Door Lock & Latch complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (door latches, locks, hood and tailgate latches).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The rear gate door or Deck lid will not open. with either key, or any other method. Every time this occurs, I have to take to the body shop to open and pay $200 for them to open it. They have to climb to the back, dismantle the rear door panels from the inside and undo some mechanisms to open it finally. The shop stated that they have had this problem with these Sequoias many times.
The rear latch which controls the opening of the rear hatch broke. This part is made of plastic (perhaps costing 0.30), and it is sheltered from direct sun and wear and tear by being covered with a part of the hatch which is made of steel. The hatch when this part is broken cannot be opened. This means one cannot gain access to the spare tire or the rear of the vehicle. This part costs over $90, and the labor to repair is approximately $170. Combined this approaches $300 with tax. When I brought this into the local Toyota dealership, I was informed that this was a common problem, and they pointed out that they had two other sequoias currently in the shop having the same repair being performed. They had the part in stock because it occurs so often. A search on the internet has shown that this has occurred tens of thousands of times. A recall would appear to be in order.
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.
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).
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. In 2011, the contact stated that the liftgate latch fractured. The latch was replaced by culver city Toyota (9077 washington blvd, culver city, ca 90232); however, the latch fractured again and the tail light needed to be replaced. In order for the dealer to repair the vehicle, they had to open the liftgate, but were unable to do so. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 227,557.
The 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.
We have had to replace the rear lock assembly and various other parts associated with it 4 times due to rusting. Due to the part rusting it will no longer latch the door closed. The door can either pop open and thus cause a issue! When it won't lock inorder to drive the car it has to be bungee corded shut. Which isn't safe either. We have spent almost $3000 on these repairs from 2005 until today. Researching the web has revealed this is an issue with the Sequoia system. Toyota doesn't feel it is a concern when their 1-800 number is called and the issue reported. I feel this issue is a concern and Toyota needs to fix this assembly issue.
2003 Toyota Sequoia limited rear hatch handle breaks off. Can't open rear liftgate. This is a known problem since 1999 with Toyota. There are several Toyota forums with over 500 complaints of the same problem. Apparently, the handle part is inferior it is made out of plastic. The part has not been changed since 1999 and is still used. Most Sequoia owners have had to have this problem fixed more than one time. The problem starts from water pooling in the hatch area under the liftgate. As a result, the lock /hatch handle area corrodes/rusts puts tension on the handle and then eventually breaks. The part fails without warning except that the latch May be hard to open for quite awhile before completely breaking. I am the original owner and have had this latch problem since the first year of ownership . Ask anyone who owns a Sequoia, and the will have or have had the same problem. …
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Sequoia years have door lock & latch problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2002 (30), 2003 (13), 2001 (11) and 2006 (6) model years. Door Lock & Latch complaints make up 5% of all complaints for the 2002.
Is there a recall for Toyota Sequoia door lock & latch problems?
No. NHTSA lists no locks & latches recall for any Toyota Sequoia model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Toyota Sequoia door lock & latch problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 78,000 miles; 25% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the doors › latch (16 mentions), followed by the hatchback/liftgate › lock (12).
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.