10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
129,799 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.

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #15

Mar 282013

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 102,000 miles
While driving forward from a stopped position on a flat, level, paved road with the outside temperature at 72, the vsc (vehicle skid control) activated and nearly pulled me into the lane next to me. There were no pot holes or anything in the road that would've caused it. It stopped after a few seconds and then again, about two minutes later at a 25mph speed, the system activated again and I had no control of the brakes or steering while the system was activating. The car is great shape, one-owner, well maintained and there seems to be a history with Toyota and the vsc system. Very dangerous situations that the vsc put me in.

- Placentia, CA, USA

problem #14

Mar 162013

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 175,000 miles
While I was driving the vsc trac light came on, the vehicle started grinding while I was pressing the gas and brakes. The vehicle felt as if it was loosing power, I almost lost control of the steering wheel because car was losing power and control. The ABS light also came on and vehicle started shaking very badly. This happens several times while I'm driving vehicle. I have taken it to be serviced from the dealer but the problem still exists. I will talk with an attorney about these problems because I am very afraid of a serious accident while driving my wife and kids.

- Decatur, GA, USA

problem #13

Oct 262012

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 64,500 miles
Driving on highway and car increased speed applied brakes would not stop, taking off and car has no power.

- Greentown, PA, USA

problem #12

Mar 092013

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 65,000 miles
Traveling on the freeway at a speed of 55 miles the vcs trac control light came on and the brakes were applied with out me hitting the breaks, I lost control of the steering for a slight second, the truck swerved to the left, it almost cause me to hit a car on the left of me on the freeway. Once I turned the car off, the vcs trac lights turned off, then it happened again on the street at a lower speed of 45 mile the vcs trac light started to flash and the brakes were applied and the truck swerved to the left, the lights stayed on again until I turned off the truck.

- Concord, CA, USA

problem #11

Jan 032013

Sequoia 4WD 8-cyl

  • 107,901 miles
I own a 2001 Toyota Sequoia and experienced a loss of steering control on three separate occasions. The first incident occurred while driving through a shopping mall parking lot at 5 mph. Our vehicle shuddered and swerved to the right while a buzzer went off & then the vsc and trac off lights illuminated. The next two incidents occurred over the next few days while driving on the highway between 20-25 mph. On both occasions our vehicle lost control and veered to the right before I was able to gain control of the vehicle. This is a serious life safety defect that has been acknowledged by Toyota for the 2003 Sequoia's and by the vast amount of complaints should extend to earlier models as well. I recently took our Sequoia into a mechanic and their trouble shooting revealed that the skid control ECU would need to be replaced, costing over $3400.

- Kailua, HI, USA

problem #10

Oct 072012

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 137,000 miles
Was driving down major interstate when the vsc warning came on with buzzer. Brakes felt like they were being ground down, engine decelerated, and could feel bumping and grinding on brake pedal. Pulled over and checked under car, found nothing. Got back on interstate and same thing happened only this time the system turned itself off. Can not turn the vsc off with the button provided. Research on internet reveals not an unique issue with Sequoia. Has also happened with Tundra and other Toyota with vsc system. No fix available as of 09/30/2012 that can be found.

- Flower Mound, TX, USA

problem #9

Aug 012012

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 110,000 miles
Wife was pulling off from a stoplight when the traction control system light (skidding car icon) and warning buzzer came on and the vehicle started making a loud grinding sound, vibrating, and pulling to the right. She pulled the vehicle over, turned it off, and called me to come swap vehicles with her. When I started the car, of course, the symptoms had gone away. Several days later on a family trip, I was driving the vehicle on the interstate at 65-70 mph when the vehicle did the same thing she had described. We pulled over, the noise stopped, and then the vsc/trac and trac off came on. This should be a recall fix. Too many vehicles have had this problem, over several production years (2003's actually have a recall for a similar issue). However, reading various forums has made me think Toyota doesn't even know the root cause of this. But it's definitely a safety issue that needs to be checked out.

- Luling, LA, USA

problem #8

Aug 032012

Sequoia

  • 120,000 miles
Today driving at 40mph my 2001 Sequoia suddenly jolted and brake with a terrible grinding noise, this while I was using the gas pedal! it was very scary and shocking that it could possibly do such an unsafe maneuver. My children & I were terrified as the beeping started and then a steady noise while the grinding persisted. I am so glad the car behind us did not plow into us, and still do not know how they did not. To everyone that has stated this: "people will be killed because of this", you are very correct. It is dangerous to have such a faulty system in a car on the road. We had is towed away, and frankly I know not what to do since reading all of these other incidents. Even if we have it fixed, it sounds like it will not cease. I had this happen twice in the last 2 days, but thought I'd run over a pothole or something. Today, it was smooth pavement and nice weather. We really need a recall to save lives!

- Tucson, AZ, USA

problem #7

Jul 022011

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 153,000 miles
Was driving down major interstate when the vsc warning came on with buzzer. Brakes felt like they were being ground down, engine decelerated, and could feel bumping and grinding on brake pedal. Pulled over and checked under car, found nothing. Got back on interstate and same thing happened only this time the system turned itself off. Can not turn the vsc off with the button provided. Research on internet reveals not an unique issue with Sequoia. Has also happened with Tundra and other Toyota with vsc system. No fix available as of 07/30/2012 that can be found.

- Montpelier, VA, USA

problem #6

Jul 262012

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 164,359 miles
Vehicle's traction control system malfunctioned while driving on dry flat pavement. Vsc and trac control lights came on, vehicle pulled hard to the right, made loud grinding noise, and was extremely difficult to control steering and braking. This continued for approximately one minute, stopped, and then did it again. This is a very dangerous situation which could potentially lead to fatal accident if it occurs at higher speeds. It happened with our children in the car and scared everyone. This is the second time it has happened to us, but appears to be a very common problem with this make/model. I would like to see a recall.

- Stagecoach, TX, USA

problem #5

Jun 152012

Sequoia

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the anti-lock brake warning lamp illuminated. The brakes then engaged and the driver almost lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 150,000.

- Statesville, NC, USA

problem #4

Jun 042012

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 181,008 miles
Two days ago, I happened to be on my way home on a back road and only going around 40 mph when my stability control light, vsc trac, and trac off light came on and my car started making a beeping noise and I could not control my vehicle. This is for a 2001 Toyota Sequoia. I have seen many complaints since on different forums about this same problem. What can be done about this problem? I am very disappointed with Toyota and hope that there will be a recall on this problem or they could be facing some lawsuits if these kind of problems persist and someone gets injured or even killed because of negligence on Toyota's part. As for me and my family, we have owned Toyota vehicles for years, my great uncle was even asked to be in a Toyota commercial because of the devotion our family has had to Toyota. I really hope they do the right thing because there will be challenges made against their company if not.

- Franklin, GA, USA

problem #3

Jun 222011

Sequoia 4WD 8-cyl

  • 140,000 miles
The vsc traction control system engages in the middle of driving. The car shakes profusely causing a loud beeping noise, jerk of the truck and acts as though it's not going to stop. Toyota refuses to acknowledge the problem because the 2001 toy Sequoia hasn't been included in the recall. I have taken the car to the dealership 5 times. No fix to date help!!!

- Pembroke Pines , FL, USA

problem #2

Apr 022012

Sequoia

  • 174,000 miles
Recently, my 01 Sequoia has been making a loud metal-like grinding noise coming from the front end of the car. Sounded like it came from the engine or the tires. This caused the car to become unstable on the road and it was swerving, the vsc trac light and vsc off light flashed and beeped rapidly, and worst thing of all was that the brakes did not work either. The more I put pressure on the brakes, the more the metal grinding noise was intensified. Felt like the engine was going to be dropped in the middle of the road or the tires were scraped to the bone. Problem first happened in April, but thought it was nothing because as fast as it came out of nowhere, it quickly went away also. However, 2 weeks ago, my husband and my son were in my car and it happened again. This time it lasted longer and my husband had to try his best to control the vehicle because it was swerving and shaking so bad, and the loud grinding noise was back. We kept the car in the garage for a week in hopes that it will "go away." Today, 5/16/12, as I'm driving at 50mph it happened again.thankfully, there were no cars behind me, and just a truck a little ways ahead of me. Because I was driving at a speed of 55mph, it was very difficult to stop. I put pressure on my brakes to no avail because the more I tried to push the brakes, the louder the noise was and the more the car was shaking. This is one of the most terrifying events in my life because I saw that I was approaching the back of the truck fast and I couldn't stop, I tried to pull to the side but there were no room because the sides were just guard rails. At that point, I put more pressure on my brakes because I didn't wanna be killed or hurt anyone else, so my car finally started to slowed down. The scariest part was that I could not brake. The more I applied my brakes, the louder the noise, and the more the car was shaking.

- Conover, NC, USA

problem #1

May 102012

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 148,100 miles
I was driving on the highway slowing down in traffic and the truck started skidding on it's own, the vsc trac light and trac off light both came on while the car with the skid mark indicator light flashed and beeped, there was a noise coming from under the truck that sounded like something was lose. I stopped at the store and when I got back in the truck, the lights were off but a few minutes later, going only about 30 mph, it did it again and was louder and shook worse. I was scared and just tried to get home. It was too late to take to Toyota but I did talk to a mechanic and will go to Toyota in the am.

- Grand Prairie, TX, USA