10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
79,910 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2004 Toyota Sequoia:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #13

Mar 122020

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 240,000 miles
When turning left or right, and at low speeds, vts is turning on and causing the vehicle to lose power. This happens when pulling out in front of traffic and I cannot speed up until the vehicle is straight.

- Ooltewah, TN, USA

problem #12

Apr 012016

Sequoia

  • 155,400 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that the ABS, vsc, four wheel drive, and other brake system warning indicators illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a certified mechanic who contacted the dealer regarding the codes that appeared during the diagnostic test. The dealer was unsure of what the codes indicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 155,400. Updated 12/21/16 updated 06/25/18

- Chesterfield, VA, USA

problem #11

May 042015

Sequoia 6-cyl

  • 98,000 miles
Brakes do not work correctly. There was a recall on the Sequoia however, when I called Toyota last month they had told me that I was unable to have the recall taken care of because my time had expired! how can that be possible if there is a defect in the Sequoia" sure enough I was driving and there was a problem stopping as had been noted in the recall. This is extremely dangerous and unfair! if I get into an accident Toyota will be liable! what can I do about this??"

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #10

Mar 302014

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 116,376 miles
After pressing the 4WD and center differential button, the center differential froze and would not unlock. The dealer mechanic could not unlock the differential and had to replace the solenoid (switch) in order to resolve the problem. The dealer claims this is due to a maintenance issue ( such as lock and unlock the center differential a few times a year) but we disagree. There I no information about this in the owner's manual or maintenance instructions. This should not occur or if the solenoid is faulty, the center differential should not remain locked as this is causes a serious steering safety problem.

- Walnut Creek, CA, USA

problem #9

Apr 082013

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 0 miles
Shift lever assembly may allow rollaway. I initially was wondering and second guessing myself but this is something that never happened to me with another vehicle so I did find it strange until I saw this recall. I do think the Sequoia has the same problem as the sienna because twice this has happened to me once in my driveway and the second time was at a gas station. I had to jump in the vehicle because it started to roll back almost 2 mins after I got out of the vehicle and caused some damage to my door while I was trying to jump back into the vehicle before it caused major damage. I know the car mfg do not want to fix these problems because it costs them millions of dollars but I think people lives are worth much more. They need to own up before it costs them more.

- Margate, FL, USA

problem #8

Jun 082012

Sequoia

  • 130,000 miles
The rear differential housing has rusted to the point that the lubricant leaked out. I understand talking to the dealership this a common problem along with the frame rusting. If I had not noticed the oil puddle on the ground I would have continued to drive this vehicle until the rear differential gears seized. Need I say more? if the rear end became inoperable this vehicle would go out of control.

- Lakewood, NY, USA

problem #7

Aug 152011

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 86,000 miles
Vehicle will suddenly lose power at speed. Vsc light is on at this time. Grinding noise audible.

- Middlebury, CT, USA

problem #6

Nov 082010

Sequoia

  • 90,000 miles
Problem with ECU unit, vsc trac and trac off light coming on in vehicle. The brakes were recently changed and it is now making a screeching noise. Something is not right. When I purchased this vehicle and took it to Toyota for some other recall they told me that my ECU unit needed to be changed. The ECU unit is now on recall but they are restricting it to only 2003 model. I have a 2004 & it has the same problem the 2003 has. I feel sorry for all the money they had to pay out with other defects but I feel if there is a problem then they should own up to it and fix it. My vehicle is also losing power on turns and I think it is from this same issue based on the forums I have read. This can be dangerous especially when making turns in oncoming traffic. I would feel really bad for Toyota if I were to get in an accident for something they can own up to and just repair in good faith. Very frustrated consumer.

- Margate, FL, USA

problem #5

Aug 142009

Sequoia

  • 29,606 miles
"howling" noise from drive train on trip from northern California to southern California. At destination brand dealership determined front bearing is bad, and was advised next day by phone the differential needed overhaul and the repair cost would be $1,800 +, and not advisable to drive back home in northern California. The 2004 Toyota Sequoia vehicle only had 29,606 miles, 5 years 8 months old. Parts were not available/stocked at dealership. Was told those items rarely need replacing. Repairs made 4 days later. Service manager suggested pursuing Toyota for at least parts coverage. I paid his "discounted" bill for $1,342.59 so I can return home. 3 nights of hotel bills. Old parts were not given to me upon request. To date Toyota has denied claim.

- San Leandro, CA, USA

problem #4

Mar 232009

Sequoia

  • 28,000 miles
2004 Toyota Sequoia - engine will begin turning over like it is attempting to start without key in the ignition. It turns over like this intermittently every 30-45 seconds until the battery runs completely down. This has happened three times in the past nine months. Dealer states it is ECU computer or starter, but can not determine the exact cause of this. Vehicle has been in for this problem 3 times.

- Greenville, TX, USA

problem #3

Jul 062008

Sequoia

  • 61,000 miles
On July 6th at approximately 2:00 in the afternoon my son and I went to pull our boat out of the water with our 2004 Toyota Sequoia.(we backed the trailer into the water and loaded our boat onto the trailer as we always do. We then secured the boat to the trailer and proceeded to pull the truck and loaded trailer up the hill about 30 feet and parked on the boat launch ramp. I exited the vehicle and left the Sequoia in four wheel drive high, in park, with the parking brake on. About 5 minutes later, we heard a repeated clicking sound and the boat and trailer came rolling back down the launch ramp into the water narrowly missing my son and I. the only thing that stopped the truck and trailer was the fact that the boat trailer jackknifed against the left rear bumper of the truck. The regional inspector, jim teely finally inspected the Sequoia on July 15th. According to jim teely, whom I have spoken with on the telephone, the inspection found that there was nothing mechanically wrong with the vehicle. The inspection that was done was cursory at best. Until the transmission has been physically examined by Toyota I am not comfortable towing my boat and especially not parking the Sequoia (towing or not) on an incline. We live in the mountains, and not being able to park on a hill will be a major inconvenience for us. Toyota has still not determined what caused this accident.

- Bass Lake, CA, USA

problem #2

Jun 272004

Sequoia 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,000 miles
When I come to a rolling stop, turn, and press the accelerator there is nothing. It doesnt stall and its still running but there is no power. It has taken them a while to even try to fix it because they needed to be able to reproduce the issue. Two weeks in the shop and it still has the problem.

- Everett, WA, USA

problem #1

May 162004

Sequoia 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 2,450 miles
When I was going up a hill / dirt road in 4wheel high, at the midway point up, the engine lost power, I had the accelerator to the floor and the brake light came on and would not go off. It felt like brakes were being applied automatically. I put the gearshift in park and neutral put gear in 4 low and 4 high with and without center differential locked and unlocked with no results, vehicle would not accelerate uphill. I then had to reverse down to a level area, which was very dangerous as there was no room to turn around, after reaching a more level area, I turn off engine for about 20 minutes and when I restarted I was able to go downhill and left early from my trip as I donT want to be in this kind of dangerous situation again. Also my air conditioner is putting out strong pungent smells. I tried to clear the air by putting lever in fresh air mode as suggested by your tech, but intermittently the smell

- Las Vegas, NV, USA