10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
85,798 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 #18

Dec 192008

Sequoia

  • 60,000 miles
My vsc/ABS/skid is constantly on now and before it was only intermittently and now it is also making a disengaged sound. So I went to the dealer and they said I need to replace my skid control computer which will cost me about $1600 plus labor. This is too steep for me. The reason why I bought Toyota because of their dependability. I'm really disappointed on how the dealer and the manufacturer handling this problem. There should another reason why vsc/ABS/skid would malfunction.

- North Hills, CA, USA

problem #17

Feb 112009

Sequoia

  • 35,000 miles
While driving vehicle in heavy traffic, the vsc trac lights illuminated and power was lost. According to dealer, bill wright Toyota, it will cost me approximately $1600 to conduct repairs which require an ECU change, even though this is a common problem and is mentioned several technical service bulletins issued by Toyota motor corporation. When I questioned the immediate need for this repair, I was told that failure to have repairs effected presents a safety hazard.

- Bakersfield, CA, USA

problem #16

Feb 042009

Sequoia

  • 60,000 miles
While driving along at city street speeds, during dry weather, on paved roads, my vsc trac and trac off lights come on. No other warning lights come on. Then a buzzer sounds for about 3 seconds. Then at the same time, a strange grinding sound comes from underneath the car, and the brakes seem to start working for no reason. I quickly pull over, turn off the car. I check the outside of the car and see no indication of running over anything. I then start the car and all the lights are back to normal (off). This happens about 2-3 times a month, for about a month or 2 now. I have not been able to determine any problems.

- Novato, CA, USA

problem #15

Aug 202008

Sequoia

  • 52,000 miles
03 Toyota Sequoia. Vsc, ABS, parking brake light came on. At 52,000 miles while driving. Yaw sensor defective.

- Vacaville, CA, USA

problem #14

Aug 062008

Sequoia

  • 49,000 miles
The ABS and skid control lights are on in my 2003 Toyota Sequoia. The dealer states that the skid control computer needs to be replaced. So right now, there is no skid control or ABS available on my car because of this computer is bad. Toyota will not do anything about it and I have filed a complaint case 200810010613. This is a safety issue.

- Colleyville, TX, USA

problem #13

Aug 012008

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 55,500 miles
2003 Toyota skid control computer, I am writing to request that a formal complaint be filed to Toyota. I recently took my car into my local Toyota dealership because of a few lights that we on in my dash. The specific lights were the vsc, vsc off and the ABS lights. After doing some research I see that this is a fairly common problem with Toyota and their skid control computers. The problem is that it is not covered under the powertrain warranty and is a very expensive part to have replaced. My quote was for $1800 excluding tax. I purchased the vehicle with 47,000 miles and was offered an extended warranty up to 60,000, but it was a very expensive extended warranty so I decided to pass. The manufactures warranty for my car was 55,000 miles I believe and the lights came on at 55,500 miles....of course. I sincerely hope that there can be some sort of resolve for this such as a recall of the skid control computer or changing this issue to be covered under the power train section of the warranty as it is unfair for there to be so many people to be having the same problem around the same mileage and some of those people have serious consequences to the computers malfunction such as accidents and possible death. Please take whatever action necessary to solve this unnecessary issue.

- Overland Park, KS, USA

problem #12

Jun 052008

Sequoia

  • 66,000 miles
Toyota Sequoia 2003, vtrac and ABS lights came up on the dash during a very wet interstate trek to Michigan from California. Had no cruise control before this, the cruise control failed the year before during the same wet trek across country! the Toyota dealer in saginaw Michigan told us that the computer controlling the vtrac and ABS was displaying fault codes and needed to be replaced, cost $1200. This is a 5 year old vehicle with 70K miles on it now (the fault happened around 66K miles) which is now much harder to handle under heavy braking, which we need more and more with the low quality drivers out there. If the gas prices weren't so high, this truck would be out of here here, but we can't afford to sell it for the current value, and buy another vehicle, so this SUV will now be limited to trips where we need the storage/towing capacity. So, even though we have 2 cars, we only really have 1 1/2 now.

- Glendale, CA, USA

problem #11

Jun 102007

Sequoia

  • 83,106 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that the ABS/dsc warning light intermittently illuminated on the instrument panel. The dealer assured the contact that the issue was nothing to worry about and was not a big deal. The issue was later discovered to be a communication error between the skid control and the ECM. The service dealer stated that the ECM should be replaced; however, the steering angle on the vehicle was also off and a re-calibration was performed. Afterwards, while driving between 30-40 mph, the contact depressed the brake pedal and heard a loud thumping noise. She felt vibrations coming from the brake pedal. While slowing down and switching from braking to acceleration, the vehicle hesitated to accelerate and coasted momentarily until reaching full acceleration. The failure mileage was 83,106 and current mileage was 99,000.

- Raleigh, NC, USA

problem #10

Aug 272008

Sequoia

  • 80,000 miles
On 4 occasions dash light indicating vsc and brake problem appeared. Each time the braking of the 2003 Toyota Sequoia was compromised. Each time the truck was brought to Toyota service center for repair. Each Toyota said they could not replicate the problem but replaced skid computer anyway. 8/20/08 problem recurred with dash brake indicator light coming on. Braking again compromised, heard loud "clunking sound" coming from car while driving. Immediately brought to scottsdale Toyota service center. Again, said they could not replicate problem and returned car with no repair. Called Toyota customer service and filed a complaint. Toyota indicated complaint is now on record. Problem with dash brake light coming on and braking diminished recurred again 8/27/08. After shutting engine off, indicator no longer lit and braking back to normal. I fear for both my safety and my families. Simple google search indicates a large number of Sequoia owners are having the same problem.

- Scottsdale, AZ, USA

problem #9

Jul 152008

Sequoia

  • 737,500 miles
Traction control light, skid control light, ABS light and check engine light all just came on while driving down the road. No previous problem noted.

- Rome, GA, USA

problem #8

Jul 242008

Sequoia

  • 130,000 miles
Vehicle traction control, vehicle skid control, anti brake system lights have come on causing concerns of safety for my family.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #7

Jul 022008

Sequoia

  • 66,000 miles
I purchased a 2003 Toyota Sequoia in November 2007. It has been at the dealer for the same problem 5 times. They just had a "rep" to come to this location to test the vehicle and they cannot find the problem. This problem has caused me to almost get in an accident as well as my wife. The skid control light will flash after making a turn (under normal conditions, going very slow) and the vehicle will not allow you to accelerate for 2 to 3 seconds. This problem occurs intermittently. It may go a week or 2 without occurring (depending on how much it is driven), and then the problem will surface. They replaced the main computer module, but the bottom line is that the problem still exist and this could become a serious matter for my family. It is not my fault that the problem does not occur when the dealership checks it or that an error code does not show up. The problem is there and something should be done about this.

- Hopkinsville, KY, USA

problem #6

Mar 102008

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 104,000 miles
Toyota Sequoia vsc ABS problem on this 2003 Sequoia the ABS brakes intermittently come on without warning, and with out the driver braking. This has happened only at slow speeds thus far. The vsc indicator lights also come on.

- Boone, NC, USA

problem #5

Dec 032007

Sequoia

  • miles
2003 Toyota Sequoia with inadequate brakes. Consumer states that he needs to stay further back from other vehicles. He also states that the rotors were warped a second time a week after having them machined. The consumer stated the problem exacerbated when he would tow a small utility trailer. The consumer stated he was aware that a tsb had been issued which stated the brakes were too small for the weight of the vehicle.

- Chino Valley, AZ, USA

problem #4

Aug 142007

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 73,000 miles
2003 Toyota Sequoia (2wd) without warning the vsc/trac system engaged while turning on dry pavement causing a loss in acceleration. This was the initial incident which was followed by multiple other incidents at random intervals. Incidents occurred while making both left and right turns from a turning or stopping position. Trac off "button" does not disengage the system as indicated in the owner's manual from a low speed. Local dealership ran diagnostic test and recommended new tires/brakes but could not identify any "problems" with the vsc system other than the vsc system had engaged. After 4 new tires and new rear brakes were installed service tech drove vehicle and experienced the issue. He recommended documenting when the incidents occurred and under what circumstances in order to determine repair options. The vsc system continues to engage randomly causing a loss in acceleration when this occurs and is dangerous if driver has need to pull into traffic in instances such as turning onto major roadways.

- Liberty, MO, USA

problem #3

Oct 222004

Sequoia

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
When we first bought the vehicle the trac system lights kept coming on and the brakes felt mushy; we took it in to Toyota and they replaced the computer system which seemed to rectify the problem. Then about 9 mo to a year later the lights kept coming on again and the brakes failed twice, Toyota stated they would replace the brake system fluid and the master cylinder at our cost because we had taken it elsewhere and they felt that it had contaminated brake fluid, which our mechanic stated in writing was not. Although we tried numerous times to have Toyota fix it under warranty; we got the vehicle repaired through our own mechanic and then shortly later the brakes failed resulting in a crash on the freeway. When it was decided that the seq would be repaired via ins there was a code that showed up on the computer system that showed that brakes indeed did fail; however when taking it to Toyota the same code did not show up. The vehicle did well, however we live by a dirt road and when traveling down the road or going around a corner quickly the trac system lights go on and now the vehicle acts like it won't go when the trac system is on and you slow down or start up again--at present the system is turned off; it has really never worked correctly.

- Temecula, CA, USA

problem #2

Feb 132006

Sequoia

  • miles
I purchased my vehicle from sunnyvale Toyota in Oct of 2002. It is a 2003 Toyota Sequoia. From the time I reached home found multiple problems. Start with hub caps not seated correctly, defective roof racks, entry door molding with inked print on them. Went on to a defective air conditioner compressor, pungent awful smell from the ac, defective radio/ cd changer. Brakes are spongy and don't respond well. If you pump it once it works well. The vehicle repeatedly veers to the right. They have checked it at least 15 times. There is hair in the paint. I went through the ncds process and ended up with a judgment to have them repair the veering problem and air conditioning. Toyota never complied and ncds closed the case without my consent. I worked with Toyota and they finally worked on the trouble. I got a new set of tires but the veering returned. What happens is the tires wear more on the outside of the front right tire. As you rotate the trouble goes away until the tire wears and the problem becomes more pronounces. Now the tires are bald and ncds is giving me trouble to reopen the case or stand behind the arbitrators judgment. Now even the door molding are coming off even with no damage.

- Sacramento, CA, USA

problem #1

Aug 012003

Sequoia 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,190 miles
2003 Toyota Sequoia limited, 5 months old, 5200 miles, check engine light came on at the same time as vsc lights. Seems to be other reports of same incident. Also, brakes seem to be inadequate for vehicle weight with loing stopping distance, and significant travel when parking brake applied (low pedal)

- Hillsborough, NJ, USA