10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
47,672 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2003 Toyota Sequoia miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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2003 Toyota Sequoia Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #30

Jun 062017

Sequoia

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Once again the rear latch system has failed and I am unable to open my rear hatch door. So I am unable to remove my spare tire. And can not acsess the failed charcoal canister Toyota is screwing up my life with all their failed parts preventing repair on other parts

- Foresthill, CA, USA

problem #29

Oct 112023

Sequoia

  • miles
So in few words when check engine light is happening then immediately traction control and skid control and maybe other safety features are automatically goes off, which almost made me crash with all my family during rain. I definitely don-??t like it and I don-??t think it-??s a good idea if one of the non critical sensors broken then you have to die in crash. I think Toyota should check it because it-??s doesn-??t sound right.

- Austin, TX, USA

problem #28

Aug 242023

Sequoia

  • miles
The lock actuators in the doors are notorious for going on more than normal it's another very common issue with the seqouia. My driver one is bad right now. And clearly the window motors are faulty cuz I had 3 bad at once I fixed one but my sunroof and back tailgate window both do not work. It is also a very common problem

- Milledgeville, GA, USA

problem #27

Jun 102023

Sequoia

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I recently purchased my 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5 4WD that had the manufacturer-??s undercoating done as a result of the LSC in 2013. The coating has failed and water was able to seep in causing massive rust on the frame. It is a safety hazard to drive at this point.

- Barrington, IL, USA

problem #26

Feb 122023

Sequoia

  • miles
I have a 2003 Toyota Sequoia 167k miles that has major frame rust. This is now becoming a safety issue and Toyota needs to be held accountable!

- Ramsey, MN, USA

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problem #25

Jun 012021

Sequoia

  • miles
My gas gauge sensor consistently drops below the -??E-?? marker when the truck has gas in it and especially when it is filled up. After driving about 50 miles or so, the gauge will move up some ; however, I have been relying on my DTE monitor to let me know about gas. I have taken it to the dealer twice and both said -??the gas tank needs to be dropped in order for repair-?? I was About to pay for the service but was told I had to make an appointment. However the service advise ask had I had it replaced before because there was a recall on that particular part several years ago. Please note I have never received any notice about a recall regarding the issue. Please advise.

- Houston , TX, USA

problem #24

Aug 282021

Sequoia

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The latch hook/truck door release has a defect. It has been replaced 3 times after purchase of my vehicle, by the following Toyota dealerships (Tejas Toyota in Humble Texas (2x); Maund Toyota in Austin, Tx (1x). Each dealership service said it was/is manufacture defect with the latch hook and it stops -??un latching when the vehicle the button is pressed to unlock and the handle can not open the hatchback-?? This time I was traveling out of state with my pet in the kennel and when we stopped for restroom break the latch would not open to retrieve the pet to let out the kennel. We were traveling with a vehicle full of items, which the entire inside of the vehicle had to be emptied I ordered to let all the seats down and try to maneuver to try to get my dog out of kennel I. Such a small confined space that was hard to open because it was in the side. It took over and hour to cut the cage at the top to retrieve my pet. The sad part is there was no warning because we were traveling a 13 hour trip, stopping every couple hours for breaks and stretches, and the couple hours before we open the hatchback just fine. This is more than a safety concern for the animal. This is also the ares for retrieving the spare tire underneath the vehicle when the spare has to be released. I have replaced the part 3 times and I am charged $600 cost for parts and labor, when Toyota is aware of the defect. I just had the part replaced 19 months ago and Toyota only gives a 12 warranty on the part. This is ludicrous when the manufacture is aware of the ongoing problem. I have purchased 4 prior Toyota-??s and never had had this type of problem. My second safety issue is the case gage drops below the empty gage and stays there even though there is gas in the vehicle. The dealership said there was a recall years ago but I never received any notice. Please advise.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #23

Dec 212020

Sequoia

  • 137,200 miles
On 12/21/2020, after running errands, I put my vehicle inside my locked garage at 10:30 a.M. and all was fine. At around 9:00 P.M. that same night, I opened my garage to find it full of smoke. After inspecting everything, I saw nothing was still on fire and waited until the morning to investigate the problem. I first tried to start the vehicle and it had battery power but would not turn over. I then put it in neutral and backed the vehicle away from the front of the garage to open the hood. I saw the engine had burned up from somewhere on the passenger side but had put itself out. The fire cracked the exterior hood, burned hoses, electrical and other areas of the inside of the engine. Black soot had also dropped on the floor of the garage underneath where the fire was. The wood beams inside my garaged were also scorched black from the intense heat from the fire/smoke but luckily had not caught fire. I had it towed to my mechanic who said I should have my car insurance take over. Mercury has not determined the cause of the fire but I am pushing for the exact cause since if it's related to a recall issue, then Toyota should be held accountable and I should be compensated. My vehicle has 37,200 miles less than the average and I have a spreadsheet of all scheduled maintenance, smog checks and recalls completed. There was no reason this vehicle should have spontaneously combusted inside my garage. Luckily, I wasn't driving, wasn't hurt, and no other property was damaged due to this problem.

- Santa Fe Springs, CA, USA

problem #22

Apr 022019

Sequoia

  • miles
The trunk latch/handle/lock. I have had it replaced 3 times by a Toyota dealership. There's is clearly a manufacture defect and there's needs to be a recall. The last time the Toyota dealership I. austin Texas replaces it I had a 12 month warranty. In exactly 14 months the same thing occurred again! this is ridiculous to say the least and I am tired of paying 600 (parts/labor) to repair, when Toyota is aware of the problem! note: When the handle breaks there is no access to the spare tire because you have to life the trunk to access the spare time. I have had my vehicle towed twice scorn tire issues because the spare could not be accessed. The last occurrence I was stranded on side of the road at 2am.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #21

Apr 012004

Sequoia

  • 15 miles
The frame on the car is rusting away with only 40K miles on it. It was garage kept.

- Doylestown, PA, USA

problem #20

Dec 212018

Sequoia

  • 100,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The handle on the trunk is broken and I am not able to open the trunk. It won't open with the key or the remote for the vehicle. 2003 Toyota Sequoia limited

- Notasulga, AL, USA

problem #19

Feb 142004

Sequoia

  • 900 miles
My vsc/vtc lights have been on since I have owned my vehicle. I also have a brake light that comes on constantly. I am only able to reset the brake light by turning off my vehicle and restarting. I have replaced all 4 rotors, calipers and fuel lines more than 3 times since buying the truck new. Brake pads are changed in the front tires continuously! there is a serious problem with the brake system in this truck! I was told by many mechanics that the only way to get the skid control / traction control lights to turn off is to have Toyota figure out what is wrong with the brake system in the Sequoia's. also, I believe there should be another way to open the back hatch to this vehicle other than the plastic handle on the outside which breaks repeatedly!! if there were an emergency on the inside of the truck and the only exit were the rear of the vehicle, there is no way to open the rear tail gate from inside!!! once that stupid plastic handle on the outside of the vehicle breaks, you cannot open the rear hatch on the Sequoia!! it becomes a death trap in the third row seating area!!

- Haverhill, MA, USA

problem #18

Oct 152018

Sequoia

  • 227,000 miles
While driving in normal, dry conditions on public roadway, the frame of this 2003 Sequoia broke. The affected area is where the lower rear control arm from the back axle joins the main vehicle frame. The vehicles rocked violently from side to side and verged on being uncontrollable. No injuries occurred during the event but there was a potential for severe injury or death. Upon closer inspection and research the main frame of the vehicle is almost completely compromised from corrosion. After Toyota was contacted, owner was told vehicle had "rust treatment" in 2013, no further customer support offered. These vehicles are definitely unsafe and the corrosion treatment has only given owners a false sense of security. Operation of these "rust protected" vehicles leaves owners facing unseen risk of injury or death from frame failure. These vehicles should be repaired or removed from service to protect the general public.

- Knoxville, TN, USA

problem #17

Apr 062018

Sequoia

  • miles
My 2003 Sequoia failed inspection in state of penn for sever frame rust and Toyota customer service says recall for this problem expireed in 2014 and they are no longer doing anything to service this problem. I am currently at 180K miles and vehicles like to should last lot longer.

- Nutley, NJ, USA

problem #16

Oct 032017

Sequoia

  • miles
Toyota initially inspected the frame for rust and only sprayed rustproofing which came off after a single season. The frame is now completely rusted out and unsafe

- Jackson, MI, USA

problem #15

Jan 012017

Sequoia

  • 125,000 miles
My car has 136,000 miles on it, and the issue is rust. The whole bottom frame of the car is completely taken by rust. Its a hazard to drive because it seems like the car will fall apart! please help make Toyota aware of this situation. The car has an abnormal amount of rust!!

- Goshen, NY, USA

problem #14

Mar 022017

Sequoia

  • 250,000 miles
Recently my 2003 Sequoia started to shake on the left front tire, so I had it towed to a repair shop and the mechanic stated they could not repair my car because the problem that I was having was not due to the struts or shocks, but that the frame was so rusted and that was the cause of the problem. Advised me not to drive the car, but that I would either have to take it to a welding shop for repair, or look for another car. They concluded that the car was unsafe to drive any longer. The frame is so rusted, that I would be afraid to drive it. I spoke with a welding shop and he advised me to contact Toyota.

- Bloomfield, CT, USA

problem #13

Dec 172016

Sequoia

  • 198,000 miles
Replaced O2 sensor and was unable to obtain sticker due to frame is rusted. Have three teenage drivers using truck and is now unsafe. Have owned vehicle since 2007 and have serviced at woburn Toyota in woburn, MA. I have never got an email or mail from Toyota pertaining any issue. When asked about it said been out for a while!!!

- Wilmington, MA, USA

problem #12

Sep 012004

Sequoia

  • 10,000 miles
Shortly after purchasing my Toyota Sequoia in 2003, there was a recall on the vehicle stability (vsc) system and the trac system. I had the recall repaired at that time. In 2010, there was a recall again on the same system and I again had it repaired in 2011. Shortly after that, the incident occurred again. I again brought my vehicle into the dealer but was told the Sequoia did not have any open recalls on it and the repairs were for me to handle. At that time, I did not get the repair fixed because of the cost Toyota was charging for the repair. I explained to the dealer it was the very same defect that kept reoccurring and was told that there was no recall. I was esentially sent away. I recently (8/31/15) paid for a diagnostic to be preformed on my Sequoia and the codes for the issue came up again. NHTSA campaign #10V176000 the Toyota codes that came up are C1203, C1223, C1244, C1247. I spoke with Toyota and they acknowledge the recall and that my Sequoia is included but insist, that because of the year of my vehicle, I am no longer eligible to be reimbersed for this recall. The then offered me money off purchasing a new Toyota instead of honoring and standing by their product. I am not in the market to by a new vehicle at this time and am seeking that Toyota absorb the cost of the recall to repair the safety issues.

- Manalapan, NJ, USA

problem #11

Jun 092015

Sequoia

  • 166,000 miles
I went to Toyota on 2013 to have my car reflash (the vsc off, vsc trac and ABS litghts for recall 10V176000) to remedy the situation, after doing so when I went to pick up my car the lights where still on and the service advisor told me I need to pay to have the car checked at the computer and since I didnt have the money to pay for it my car wasnt checked. The ligths are still on, call Toyota but they say there us nothing they can do. Since this was a problem originated by a faulty part I dont see why they dont want to take care of it. Besides the price tag for that repair is $2,000 just for the part. Please help.

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

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