Problems · NHTSA complaints

2005 Toyota Sequoia problems

Owners filed 352 complaints about the 2005 Toyota Sequoia with NHTSA between Jan 2005 and Aug 2024. The most-cited component is electronic stability control (esc) (93).

Complaints
352
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
7
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
21
People reported injured
Deaths
2
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Electronic stability control (esc)93
  2. Vehicle speed control85
  3. Service brakes60
  4. Air bags40
  5. Electrical system34
  6. Engine33
  7. Suspension27
  8. Structure26
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic25
  10. Traction control system25
  11. Engine and engine cooling22
  12. Power train14
  13. Tires10
  14. Fuel/propulsion system9

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 28, 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
200515
20064
200717
200811
200916
201038
201132
201225
201328
201437
201545
201636
201718
20188
20195
20203
20213
20223
20235
20243

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)

93 reports
“OCCASIONALLY, WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET OR HYWAY, THE VSC TRAC SENSOR LIGHTS TURNING ON AND OFF AND HEARING GRINDING NOISE WHEN IT AUTO-ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE AND THE VEHICLE LOSES POWER AND SLOWS DOWN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 8, 2017Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11013713

Vehicle speed control

85 reports2 crashes
“After several years of fighting problems with, after braking to a brief stop, the loss of power/abs grinding when accelerating and turning right, now the ABS is completely dysfunctional. Both TRC lights will turn on and usually the parking brake, and when braking at speeds less than 10mph the abs will activate and prevent bring the truck to a stop without pumping them, on dry pavement. When the ABS light turns on, then braking is possible, but all pressure is gone from brake booster and brakes sound like they're grinding, not like the sound of abs engaging. Very dangerous to drive in snow as front brakes work but drive axle doesn't disengage when the brake pedal is depressed. Regular mechanic won't engage with diagnosing issues as he feels the problem is partly computer malfunction and Toyota won't allow for used part mismatching. ABS/ECU is failed.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 11, 2024Vehicle speed control, Service brakes, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11571301

Service brakes

60 reports2 crashes
“I tried to make apointments to local dealers they set up appointments and than don’t do nothing about it they said the don’t have any certified tech to do the job so I left with this mess not knowing when my ride is going to give. Out on me I got about 319000 miles Toyota should be proud and thank me for keeping my ride up to date I do my part to have it running good but they not doing there part to help me with these recalls please help me out.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2022Suspension, Air bags, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11480298

Air bags

40 reports2 crashes5 related recalls
“IN OCTOBER OF 2020, I SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT FOR MY AIRBAG RECALLS AT MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER (LIA TOYOTA OF COLONIE). MY APPOINTMENT WAS ON OCTOBER 22, 2020. AFTER DEVOTING A DAY TO THIS, I WAS DISMAYED TO LEARN THAT MY VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE BACKORDERED. THEY SAID THEY WOULD LET ME KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WERE IN. SEVERAL WEEKS WENT BY, AND I HEARD NOTHING. THEN, I GET A CRYPTIC MESSAGE FROM SOMEONE IN THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENT, AND GAVE ME A NUMBER TO CALL BACK. WHEN I CALLED THE NUMBER, A MAN ANSWERED WHO SAID IT WAS NOT LIA TOYOTA, AND THAT HE'D BEEN GETTING A LOT OF CALLS FROM PEOPLE THINKING THEY WERE CALLING LIA TOYOTA. (THE DEALERSHIP DID PICK UP WHEN I CALLED THE NUMBER, AND IT WAS WHEN I ENTERED THE CHOICE TO SPEAK WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT THE PHONE SYSTEM THEN TRANSFERRED ME TO SOME INDIVIDUAL'S MOBILE PHONE!) SO, I THEN HAD TO TRY A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP AND FIND OUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. THIS LED TO SEVERAL CALLS WHERE NO ONE REALLY KNEW WHAT WAS HAPPENING. I FINALLY GOT MY ORIGINAL SERVICE MANAGER TO RESEARCH THE SITUATION, AND HE SAID THE PARTS WERE STILL ON BACK ORDER. FAST FORWARD TO DECEMBER…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 29, 2021Air bagsODI 11390655

Electrical system

34 reports
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. ALSO, THE VEHICLE STALLED WHILE MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT TURNS AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. INITIALLY, THE DEALER (PRINCIPLE TOYOTA, 7370 WINCHESTER RD, MEMPHIS, TN 38125, (877) 217-4003) WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE, SO IT CONTINUED TO PROGRESS AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000. *TT *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 6, 2018Electrical systemODI 11067220

Engine

33 reports
“Starter replacement is exceptionally high, self repair impossible. There should be recall on manufacturing design of starter placement inside intake manifold amongst other impossible expectations”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 21, 2024EngineODI 11609887
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.