2006 Toyota Sequoia Latches, locks and linkages Problems

“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).”

“I own a 2006 Toyota Sequoia limited. When it rained I noticed water was getting in the vehicle at the rear hatch and under the right center row seat. I took my vehicle to a Toyota dealer but they were unable to find the problem. I took it to a different Toyota dealer and they said there was a leak coming from the bolts for the left hatch shock; they removed all rear interior and found many hardware pieces missing . The dealer states the bolts were removed, cleaned, and applied silicone to them. Apparently the leak is gone. However, whenever it rains, I am concerned the problem could come back.”

“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.”

“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”

“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.”