Problems · NHTSA complaints
2003 Toyota Sequoia problems
Owners filed 684 complaints about the 2003 Toyota Sequoia with NHTSA between Feb 2003 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is electronic stability control (esc) (192).
Complaints
684
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
19
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
24
People reported injured
Deaths
1
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electronic stability control (esc)192
- Vehicle speed control123
- Structure108
- Service brakes, hydraulic93
- Traction control system88
- Electrical system75
- Service brakes70
- Air bags45
- Suspension45
- Steering25
- Power train22
- Engine and engine cooling20
- Engine18
- Latches/locks/linkages14
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 11, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
22
19
15
22
59
43
82
99
37
40
39
39
47
24
25
18
19
5
11
4
7
5
0
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 22 |
| 2004 | 19 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 22 |
| 2007 | 59 |
| 2008 | 43 |
| 2009 | 82 |
| 2010 | 99 |
| 2011 | 37 |
| 2012 | 40 |
| 2013 | 39 |
| 2014 | 39 |
| 2015 | 47 |
| 2016 | 24 |
| 2017 | 25 |
| 2018 | 18 |
| 2019 | 19 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 11 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 7 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 0 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electronic stability control (esc)
192 reports2 crashes1 related recall
“I TOOK MY SEQUOIA TO HAVE AN AIRBAG RECALL FIXED AND A RECALL THAT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE SKID CONTROL MODULE BEFORE I TOOK IT TO HAVE THESE RECALLS DONE MY 2 VSC LIGHTS (VSC OFF LIGHT AND VSC TRAC LIGHT) ON THE DASH WERE ON AND SO WAS THE ENGINE LIGHT I THOUGHT MAYBE THE SKID CONTROL RECALL WOULD FIX THE VSC LIGHT BUT NOW BOTH OF THE VSC LIGHTS ARE STILL ON AND MY BRAKE LIGHT IS NOW ALSO COMING ON WHEN I START MY VEHICLE WHEN THIS HAPPENS MY BRAKE POWER IS DIMINISHED AND MY VEHICLE SHAKES BAD WHEN HITTING MY BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A TURN OR JUST TO SLOW DOWN IN GENERAL AT A STOP LIGHT OR STOP SIGN THIS HAPPENS ON THE HIGHWAY OR WHEREVER I'M DRIVING MY VEHICLE AT THE TIME BUT AS LONG AS THE VSC LIGHTS AND THE BRAKE LIGHT AREN'T ALL LIT UP ON MY DASHBOARD AT THE SAME TIME MY BRAKES AREN'T AS DIMINISHED BUT BOTH OF THE VSC LIGHTS STAY ON AND MY VEHICLE STILL SHAKES WHEN I'M SLOWING DOWN TO MAKE A TURN. ALSO WHEN BOTH OF THE VSC LIGHTS ARE ON ALONG WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT MY VEHICLE WANTS TO SPIN THE BACK TIRES WHEN I'M TAKING OFF FROM A DEAD STOP I HAVE TO LET OFF THE GAS COMPLETELY FOR A SECOND THEN PROCEED.”
Vehicle speed control
123 reports7 crashes1 fire
“"VSC OFF, VSC TRAC, and ABS" indicators on the dash. YAW sensor failure which controls wheel speed which will cause vehicle to decelerate and possibly cause an accident. Toyota should issue a nationwide recall. Toyota is aware of the issue but has failed to issue a nationwide recall.”
Structure
108 reports
“My 2003 Sequoia was in the garage for a check on the brakes. I also asked them to check the frame for any rust issues, because I had previously been concerned about it earlier. They reported to me that the car should be off the road because the rust in the frame was so severe. They said they would not put it up on the lift anymore because it could break in half. The stabilizer was barely connected at one end. There were holes completely through the frame at several places. I know from my research that Toyota issued safety recalls for 2003 Sequoia and Tundra vehicles. This an issue that Toyota should repair.”
Service brakes, hydraulic
93 reports2 crashes
“RECEIVED TOYOTA FACTORY RECALL FOR CORROSION-RESISTANT COMPOUND DUE TO EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST. CALLED LOCAL DEALER AND ALSO FACTORY TOYOTA FOR APPOINTMENT. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. ONE DAY LATER RECEIVED PHONE CALL THAT MY VEHICLE WAS SAFE AND THAT THEY HAD SPRAYED THIS COATING ON THE VEHICLE. I PICKED UP VEHICLE AND THIS CORROSIVE CHEMICAL IS DRIPPING OF THE VEHICLE AND IS NOT DRYING. CONCERNED FOR ENVIRONMENT AND ALSO, I HAVE NO IDEA OF HOW VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ASSURING THAT THE FRAME IS SAFE.”
Traction control system
88 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY PULLED TO THE LEFT. IN ADDITION, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND STABILITY CONTROL WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED DURING THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND DRIVEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE WARNING INDICATORS WERE NOT ILLUMINATED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED. THE DEALER (TOYOTA OF THE SHOALS, S 5100, US-43, TUSCUMBIA, AL 35674) INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT HE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIAGNOSTIC FEES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V176000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.”
Electrical system
75 reports3 crashes
“Traction control warning lights, VSC warning lights. These lights have been on for 2 years, resulting in check engine light on. I have replaced every sensor possible, fuses, gas cap, and reset the system multiple times but can not get these lights to stay off. Since lights have been on, when driving on a muddy, wet, icy or slippery road way, my steering locks up, the brakes stop working and there is complete loss of vehicle control. All without warning. This is an extreme hazard and very dangerous. This has been on going since 2017 and is still a major problem . It started at around 200,000 miles.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 11, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.