On [XXX] while driving our 2011 Toyota Sequoia 4x4 Limited (5.7 iforce non flex fuel) my wife was preparing to stop at a traffic light. Completely unexpected and with no warning, the vehicle started bucking, the engine began making a knocking noise and numerous dashboard lights started flashing. It immediately stalled while attempting to stop, thus, causing a very dangerous situation, losing total control of the brakes and steering, nearly causing a collision with the vehicle in front of her. The vehicle had to be towed from the middle of the road, while in heavy traffic. Eventually it was diagnosed (at my mechanics shop) and determined to be a broken valve spring in cylinder #7. This caused the valve to drop into the cylinder bore, making contact with the piston, known as "catastrophic failure on an 'interference' engine"..I later learned that these DEFECTIVE ($5) valve springs, are used in my meticulously maintained 5.7 Toyota motor, ...THE SAME PART NUMBER UNDER RECALL IN SEVERAL LEXUS VEHICLES!! Being that I constantly maintained this vehicle and it being in overall excellent condition, I determined it was less expensive to have the engine replaced over repaired. I spent over $4600 in a used motor with 88k miles, and $5400 in labor for the replacement.. total cost of over $10,000 for a $5 defective part that was only recalled on the Lexus vehicles. I kept the original engine in case I can (eventually) have Toyota Corp do an inspection on it and get some kind of compensation on this dangerous, avoidable, selective vehicle recall. No luck thus far but have pictures, invoices and all documents on this situation that I can provide when requested. I am having difficulty downloading these documents to this site. Thank you very much. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Wappingers Falls , NY, USA

Purchased the vehicle new. Brake rotors severely warped AT12,572 miles creating severe vibration/shaking throughout the vehicle when brakes applied. Problem is particularly severe when utilizing breaks on a downhill grade. The severe vibration created a significant safety hazard as it impairs break performance particularly when roads are wet or icy. Car was under warranty. Toyota's solution was to resurface/grind the rotors back to smooth. Unfortunately this process removes metal, and mass, from the brake rotors which exacerbates the problem. Less mass, less ability to dissipate heat. The same problem occurred again at 22,391 miles. Dealership refused to acknowledge the vibration. Returned to dealership at 24,564 miles. Dealership now acknowledged the problem as it was so severe it was impossible to ignore. Once the problem was acknowledged the dealership informed me I would have to pay to have the rotors resurfaced as the car was now out of warranty. Informed them I believe this is a warranty issue as it started during the warranty, but was informed they look at the rotor issues as individual occurrences. Rotors once again turned, further reducing mass and further exacerbating problem. Now a matter of time until issue returns. Brake rotors are clearly made of materials insufficient to handle the weight of the vehicle. This issue also causes severe tire wear, further impairing stopping performance of the vehicle. Toyota refuses to acknowledge tire wear caused by rotor issue.

- Portland, OR, USA