I bought the Toyota Sequoia SR5 V8 year 2004. Around that time the vehicle was transferred in my name. I noticed that the latch system starting to have problems. Miles where 130,000. I used it due to my daughters stroller and every time it started to get harder and harder to use. Until I would have to have someone open it for me, due to my disability. (Arthritis). Until one day it stopped working all together. My step father was the previous owner. I asked my step father about the latch. He said he had ask our Toyota about the latch issue. Toyota said it would be around $600 to fix it. I haven't looked into scheduling an appointment to get it fixed. Ebay would be cheaper for the part, but I would not have anyone to install it. $600.00 is very expensive for a part that I can't guarantee it to be fixed. It's a hassle due to the fact I can't use the rear for what it was originally intended for. Rear window works but not the latch handle. It seems super glued in place. I would hate to take it to Toyota and it be way more than I want to deal with. Very inconvenient with a young child that comes with bulky accessories (car seat, stroller, etc), and on going pain due to arthritis. This is also a potential hazardous Issue if the latch can't open in a emergency. There needs to be a recall before something tragic happens.
A few months after I purchased this truck, rear hatch would not open. Have tried accessing ourselves by taking off the inside cover. Cannot get to the issue. Toyota TOLD me they would have to break the door to get it open and then fix the problem. Really? Cost could be anywhere from $400-??? due to breaking the door. Really, why has Toyota not recalled this part? We can't get the hatch open to get to the spare tire, nor if heaven forbid, we needed to escape through that door, there is no way out. My back window will not go down either and it went out the same time the door quit opening. Come on Toyota.....recall this crap and get it fixed! Safety Hazard!!!!!!!
It's disappointing to know that this happens to all Toyota Sequoias - so much so that there are multiple repair videos on Youtube, and many complaints that Toyota charges $300+ to repair at a dealer and it happens multiple times. Given that my kids enter and exit the vehicle from the hatch, I think it should be considered a safety issue and be covered by Toyota with a recall. I guess someone will have to die first. Such a shame....I ordered the metal part and hope to install this weekend, thanks CarComplaints for at least letting me know it's a common problem and helping me find an answer!
I am very happy with the quality of my Toyota Sequoia, I purchased it new.
I now have 223,200 miles using synthetic oil. I have one of those jiffy lube type places perform most all service. My big complaint is with the local dealer and his high service prices.
Last week my rear door latch finally broke. I knew it was weak but it finally gave out.
The dealer charged me $272.92 for labor and $217.67 for a handle assy & lock assy. Then of course they had to charge me $25.00 for shop supplies whatever that is. So my grand total with tax was $552.28
The had to take it to this same local Dealer here in Wichita two other times for similar price gouging.
I am in the market for a new vehicle but am done with Toyota's.
When my trunk latch broke it wasn't only annoying but definitely at the wrong time. I had just purchased a chair and placed it in my trunk. When I got home to remove the chair ,the lock was broken. I had to remove the third row seats... Climb over the box with the chair in it, Cut the box down,etc... nevertheless it was very annoying and aggravating. :/
- Sonya L.,
Statesboro, GA, US
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I had to replace the handle twice, once in June of 2010 and again in 2012. The parts guy at the Fremont CA Toyota dealer laughed both times and said "see ya next year". If the Toyota parts guy knows this is a problem, how come Toyota doesn't deal with it?
Tried to open rear hatch as I was pressing the unlock button on key remote. I heard a distinct cracking noise and felt the handle/latch become loose as if it had no tension any longer. Took vehicle into dealership for repair and was a little surprised this was a $325 fix... Didn't have the time or knowledge to fix it myself, so paid the ridiculous cost and went on down the road. Had no idea this would be a recurring repair over the years........
Third time is a charm right? After paying twice to have the rear handle/latch mechanism fixed over the past 8 years, I decided my car was old enough to become my guinea pig. I did some research, found several tutorials on Youtube and decided to fix it myself. One poster on Youtube was nice enough to point out that he purchased a metal version of the same plastic piece of crap part Toyota chose, and that would alleviate the constant replacement of the handle. It turns out that the plastic is what continually breaks on these latches... Who uses plastic parts on something that gets as much use as a door handle???
Anyway, I bought the metal part, watched the video, and replaced it. I'm mechanically inclined, but in no way a mechanic. It took me about 2 hours, taking my sweet time and making sure to do it correctly. I can now open my rear hatch and would NEVER pay a mechanic to fix that again. The first time the handle broke, I paid the dealership $325.00 to repair it. It probably took that mechanic an hour to replace it, since they do them all the time... I think I might become a mechanic. Less the part, that's about $305 an hour... Anyone need a rear handle replaced?
Don't be intimidated by this repair, there is enough media on Youtube that "most" anyone can fix their own. And, NEVER pay a dealership that ridiculous amount of money. I could train a monkey to do this repair, and probably with greater efficiency.
This was the second time the rear latch broke, and I was all too familiar with the exorbitant cost to fix it. Called around and found a mechanic willing to repair for $180. After he began working on vehicle, realized he should have charged more because of the supposed length of time to repair (I will disprove that in a future post), but he kept his word and only charged $180. How can a $40,000 vehicle have such a piece of Sh#$ rear hatch handle??? Whoever designed this feature, without any interior release mechanism was a tool...
Replaced the plastic hatch release handle twice at $80.00 each time. Finally have replaced it a third time with an aftermarket all metal handle from eBay for $35.00. It is very difficult to change especially if you cannot get the rear hatch open first. Save yourself some time and aggravation by replacing it before it breaks.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
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I bought the Toyota Sequoia SR5 V8 year 2004. Around that time the vehicle was transferred in my name. I noticed that the latch system starting to have problems. Miles where 130,000. I used it due to my daughters stroller and every time it started to get harder and harder to use. Until I would have to have someone open it for me, due to my disability. (Arthritis). Until one day it stopped working all together. My step father was the previous owner. I asked my step father about the latch. He said he had ask our Toyota about the latch issue. Toyota said it would be around $600 to fix it. I haven't looked into scheduling an appointment to get it fixed. Ebay would be cheaper for the part, but I would not have anyone to install it. $600.00 is very expensive for a part that I can't guarantee it to be fixed. It's a hassle due to the fact I can't use the rear for what it was originally intended for. Rear window works but not the latch handle. It seems super glued in place. I would hate to take it to Toyota and it be way more than I want to deal with. Very inconvenient with a young child that comes with bulky accessories (car seat, stroller, etc), and on going pain due to arthritis. This is also a potential hazardous Issue if the latch can't open in a emergency. There needs to be a recall before something tragic happens.
- Curious M., Livermore, CA, US