Problems · by component
2002 Toyota Sequoia electrical system problems
43 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2002 Toyota Sequoia cite electrical system, 6% of all 692 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
43
6% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
What owners say about the electrical system
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I was driving my 2002 Toyota Sequoia on the freeway at approximately 65 mph on the [XXX] when suddenly the vehicle made a beeping noise and the VSC Light and TRAC Light came on. The vehicle suddenly lost control in the wheels and tires and suddenly decelerated out-of-nowhere. Due to the sudden, abrupt movement and loss of control, the vehicle nearly flipped over. It was an extremely dangerous, possibly life-threatening situation. Thankfully, I was attentive and alert and had both hands on the wheel and was able to get the vehicle in control. This happened before two times and this would be the third time. I have taken the vehicle to several different auto repair shops and they have been unable to pin point and fix the problem. Because this issue continues to happen and puts me into dangerous situations repeatedly, I firmly believe that this is a bigger malfunctioning/defect problem that Toyota needs to address and fix.”
“VSC, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL AND BRAKE WARNING INSTRUMENT LIGHTS ON. ABS AND TRACTION CONTROL AND VSC ARE INOPERABLE DUE TO A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON ISSUE WITH FIRST GENERATION SEQUOIAS. MY SPECIFIC CODES ARE C1241 AND C1203. TOYOTA TOLD ME I WILL NEED A NEW COMPUTER TO CONTROLS THOSE SYSTEMS AT A 921 DOLLAR EXPENSE. THESE ISSUES HAVE BEEN ONGOING SINCE 2009.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM ENGAGED INDEPENDENTLY. A CRASH DID NOT OCCUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT MODULE FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 20 AND 35 MPH, THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF THE ENGINE, AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. THE CONTACT RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND THE STABILITY CONTROL RESET BACK TO NORMAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MOSSY TOYOTA (LOCATED AT 4555 MISSION BAY DR, SAN DIEGO, CA 92109) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECU SOFTWARE NEEDED TO UPDATED OR REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE REPAIR FEES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000. ...UPDATED 11/21/17 *BF *TR”
“THE WARNING LIGHTS ABS, VSC, EMERGENCY BRAKES, TRACK, SLIP INDICATOR COMES ON ALL THE TIME AFTER ENGINE START RUNNING. IN CERTAIN INSTANCES, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATION FOR FEW SECONDS. THE PROBLEM STARTED AROUND 70K MILES. TOYOTA DEALER HAS CHECK THE VEHICLE AND SAID THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE ECU COMPUTER AND THE ESTIMATED COST IS ABOUT $3,000.OO DOLLARS WITH ONLY 3 MONTH WARRANTY. THE MECHANIC EXPLAINED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE ABLE TO BRAKE BUT NON OF THE FEATURES ABOVE WILL BE FUNCTIONING. THE MECHANIC ALSO STATED THAT THIS IS VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH SEQUOIA MODELS BUT THERE IS NO RECALL OR WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM AT THE TIME IT WAS DIAGNOSED. SINCE THE REPAIR FOR OUR SUV IS NOT AFFORDABLE FOR US AND THERE IS SO MUCH UNCERTAINTY IN ITS SAFETY, WE USE IT IN A LIMITED BASIS.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND BRAKED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 239,000.”
Showing 6 of 43 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.