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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electronic stability control (esc)192
  2. Vehicle speed control123
  3. Structure108
  4. Service brakes, hydraulic93
  5. Traction control system88
  6. Electrical system75
  7. Service brakes70
  8. Air bags45
  9. Suspension45
  10. Steering25
  11. Power train22
  12. Engine and engine cooling20
  13. Engine18
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
200322
200419
200515
200622
200759
200843
200982
201099
201137
201240
201339
201439
201547
201624
201725
201818
201919
20205
202111
20224
20237
20245
20250
20263

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.

03 —Owner reports

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 22, 2020Electronic stability control (esc), Service brakesODI 11340826

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2022Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 11476504

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 17, 2026Suspension, StructureODI 11757568

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 4, 2014Service brakes, hydraulic, Structure, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 10567296

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 16, 2018Electronic stability control (esc), Traction control systemODI 11088387

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 20, 2024Steering, Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11566695
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.