47 of the
4,811 complaints filed about the Toyota Sequoia
are about the wheels —
1% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2002.
Description of the Safety Crash/Informed Incident: Vehicle Information: 2004 Toyota Sequoia (VIN: [XXX]) Incident Date: [XXX] Location: [XXX] Police Agency: California Highway Patrol (Report #:[XXX]) Speed at Incident: Highway speeds (~65 MPH) Description of Defect/Failure: Structural mechanical failure leading to sudden, catastrophic wheel separation at highway speeds. Nine days prior to the incident, on [XXX], the vehicle underwent a comprehensive brake, rotor, and tire rotation service at a certified Toyota dealership (Toyota of Chula Vista, Work Order #[XXX]). While traveling on the interstate, the right rear passenger wheel assembly completely detached from the moving vehicle. As a result, the wheel flew off crossing several traffic lanes, traveling over a jersey wall on the freeway shoulder, landing into a nearby drainage ditch. The vehicle dropped onto the remaining brake/rotor assembly, generating extreme sparks, causing an immediate loss of braking pressure, and creating an imminent threat of a rollover or multi-vehicle fatal collision. Subsequent post-incident inspection on a maintenance lift revealed that all wheel studs on the right rear hub were completely sheared or stripped off. This indicates a severe technician failure to properly torque the wheel lug nuts to factory specifications during reassembly, or an un-diagnosed structural failure of the wheel mounting components following certified dealer service. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11747762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My vehicle has randomly been flashing vbs/abs/traction control lights. Sometimes nothing happens other than the flashing lights. Other times I’ll be driving & when going around a curve my car makes a beeping noise (sounds like the abs noise activated) & I’ll feel a pulsing under the brake & hear a grinding sound. It doesn’t allow me to brake effectively. Another time I was coming to a stop behind a car at a red light. It was clear as day, roads weren’t wet & I couldn’t have been going over 10 mph. When hitting my brakes, my steering wheel kind of glided back & forth for a sec and it felt like my tires “floated”in the same motion as wheel until it stopped.
NHTSA complaint #11594971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving on a curved road, the vehicle made a grinding sound with flashing VSC off and Trac off lights, as it pulled violently to the right and almost ran off the road with my two children in the back seat. This was an extremely scary incident. I 1. While driving on a curved road, the vehicle made a grinding sound with flashing VSC off and Trac off lights, as it pulled violently to the right and almost ran off the road with my two children in the back seat. This was an extremely scary incident. I do understand that many first generation Sequoia owners have reported similar incidents and that there were no recalls, however, I think this is a serious enough issue that will cost innocent people their lives. I was able to pull a reading from the OBD2 and it says there is a fault with the Yaw Rate Sensor. Please help before this causes someone's death. Thank you!do understand that many first generation Sequoia owners have reported similar incidents and that there were no recalls, however, I think this is a serious enough issue that will cost innocent people their lives. I was able to pull a reading from the OBD2 and it says there is a fault with the Yaw Rate Sensor. Please help before this causes someone's death. Thank you!
NHTSA complaint #11548841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11483918 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I have changed tires 2 times but I did not know that my sequoia has a recalled from the suspension and it seems to me that all the suspension is out eventhough that I replaced the struts upper and lower balljoint side arm rod tide even the racquet pinion may be out please help with the nesessary repair driving it like that I’m putting my family at having a accident cause the tire do not wear properly sincerely Joseluis saldana
NHTSA complaint #11451606 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Due to a latent defect, Toyota's chrome lug nuts swell such that the lug wrench no longer fits the nuts. Owners confronted with flat tires are stranded on roadsides, potentially out of cell phone range, because they are unable to change the tire. I personally was stranded at midnight due to this defect. I alerted my Toyota dealership in Peoria, Illinois. They said they were aware of the issue on Sequoias and Sienas and that the could not keep enough lug nuts in stock. Toyota has provided no formal notice to owners of this latent defect and safety hazard. Both the Toyota dealership and Toyota care refused to provide without charge replacement lug nuts.
NHTSA complaint #11447596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AT 247,000 PLUS MILES THE ABS SYSTEM WOULD SUDDENLY ENGAGE GOING AROUND SHARPER CURVES ON THE HIGHWAY AT 65+ MPH. RECENTLY THE ABS SYSTEM ENGAGED AT 32 MPH AROUND A SHARPER CURVE ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD. I BROUGHT IT INTO THE DEALER IN AUGUST 2019. AS OF FEBRUARY 2020 IT IS STILL NOT FIXED, DESPITE SPENDING A LOT OF MONEY. BESIDES BEING NERVE WRACKING, IT IS A POTENTIALLY HAZARDOUS PROBLEM, ESPECIALLY IN SNOW AND ICE, THAT SHOULD QUALIFY FOR A RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #11309731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE HAS 40K MILES TIRES ARE WORN TREAD 2/32 ALREADY, AND FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. BACK AT 25K MILES, FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE RESURFACED, AND NOW AT 40K MILES, NEW ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE PLACED.
NHTSA complaint #11252185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN MY TOYOTA WHEN I HERD A LOUD SOUND SO I PULLED THECAR OVER AND CALLED A TOW TRUCK I BELIVE THE LUGNUT MIGHT BE FAULTY OR WORN DOWNTO BRING MY CAR TO MY GRAND PAWS HOUSE . THE WHEEL WAS BROKE LAYING FLAT ON THE GROYND
NHTSA complaint #11004257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY CAR HAS 136,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE ISSUE IS RUST. THE WHOLE BOTTOM FRAME OF THE CAR IS COMPLETELY TAKEN BY RUST. ITS A HAZARD TO DRIVE BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE THE CAR WILL FALL APART! PLEASE HELP MAKE TOYOTA AWARE OF THIS SITUATION. THE CAR HAS AN ABNORMAL AMOUNT OF RUST!!
NHTSA complaint #11000789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TOYOTA SEQUOIA (BALL JOINTS RECALL) WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I-5 NORTHBOUND JUST AFTER THE BRIDGE THAT GOES OVER THE SACRAMENTO RIVER I WAS ON THE BYPASS/COSWAY BRIDGE DRIVING IN THE #1 (OF 2) LANE GOING 65 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY MY FRONT END DRIVER'S SIDE OF MY VEHICLE DROPPED COMPLETELY AND I WAS SKIDDING ON COMPLETE METAL, I HAD NO BREAKS AND CONTINUED TO SKID FOR WHAT SEEMED LIKE FOREVER, AND STEERED TO MY TO MY RIGHT PASSING THE #2 LANE GOING UP AGAINST THE EDGE OF THE RIGHT SIDE ON THE BRIDGE. I WAS COMPLETELY SHOCKED. I COULDN'T OPEN MY DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR DUE THE TRAFFIC RIGHT UP AGAINST ME. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED MY INSURANCE ROAD-SIDE ASSISTANCE WHO DISPATCHED A TOW TRUCK. DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE LOCATION, THE TOW TRUCK REQUIRED THE ASSISTANCE OF HIGHWAY PATROL. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER IMMEDIATELY KNEW ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND SAID TOYOTAS WERE KNOWN FROM THE UPPER/LOWER BALL JOINTS BREAKING ON THEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO VALLEY TIRE SERVICE SHOP. THE SERVICE GUY THERE ALSO KNEW IMMEDIATELY WHAT WAS WRONG WITH IT. THE NEXT DAY I CALLED THE TOYOTA MANUFACTURER TO REPORT THE INCIDENT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS IN FACT A RECALL. HOWEVER, THE PART HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED IN 2009. AFTER HAVING REVIEWED MANY BLOGS ON LINE ABOUT THIS BEING A COMMON ISSUE WITH TOYOTA SEQUOIAS (SOME MORE THAN ONCE), I WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED. I AM EXTREMELY CONCERNED AND FEAR DRIVING THIS VEHICLE KNOWING THAT THE DEFECTIVE PART HAVING ALREADY BEEN REPLACED IS STILL DEFECTIVE. I WILL NOT TRUST ANOTHER PART BEING REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT I SHOULD DO. THE CONSUMER NO LONGER OWNS THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 10/04/2017
NHTSA complaint #10970333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTING INCLUDING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, SUSPENSION AND OTHER STRUCTURAL COMPONENT. THE DEALER SPRAYED ON A LIQUID TAR BUT NOW THAT IS FALLING OFF WITH THE RUST WHICH WAS SPRAYED OVER.
NHTSA complaint #10876808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAST WEEK, (3/17/16) MY NEIGHBOR WAS TAKING HER THREE CHILDREN TO SCHOOL IN HER 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. SHE WAS TRAVELING ON A NEW ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH WHEN THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE DROPPED ON DRIVER'S SIDE. SHE THOUGHT SHE HAD A FLAT TIRE SO SHE STEERED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. IT APPEARS THE DRIVER'S SIDE, LOWER BALL JOINT FAILED (SEE PHOTOS). I CALLED HENDRICK TOYOTA OF APEX, NC AND TALKED WITH MR. JOHN SPECHT (919-335-1678). HE CHECKED THE VIN AND SAID THE LOWER BALL JOINTS HAD A RECALL AND WERE CHANGED ON AUG. 15, 2007. HE ALSO SUGGESTED I CONTACT TOYOTA TO REQUEST THEIR ASSISTANCE TO COVER THE COST TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE (CASE NO.[XXX]). HE ADVISED THE VEHICLE BE BROUGHT IN FOR THE AIRBAG RECALL TOO. VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME ON A DOLLY TO PREVENT ANY DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. THE VEHICLE HAS 215,444 MILES AND WAS NOT USED FOR OFF-ROAD DRIVING. THE VEHICLE RECENTLY PASSED STATE INSPECTION WITH NO PROBLEMS NOTED ABOUT THE FRONT END. IF THE LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE ALREADY REPLACED IN A RECALL (2007) WHAT DID THEY REPLACE THEM WITH, AND HOW DID THEY CORRECT THE PROBLEM? THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED A DEADLY ACCIDENT AT HIGHER SPEED. WHEN A LOWER BALL JOINT BREAKS, THE DRIVER CAN ONLY STEER WITH ONE WHEEL.[XXX] 'INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'
NHTSA complaint #10850861 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2015, I WAS DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 37 TOWARD CORPUS CHRISTI, TX, AND OUT OF THE BLUE MY WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE HAD A HARD SHAKE/SHIMMY IN THE REAR END. IT ROCKED MY REAREND LEFT TO RIGHT. VERY SCARY. LUCKILY I HAD BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL. THE TRACTION CONTROL SENSOR WENT OFF. I BRAKED, THINKING MAYBE I HAD HAD A TIRE GO FLAT QUICKLY. VERY SCARY AT 75 MPH. ALSO VERY LUCKY THAT NOT SEMI'S OR VEHICLES WERE NEAR ME. I TURNED THE SEQUOIA OFF AND GOT OUT TO CHECK THE TIRES. THERE WAS NO PROBLEM. I GOT BACK IN AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS HAD GONE OFF, SO I STARTED TO ACCELERATE BACK INTO TRAFFIC...AND THE SEQUOIA WENT CRAZY AGAIN, REAR END SHAKING, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS GOING OFF. IT WAS 8 PM, DARK. I WAS TOO SCARED TO TRY DRIVING AGAIN, SO I CALLED FOR A TOW. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH ON SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND FOUND THERE WERE MANY. SOME PEOPLE SAY IT IS AN ELECTRONIC CONTROL SENSOR. EACH WHEEL HAS ONE AND MAYBE ONE WENT OUT CAUSING THAT WHEEL TO ROTATE DIFFERENTLY FROM THE OTHERS, JERKING THE CAR AROUND. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! I HAD BEEN IN SAN ANTONIO, TX RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC JUST 3 HOURS BEFORE AND HAD THIS JERKING THAT CAUSED SWERVING HAPPENED ON THE DOWNTOWN HIGHWAYS, SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. PEOPLE SHOULD BE WARNED AND TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL VEHICLES AFFECTED, BECAUSE FROM MY RESEARCH, THERE ARE A LOT OF AFFECTED SEQUOIAS.
NHTSA complaint #10789869 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE HAD MY ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS CHANGED A FEW TIMES DUE TO A CONSPICUOUS ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE. AT BRAKING TIMES DURING ANY SLIGHT "HARD" STOP, COMING FROM EITHER HIGHWAY OR STREET SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STARTS TO VIBRATE ON THE FRONT END. TIRES SEEM TO BE WOBBLY AND SHAKE QUITE A BIT. NEARLY HAD A FEW ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS PHENOMENA. HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING AT REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOPS AND HAVE HAD ROTORS "CUT" AND NEW BRAKE PADS INSTALLED FREQUENTLY. HAVE EVEN HAD TO BUY NEW TIRES, EVEN THOUGH NOT NEEDED, BASED ON DEALER RECOMMENDATION. SEEMS THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THESE TOYOTA VEHICLES AFTER HAVING DONE SOME RESEARCH AND SPOKEN TO A FEW OTHER SEQUOIA OWNERS. CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE IS A POSSIBILITY ON THESE VEHICLES. WILL IT TAKE AN INJURY OR EVEN A DEATH TO FINALLY HAVE SOMEONE DELVE INTO THIS ISSUE?
NHTSA complaint #10747186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND THAT THE VEHICLE WENT INTO A LIMP MODE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS EXTREMELY SLOW TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 11V148000 (TIRES). FOR YEARS, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO EXPLAIN WHY THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT COMPLETED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHEN THAT RECALL WOULD BE PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,000.
NHTSA complaint #10746761 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREE WAY WHEN I FELT MY VEHICLE RATTLED AND A SOMETHING CAME OFF THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE. I WAS ABLE TO TAKE AN EXIT AND SAFETY. I GOT OUT AND CHECKED THE TIRE AND FOUND A 2X5 CHUNK OF RUBBER WAS MISSING FROM THE TIRE WALL AND THE TIRE WAS GOING FLAT. WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN THE BACK-HATCH TO PUT ON THE SPARE TIRE THE HATCH LATCH WOULDN'T WORK. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION I FOUND THE PLASTIC LATCH WAS BROKER AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LOWER THE THE SPARE TIRE. I WAS FORTUNATE TO BE CLOSE ENOUGH TO HOME TO DRIVE IT SLOWLY BEFORE THE TIRE WENT COMPLETELY FLAT. UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION I FOUND THE LATCH ISSUE TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH SEQUOIA 2002-2007 DUE TO CHEAP PLASTIC PART AND WITH OUT PROVIDING A SECONDARY SAFETY RELEASE TO OPEN THE BACK-HATCH IN CASE OF EMERGENCY. THE DEALER IS CHARGING $400 - $500 DOLLARS LABOR TO MAKE THE REPAIR TO A $20 DOLLAR PART. HTTP://FORUMS.EDMUNDS.COM/DISCUSSION/10071/TOYOTA/SEQUOIA/TOYOTA-SEQUOIA-REAR-HATCH-DOOR-PROBLEMS
NHTSA complaint #10735028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE CONTROL ARM BROKE OFF FROM RUSTED FRAME WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT TEN MPH. REPAIR CENTER SAYS THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS, BECAUSE THE FRAME IS NOT SAFE, NOTHING TO RE-ATTACH CONTROL ARM TO!
NHTSA complaint #10714156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.