2003 Toyota Sequoia Brakes Problems

UNKNOWN I'm unsure of what is causing it but it is a very common issue with the 03-04 sequoia. The brake light will come on like on mine and apparently it's a failure in one of the brake components. It's either the brake booster or the master cylinder in most cases is starting to g out. I've done research on this issue and it's a very common problem costing people thousands to get fixed. I feel like if it's that huge of a problem like I've seen with sequoia owners than it's needs to be addressed in a better manner

WHILE EXECUTING A SLOW SPEED LEFT TURN(10-15MPH) I BRAKED LIGHTLY TO EXECUTE ANOTHER LEFT TURN WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS LIT UP ON MY DASHBOARD ALONG WITH DIMINISHED BRAKE POWER AND A GRINDING NOISE. I APPLIED THEM AGAIN A LITTLE MORE AGGRESSIVE TO STOP MY VEHICLE..SAME RESPONSE. I COASTED TO ABOUT 2-3MPH AND THE LIGHTS WERE STILL SHOWING BUT I RECOVERED BRAKE POWER. AT MY DESTINATION(3 BLOCKS AWAY) I TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. ON MY RETURN TRIP BACK HOME, THERE WAS NO SIGN OF DASH WARNING LIGHTS AND I HAD FULL BRAKING POWER. @HOME I IMMEDIATELY CALLED TOYOTA USA AND THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY ONGOING PROBLEM. AFTER GOING ON AN ONLINE FORUM I DISCOVERED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM...SOME OF THEM ACTUALLY GOING TO TOYOTA FOR THE PROBLEM, AND SOME OF THOSE STATED THE PROBLEM RETURNED..MY SON RAN AN OBDII DIAGNOSTIC TO FIND NUMEROUS CODES FOR THE ABS ANS ECU AND BRAKEBOOSTER SYSTEM.FIXES RANGE FROM LOW BRAKE FLUID TO A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF SAID SYSTEMS COSTING THOUSANDS OF DOLLRS. I FEEL THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS. [DATELINE PROBLEM HAPPENED 6-27-19...]I HAVE NO CHOICE NOW BUT TO WARILY TRUST TOYOTA TO RUN A DIAGNOSTIC ON MY VEHICLE FOR SOLUTIONS....PLEASE HELP

I HAVE HAD PERSISTENT PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT BRAKES ROTORS WARPING. NEW ONES DO NOT LAST VERY LONG BEFORE THEY WARP. MY VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 155,000 MILES. MY I HAVE ASKED MY TRUSTED SERVICE MECHANICS TO USE TOYOTA PARTS. THE DEALERSHIP PARTS DEPARTMENT TOLD MY MECHANICS THAT THEY DO NOT RECOMMEND REPLACING THE ROTOR WITH A THE ORIGINAL TOYOTA PART AS THEY HAVE BEEN WARPING. THEY RECOMMEND UP SIZING THE ROTORS, WHICH IS WHAT TOYOTA HAS DONE ON SOME VEHICLE. I HAVE TALKED TO A TOYOTA SERVICE DEPARTMENT ABOUT REPLACING THE FRONT ROTORS AND BRAKES. THEY GAVE ME A QUOTE BUT SAID THEY WOULD NOT GIVE ANY WARRANTY ON BRAKES. I TALKED TO TOYOTA'S 800 NUMBER THEY SAID THERE WERE NO RECALLS OR ELIGIBLE UPGRADES AND THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF THE CAMPAIGN THEY HAD FOR THE BRAKES. THEY WOULD NOT ELABORATE IF ANY OF THE 2003 SEQUOIAS WERE PART OF THE CAMPAIGN. THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER. MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS THAT THE BRAKES OR BRAKE COMPONENTS ARE UNDERSIZED WHICH IS MANIFESTED BY THE REPEAT WARPING OF THE ROTORS. THE UNDERSIZED BRAKES COULD BE A HAZARD UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

TAKATA RECALL. THE PARKING LIGHT WOULD COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND WE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A TOYOTA DEALER. THEY RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE ECU, WHICH WE DID. THIS DIDN'T FIX IT. THE CAR GOT WORSE AND STARTED SHAKING WHEN I DROVE AND WHEN I STOPPED IT WOULD SHAKE AND MAKE A GRINDING NOISE. WE HAD IT LOOKED AT AND THE BRAKING SYSTEM SERVICED. THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS YEAR AND A DANGEROUS FLAW IN THESE VEHICLES.

DEFECTIVE ABS SYSTEM SINCE INITIAL PURCHASE. AT FIRST, AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT NOW A SAFETY HAZARD. BRAKE LIGHT, VSC LIGHT &TRAC LIGHT CONSTANTLY ARE ON & NOW ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS GOING ONLY 10 MPH BRAKES ARE AFFECTED WHERE THERE IS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE & BRAKES DON'T FUNCTION PROPERLY. I WAS TOLD THE YAW SENSOR WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS COSTING $880, BUT IT DIDN'T; NOW ITS THE SKID CONTROL ANOTHER $875 WHICH I AGREED TO & WHEN CALLING TO GET STATUS OF MY CAR, I'M TOLD IT DIDN'T FIX THE ISSUE & NOW IT'S THE BOOSTER ANOTHER $1,000 WHICH I'M NOT PAYING. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL AS THIS IS ISSUE MAKES IT A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE. MY CAR IS STILL SITTING IN THE SHOP AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AT THIS POINT.

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.

WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE ABS, VSC TRAC AND BRAKE LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT ONCE. SINCE THEN I NOTICE A PROBLEM WHEN I BRAKE AT HIGHER SPEEDS THE CAR SEEMS TO SHAKE AS THOUGH THE ABS IS NOT BEING APPLIED PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS WHICH WAS A SIMPLE SOFTWARE UPDATE. NOW THE DEALERSHIP TELLS ME THESE PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. HOW DO I KNOW THAT A SIMPLE UPDATE IS NOT THE FIX OR THAT THE NEW PARTS WONT HAVE A SIMILAR ISSUE IN THE MEANTIME I AM STUCK WITH A VEHICLE THAT'S NOT BRAKING PROPERLY WHEN IT SEEMS THIS SHOULD BE FIXED BY THE MANUFACTURE

NHTSA'S CONCLUSION THAT THE SAS ECU FAILURE ASSOCIATED WITH TOYOTA SEQUOIAS BUILT FROM 2002-2003 UNDER NHTSA INVESTIGATION # 10V176000 IS SERIOUSLY FLAWED. WHILE TYPICALLY THE SUDDEN FAILURE TO ACCELERATE OR FAIL TO BRAKE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ISSUE IS ONLY ANNOYING, IT CAN BE CATASTROPHIC UNDER THE RIGHT CIRCUMSTANCES. FOR INSTANCE WE HAD IT HAPPEN IN A PARKING LOT WHEN BEGINNING TO ACCELERATE AND THEN NOTICING A CAR PULLING OUT QUICKLY IN OUR PATH. OUR BRAKES FAILED, THE TRACTION AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS LIT, AND WE BARELY MISSED THE CAR AS IT NOTICED US COMING AT IT AND QUICKLY GOT OUT OF THE WAY. WHAT IF THE CAR HADN'T NOTICED IN TIME TO PULL AWAY QUICKLY AND AVOID OUR UNCONTROLLABLE CAR? WHAT IF IT WERE A CHILD RUNNING OUT BETWEEN CARS? WHAT IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN DURING OUR LOW SPEED ACCELERATING AND BRAKING WHEN WE DROP OUR KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL AND OTHER KIDS ARE WALKING AMONG THE CARS NOW AND THEN? THE CONCLUSION THAT IT IS NOT A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE SPEEDS INVOLVED IN MOST INCIDENTS REPORTED IS SIMPLY IGNORANT OR RECKLESSLY RISK TOLERANT. DOES SOMEONE ACTUALLY HAVE TO DIE BEFORE THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE? WE WILL TRY TO GET THE DEALER TO MAKE THIS REPAIR BUT SINCE THEIR ARE "NO ACTIVE RECALLS" LISTED ON TOYOTA'S WEBSITE FOR THIS OR ON NHTSA'S, I CAN ONLY HOPE THEY WILL FIX IT.

MY VEHICLE HAS AN ISSUE WITH THE ABS SKID CONTROL. WHEN THE MECHANIC RAN THE CHECK IT CAME BACK WITH ERROR CODES C1203, C1223, C1247. I PURCHASED HATED THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE I HAVE A GROWING FAMILY AND I NEEDED THE THIRD ROW SEATING.THE PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM HAPPENS WHEN I HAVE TO STOP QUICKLY, WHICH IS A A SAFETY CONCERN. I BELIEVE THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE COMPUTER AND THE SKID CONTROL OR ANTI LOCKING BRAKES.

PARKING BRAKE DISINTEGRATED INTO A PILE OF PARTS. I HAD HAD THE BRAKE REPLACED TWICE, AND WAS DETERMINED TO FIND OUT HOW THIS COULD HAVE HAPPENED WHEN I DRIVE AND BRAKE NORMALLY. I HAD 6 MECHANICS LOOK AT IT EXTENSIVELY UNTIL THE LAST ONE FIGURED IT OUT. WHAT WE DETERMINED: 2003 SEQUOIA'S BRAKE DESIGN SWIVELS THE GRIPPING "WINGS" (C-SHAPED) FROM ONE SINGLE PIN (OR POINT) TO GRIP THE CENTER TO HOLD THE CAR IN PLACE. THIS DESIGN ALLOWS THESE TWO "WINGS" TO CATCH ON EACH OTHER. SINCE THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME I RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE AND GO IN REVERSE, I AM FORCED TO GO "FORWARD", TO UNHITCH THESE TWO PIECES, IN ORDER TO BACK UP. (NEWER DESIGNS USE TWO PINS FOR THE TWO BRAKE "WINGS", SO THEY DO NOT CATCH ON EACH OTHER.) I HAVE LEARNED THE ONLY WAY AROUND THIS WAS TO ALWAYS PARK IN A PLACE THAT I CAN PULL FORWARD. SINCE THAT IS NOT USUALLY POSSIBLE, I AM NOT ABLE TO SET THE PARKING BRAKE MOST TIMES. I END UP RELYING ON MY ENGINE TO HOLD THE CAR IN GEAR TO KEEP IT FROM ROLLING...NOT A SAFE WAY TO PARK! I DO BELIEVE THERE WAS A RECALL ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS, BUT THEY MISSED MY 2003 MODEL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE MY ENGINE MAY NOT STAY IN GEAR ONE OF THESE MOMENTS. CAN ANYONE HELP?

STREET LIGHTS CAME ON, SVC, TRACK OFF AND ABS. THAT WILL COST AROUND $1150. PLUS TAXES. THAT I THINK IS NOT RIGHT BECAUSE IT'S BEEN MANY COMPLAINS ABOUT THIS MATTER. AND FOR THIS MILEAGE IT SHOULDN'T BE THE TIME PLEASE WE NEED HELP BECAUSE IF WE GET MINIMUM WAGE THAN WE WON'T BE ABLE TO AFFORD IT. PLEASE HELP. *TR

I RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM TOYOTA FOR UNDERCARRIAGE RUSTING. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR TREATMENT. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT AND I PICKED IT UP THE NEXT DAY. SIX MONTHS LATER (I'M NOT SURE EXACTLY WHEN IT HAPPENED BECAUSE WE HAVE MORE THAN ONE VEHICLE), WHILE DRIVING THE SEQUOIA, WHICH I NEVER HAD PROBLEMS WITH BEFORE, I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING AS I DROVE THE VEHICLE AND THOUGHT THAT WITH THE NEW TREATMENT IT WAS JUST BURNING OFF THE EXCESS. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE, I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE ROTORS HAD RUSTED TO THE POINT THAT I COULD RUB MY HAND ON THEM AND RUB THE METAL OFF. I CALLED THE DEALER TO ASK THEM WHAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN TREATED WITH BECAUSE IN ALL THE YEARS THAT I HAD THE VEHICLE THE ROTORS HAD NEVER RUSTED. I WAS TOLD "IT WASN'T CAUSED BY WHAT THEY DID" AND THAT THEY "SEE RUSTED ROTORS ALL THE TIME", BUT WAS NEVER TOLD WHAT CHEMICALS WERE USED IN THE TREATMENT. I HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE ENTIRE BRAKE ASSEMBLY REPLACED ON ALL WHEELS TO MAKE THE VEHICLE SAFE AGAIN. I'M TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS JUST A COINCIDENCE THAT THE FIRST AND ONLY TIME THAT THIS HAPPENED IS WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF THE "UNDERCARRIAGE RUST TREATMENT" THAT I WAS TOLD HAD TO BE APPLIED TO PREVENT RUST BY TOYOTA. I BELIEVE THE RUST INHIBITOR TREATMENT IS FRAUDULENT AND CAUSES OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLES SUCH AS MINE. *TR

RECEIVED TOYOTA FACTORY RECALL FOR CORROSION-RESISTANT COMPOUND DUE TO EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST. CALLED LOCAL DEALER AND ALSO FACTORY TOYOTA FOR APPOINTMENT. TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP. ONE DAY LATER RECEIVED PHONE CALL THAT MY VEHICLE WAS SAFE AND THAT THEY HAD SPRAYED THIS COATING ON THE VEHICLE. I PICKED UP VEHICLE AND THIS CORROSIVE CHEMICAL IS DRIPPING OF THE VEHICLE AND IS NOT DRYING. CONCERNED FOR ENVIRONMENT AND ALSO, I HAVE NO IDEA OF HOW VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED ASSURING THAT THE FRAME IS SAFE.

STARTED CAR UP AND PUT IT IN REVERSE ALL THE SUDDEN THESE LIGHTS CAME ON AND THE BAKES NOW FILL FUNNY. *TR

VSC TRAC VSC OFF ABS WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND HAD THE BRAKE BOOSTER REPLACED THE WARNING LIGHTS RETURNED, SEARCHING THE NET MANY OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS HAVE SEEN THIS PROBLEM, THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL SINCE BRAKING IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

DURING MY WORK COMMUTE THIS MORNING THE "VSC TRAC" AND "VSC OFF" LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AND STAYED ON. *TR

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2003 SEQUOIA AND HAVE BECOME AWARE THAT THE VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, ABS LIGHTS ALWAYS REMAIN ON. MY MECHANIC RAN THE CODES AND HAS ADVISED ME THAT I NEED A NEW DECELERATION SENSOR. AFTER SOME RESEARCH ONLINE I SEE THAT I AM NOT ALONE AND SO WOULD LIKE TO VOICE MY CONCERN ABOUT THIS FAULTY SENSOR AND ASK THAT TOYOTA GIVE A RESPONSE TO WHY SO MANY VEHICLES OF THIS ERA HAVE THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM. *TR

I JUST PURCHASED A USED 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5 2 DAYS AGO FROM THE DEALER. ALTHOUGH, THE VEHICLE COMES UNDER NO WARRANTY, I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A DEFECT THAT HAS BEEN REPORTED BY OTHER 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5 OWNERS. THE PROBLEM ' TRAC OFF LIGHT CAME ON, VSC LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY NEED TO SEE THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS THE SKID ECU AND IT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AT $1200.00 FOR THE PART AND $232.30 FOR LABOR. THE SERVICE TECH TOLD ME THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AS THIS IS THE BRAIN OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND THE ABS WILL LOCK UP AND THE BRAKES WILL FAIL. THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON UNTIL THE NEXT DAY. I WENT ON LINE TO RESEARCH THE CAUSE AND DEFECT AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE QUITE A FEW OWNERS EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM I HAVE. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND HOPING TO RESOLVE THIS MALFUNCTION BEFORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED.

VSC TRACTION CONTROL & ANTILOCK BRAKE LIGHT ON. VEHICLE SKID ON WET SURFACE WHILE MAKING TURNS AT NORMAL SPEED. *TR

I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA FROM THOUSAND OAKS TOYOTA DEALER ON JAN 22, 2011. I NOTICED ON THE THIRD WEEK OF DRIVING IT, THE BRAKE LIGHT, AND VSC LIGHT WOULD GO ON INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE AOG COMPUTER, AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS UPDATE WOULD MOST LIKELY FILX THE PROBLEM. AFTER THE AOG WAS UPDATED12 MAR 2011, NOW BOTH THE BRAKE LIGHT AND THE VSC TRACK OFF LIGHTS COME ON, AND THE BRAKES SHUDDER TO A STOP. UNFORTUNATELY THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN EACH AND EVERYTIME I'M DRIVING THE CAR, BUT RATHER SPORADICALLY. I'VE TAKEN THE SUV BACK TO THE DEALER, AND THEY SEEM TO BE GUESSING AS TO THE PROBLEM, AND SOLUTION. THEY HAVE SUGGESTED THAT I NEED TO REPLACE THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER, HOWEVER BLOGS THAT I HAVE READ ON THIS ISSUE INDICATE CHANGING THESE PARTICULAR PARTS WILL NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. MY PERSONAL MECHANIC HAS SUGGESTED THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER ARE NOT THE ISSUE, BUT RATHER RELATED TO THE WHOLE BREAKING COMPUTER SYSTEM. HE STRONGLY SUGGESTED THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS AND FIX. THAT IN FACT THIS IS A WELL KNOWN PROBLEM PERTAINING TO THE SKID CONTROL COMPUTER AND ECM. I'VE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AS A FAMILY VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT MY FAMILY, AND I CERTAINLY DON'T FEEL SAFE USING THIS VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT ANY ONE IN. I STRONGLY BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS WHOLE BRAKING MECHANISM. *TR