Problems · NHTSA complaints

2010 Toyota Sequoia problems

Owners filed 31 complaints about the 2010 Toyota Sequoia with NHTSA between Feb 2010 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (8).

Complaints
31
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Engine and engine cooling8
  2. Structure5
  3. Engine4
  4. Electrical system4
  5. Vehicle speed control3
  6. Power train2
  7. Steering1
  8. Suspension1
  9. Fuel/propulsion system1
  10. Air bags1
  11. Service brakes1
  12. Fuel system, gasoline1
  13. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  14. Traction control system1

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
20106
20112
20123
20131
20144
20153
20161
20172
20180
20192
20201
20212
20221
20230
20241
20251
20261

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

Engine and engine cooling

8 reports1 fire
“The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was moisture and condensation in the air injection pump and the air switching valve. The contact stated that there was a manufacturer’s warranty pertaining to the failure causing the check engine warning light to become illuminated however, the warranty was for 150,000 miles or 10 years, whichever came first. The vehicle was no longer covered under the warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000. "The contact was informed that there was moisture and condensation in the air injection pump and the air switching valve." since this is not correct. The dealer only said that the items needed to be replaced due to the indicator light. They could not verify that there was a specific issue with the parts but said that it was an indicator that the parts could go bad and needed to be replaced.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 24, 2021Engine and engine coolingODI 11418336

Structure

5 reports1 fire
“I PURCHASED THIS 2010 SEQUOIA IN OHIO A FEW YEARS AGO. I BELIEVE IT WAS PREVIOUSLY OWNED IN MA. THE REAR HATCH DOOR LOCK LOOKED LIKE IT HAD GOTTEN WATER DAMAGE AND HAS BEEN GETTING STUCK, MORE NOW THAN WHEN I GOT IT. IT'S GETTING TO THE POINT WHERE IT TAKES SEVERAL TRIES TO MANUALLY OPEN, FEELS LIKE IT'S STILL LOCKED EVEN THOUGH IT SOUNDS LIKE IT UNLOCKS. SOMETIMES I CAN'T GET IT TO OPEN AT ALL AFTER 10 MINUTES OF TRYING. I'VE GIVEN UP ON THE TRYING THE INTERIOR BUTTON AND THE BUTTON ON THE FOB TO TRY TO OPEN IT. IT ACTS LIKE IT'S GOING TO OPEN AND THEN BEEPS TWICE AND STOPS. AGAIN, THE LATCH IS LOCKED TIGHT WHEN IT SHOULD BE UNLATCHED. IVE TRIED SPYING LUBRICATIONS IN IT WHEN IT'S OPEN. SOMETIMES IT HELPS FOR A WHILE THEN IT GETS STUCK AGAIN. I COULDN'T GET OUR SOFTBALL TEAM EQUIPMENT OUT FOR THE GAME. EMBARRASSING.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 14, 2019StructureODI 11207619

Engine

4 reports
“I bought the vehicle under the assumption that it only had 138,000 miles on it. Upon trying to register it with Carfax I was informed that the odometer had been tampered with and the actual mileage is 345,000”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 9, 2026EngineODI 11742874

Electrical system

4 reports1 crash
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2010 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 90,586, and at the time of checking the Carfax, it was discovered that the mileage was 260,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 14, 2025Electrical systemODI 11654512

Vehicle speed control

3 reports1 related recall
“The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and the speed continued to increase. While depressing the brake pedal, the speed continued to increase and exceeded 95 mph. The driver used the parking brake to eventually stop the vehicle and turn off the engine. After restarting the vehicle, the RPM continued to rev very high. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V017000 (Vehicle Speed Control). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 23, 2021Vehicle speed controlODI 11441486

Power train

2 reports1 crash
“I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR A 55,000 MILE SERVICE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP INFORMS ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS LEAKING OIL FROM BOTH SIDE OF THE CAM TOWER. THEIR ESTIMATE TO FIX IS OVER $4000. PARTS ARE $170 AND 25 TO 30 HOURS OF LABOR TO REMOVE THE ENTIRE ENGINE. THE LEAKING OIL IS A SAFETY CONCERN, AND IT IS DUE TO A FAILED SEALANT THAT APPEARS TO HAVE COME THAT WAY FROM THE FACTORY FROM MANY OTHER CASES I HAVE READ. THE COST OF REPAIR MAKES IT UNREALISTIC FOR MOST OWNERS WHO WILL MORE THAN LIKELY NOT REPAIR IT IN A TIMELY MANNER. THE ISSUE MAY ALSO GO UNNOTICED IF TAKEN TO ANOTHER MECHANIC OTHER THAN A DEALER WHO IS NOT FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 12, 2016Power trainODI 10855133
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.