10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
154,101 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2003 Toyota Sequoia Owner Comments

problem #13

Dec 212020

Sequoia

  • 137,200 miles

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

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 #12

Aug 042018

Sequoia

  • 215,000 miles
Vsc, check engine, brake lights keep coming on. No traction control when button pushed. Driving highway speed traction control beeps when not even appropriate. Have had several times trying to brake, no brakes light comes on almost crashed due to no brakes! I have researched recall my VIN# not listed. This is ridiculous! unsafe! Toyota needs to recall more vehicles. Not a happy Toyota consumer!

- Lake Havasu City, AZ, USA

problem #11

Jan 042017

Sequoia

  • 173,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Sequoia. While driving at an unknown speed, the serpentine belt snapped. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the serpentine belt snapped due to the frame and both parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 173,000. The VIN was not provided.

- South Portland, ME, USA

problem #10

Aug 232016

Sequoia

  • 252,500 miles

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

I have a 2003 Sequoia with 253,000 miles on it. About a month ago, while driving on a flat, dry road at about 30 miles per hour and slowing for an upcoming stoplight, my vsc off, vsc trac and check engine lights all suddenly came on. Apparently this is a known issue with this year vehicle. I am struggling now to figure out how L will afford to take this car in for repair and L am angered at being put in this position. This was an expensive, luxury SUV when we bought it and the manufacturer should own up to this bad part. If I'd wanted a crappy made car, L wouldn't have wasted $40K on this one.

- Mocksville, NC, USA

problem #9

Apr 012016

Sequoia

  • 167,000 miles
Hello, I have a 2003 Toyota sequioa where the engine light and the vcs lights are both on. I saw on your page some really helpful information on this make/model recall. I've reached out to Toyota customer service because there was a recall on this make/model but they said that my VIN number was not part of that recall, even though it's having the same issues?? the recall was that Toyota had to replace the skid control engine control unit (ECU) and upgrade program logic in its vehicle stability control (vcs) system. I took my vehicle in to get it inspected and they provided me with 3 codes: C1203 - engine control system communication circuit malfunction C1360 - vehicle skid control master pressure sensor malfunction P0420 - catalyst system efficiency below threshold these are all system issues. Can you help me?

- Sun Prairie, WI, USA

problem #8

Oct 212015

Sequoia

  • 200,000 miles
While driving on the street at speed limit the car shuts off without any warning. You have no way to break but to place your car in park. I have had this happen twice not sure why it keeps happening. This is very very dangerous.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #7

Jun 172015

Sequoia

  • 130,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Sequoia. While driving 15 mph, the contact heard an abnormal noise coming from the brakes. The vehicle started to decelerate on its own. In addition, while driving 70 mph, the same abnormal noise occurred and the vehicle decelerated. This was a recurring failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that more information was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.

- Folson, CA, USA

problem #6

Dec 062014

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 180,800 miles
As I was driving I notice my trac off, vsc trac, engine light all came on at once, also notice loss of power to my vehicle.

- Seguin, TX, USA

problem #5

Jul 222014

Sequoia

  • 69,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 55 mph, the vehicle stability control, traction control, and the check engine warning lights suddenly remained illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,000.

- Santa Rosa Beach, FL, USA

problem #4

Apr 202013

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 101,000 miles
I was driving down the highway and my vsc trac lights came on along with my engine light. When I got home, I looked at my vehicle manual to determine what had happened. I attempted to remedy the problem as suggested by Toyota, unfortunately, nothing changed. Approximately 2 weeks later my brake light intermittently turned on & off. Less than 5 months earlier, I had my all of my brakes replaced, so I can't imagine that my brakes are faulty. I became alarmed by these electronic miscues - so I went online to explore whether this was a common thread with other Sequoia owners. I discovered very quickly that there are many people who have had problems with their vsc / engine / and brake lights becoming activated. I was hoping this problem might be covered under a recall, but it appears that it is not. I am hoping for a remedy that won't have extensive costs to me.

- Jackson, WI, USA

problem #3

Mar 172013

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 124,813 miles

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

Started car up and put it in reverse all the sudden these lights came on and the bakes now fill funny.

- Brunswick, GA, USA

problem #2

Nov 012012

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • miles
Vsc, trac, brake lights.

- Dearborn, MI, USA

problem #1

Oct 162012

Sequoia

  • 253,000 miles
The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that while driving 30 mph, the traction control system disengaged without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the catalytic converter was defective and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The approximate failure mileage was 253,00 and the current mileage was 257,000.

- West Chester, OH, USA

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