Purchased my 2003 Sequoia used in mid 2013 and was ready to trade the piece of crap in just 7 months later when the freaking actuator on the 4WD wouldn't lock in during the one and only snow we got that year. And, it was while I was stuck at the bottom of the snowy hill leading to my office, I got the owners manual out and learned that if I did not exercise the actuator by driving in 4WD at least 10 miles each month, the actuator may get stuck..... So the next day I cleaned the b** up and out, planning on trading it in that day. I was just getting ready to leave when I decided I would unhook the battery just long enough to reset the never ending check engine and VSC lights before I got to the dealership. I jump back in, turn the ignition, it starts, then dies. Try it again, same thing, it dies as soon as I take my foot off the accelerator. After sitting in my driveway googling what the hell it's problem is now, I find out, unhooking the battery not only resets the trouble lights, but also erases the idle settings, so I had to spend 4 hours going back and forth, up and down the road trying to teach it how to idle again!!

Needless to say, I didn't make it to the dealership that day and never did get to trade it. I still have the rust bucket which now needs manifold gaskets too. I was going to fix it until I discovered how bad the frame was. The rust has corroded the frame to the point you can break it off in chunks! This vehicle has been garage kept ever since I owned it and washed a day or so after any salt exposure. The only reason I kept it this long, was I could work on it myself unlike a lot of the newer vehicles that have more sensors, modules, CVT's and sealed transmissions. Now I'm stuck driving my sisters crappy 2003 Beetle, until I figure out what to replace the Sequoia with and that VW is a whole nother rant!!

Received what I thought was a recall in 2012. Turned out to be a “service action” for inordinate rust. Brought it to my local dealer. They inspected it said needs to be sent out for evaluation on whether it should be replaced or sprayed with CRS. Took until June of 2014 to get a call back. They sent it out and the frame was sprayed.

Less than 4 Year’s later my mechanics said the frame is totally rusted thru and that the sprayed over rust with the protectant. The rust continued to just eat through the frame. Brought it back to dealer and they said there’s a 10 year warranty on the spray and they’d replace the frame. Called me the next day and said Toyota corporate won’t honor the warranty. So I need to come pick my truck up. The one they told me was unsafe and there’s a good chance the back wheels could fall off while driving.

Called Toyota corporate they said it was just a service action and no other action would be taken by them. I can’t even get it inspected because of the breaks in the frame. I basically have to just donate it. Very mad and disappointed. I’ve driven Toyota’s most of my adult life now I’ll never buy another one. They know there was a defect in the frame. A class action suit covered 2005 and up. Same frame as 2003. Toyota should stand behind its products and honor commitment

I was aware of a frame issue that Toyota had with there older Tundras (Generation 1) and that it affected Sequoias but not to the same degree. I checked under this vehicle before purchase and the frame had some surface rust but looked to be in fairly good condition. The exhaust was in need of replacing so I had purchased a new exhaust system and upon removing the tail pipe - I found that the frame hidden behind the resonator had holes rusted through it.

I called Toyota and they opened a case for me only to tell me that my vehicle had already been serviced in their limited service campaign for they frame - where they coated it with rust inhibitor. Toyota has offered no assistance with this expensive piece of scrap. I suspect they didn't remove the exhaust when they did this which was why the frame behind the tail pipe resonator was in such bad shape. Also it appears that the coating has only slightly extended the life of the frame as it seems to be rusting from within. After reading many similar stories and Toyota continuing to extend their service campaign for newer trucks (now including 2005-2009 Tacomas) I think I'll stick with the old domestic vehicles that have frames that survive the salt for decades without failure.