Problems · NHTSA complaints
2004 Toyota Sequoia problems
Owners filed 380 complaints about the 2004 Toyota Sequoia with NHTSA between Apr 2004 and Sep 2026. The most-cited component is electronic stability control (esc) (98).
Complaints
380
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
17
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
19
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Electronic stability control (esc)98
- Structure77
- Vehicle speed control53
- Service brakes50
- Suspension47
- Service brakes, hydraulic39
- Electrical system34
- Traction control system31
- Air bags24
- Power train17
- Steering14
- Wheels7
- Exterior lighting7
- Service brakes, electric7
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 Oct 27, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
8
9
9
23
19
23
56
18
25
25
32
34
19
24
10
13
9
9
4
1
5
2
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2009 | 23 |
| 2010 | 56 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2012 | 25 |
| 2013 | 25 |
| 2014 | 32 |
| 2015 | 34 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 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)
98 reports1 crash1 fire
“TRAC OFF LIGHT AND VAC TRAC LIGHTS ON ALL THE TIME! GRINDING NOISE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED AT RANDOM TIMES. CAUSE FOR CONCERN! HAVE HAD EVERYTHING REPLACED THAT COULD CAUSE THIS OVER THE PAST 2 YEARS AND STILL HAVING THE SAME ISSUE!”
Structure
77 reports
“The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. There was an abnormal rattling sound detected in the front area. The vehicle was shaking. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the frame was completely rusty and unsafe to drive. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to have the frame checked, and it was determined there was minor rust detected. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Crestmont Toyota Parts · Crestmont Toyota Service, 730 NJ-23 N, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444, who determined there was rust detected but was not repaired. The contact wrote a letter to the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.”
Vehicle speed control
53 reports1 crash
“FUEL GAUGE NOT MEASURING FUEL PROPERLY. AFTER A FULL TANK, GAUGE INDICATES EMPTY TANK AFTER FEW DAYS. SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING AND ENGINE LOSES POWER FOR A WHILE WHILE THE GAUGE GOES TO 100 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY AND GOES BACK TO ZERO AND RESTORES POWER TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE HAS ONLY 145,000 MILES ON IT. ALSO RUST ON THE BODY FRAME .”
Service brakes
50 reports2 crashes
“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…”
Suspension
47 reports6 crashes3 related recalls
“I own a 2004 Toyota Sequoia and have owned it since it was built by Toyota. In 2013 Toyota had a safety recall on the frame for that vehicle because in certain Northern states they are having issues with the frame rotting and braking. I brought my vehicle in May of 2013 and Carlson Toyota in Minnesota inspected. It said that it passed and they installed a corrosion kit. This vehicle has been meticulously cared for over the years and it still looks that way on the exterior and interior. I have always had this vehicle enrolled in a car wash club so it gets washed almost daily in the winter and has for its entire life. But the frame of this vehicle is to the point now where it shouldn't be driven. It is so dangerously, rotted and breaking apart. I had the vehicle in Florida for spring break and while I was driving it there it was making some weird clunking noises. So I took it to a repair shop and the frame repair shop said that the frame was beyond repair and probably should not be driven. But it was my only vehicle and I had no choice but to drive it back to Minnesota. Since then I've had several issues when taking off and stopping with loud clunking noises, but…”
Service brakes, hydraulic
39 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The contact stated that the check brakes and a traction control warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but had become a recurring failure. When Toyota issued a recall for the braking issue, the contact did not receive notices, so the contact called them and was told it was a few selected 2004 Toyota Sequoia recalled for those who had complained but, it was not broadcasted like that. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, but the vehicle was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 07E023000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.