT I WAS TOLD WHAT DO YOU EXPECT IT IS ONLY PLASTIC.”

“DRIVING ON NY THRUWAY TRANSMISSION WENT. TOWED TO NEAREST SERVICE STATION WHERE NEW TRANSMISSION WAS INSTALLED AFTER WHICH WE WERE TOLD THAT THE CHASSIS WAS EXTREMELY RUSTY. TWO DAYS LATER, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON - TOOK CAR TO SEARS TO FIND OUT TRANS FLUID LEAK AND FRAME ROTTED AND DECLINED SERVICING VEHICLE. FOLLOWED UP AT TOYOTA DEALER FOR LEAK AND FRAME INSPECTION. TECHNICIAN FOUND POWER STEERING LINE LEAKING POWER STEERING FLUID AND EXCESSIVE FRAME PERFORATION / CORROSION. THEY WOULD NOT WORK ON IT. TECHNICIAN INSTALLED A NEW HOOK LOCK AND CABLE ASSEMBLY AS HOOD WOULD NOT LOCK.”

“THE REAR HATCH ON MY 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WILL OPEN INTERMITTENTLY. SOMETIMES IT WILL OPEN , BUT MOST OF THE TIME IT WILL NOT. WHEN IT DOES OPEN, IT WILL NOT LOCK. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL BECAUSE IF YOU HAVE A FLAT TIRE, THERE IS NO WAY TO LOWER THE SPARE. *TR”

“INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE FAILURE - ONLY METHOD OF EXITING VEHICLE. FAILED FOR A THIRD TIME UNDER NORMAL USE BEFORE REPORTING TO NHTSA. IF VEHICLE IS IN A CRASH, ON FIRE, OR UNDER WATER, A PERSON WILL PANIC AND EXERT GREATER FORCE THAN NORMAL ON THE HANDLE, SNAPPING IT, LEADING TO POTENTIAL DEATH. DEALER TOLD ME THEY HAVE "HUNDREDS" OF THESE COME THROUGH. ASK TOYOTA HOW MANY THEY HAVE REPLACED TO GET ACTUAL SCOPE. THEY HAVE NO INCENTIVE TO CORRECT FAILURE SINCE DEALER MAKES $250.00 TO CORRECT THE FAILURE. NO EGRESS IN A BURNING CAR IS EQUIVALENT TO NO FIRE EXIT DOORS IN A BURNING BUILDING. *TR”

“2002 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN. WHEN I TRY TO OPEN THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR, I CAN HEAR IT UNLATCH BUT REMAINS SHUT. YOU HAVE TO PUSH THE REAR PART OF THE DOOR BACK IN UNTIL YOU HEAR A CLICK, THEN YOU HAVE TO VIOLENTLY PULL THE HANDLE AND THE DOOR WILL OPEN. *TR”