We own a 2007 Sequoia with 83000. I noticed back in 2012 when doing tire rotation frame rust. Upon further inspection I was shocked at all the frame rust and rusted metal on other components. I was shocked as this car was kept in a climate controlled garage next to vintage cars I own. This Toyota was never in snow or on roads that had salt. Yes, we drove in the rain and it would be outside in moist weather while on vacation or out of town. We use this to travel to FL from MD and on other long trips. These trips made mostly during summer months. This rust should not have been on this car.
Our headlights still looked new, not faded like most. When the rust was noticed I started checking around. Toyota has no customer care in my opinion-sorry to say. My wife has two Toyotas and her other Toyota had the ECU failure. This in time failed out of the blue. She stopped at a red light then when she accelerated, all went bad. The engine and trans did not know who was in control. My wife has a decent understanding with cars. She was able to manage her Rav 4 back home by doing a "manual" shift of the automatic trans. Fortunately she did what she did as the trans would have no shift pattern. I found this to be a recall and called Toyota.
They said they did send the recall but it came back to them due to address. Yes our PO box changed but not our street address. I said to them if you had to sue me, and your lawyer sent paper work for the law suit and it came back due to address, you would certainly take the time to find my correct address. In short I had to repair the Rav 4 at my shop and pay for the updated ECU. We got the same run around on her Sequoia.
In 2013 I purchased a new car for myself and kicked the Sequoia out of the garage. It has stayed outside since and we drive whenever we need to-now in the salt as well. The frame is a mess and now Toyota has finally agreed to replace-2-28-2018. I'm a car guy and understands what it takes to restore older cars. This is going to be an interesting ride as I say. I'm curious what condition her car will be in when we get it back. Also, what they are going to try and get me for in additional parts. I will refuse to pay and probably take further action if they try. If Toyota made a decision for many years to cut corners on these frames, they need to pay.
Us car guys have a saying-on a quiet night you can hear a Chevy rust. I've seen some serious rust on Chevy products-but in all of my time with cars never seen a frame rust through. I know this happens as I've heard but mostly on snow plow trucks and very old cars. Toyota has lost my faith and as much as my wife loves her Rav, I steered her away when I got her into a new car in January of 2018. Outside of the ECU the Rav has been a great car. We still have this and will keep it many more years as its in top shape for 186k. However, the customer care I got on the Rav ECU and the Toyota frame rust drove me away from Toyota. My brother in law came to me about my suggestion with Toyota. He has just purchased a new tundra at a cost of 50k and a Prius. They are in FL and I told him he should not have to worry about rust. However, I would never suggest a "framed" Toyota to someone up north.
I may consider a Toyota down the road, but not now. All is I can say is shame on Toyota for what they have done. To cut corners on using a cheaper steel or lack of corrosion protection is costing them at least 10k to 15k per vehicle. I do know Toyota is doing what they can to get out of this. Like I said above, I'm just starting with this as our car just went in. Ill be praying this all goes well. Hope I did not sound to offensive to other loyal Toyota owners, I used to be a loyal owner but not now.
Just found out today (6 months after having entire rear end fall out and replaced due to rust), front & rear brakes and linings gone & need replacing. While doing inspection (after removing shield from front l/s sway bar, entire body from for support rusted out and missing. Will have to call dealer to see what recourse I have.
- Gary J.,
Swan Lake, NY, US
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
We own a 2007 Sequoia with 83000. I noticed back in 2012 when doing tire rotation frame rust. Upon further inspection I was shocked at all the frame rust and rusted metal on other components. I was shocked as this car was kept in a climate controlled garage next to vintage cars I own. This Toyota was never in snow or on roads that had salt. Yes, we drove in the rain and it would be outside in moist weather while on vacation or out of town. We use this to travel to FL from MD and on other long trips. These trips made mostly during summer months. This rust should not have been on this car.
Our headlights still looked new, not faded like most. When the rust was noticed I started checking around. Toyota has no customer care in my opinion-sorry to say. My wife has two Toyotas and her other Toyota had the ECU failure. This in time failed out of the blue. She stopped at a red light then when she accelerated, all went bad. The engine and trans did not know who was in control. My wife has a decent understanding with cars. She was able to manage her Rav 4 back home by doing a "manual" shift of the automatic trans. Fortunately she did what she did as the trans would have no shift pattern. I found this to be a recall and called Toyota.
They said they did send the recall but it came back to them due to address. Yes our PO box changed but not our street address. I said to them if you had to sue me, and your lawyer sent paper work for the law suit and it came back due to address, you would certainly take the time to find my correct address. In short I had to repair the Rav 4 at my shop and pay for the updated ECU. We got the same run around on her Sequoia.
In 2013 I purchased a new car for myself and kicked the Sequoia out of the garage. It has stayed outside since and we drive whenever we need to-now in the salt as well. The frame is a mess and now Toyota has finally agreed to replace-2-28-2018. I'm a car guy and understands what it takes to restore older cars. This is going to be an interesting ride as I say. I'm curious what condition her car will be in when we get it back. Also, what they are going to try and get me for in additional parts. I will refuse to pay and probably take further action if they try. If Toyota made a decision for many years to cut corners on these frames, they need to pay.
Us car guys have a saying-on a quiet night you can hear a Chevy rust. I've seen some serious rust on Chevy products-but in all of my time with cars never seen a frame rust through. I know this happens as I've heard but mostly on snow plow trucks and very old cars. Toyota has lost my faith and as much as my wife loves her Rav, I steered her away when I got her into a new car in January of 2018. Outside of the ECU the Rav has been a great car. We still have this and will keep it many more years as its in top shape for 186k. However, the customer care I got on the Rav ECU and the Toyota frame rust drove me away from Toyota. My brother in law came to me about my suggestion with Toyota. He has just purchased a new tundra at a cost of 50k and a Prius. They are in FL and I told him he should not have to worry about rust. However, I would never suggest a "framed" Toyota to someone up north.
I may consider a Toyota down the road, but not now. All is I can say is shame on Toyota for what they have done. To cut corners on using a cheaper steel or lack of corrosion protection is costing them at least 10k to 15k per vehicle. I do know Toyota is doing what they can to get out of this. Like I said above, I'm just starting with this as our car just went in. Ill be praying this all goes well. Hope I did not sound to offensive to other loyal Toyota owners, I used to be a loyal owner but not now.
- Mark G., Glen Arm, MD, US