NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Toyota Sequoia. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
SIMILAR COMPLAINT AS MANY. I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA THE VSC/TRAC LIGHT IS ON. DEALERSHIP SAYS SKID CONTROL COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED. BUT COMPUTER SCANNER SHOWS NO CODES THAT VERIFY ANY DEFECTS. *TR
VSC, ABS AND TRAC LIGHT COMING ON. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE BRAKE AND VEHICLE SKID CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CONTROL PANEL, AND THEN THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SKID. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, ONE YEAR LATER THE FAILURE RESURFACED. AN AUTHORIZED TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE ENTIRE COMPUTER SYSTEM AT AN EXPENSE OF $2500.00. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATE 12/14/09 *CN UPDATED 12/16/09*JB
FOR NO REASON, THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHTS (VSC TRAC) HAVE LIT UP AND WILL NOT TURN OFF. AFTER RESEARCHING THE MATTER, IT APPEARS THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE OF THE VSC TRACTION CONTROL ECU. THE APPROXIMATE COST TO REPAIR IS $2000.00. THIS ITEM IS CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED FOR A RECALL AS ITS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM FOR ALL TOYOTA SEQUOIAS. *TR THE VEHICLE DOES IN FACT EXPERIENCE THE OCCASIONAL LOCKING UP OF THE BRAKES COUPLED WITH THE LOSS OF ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. THIS OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK AND USUALLY OCCURS AFTER COMING TO A STOP AND YOU BEGIN TO ACCELERATE FORWARD AGAIN. AS YOU BEGIN TO ACCELERATE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSES POWER AND THE BRAKES LOCK UP AND MAKE A LOUD GRIDING NOISE. WHILE THIS OCCURS, IF YOU STEP ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, ITS VERY FIRM AND YOU CAN FEEL A VIBRATION IN THE PEDAL. *SMCH
I BOUGHT 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. I AM GETTING THE VSC TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS LIGHT ON. CHECKED WITH OTHER SEQUOIA OWNER AND THEY HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEM. I WENT TO CHECKED THE CAR AND WAS TOLD THAT THE ECU COMPUTER IS FAULTY. THE FAULTY ECU NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THIS IS WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH 03 SEQUOIA IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. HERE ARE THE CODES: C1203, C1223,C1244. *TR
IN 2007, TOOK MY 2003 SEQUOIA TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE VSC LIGHTS CAME ON. THE DEALER REPLACED THE OXYGEN SENSOR. NOW A YEAR LATER, THE VSC LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. I HAVE NOW HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE SKID CONTROL COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1650. *TR
VEHICLE STALLS OCCASIONALLY WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN. THIS HAPPENED TO ME WHILE PULLING INTO TRAFFIC WHICH MADE FOR AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS I HAVE TO QUICKLY STEER THE CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE, VSC OFF LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED AND STAYS ON. WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE IN GEAR AND DRIVING FOR A FEW SECONDS, A GRINDING NOISE WITH A WARNING SIGNAL OCCURS. *TR
MY SEQUOIA 2003 WITH 31,000 MILES, IT SHOWED BRAKE LIGHT ON. SO I THOUGHT THE BRAKE PADS NEED TO BE CHANGED SO I DID. BUT THE LIGHT STILL CAME ON AND OFF SOME DAYS. ABOUT 4 WEEKS AFTER, VSC LIGHTS AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON SO I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER UNIT FOR TRACKING MUST BE REPLACED AND WOULD COST ME PART AND LABOR $1650. DEALER PULLED UP CODES C1241, C1231, C1223, AND C1203. IT SEEMS FROM MULTIPLE IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS, TOYOTA HAS MADE A FAULTY PART AND SHOULD MAKE THE RECALL FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CUSTOMER. *TR
VSC OFF, ABS, BRAKE AND TCS LIGHTS CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME ONLY AT FULL STOP (ENGINE RUNNING). AS SOON AS TAKING OFF (DRIVING) WITH OVER 5 KM/HR, ALL LIGHT WENT OFF. STOPPING THE VEHICLE, ALL LIGHT WILL CAME ON AGAIN. THIS CYCLE REPEATING WITH EACH AND EVERY STOP. DEALER DETERMINED THAN ONE OF THE VACUUM HOSE CRACKED AND REDUCED PRESSURE AT IDLE WOULD CAUSE LIGHT TO COME ON. ONCE HOSE HAVE BEEN REPLACED, PROBLEM WAS RESOLVED. STRONGLY ADVISE SEQUOIA OWNERS BEFORE REPLACING ANY COMMUTER COMPONENTS OR EXPENSIVE MODULE, TO TALK TO THEIR DEALERS AND HAVE THE VACUUM SYSTEM CHECKED PRIOR TO ANY OTHER STEPS. IT IS THE LESS COSTLY REPAIR BEFORE ANY MAJOR ONES. *TR
PURCHASED NEW IN 07/2003, ON 9/21/08, OUR SEQUOIA WITH ONLY 39,000 MILES HAD ITS VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, & ABS LIGHTS COME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THERE WAS A BAD SENSOR AND A BAD ECU. WE LOCATED TSB.BR006-06 FOR THIS PROBLEM WHERE THE RECOMMENDED FIX IS REPLACEMENT OF THE SKID CONTROL COMPUTER BECAUSE OF A CHANGE IN THE SOFTWARE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THIS IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART. TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE WOULD NOT HELP. MY DEALER WANTED $1,300 FOR THE ECU AND $330 FOR THE SENSOR, BUT I GOT THEM DOWN TO $940 FOR THE ECU AND $240 FOR THE SENSOR. AFTER TAX IT WAS ABOUT $1300, PLUS $255 FOR THREE HOURS OF LABOR. THIS IS CLEARLY, IN MY OPINION A SOFTWARE BUG, SINCE THE NEW ECU HAS A NEW PROGRAM AS STATED IN THE TSB. I'M PRETTY UPSET THAT A SOFTWARE BUG ISN'T A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, BUT THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE OWNER. I'M GOING TO APPROACH AN ATTORNEY TO START A CLASS ACTION ON THIS MATTER. HOPEFULLY, IT WILL BE WORTH THEIR CONTINGENCY. *TR
THE BRAKE LIGHT ON MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA HAS BEEN RECENTLY COMING ON. I TOOK IT IN FOR NEW BAKE PADS AND TURNED OUT I NEEDED NEW ROTORS TOO. NOT MORE THAN 18 HOURS LATER THE LIGHT IS STILL COMING ON?? I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THE ABS LIGHT COMING ON VERY FREQUENTLY AND HAD NEW BRAKE PADS PUT IN, A NEW CENSOR, AND STILL NOTHING. FINALLY AFTER I HAD TAKEN IT IN ON THAT BALL JOINT RECALL, THE LIGHT HAS NEVER BEEN ON AGAIN. I REALLY DON'T FEEL COMFORTABLE DRIVING MY KIDS AROUND WITH A BRIGHT RED "BRAKE!" LIGHT ON. *TR
VSC/TRAC AND ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER SAID PROBLEM WAS O2 SENSOR. THEY REPLACED 02 SENSOR AND ALL LIGHTS CLEARED. AFTER ONE WEEK THE VSC0/TRAC LIGHTS CAME BACK ON AND THEY GO ON AND OFF EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE TRUCK. DEALER SAID WE NEED TO REPLACE SKID CONTROL ECU. WE DECIDED NOT TO REPLACE THE UNIT BECAUSE OF 1800.00 COST. *TR
ON 4 OCCASIONS DASH LIGHT INDICATING VSC AND BRAKE PROBLEM APPEARED. EACH TIME THE BRAKING OF THE 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WAS COMPROMISED. EACH TIME THE TRUCK WAS BROUGHT TO TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER FOR REPAIR. EACH TOYOTA SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM BUT REPLACED SKID COMPUTER ANYWAY. 8/20/08 PROBLEM RECURRED WITH DASH BRAKE INDICATOR LIGHT COMING ON. BRAKING AGAIN COMPROMISED, HEARD LOUD "CLUNKING SOUND" COMING FROM CAR WHILE DRIVING. IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT TO SCOTTSDALE TOYOTA SERVICE CENTER. AGAIN, SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE PROBLEM AND RETURNED CAR WITH NO REPAIR. CALLED TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FILED A COMPLAINT. TOYOTA INDICATED COMPLAINT IS NOW ON RECORD. PROBLEM WITH DASH BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON AND BRAKING DIMINISHED RECURRED AGAIN 8/27/08. AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF, INDICATOR NO LONGER LIT AND BRAKING BACK TO NORMAL. I FEAR FOR BOTH MY SAFETY AND MY FAMILIES. SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH INDICATES A LARGE NUMBER OF SEQUOIA OWNERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR
VSC,TCS LIGHTS GO ON AFTER A NOISE COMING FROM RIGHT ANTERIOR WHEEL / ENGINE. LIGHTS STAY ON. *TR
03 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. VSC, ABS, PARKING BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. AT 52,000 MILES WHILE DRIVING. YAW SENSOR DEFECTIVE. *TR
THE ABS AND SKID CONTROL LIGHTS ARE ON IN MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE DEALER STATES THAT THE SKID CONTROL COMPUTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. SO RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NO SKID CONTROL OR ABS AVAILABLE ON MY CAR BECAUSE OF THIS COMPUTER IS BAD. TOYOTA WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT AND I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT CASE 200810010613. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
THE VEHICLE STABILIZATION CONTROL COMPUTE FAILED FOR THE SECOND TIME AND HAS TAKEN OUT MY ABS BRAKES. THE COMPUTER THAT CONTROLS IS HAS FAILED BOTH TIMES. *TR
2003 TOYOTA SKID CONTROL COMPUTER, I AM WRITING TO REQUEST THAT A FORMAL COMPLAINT BE FILED TO TOYOTA. I RECENTLY TOOK MY CAR INTO MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP BECAUSE OF A FEW LIGHTS THAT WE ON IN MY DASH. THE SPECIFIC LIGHTS WERE THE VSC, VSC OFF AND THE ABS LIGHTS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I SEE THAT THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON PROBLEM WITH TOYOTA AND THEIR SKID CONTROL COMPUTERS. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY AND IS A VERY EXPENSIVE PART TO HAVE REPLACED. MY QUOTE WAS FOR $1800 EXCLUDING TAX. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH 47,000 MILES AND WAS OFFERED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY UP TO 60,000, BUT IT WAS A VERY EXPENSIVE EXTENDED WARRANTY SO I DECIDED TO PASS. THE MANUFACTURES WARRANTY FOR MY CAR WAS 55,000 MILES I BELIEVE AND THE LIGHTS CAME ON AT 55,500 MILES....OF COURSE. I SINCERELY HOPE THAT THERE CAN BE SOME SORT OF RESOLVE FOR THIS SUCH AS A RECALL OF THE SKID CONTROL COMPUTER OR CHANGING THIS ISSUE TO BE COVERED UNDER THE POWER TRAIN SECTION OF THE WARRANTY AS IT IS UNFAIR FOR THERE TO BE SO MANY PEOPLE TO BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE AND SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE HAVE SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES TO THE COMPUTERS MALFUNCTION SUCH AS ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLE DEATH. PLEASE TAKE WHATEVER ACTION NECESSARY TO SOLVE THIS UNNECESSARY ISSUE. *TR
BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER SAYS THE SKIP CONTROL COMPUTER WHICH INCLUDES VSC/ABS BRAKE SYSTEM ON VEHICLE, THIS IS AN EXPENSIVE FIX. MY LAST SERVICE ON THIS VEHICLE WAS A COMPLETE BRAKE REPLACEMENT AFTER WHICH THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTED TO COME ON AT RANDOM. THE BRAKE LIGHT HAS TO BE ON IN ORDER TO CHECK THE VEHICLE, WHICH IS AN INCONVENIENCE IN ITSELF. I FINALLY MANAGED TO CATCH THE BRAKE LIGHT ON AND THIS IS WHAT I WAS CONFRONTED WITH. NO INJURIES OR DEATH SO FAR IT THAT WHAT IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM CORRECTED. *TR
VEHICLE TRACTION CONTROL, VEHICLE SKID CONTROL, ANTI BRAKE SYSTEM LIGHTS HAVE COME ON CAUSING CONCERNS OF SAFETY FOR MY FAMILY. *TR
I HAVE A TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2003: THE VSC/ABS/TRANSLATE ECU HAVE FAILED MULTIPLE TIMES RESULTING IN UNSAFE VEHICLE HANDLING. *TR
TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, SKID CONTROL LIGHT, ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALL JUST CAME ON WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEM NOTED. *TR
MY ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND THE DEALERSHIP THAT I HAVE BEEN TAKING IT TO KEEPS TELLING ME THAT THEY CAN NOT FINE ANYTHING. THE WARRANTY RUN OUT AT 60,000 MILES AND I'M AT 59260. I HAVE TAKING THE VEHICLE 3 TIME. I BELIEVE THEY ARE TRYING TO WAIT FOR MY WARRANTY TO RUN OUT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VSC SKID CONTROL WARNING LIGHT, ABS WARNING LIGHT, AND SERVICE STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT RANDOMLY KEPT ILLUMINATING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REFLASHED THE ECU, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY DID NOT ADDRESS THE RECALL REPAIR SINCE MID 2008 TO 2015. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V286000 (AIR BAGS) AND WAS WAITING FOR THE PART FROM THE DEALER TO RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,000.
TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2003, BOUGHT NEW MY COMPLAINT ECHOES WHAT A LOT OF OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING REGARDING THE SKID CONTROL COMPUTER WHICH APPARENTLY AFFECTS THE VSC/ABC/EBRAKE. PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED OVER A YEAR AGO WITH THE EBRAKE LIGHT RANDOMLY COMING ON DURING NORMAL DRIVING (RESTARTING THE CAR USUALLY RESOLVES), BUT EVENTUALLY GOT TO A POINT WHERE THE CAR THINKS IT'S IN A VEHICLE SKID CONTROL SITUATION AND ABS TRIGGERS AND APPLY PRESSURE TO THE GAS PEDAL IS INOPERABLE. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION AS WE WERE DRIVING THROUGH OUR NEIGHBORHOOD FILLED WITH KIDS (AND HAVE 2 OF OUR OWN) SEEMS TO BE A PRETTY SIGNIFICANT ISSUE OUT THERE SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO IT. *TR
I PURCHASED A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA IN NOVEMBER 2007. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR THE SAME PROBLEM 5 TIMES. THEY JUST HAD A "REP" TO COME TO THIS LOCATION TO TEST THE VEHICLE AND THEY CANNOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED ME TO ALMOST GET IN AN ACCIDENT AS WELL AS MY WIFE. THE SKID CONTROL LIGHT WILL FLASH AFTER MAKING A TURN (UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS, GOING VERY SLOW) AND THE VEHICLE WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO ACCELERATE FOR 2 TO 3 SECONDS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY. IT MAY GO A WEEK OR 2 WITHOUT OCCURRING (DEPENDING ON HOW MUCH IT IS DRIVEN), AND THEN THE PROBLEM WILL SURFACE. THEY REPLACED THE MAIN COMPUTER MODULE, BUT THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST AND THIS COULD BECOME A SERIOUS MATTER FOR MY FAMILY. IT IS NOT MY FAULT THAT THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR WHEN THE DEALERSHIP CHECKS IT OR THAT AN ERROR CODE DOES NOT SHOW UP. THE PROBLEM IS THERE AND SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. *TR
TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2003 85,000 MILES. SKID CONTROL UNIT IS BAD. MY ABS, TRAC LIGHTS ARE ON. EVERY SO OFTEN MY BRAKE LIGHT WILL GO ON TOO. THE BRAKE LIGHT WILL RESOLVE BY TURNING OFF ENGINE AND START AGAIN. OTHER LIGHTS STAY ON. ASKED TOYOTA DEALER. THEY GAVE ME A PRICE OF $2600 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THEY SAID I NEED A NEW SKID CONTROL AND DECAL SENSOR. *TR
I BOUGHT A USED 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA IN 2004. IT CURRENTLY HAS 30130 MILES ON IT. I AM THE SECOND OWNER. THE PROBLEM: SPORADIC VSC/ATRAC MALFUNCTION. 1. I HAD BEEN ADVISED TO GO IN FOR TOYOTA CAMPAIGN SSC 50J FOR BALL JOINT SAFETY RECALL. THIS WAS DONE AT FREMONT TOYOTA ON MAY 30, 2008. 2. ON JUNE 12, 2008, THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL AND TRACTION CONTROL STARTS DISENGAGING ON ITS OWN, WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON US 101 NORTH FREEWAY ON MY WAY HOME FROM A TRIP TO MONTERREY BAY AQUARIUM. 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM: THE VSC/ATRAC INDICATOR LIGHTS CHANGES STATE TO ON AND THE SYSTEM WILL INADVERTENTLY ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE WITHOUT ANY WARNING. TO RESET,I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM REPEATED A DOZEN TIMES, UNTIL I REACHED HOME. SO I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO FREMONT TOYOTA ON JUNE 14, 2008 AND WAS TOLD THERE IS ERROR CODE C1231 AND C1203 AND THE REASON IS FAULTY ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL COMPUTERS. 4. I WAS NOT CONVINCED WITH THE ANSWER AND DECIDED TO DO MY OWN RESEARCH ON THE NHTSA SITE AND DISCUSSION FORUMS ON THE NET AND FOUND OUT THAT TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE, TOYOTA MODIFIED ITS SKID CONTROL LOGIC AND THE VSC COMMUNICATION BETWEEN SKID CONTROL COMPUTER AND THE ENGINE CONTROL MODULE TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM (PLEASE REFER NHTSA# 00303 & BR00203, DIAGNOSTICS CODES C1231 & C1203). 5. I CALLED UP FREMONT TOYOTA IN CALIFORNIA ABOUT WHAT I FOUND OUT AND WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE ADVISOR THAT I HAD TO REPLACE THE EXISTING VSC & ECU COMPUTERS, WITH UPDATED/REDESIGNED MODULES AT MY EXPENSE (COSTS OF $2700) I THINK THIS IS UNREASONABLE SINCE, I CONSIDER THIS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT SINCE THE FIX CALLS FOR A COMPUTER UPGRADE. I AM WRITING TO LET YOUR OFFICE KNOW THAT TOYOTA DEALER AND TOYOTA NORTH AMERICA WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM. I CAN BE REACHED AT (510) 471-6937 IF YOU HAVE FURTHER QUESTIONS. SINCERELY, SHAJI RAVINDRANATHAN *TR
IN JUNE 2008 AT 88,000 MILES I BROUGHT VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE, AND WAS TOLD THE SWAY BAR LINKS WERE BROKEN. THIS WAS COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. *TR
TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2003, VTRAC AND ABS LIGHTS CAME UP ON THE DASH DURING A VERY WET INTERSTATE TREK TO MICHIGAN FROM CALIFORNIA. HAD NO CRUISE CONTROL BEFORE THIS, THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILED THE YEAR BEFORE DURING THE SAME WET TREK ACROSS COUNTRY! THE TOYOTA DEALER IN SAGINAW MICHIGAN TOLD US THAT THE COMPUTER CONTROLLING THE VTRAC AND ABS WAS DISPLAYING FAULT CODES AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, COST $1200. THIS IS A 5 YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH 70K MILES ON IT NOW (THE FAULT HAPPENED AROUND 66K MILES) WHICH IS NOW MUCH HARDER TO HANDLE UNDER HEAVY BRAKING, WHICH WE NEED MORE AND MORE WITH THE LOW QUALITY DRIVERS OUT THERE. IF THE GAS PRICES WEREN'T SO HIGH, THIS TRUCK WOULD BE OUT OF HERE HERE, BUT WE CAN'T AFFORD TO SELL IT FOR THE CURRENT VALUE, AND BUY ANOTHER VEHICLE, SO THIS SUV WILL NOW BE LIMITED TO TRIPS WHERE WE NEED THE STORAGE/TOWING CAPACITY. SO, EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE 2 CARS, WE ONLY REALLY HAVE 1 1/2 NOW. *TR
I PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO CONSUMER REPORTS AND THEY SUGGESTED I FORWARD THE INFORMATION TO YOU: I SUBSCRIBE TO MYCARSTATS CAR REPORT ADVISORY SERVICE. THEY PROVIDE INFO AND MAINTENANCE REPORTS ON VEHICLES LIKE MINE, 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THERE ARE REPEATED REPORTS OF FAILURES TO THE VSC/ABS/ESC SYSTEM. IN SOME CASES THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THESE INCIDENTS SEEM TO BE MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE VEHICLES HAVE HIGHER MILEAGE. IT ALSO SEEMS THE DEALERS ARE MILKING THE CAR OWNERS BY DOING BAND-AID FIXES TO THE SYSTEM UNTIL THE WARRANTY GOES OUT. IN SOME CASES THE REPAIR COST EXCEEDS $2500. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE AND OWNERS HAVE BEEN CRYING FOR A RECALL BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE BEEN CRYING TO THE WRONG PEOPLE - TOYOTA. CAN YOU GET INVOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED? MAYBE THAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED AND TOYOTA IS KEEPING IT QUITE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE, BUT HE JUST WANTED IT TO BE KNOWN THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. UPDATED 04/07/10.*JB
2003 4X4 TOYOTA SEQUOIA / 30K MILES. ONE MORE COMPLAINT ABOUT THE VSC/TRAC-ABS LIGHTS COMING ON DUE TO FAULTY VSC COMPUTER. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 30,055 MILES AND IS STILL UNDER THE MANUFACTURER'S 60 MONTH/60,000 POWERTRAIN WARRANTY YET THIS IS NOT COVERED. VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR IN EXCESS OF $2,000. THIS COMPLAINT HAS BEEN FILED BY THOUSANDS AND REALLY SHOULD BE A RECALL AS TO ITS IMPENDING DANGER IT PUTS THE DRIVERS IN. *TR
MY COMPLAINT IS THE ABS/TRAC LIGHT STAYS ON CONTINUOUSLY. WE HAD NO PRIOR WARNING OF THIS INCIDENT EVEN THOUGH WE HAD TAKEN OUR VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP BEFORE WITH THE TRAC LIGHT STAYING ON ALL THE TIME WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NOW OUR VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED. OUR DEALERSHIP INSPECTED OUR VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE ABS SKID CONTROL WAS MALFUNCTIONING. AFTER DOING A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS ECU AND GETTING AN UNFAIR PRICE FROM THE DEALERSHIP ($1,600.00) TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WE SAW THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL ISSUES WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM ON THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL AS OUR VEHICLE. PARTS CAN ONLY BE FOUND THROUGH THE DEALERSHIP THUS WE ARE AT THE MERCY OF THE DEALERSHIPS. SEVERAL OF THE ISSUES HAVE ALL HAPPENED AFTER THE WARRANTIES HAVE EXPIRED, BUT WITHIN THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY. I FEEL TOYOTA SHOULD LOOK AT THIS PROBLEM CLOSELY, WE SHOULD NOT BE REPLACING THIS PART AFTER 4 YEARS OF SERVICE. THANKS FOR YOU TIME AND ALL YOUR HELP WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR
VSC/TRAC AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON AND DESPITE THIS BEING A COMMON FAILURE TOYOTA SAYS I MUST PAY $600+ TO HAVE A YAW SENSOR REPLACED. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHTS CAME ON. THE DEALER SAYS THAT THE ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER MUST BE REPLACED. THE PART ALONE IS $2,100.00, THEN LABOR TO INSTALL. I HAVE READ NUMEROUS OTHER REPORTS OF FAILURE OF THIS COMPONENT WHICH SEEMS INTEGRAL TO THE VEHICLE'S STEERING AND HANDLING. TOYOTA PUBLISHED A TECHNICAL BULLETIN IN MAY 2006 RECOGNIZING THIS DEFECT AND CHANGING THE SKID CONTROL COMPUTER. *TR
TOYOTA SEQUOIA VSC ABS PROBLEM ON THIS 2003 SEQUOIA THE ABS BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY COME ON WITHOUT WARNING, AND WITH OUT THE DRIVER BRAKING. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONLY AT SLOW SPEEDS THUS FAR. THE VSC INDICATOR LIGHTS ALSO COME ON. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED 4X4. I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH VSC/ TRAC LIGHT COME AND GOES. I WENT TO DEALER WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY,DEALER TOLD ME THAT I HAVE LOW BRAKE FLUID CAUSING THAT PROBLEM. BUT CAR WAS DRIVEN LESS THAN 20,000 MILES AT THAT TIME. NOW CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND I FOUND OUT I HAVE PROBLEM WITH COMPUTERS CONTROLLING VSC. AND IT WILL COST ME ALOT. I HAVE FOUND THAT LOTS OF SEQUOIA HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEM AS MINE. I LIKE TO KNOW WHAT HAS TO BE DONE FOR THIS MATTER. THE CAR NOW LITTLE UNDER 40,000 MILES. *TR
ABS, VSC, AND TRAC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON ENGINE START AND WILL NOT EXTINGUISH. DEALER RAN CODES, CLAIMS FAULTY MASTER CYLINDER PRESSURE SENSOR, STROKE SENSOR, YAW RATE SENSOR, AND SKID ECU: $2777.50. VEHICLE MILEAGE 69872. AT APPROX 48K MILES SIMILAR EVENT WITH ADDITION OF ENGINE LIGHT, REPLACED O2 SENSOR AND RESOLVED. MUCH EXPERIENCE WITH AIRCRAFT ABS TELLS ME VERY UNLIKELY ALL SENSORS AND COMPUTERS FAIL SIMULTANEOUS BUT DEALER STICKING TO SCRIPT, CLAIMS FIRST EVER SEEN THIS TYPE PROBLEM. *TR
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED WITH APPROXIMATELY 57, 000 MILES. I RECENTLY TOOK MY VEHICLE TO TOYOTA OF HUNTINGTON BEACH FOR SERVICE AND TO CHECK ON THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL (VSC) LIGHT BECAUSE IT WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE SERVICE ADVISOR STATED THAT BASED THE DIAGNOSTIC REPAIR CODES AND A REPAIR BULLETIN, HE RECOMMENDED A THAT THE SKID CONTROL ECU BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1667.00 THIS REPAIR RECOMMENDATION WHAT DISAPPOINTING FOR A NUMBER OF REASONS: 1.THIS IS A REPAIR THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY COMPLAINED ABOUT THE VSC LIGHT TO A TOYOTA SERVICE TECHNICIAN WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE SOLUTION BY THE TOYOTA OF LONG BEACH REPAIR FACILITY WAS TO SIMPLY 'RESET' THE ECU. ATTACHED IS THE INVOICE. 2.SECONDLY, THE ECU IS NOT A WEAR AND TEAR ITEM AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO ONGOING MAINTENANCE. IT IS A COMPUTER CHIP THAT IS DESIGNED TO CONTROL THE VSC, ETC. IF THE ECU CAN NOT BE REPROGRAMMED TO FUNCTION AS INTENDED, THEN THIS DESIGN FLAW THAT AGAIN SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY OR AS RECALL. 3.THE DESIGN FLAW IS SERIOUS AND CRITICALLY AFFECTS THE SAFETY AND STABILITY OF THE VEHICLE. 4.FINALLY, THE ECU IS ESSENTIALLY A SMALL COMPUTER AND THE $1600 PRICE TAG TO REPLACE SUCH AND INEXPENSIVE PART IS ABSURD. IN THE EVENT THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT HONOR ITS COMMITMENT TO QUALITY, TOYOTA, SHOULD REEVALUATE THE PRICING OF SUCH A SMALL BUT CRITICAL PART AND REPAIR. *TR
03 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VSC TRAC LIGHTS ON. SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
VSC/ABS SKID CONTROL ECU FAILURE ON 2003 SEQUOIA @ 56,410 MILES (ORIGNAL OWNER). ECU FAILURE IS A KNOWN ISSUE BY EVERY TOYOTA SEQUOIA OWNER, BUT TOYOTA CLAIMS IT'S LIMITED. THIS FAILURE REQUIRES THAT VSC/ABS SKID CONTROL ECU / YAW RATE SENSOR BE REPLACED. THE REPAIR COST WAS $794.20 FOR PART AND LABOR AT THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. NOW, CONSIDERING THE SEVERITY OF THE DEFECT AND NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE I'M VERY SUPRIZED NOT TO SEE A RECALL NOTICE TO DATE. *TR
ON GOING PROBLEMS WITH VSC. 2003 (41,000 MILES) TOYOTA SEQUOIA HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES NOW FOR THE VSC ACTIVATING AND BRAKES ENGAGING WHILE TURNING A CORNER IN NORMAL, DRY CONDITIONS. FROM 3 MPH TO MORE THAN 15+ MPH THE VSC ENGAGES AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED. VERY DANGEROUS! DEALERSHIP HAS FIXED PROBLEM EACH OF THE 3 TIMES. CAR WARRANTY IS NOW OVER AND PROBLEM PERSISTS. DEALERSHIP SAYS FOR $1500. THEY WILL REPLACE THE VSC COMPUTER...UTTER NON-SENSE!!! VERY UPSET THAT TOYOTA CONTINUES TO HIDE FROM THIS PROBLEM. WHILE RESEARCHING ON LINE I HAVE EASILY FOUND HUNDREDS OF SIMILAR CASES AND COMPLAINTS.....PLEASE DO SOMETHING!!!!!! *TR
VSC OFF AND VSC TRAC WARNING LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON ALONG WITH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAD RESET EVERY TIME. DEALER IS VAGUE ON CAUSE AND SAYS PROBABLY GAS CAP SEAL. REPLACED OXYGEN COMPONENTS ONE TIME. HAPPENING AGAIN. I SUSPECT FAULTY PART OR COMPUTER WITH THE CAR THAT IS NOT YET DOCUMENTED. *TR
FAILURE OF SKID CONTROL ECU. FAILURE INITIALLY INTERMITTENT, BUT E-BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON TO IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM NOT IDENTIFIABLE, BUT FAILURE PREVENTS SKID CONTROL FROM WORKING. *TR
VSC/ABS/SKID CONTROL COMPUTER FAILURE AT 50,000 MILES IN 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5 2WD. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOWN PROBLEM, FOR WHICH TOYOTA PROPOSES REPLACEMENT AT CONSUMER COST OF $1500+ FOR OUT OF WARRANTY VEHICLES. REQUESTED OUTCOME: TOYOTA SHOULD REPLACE THE COMPUTER AT NO COST FOR PART; THIS IS CLEARLY A DEFECT AND SHOULD NOT BE REQUIRED FOR CONSUMER TO REPLACE. *TR
2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5 90,000 MILES - SINCE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW IN JULY 2003, THE VSC TRAC, VSC OFF AND BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE TURNED ON BY ITSELF INTERMITTENTLY. UNTIL THE WEEKEND OF DEC 22, 2007, I REGARDED THIS ISSUE, MORE OR LESS, AS A NUISANCE PROBLEM. ON DEC 22, 2007 THE VSC TRAC AND VSC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON AND PRETTY MUCH HAVE REMAINED ON. ON TWO OCCASIONS, THE SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT STARTED TO BLINK, CAUSING A LOUD NOISE AND VIBRATION BY THE OPERATION OF THE BRAKES. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT 3 YEARS AGO THE VSC TRACKING AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENTAL PANEL PRIOR TO THE VEHICLE ACCELERATING AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPIN OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT SHE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE OXYGEN SENSOR, GASKET, AND THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VEHICLE SKID CONTROL FAILURE. MECHANIC TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE LIGHTS. MECHANIC SUGGESTED REPLACING BOTH CONTROLLING COMPUTERS. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE MOVES FORWARD, THE VSC OFF AND VSC TRAC LIGHTS ILLUMINATE. *JB
2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WITH INADEQUATE BRAKES. CONSUMER STATES THAT HE NEEDS TO STAY FURTHER BACK FROM OTHER VEHICLES. HE ALSO STATES THAT THE ROTORS WERE WARPED A SECOND TIME A WEEK AFTER HAVING THEM MACHINED. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE PROBLEM EXACERBATED WHEN HE WOULD TOW A SMALL UTILITY TRAILER. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS AWARE THAT A TSB HAD BEEN ISSUED WHICH STATED THE BRAKES WERE TOO SMALL FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. *JB
1.) NO EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE 2.) VSC OFF / TRAC OFF LIGHTS ON DASH STAY ON CONTINUALLY, AND VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL IS EFFECTIVELY DISABLED. RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE ON THE INTERNET FINDS THAT THIS IS A COMMON ISSUE. 3.) TOYOTA DEALER IS RECOMMENDING REPLACEMENT OF THE VSC ECU (STABILITY CONTROL/TRACTION CONTROL COMPUTER) AT A COST OF $1500-$2000. BASED ON THE NUMBERS OF THESE REPORTED INCIDENTS, I FEEL THIS IS A DEFECT AND IS AN EXORBITANT AMOUNT TO BE PAID BY THE OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. *TR
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026