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.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2001 Toyota Sequoia:

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

problem #75

Feb 272024

Sequoia

  • miles
No accident. Just frame issues. If you can. Can I please get a voucher for frame repair. I really like this SUV. Thank you!

- Newburgh , NY, USA

problem #74

Aug 072023

Sequoia

  • miles
While driving my 2001 Sequoia SR5 with only 74,750 miles on freeways at speeds between 55 and 65 mph, the SUV's braking system activates unexpectedly and without cause. The VSC check engine lighting and warning sound illuminate. My SUV veered to the right, the steering wheel vibrated, and it went into a skid when the brakes were abruptly engaged, causing it to skid. My SUV abruptly decelerated as if it had lost power. This situation was hazardous for other vehicles who could not tell if they were applying the brakes due to the absence of visible brake lights to prevent a collision. Fortunately, I?responded defensively and avoided collisions with other vehicles and roadside obstacles. This issue is a safety concern; if it occurs at the wrong moment, a tragedy can be avoided. I've seen more than a hundred complaints from other proprietors and a completed NHTSA investigation. Sequoia models from 2001 and subsequent years were recalled for the same issue. Before a life is lost, Toyota must address this issue in all model years.

- Arcadia, CA, USA

problem #73

Jul 152021

Sequoia

  • miles
I was coming off the highway goi g down the off ramp at a rate of speed in line with the speed limit, and the vsc/abs/brake lights all came on. The truck started making a grinding noise and was difficult to control. I pulled over and checked underneath. Everything was fine and there was no sign of an issue. I turned the truck off and on, and all the lights cleared; however, the lights turn on again when the vehicle is cold. Once it warms up, and you turn the car on and off, the clear. No codes on the scanner. Forums say this happens regularly with this make, model and year, but no one is sure what it is. Everything from emissions, to the brake sensor to the yaw rate sensor.

- Succasunna, NJ, USA

problem #72

May 112022

Sequoia

  • miles
INAPPROPRIATE stability braking, A noticable swerve to the right accompanied by a grinding noise ant the ASC and Traction control warning lights.

- Mundelein, IL, USA

problem #71

Aug 042021

Sequoia

  • miles
ABS kicks in while driving. It happens at a moderate speeds. IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD since I am in the car with my kids and it causes the car to unexpectedly brake. The VSC light come on and blinks, there is a loud grinding sound. This was reproduced by mechanic. SAFETY HAZARD

- Colorado Springs, CO, USA

problem #70

Jun 242021

Sequoia

  • miles
Occasionally, while driving the vehicle the "vsc trac" automatically comes on causing the vehicle to brake and the steering is difficult to control.

- Jacksonville, FL, USA

problem #69

Jun 062021

Sequoia

  • miles
The vehicle engages braking in one front wheel for no apparent reason. The traction and vsc lights come on. This can occur at low speed or at high speed. It can make the vehicle unstable. The vehicle is available for inspection. I am taking the vehicle to the dealer for inspection. There was no accident.

- The Woodlands, TX, USA

problem #68

Dec 162020

Sequoia

  • 240,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated while driving 50 mph, the brakes applied forcefully and independently. The contact also stated that the vehicle began to pull to the right. The contact stated that the traction control warning light and several other unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated he continued to experience the failure while attempting to park on the side of the road. The vehicle was not drivable. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had been informed of failure. The failure mileage was approximately 240,000.

- Fort Pierce, FL, USA

problem #67

Jul 122020

Sequoia

  • 146,000 miles
While I was traveling on the highway at 70 mph, the right front brake locked up momentarily and lurched the vehicle, the vsc and traction control light started flashing and a warning buzzer went off. After looking into things, there are known issues with the 2001 and 2002 Toyota Sequoia that cause this exact thing to happen to plenty of other people. I understand that there has already been an evaluation done on this matter and it was ruled that the severity of the issue does not warrant a recall. Why there is no recall being issued on the multiple failure points in the vehicle's system and people are required to spend thousands of dollars in repairs for parts and labor when the manufacturer's design didn't last? I purchased this vehicle for my father to feel more safe in, and that is the last thing that he feels while driving it. I am now required to drive our affected vehicle and have to be constantly paying attention so that the ABS system doesn't shoot me into another vehicle.

- Palm Springs, CA, USA

problem #66

Oct 302019

Sequoia

  • 100,056 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Sequoia. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle control, ABS, vcs, traction control, and stability warning indicators illuminated. The failures caused the vehicle to brake intermittently. The contact had to turn the vehicle off and on in order to resume normal operation. The vehicle was taken to groove Toyota (5460 S broadway, englewood, co 80113, (303) 800-9063) to be diagnosed, but the cause of the failures was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired and the failures recurred multiple times. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 100,056.

- Highlands Ranch, CO, USA

problem #65

Nov 042018

Sequoia

  • miles
Accelerating onto highway the car made grinding noise and pulled to left as well as suddenl braking. It was almost a disaster but car in next lane veered away and I pulled onto shoulder. I had been told the yaw sensor needed to be replaced but was not available anywhere. When I looked online I saw NHTSA did not feel it was a dangerous failure, but it read as more of an inconvenient problem so I was comfortable trusting them and drove it after the dealer had said it couldn't get the part. Why was Toyota able to declare a part obsolete that obviously is important to my safely operating the vehicle" how can. The NHTSA possibly think this is not a safety issue"

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #64

Aug 162018

Sequoia

  • 190,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Sequoia. While driving approximately 40 mph, the variable speed control malfunctioned. The contact stated that the ABS and traction control indicators illuminated without warning. The contact depressed the brake pedal, while turning, and a hard vibration occurred. The contact stated that the vehicle returned to normal immediately afterwards. The contact parked the vehicle and contacted coos bay Toyota (2001 N bayshore drive, coos bay, Oregon 97420, (541) 267-3121) where it was diagnosed that the yaw rate sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

- Linglois, OR, USA

problem #63

Apr 192018

Sequoia

  • 101,000 miles
While driving the vehicle the brakes where applying themselves, vehicle started shaking and vibrating and slowing down and the vsc trac lights came on. It scared me and I almost had a panic attack. I pulled off taylor road(city street) and turned the car off and checked to see if I had a flat tire. I restarted to car and the lights remain on and I took the car home. My wife is now scared to drive it.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #62

Oct 012017

Sequoia

  • 188,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Sequoia. While driving 70 mph, the vsc (anti-skid) system malfunctioned. The contact stated that the brakes engaged automatically and the vehicle pulled to the left and the right. A dealer was not contacted about the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and stated that there were no customer care programs for the failure. The failure mileage was 188,000.

- Plainwell, MI, USA

problem #61

Oct 012017

Sequoia

  • 98,650 miles
While driving going any speed low or high a vsc trac off light appears on the gage cluster and starts a high pitched noise and ABS locks up on my passenger side pulling me to the right almost hitting another car or any pedestrians that may be there.

- Salt Lake City, UT, USA

problem #60

Sep 222017

Sequoia

  • 171,400 miles
When driving at a speed anywhere from 10 to 60 mph, the skid control light and vsc trac can go off; alarm sounds...vehicle shake and grinding coming from brakes. Brakes and do not work well when this occurs. This can happen at any time. It is now occurring very frequently. The only way to stop it is to shut the car off.... and restart the vehicle.

- Ornagevale, CA, USA

problem #59

Jul 182017

Sequoia

  • 204,038 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Sequoia. While driving 25 mph, the traction control indicator illuminated, and the vehicle shook and began to independently pull to the left and right. While the brake pedal was depressed, the vsc warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to jerry's Toyota (8001 belair rd, baltimore, md 21236, (410) 661-5700) where it was diagnosed that the brake booster needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 204,038.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #58

Apr 012017

Sequoia

  • 84,800 miles
While driving our 01 Sequoia SR5 with only 85,000 miles on side streets and highways at speeds ranging from 5mph to 70 mph, the SUV's braking system suddenly engages for no reason while the veh. Is in motion. The vsc, check engine lights come on along with the alerting sound. When the brakes engage, the veh. Veers to the right, the steering wheel vibrates and the veh. Goes into a skid due to the brakes being suddenly engaged. The veh. Also decelerates suddenly as if it has lost power. This is dangerous for other drivers who can't tell if you are braking because there are no brake lights to be seen to prevent a collision. Thankfully we have been able to react defensively and avoid collisions with other veh.'s. and roadside objects. We have seen several suggestions as to the fix for this problem like the yaw rate sensor being replaced. The cost of the part is $568 without the install cost.this problem is a safety issue and if it occurs at the wrong time, a preventable tragedy is going to occur. I have seen well over 50 complaints on this from other owners and a closed NHTSA investigation on this exact issue. They recalled the 2003 Sequoia for the same issue. Toyota needs to fix this in all model years before a life is lost. See 2003 recall info below: 2003 Sequoia recall #10V176000 recall date 04/30/2010 component electronic stability control read more at https://www.cars.com/recalls/Toyota-Sequoia-2003/#qjwyc1mk25ovhgfx.99 read more at https://www.cars.com/recalls/Toyota-Sequoia-2003/#qjwyc1mk25ovhgfx.99

- Abingdon, MD, USA

problem #57

Mar 112017

Sequoia

  • 154,075 miles
While driving on flat, dry, level pavement at freeway speeds the vsc has been activating causing the steering wheel to jerk to the right. As the steering wheel pulls the vehicle to the right there is a chime, then the vsc and trac system shuts its self off and the "off" light stays illuminated until the engine is shut off. Upon restart, the vsc is on again and the cycle repeats. The check engine light is not on. There is no way to predict when the wheel will be jerked again. Seems very dangerous.

- Gilroy, CA, USA

problem #56

Mar 012016

Sequoia

  • 150,000 miles
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Sequoia. When vehicle was started, the vehicle stability control, traction control, and ABS warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

- Trumbull, CT, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »