2006 Toyota Sequoia Latches & Locks Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO OPEN THE HATCH, THE DOOR FAILED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS WHERE IT WAS STATED THAT THE HANDLE ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 11/19/13*LJ

HE REAR DOOR LATCH FAILED, MAKING THE DOOR INOPERABLE. USE OF THE DOOR FOR ENTRY AND EXIT WAS IMPOSSIBLE, CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD. REPAIR OF THIS LATCH FAILURE IS EXPENSIVE ($400 - $700) AND INCONVENIENT. THE DESIGN OF THE PART AND THE MATERIAL USED (PLASTIC) APPEARS TO BE AT FAULT. A HEAVIER DUTY METAL PART IS NOW AVAILABLE FROM AFTER MARKET PARTS DEALERS. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE COMMON AND WIDESPREAD JUDGING FROM A DISCUSSION WITH A LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE CENTER AND JUDGING FROM THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND INFORMATION ON THE INTERNET. *JS

2006 TOYOTA SEQUOIA BACK DOOR LOCK IS BROKEN. I KNOW OF 2 OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME DEFECT. IF I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT AND NEED TO ESCAPE THROUGH TO OPEN THE BACK DOOR HATCH. I WOULD BE UNABLE TO DO SO BECAUSE OF THE DEFECT. *TR

CONCERNING 2006 TOYOTA SEQUOIA - THE REAR TAILGATE LATCH LEVER BROKE. THERE IS NO INTERIOR TAILGATE RELEASE BUTTON. DEALERSHIP REPLACED IT AT OUR COST BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. ORIGINAL AND REPLACEMENT LEVER IS MADE OF PLASTIC WITH ALL THE STRESS ON A SMALL PIECE OF PLASTIC. MY OWN RESEARCH HAS SHOWN THAT MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF REAR OCCUPANTS OF THE 3RD ROW SEAT HAD TO EXIT THROUGH THE TAILGATE IN AN EMERGENCY AND THE LATCH WERE TO BREAK AGAIN (OR BE BROKEN FROM AN IMPACT/ACCIDENT). *TR