2003 Toyota Sequoia Complaint Log

2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VSC/TRAC LIGHT TURNS ON FOR NO REASON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF UNLESS ENGINE IS RESTARTED. *TR

THROUGHOUT THE TIME PERIOD I HAVE OWNED MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA, I HAVE EXPERIENCED DANGEROUS LOW SPEED VEHICLE CONTROL ISSUES, WHEN TRAVELING ON SLIPPERY SURFACES, RELATING TO THE VEHICLE'S STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM. AT SPEEDS BETWEEN A FEW MILES PER HOUR AND PERHAPS AS MUCH AS 15 MILES PER HOUR, ON MUDDY OR ICY ROADS, THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WILL KICK IN, PROBABLY AS IT SHOULD, WHILE BRAKING OR INITIATING A TURN, AS INDICATED BY A VSC WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATING IN THE DRIVERS CONTROL CONSOLE. HOWEVER, WHILE IT MAY BE APPROPRIATE FOR THE VSC SYSTEM TO RESPOND, THE VSC IN THE TOYOTA SEQUOIA RESPONDS IN A DANGEROUS MANNER WHICH IS MUCH LESS EFFECTIVE AND APPROPRIATE THAN THE VSC SYSTEMS IN ALL OTHER VEHICLES I OWN OR HAVE DRIVEN. WHEN THE VSC SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED, AS INDICATED BY THE VSC LIGHT COMING ON, POWER IS LOST TO ALL WHEELS IN THE VEHICLE AND VEHICLE HANDLING CHANGES ABRUPTLY. THE CHANGE IN HANDLING RESULTS IN SEVERE UNDERSTEER, AS COMPARED TO WHEN POWER IS BEING DELIVERED TO ALL FOUR WHEELS, AND THE VEHICLE SIGNIFICANTLY OVERSHOOTS ANY CORNER THE DRIVER IS TRYING TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AROUND. WHEREAS I AM A CAREFUL DRIVER AND PLAN FOR SUCH ISSUE, I HAVE NOT SO FAR EXPERIENCED AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF THIS ISSUE, BUT SHOULD THE VSC ISSUE ARISE AT AN INAPPROPRIATE TIME, WHEN THERE IS LESS ROOM FOR MANEUVERING, SUCH AS DURING AN EMERGENCY MANEUVER, THE SUDDEN SEVERE UNDERSTEER COULD DEFINITELY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT. *TR

THIS IS A COMPLAINT TO NHSTA REGARDING VSC/ABS SKID CONTROL ECU FAILURE WITHIN A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THIS ISSUE OCCURRED AROUND 60,000 MILES AND, UNFORTUNATELY, THE DEALER CLAIMS NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS, NOR WILL THEY COVER/REPAIR THE PART, ALTHOUGH NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HAVE ALREADY BEEN MADE BY OTHER SEQUOIA OWNERS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO THE DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES ABOUT THIS ISSUE PREVIOUSLY, AND THEY SAID THAT IT WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT. IT SEEMS RATHER UNFAIR TO FOOT A BILL OF $2500 FOR A PART THAT FAILED DUE TO TOYOTA AND NOT ME, THE CONSUMER. *NM

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, INCREASED ACCELERATION DESPITE STEPPING ON BRAKE, , BRAKES DID NOT STOP CAR AND CRASHED TOTAL LOSS. *TR

SKID CONTROL ECU MODULE DOES NOT WORK ON 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. VSC /TRAC LIGHTS COME ON. NOTHING SHOULD HAVE MADE THIS COMPONENT FAIL DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE - OUT OF WARRANTY. MULTIPLE SIMILAR PROBLEMS DISCUSSED ONLINE YET MANUFACTURE WILL NOT ADMIT ISSUE WITH WORKMANSHIP. TOYOTA NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THIS PART (895410C062). *TR

VSC/ABS/SKID LIGHT ON MY 03' SEQUOIA BEGAN COMING ON NOV. 06. I WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ECU SKID CONTROL COMPUTER AND RESET IT. THEY SAID THE LIGHTS MIGHT COME BACK ON AND THEY HAVE ON AND OFF FOR THE LAST YEAR. ALSO, NOTICED ISSUES W/ THE BREAK SKIDDING EVEN THOUGH I RECENTLY HAD BRAKES REPLACED. NOW I HAVE TO PAY $1500 TO HAVE THE ECU SKID CONTROL COMPUTER REPLACED AND THE CAR ONLY HAS 62K MILES ON IT. WAY TO EARLY TO START REPLACING ELECTRONIC PARTS. *JB

VSC LIGHT COMES ON PERIODICALLY FOR NO REASON. *JB

VSC/ABS/TRACTION CONTROL COMPUTER FAILED. *JB

VSC/TRAC OFF & ABS FAILURE REQUIRING COMPUTER AND YAW SENSOR REPLACEMENT. I TOOK MY 2003 SEQUOIA TO THE LOCAL DEALERS SERVICE DEPT. IN 2006 BECAUSE THE LIGHTS MENTIONED ABOVE WERE ON. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. I TOLD THEM THE CAR WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND THE STEERING WHEEL WAS PULLING TO THE SIDE - VERY HARD TO CONTROL. THEY COULD NOT MIMIC THE PROBLEM AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I ARGUED WITH THEM, BUT LOST THAT ARGUMENT. LUCKILY FOR ME THE BATTERY NEEDED REPLACING IN A FEW MONTHS, AND WHEN REPLACED PROBLEM WENT AWAY. NOW THAT MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED (LAST MONTH) THE VSC/TRAC OFF AND ABS LIGHTS ARE ON AGAIN. I DIDN'T RUSH IT IN BECAUSE OF MY PRIOR EXPERIENCE OR I WOULD HAVE HAD IT IN WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. NOW THEY WANT $2200 TO REPLACE COMPUTER AND YAW RATE SENSOR. I SEE THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND I AM VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND TOYOTA. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY REFUSE ANY RESPONSIBILITY ALTHOUGH THIS IS A VERY WELL KNOW ISSUE. IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS UNDER THE RIGHT CONDITIONS. LUCKILY MY DRIVING IS IN A VERY SMALL COMMUNITY AND I DON'T DRIVE VERY FAST. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HIS VSC LIGHT ANDTHE ABS LIGHT WOULD COME ON. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT DOES NOT MATTER HOW FAST HE IS GOING FOR THIS TO HAPPEN. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD HIM IT WAS A COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGEWAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 90,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA - ALMOST CRASHED WHEN A MALFUNCTION WITH THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL ECU OCCURRED. CAUSED CAR TO LOSE POWER, BRAKE FLUTTERED AND MADE GRINDING NOISE, AND ALARM SOUNDED IN CABIN OF CAR. TRAC OFF AND VSC TRAC LIGHTS CAME ON. THOUSAND OAKS TOYOTA (CA) PULLED CODES C1203 AND C1231. QUOTE FOR REPAIR = $2100.00 (TO REPLACE TRANS LATE ECU AND SKID CONTROL ECU). UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE 41K MILES ON IT AND WARRANTY ENDED AT 36K (36 MONTHS WAS UP IN DECEMBER OF LAST YEAR). MANY REPORTS OF SAME PROBLEM IN SEQUOIAS ON VARIOUS WEBSITES. TOYOTA IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. CAR HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. *NM

HOW DO I REPORT SOMETHING THAT I FEEL NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED? I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. I ALSO HAVE A NUMBER OF ACQUAINTANCES THAT HAVE 2002 AND 2004 MODELS AND THEY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE ALSO NOTED ON THE WEB PAGES WHERE SEQUOIA OWNERS GO TO ASK QUESTIONS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. THE REAR WINDOW STOPS WORKING. IF ITS UP WHEN IT STOPS IT IS OK (THAT IS WHERE MINE STOPPED AT), BUT IF IT STOPS IN THE DOWN POSITION A PERSON HAS A VERY COSTLY REPAIR ($400- 500). THE MOTOR IN THE TAILGATE RUSTS AND IS COVERED UNDER A SERVICE BULLETIN BECAUSE THEY RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM. THE SERVICE BULLETIN IS GOOD, BECAUSE THEY READILY FIX IT SINCE MY VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. IS IT WIDESPREAD ENOUGH TO ISSUE A RECALL? BECAUSE I DID NOT DISCOVER MINE UNTIL AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. *JB

WHEN SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION IN TO DRIVE ALL THE LIGHTS WORK EFFECTIVELY, BUT THE LIGHT THAT INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN THE D POSITION (DRIVE) BURNS OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER IS AWARE OF AS A CONSISTENT DEFECT. *JB

CONTINUOUS PROBLEMS WITH ABS VSC CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. THESE LIGHTS HAVE GONE ON SEVERAL TIMES THROUGH THE LAST 9 YEARS, 90,000 MILES. WE HAVE BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE TO TOYOTA DEALERS AS WELL AS MECHANICS MANY TIMES. WE HAVE REPLACED THE YAW RATE SENSOR, OXYGEN SENSOR AND WERE QUOTED A PRICE OF 2500 TO REPLACE ANOTHER SENSOR/COMPUTER. OTHER TIMES THEY CANNOT READ THE CODES IN ORDER TO MAKE A DIAGNOSIS. A FEW MONTHS LATER THE LIGHTS ARE BACK ON. MANY OTHER 03 SEQUOIA OWNERS HAVE HAD SIMILAR PROBLEMS. WE FEEL THAT THERE IS A MAJOR DEFECT IN THESE SEQUOIAS THAT TOYOTA HAS NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY FOR. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE/CONCERN.THEY PREFER TO TELL US THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY ANYMORE. *TR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. ALSO, WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH ON WET ROADS, THE VEHICLE SKIDDED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A SERVICE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL WAS DEFECTIVE. UPDATED 9/13/2006 - THE DECELERATION SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE COST OF THE REPLACEMENT. *NM

IN JULY 2006 AT 52000 MILES I WENT TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AND THE DOOR HANDLE BREAKS OFF IN MY HAND. DEALER SAID NOT COVERED AS IT IS WEAR & TEAR. I AM NOT A TOUGH GUY, BUT CHEAP PLASTIC HANDLES, ESPECIALLY ON THE DRIVER DOOR AS IT IS THE MOST USED? $139 IS A WASTE OF CONSUMER $ AND FOR AN EXTRA DOLLAR THEY COULD HAVE MADE A STRONGER HANDLE. *TR

BRAKING SYSTEM MODULE. *NM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDOW ON THE 5TH DOOR FAILED TO OPEN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE REGULATOR HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. FOR THE THIRD TIME NOW, THE VSC OFF AND VSC TRAC LIGHTS HAVE ILLUMINATED FOR NO REASON. LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT AND EVERY TIME IT'S A DIFFERENT DIAGNOSE. I HAVE PURCHASED TOYOTA'S FOR THEIR RELIABILITY, BUT THIS ONE HAS ME THINKING OTHERWISE. I SAW ON AN EDMUNDS FORUM SITE THAT OTHER FOLKS HAVE REPORTED THIS TO THE NHTSA GOV SITE. I THOUGHT IT IS A GOOD IDEA SINCE IT HAS TO DO WITH A BRAKE SYSTEM. FROM THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THE FORUM SITES I THINK TOYOTA HAS A PROBLEM THEY DON'T WANT TO ADMIT. THAT IS UNTIL SOMEONE GETS HURT. *JB

I HAVE A CONCERN OVER WHY THE ABS, BRAKE, AND OTHER LIGHTS WOULD COME ON FOR NO APPARENT REASON ON MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. ON SOME WEBSITES I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED PROBLEM. WANTING TO KNOW IF ACTION HAS BEEN PURSUED FOR A RECALL IN THIS MATTER. THIS OCCURS EVERYDAY, ONCE THE CAR IS WARMED UP. *TR

2003 SEQUOIA VSC RECALL.

EERILY SIMILAR TO ODI CASE ID NUMBER 10101730 OUR 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5 4WD WITH THE FACTORY GY OPTION FOR DR/PASS CURTAIN & SIDE AIRBAGS WAS INVOLVED IN A BROADSIDE COLLISION IN THE DRIVERS FRONT SIDE DOOR CAUSING THE SEQUOIA TO ROLL-OVER TWICE AND NONE OF THE AIRBAGS IN THE VEHICLE DEPLOYED. THE SEQUOIA WAS TRAVELING AT 35 MPH HAVING JUST EXITED AN ACTIVE SCHOOL ZONE AND WAS HIT PERPENDICULARLY BY A PASSENGER CAR AT UNKNOWN HIGH SPEED FROM A DISREGARDED STOP-SIGNED CROSS STREET. THE SEQUOIA WAS TRIPPED BY A CLOSE BY CURB, BEING IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD, AND ROLLED TWICE BEFORE BEING STOPPED BY IMPACTING A NEARBY RESIDENTIAL PRIVACY FENCE ON THE CORNER. DESPITE THE FORWARD IMPACT INTO THE PRIVACY FENCE, THE SIDE IMPACT OF THE OTHER VEHICLE INTO THE DOOR, AND THE SUBSEQUENT 2 ROLLS OVER, NONE OF THE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED; NEITHER DRIVER OR PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAGS NOR NEITHER THE DRIVERS SIDE NOR PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS. FORTUNATELY THE DRIVER AND THE TWO SMALL CHILDREN BUCKLED IN THE BACK WERE NOT SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THE STURDINESS OF THE SEQUOIA ITSELF. BACK AND NECK SORENESS, A COUPLE STITCHES IN MY HAND AND MULTIPLE OTHER MINOR GLASS CUTS FOR ME AND MULTIPLE MINOR GLASS CUTS AND A SPRAINED WRIST IN MY 8 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER. MY 7 YEAR OLD SON WAS VIRTUALLY UNSCATHED. TOYOTA DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED AND SUFFICIENT TIME HAS NOT PASSED TO GAUGE THEIR RESPONSE. TOYOTA ITSELF HAS NO FACILITY ON THEIR WEBSITE FOR REPORTING SUCH INCIDENTS. *NM

VSC/ABS SKID CONTROL ECU FAILURE IS A KNOW ISSUE BY EVERY TOYOTA SEQUOIA OWNER, BUT TOYOTA CLAIMS THAT IT'S NOT AN ISSUE. THIS FAILURE REQUIRES THAT VSC/ABS SKID CONTROL ECU BE REPLACED. WHILE VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY, TOYOTA WILL TRY TO DO ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING POSSIBLE NOT TO REPLACE THE PART, BUT ONCE THE WARRANTY EXPIRES AND YOU BRING THE CAR FOR REPAIRS, FIRST THING THEY TELL YOU IS THAT YOU NEED A NEW ECU COSTING CLOSE TO $3000.00. *JB

VEHICLE ENGINE LIGHT AND VSC OFF AND VSC TRAC LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AND VEHICLE LOST POWER, STALLING COMPLETELY WHILE DRIVING. OCCURRED REPEATEDLY. UNDRIVEABLE AND UNSAFE. TOWED TO DEALER. NO SPECIFIC DIAGNOSTIC CODE EMERGED. MULTIPLE POSTS REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE DATING BACK TO 2003 ON MYCARSTATS.COM AND EDMUNDS WEBSITE TOYOTA FORUM. MY DEALER STATED THIS PROBLEM WAS "UNSAFE" INDEED. MY 4 CHILDREN AND HUSBAND WERE WITH ME WHEN IT OCCURRED. *JB

IN APRIL 2006 AT 50,000 MILES AT AN INSPECTION IT WAS RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE FRONT & REAR ROTORS AS THEY WERE RUSTED & COULD EFFECT THE SAFETY OF OCCUPANTS AS THE BRAKES MAY NOT RESPOND APPROPRIATELY. HELLO, I AM IN CHICAGO! RUST SHOULD BE EXPECTED HERE, BUT NOT TO THE POINT OF SAFETY. SOLUTION - SPENT MONEY REPLACING ALL BRAKES & PADS, THEN MOVE SOUTH. *TR

VSC/TRAC LIGHTS COMES ON WHEN TAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS CAUSING COMPLETE POWER LOSS OF VEHICLE OR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES TO GRIND VEHICLE TO A HALT. HAD A VERY SERIOUS NEAR MISS ACCIDENT WHEN TURNING AT INTERSECTION. VEHICLE SHUT DOWN AND CAR BEHIND ME NEARLY REAR ENDED ME. I HAVE LOCATED 3 TSB'S RELATED TO THIS VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. ENTIRE COMPUTER MODULE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 1500.00 TO ME. DEALER SAYS WARRANTY EXPIRED AND REFUSES TO ACCEPT BLAME FOR FAULTY PART.*JB

TOYOTA SEQUOIA BALL JOINT RECALL SVC PERFORMED, SUBSEQUENTLY VEHICLE TIRES SEVERELY SCALLOPING OUTER EDGES LEADING TO TREAD FRACTURE AND TIRE SPLITTING. DEALER SVC MGR MIKE LATHAM, MAITA TOYOTA OF SACRAMENTO, INSISTS NOTHING IS WRONG WITH VEHICLE ALTHOUGH HE ADMITS SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH TIRES; INSISTS THAT RECALL SVC CORRECTLY PERFORMED AND ALIGNMENT WITHIN SPECS. DEALER REFUSES ATTEMPT TO CORRECT PROBLEM. DEALER OFFERS TO SELL ME NEW TIRES; EFFECTIVELY ATTEMPTING TO RELEASE HAZARDOUS AND UNSAFE VEHICLE TO ME. VEHICLE IS UNDER WARRANTY BOTH IN MILEAGE AND TIME. DEALER STILL HAS VEHICLE. *NM

REAR LATCH MECHANISM ON 2003 SEQUOIA WITH 48000 MILES HAS RUSTED AND WILL NO LONGER KEEP LIFT GATE CLOSED, THUS ALLOWING EXHAUST INTO VEHICLE AND PRESENTING HAZARD OF LIFT GATE OPENING. *NM

I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE FROM SUNNYVALE TOYOTA IN OCT OF 2002. IT IS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. FROM THE TIME I REACHED HOME FOUND MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. START WITH HUB CAPS NOT SEATED CORRECTLY, DEFECTIVE ROOF RACKS, ENTRY DOOR MOLDING WITH INKED PRINT ON THEM. WENT ON TO A DEFECTIVE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR, PUNGENT AWFUL SMELL FROM THE AC, DEFECTIVE RADIO/ CD CHANGER. BRAKES ARE SPONGY AND DON'T RESPOND WELL. IF YOU PUMP IT ONCE IT WORKS WELL. THE VEHICLE REPEATEDLY VEERS TO THE RIGHT. THEY HAVE CHECKED IT AT LEAST 15 TIMES. THERE IS HAIR IN THE PAINT. I WENT THROUGH THE NCDS PROCESS AND ENDED UP WITH A JUDGMENT TO HAVE THEM REPAIR THE VEERING PROBLEM AND AIR CONDITIONING. TOYOTA NEVER COMPLIED AND NCDS CLOSED THE CASE WITHOUT MY CONSENT. I WORKED WITH TOYOTA AND THEY FINALLY WORKED ON THE TROUBLE. I GOT A NEW SET OF TIRES BUT THE VEERING RETURNED. WHAT HAPPENS IS THE TIRES WEAR MORE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRONT RIGHT TIRE. AS YOU ROTATE THE TROUBLE GOES AWAY UNTIL THE TIRE WEARS AND THE PROBLEM BECOMES MORE PRONOUNCES. NOW THE TIRES ARE BALD AND NCDS IS GIVING ME TROUBLE TO REOPEN THE CASE OR STAND BEHIND THE ARBITRATORS JUDGMENT. NOW EVEN THE DOOR MOLDING ARE COMING OFF EVEN WITH NO DAMAGE. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH AND SLOWING TO A STOP, THE ANTILOCK BRAKES FAILED CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE AND VSC TRACTION LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. THIS OCCURRED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO APPLY BRAKE PRESSURE DURING NORMAL BRAKING ON NORMAL AND SNOW COVERED ROADS. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOUR TIMES FOR INSPECTION DUE TO THE ANTILOCK BRAKES. UPON INSPECTIONS, THE DEALERSHIP RESET THE COMPUTER TO MAKE THE LIGHTS GO OFF. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, HOWEVER NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. UPDATED 3/9/2006 - *NM

VSC AND TRAK OFF WARNING DASH LIGHT INDICATORS CONTINUE TO COME ON/OFF, NOW MORE FREQUENT AND INTERMITTENT LOSS OF ACCELERATIONS. INITIAL TRIGGERING OF INDICATORS WAS FEB 06 BUT WERE INTERMITTENT, NOW THEY ARE MORE FREQUENT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THE COMPUTER SYSTEM FAILED. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 65,800 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SKID CONTROL ECU FOR THE ABS MALFUNCTIONED AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR AND SEVEN MONTHS LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER REPEATED THE REPAIR AND CHARGED HALF THE COST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 59,000. UPDATED 01/09/08. *LJ UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

2003 TOYOTYA SEQUOIA, STEERING ANGLE SENSOR, PART OF THE VEHICLE TRACTION CONTROL. SYSTEM ACTIVATED UNEXPECTEDLY AT VERY LOW SPEED AFTER WHICH SYSTEM TURNED ITSELF OFF. LOW SPEED PREVENTED INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE. CAR IS CURRENTLY IN SHOP FOR REPLACEMENT OF STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. *NM

REAR SEAT BELTS ON MY TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2003 ARE DEFECTIVE. THIS IS THE 2ND SEAT BELT REPLACED DUE TO IT LOCKING UP. *NM

VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD GRINDING NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR WHEN PUT IN TO GEAR. VSC TRAC AND VSC OFF LIGHTS LIGHT UP AND BUZZER SOUNDS. ONCE THE LIGHTS AND BUZZER GO OFF THE GRINDING STOPS BUT THE LIGHTS REMAIN ON. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR FEELS VERY LOOSE, LIKE IT IS GOING TO LOSE CONTROL. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT 2 COMPUTERS , THE VSC COMPUTER AND THE TRANSLATOR COMPUTER, FAILED. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY INSTANCES OF THIS OCCURRENCE, AND THAT THE SOFTWARE USED IN THE COMPUTERS WAS BAD. ALL OF THIS HAPPENED AT 39K MILES AND THE WARRANTY WAS UP AT 36K. TOYOTA HAS BEEN NEGLIGENT IN THE FACT THAT THIS IS A KNOWN MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND THERE IS NO RECALL OR WARRANTY FOR THESE DEFECTS. I AM NOT SURE IF THIS ISSUE CAN CAUSE INJURIES OR DEATH, OR POSSIBLY RE-OCCUR. *JB

THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLES ON MY 2002 SEQUOIA ARE BOTH BROKEN, ONE TO THE POINT THAT THE DOOR CAN ONLY BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE AFTER FIRST ROLLING DOWN THE WINDOW. I HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE HANDLES ON MY 1995 CAMRY BUT FIGURED THAT WAS DUE TO IT BEING OUTSIDE ALL THE TIME IN THE HOT TEXAS SUN. MY SEQUOIA THOUGH IS GARAGE KEPT. THIS IS NOT NO DOUBT A SAFETY ISSUE. I ALSO HAVE A 2005 CAMRY AND ITS INTERIOR DOOR. *NM

MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VSC TRACTION SYSTEM HAS FAILED 5 TIMES. THE SYSTEM FAILED AT 54,546, AGAIN AT 78,358, AGAIN AT 93,939, AGAIN AT 104,238, AND THE LAST TIME AT 145,000. THE FIRST TIME CODE C124 C1231 REPLACED STEERING SENSOR. THE SECOND TIME CODE C1231 REPLACED STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. THE THIRD TIME CODE C1203 1231 REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. THE FOURTH TIME NO CODE INDICATED, BUT REPLACED SKID CONTROL ECM. THE FIFTH TIME I BROUGHT IN IN FOR THE RECALL, IT DID NOT QUALIFY AND THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT DIAGNOSE WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR IT, SO I DO NOT HAVE A CODE YET. I AM IN A BATTLE WITH TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT WHO SHOULD PAY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE SYSTEM. I HAVE PAID PORTIONS THE FIRST 2 OCCASIONS. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS IT HAPPENS ONE OF TWO WAYS. THE FIRST WAY IS WHEN I THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED AND IS AT ABOUT 4 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR THINKS I AM SKIDDING, THE BRAKES GO ON AUTOMATICALLY, A HORRIBLE SCREECHING SOUND OCCURS, AND AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS THE BRAKES ARE RELEASED AND THE SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED AND BOTH THE VSC LIGHTS GO ON ON THE DASHBOARD. THE SECOND WAY IS THAT I START THE CAR AND AT SOME TIME WHILE DRIVING THE SYSTEM SHUTS OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD GO ON INDICATING THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT ENGAGED. I RECENTLY READ ABOUT THE MUSHY PEDAL SYNDROME, AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT AS WELL, BUT I NEVER ASSOCIATED THE SYMPTOM WITH ANYTHING SPECIFIC. WHEN IT HAPPENS IT IS OFTEN AS I AM LEAVING MY 300FT DRIVEWAY AND ENTERING MY STREET. *KB

INSIDE DOOR HANDLES HAVE BROKEN OFF ON THREE OF THE DOORS. THE ONLY DOOR THAT STILL WORKS IS THE DRIVER'S SIDE. I HAVE TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND WALK AROUND OPENING EVERYONE ELSE'S DOOR SO THEY CAN GET OUT OF THE CAR. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT SAFE IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, FIRE, ETC WHERE I MIGHT NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN ALL THE DOORS IN TIME. I AM THOROUGHLY DISAPPOINTED BY THE DESIGN FLAW THAT LEAD TO THIS SITUATION. TOYOTA WANTS OVER 200 PER DOOR TO FIX A PROBLEM THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE HAPPENED. ANYTIME A PASSENGER IS TRAPPED INSIDE A CAR IT CAN BECOME A DANGEROUS SITUATION VERY QUICKLY. THE SECOND PROBLEM THAT I HAVE WITH THE SEQUOIA INVOLVES THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. IT WAS FIXED ONE TIME UNDER A TSB, HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM HAS SINCE RETURNED. I DO NOT FEEL LIKE SPENDING 100 FOR A DIAGNOSIS TO TELL ME WHAT I ALREADY KNOW IS WRONG WITH THE TRUCK. *TR

EVERY INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE HAS BROKEN AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER. I HAVE HAD ALL OF THEM REPLACED AT LEAST ONCE (AT A COST OF $175.00 PER HANDLE) AND I HAVE TO REPLACE ONE FOR A SECOND TIME. THE HANDLES ARE MADE OF PLASTIC THAT CRACKS EASILY AND EVENTUALLY BREAKS. ALL OF THE HANDLES WERE BROKEN DURING THE COURSE OF NORMAL USE. NO UNDUE OR EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS EXERTED WHEN THE HANDLES WERE BROKEN. WHEN THE HANDLES ARE BROKEN, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE UNLESS SOMEONE OPENS THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. IF MY FAMILY AND I WERE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND NEEDED TO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE QUICKLY, THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET OUT IN TIME. THIS IS NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE, FRUSTRATING AND INCONVENIENT, IT CAN LEAD TO A DEADLY SITUATION. THERE IS NO REASON THAT EQUIPMENT AS IMPORTANT AS DOOR HANDLES SHOULD EVER BREAK UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES. *TR

DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER IN AUGUST 2005 REGARDING FRONT SUSPENSION: LOWER BALL JOINTS ON 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. SHE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, AND WAS TOLD SHE WOULD BE CONTACTED IN 2-4 WEEKS. SHE CALLED ON 9-20-05, AND WAS TOLD SHE WOULD BE CONTACTED WITHIN ONE WEEK. THE CONTACT CALLED AGAIN ON 10-6-05, AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD GET IN TOUCH WITH HER ON 10-10-05 BECAUSE THE PARTS WERE NOT IN YET. THE CONTACT FELT THIS WAS NOT BEING TAKEN CARE OFF IN A TIMELY MANNER. SHE WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. SHE HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED BY THE DEALERSHIP.*AK

MY VSC & TRACK OFF LIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF. I LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR AT ABOUT 5 MILES PER HOUR DUE TO THIS PROBLEM ABOUT ONCE EVERY OTHER DAY. TOYOTA ADVERTISES THIS BREAK SYSTEM AS A SAFETY FEATURE ON THEIR WEBSITE, YET DEALERSHIP SAYS IT'S NOT A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THE COMPUTER CONTROLLING THIS HAS FAILED & NEEDS TO BE REPLACE AT A COST OF $1300. MY CAR IS NOT YET 3 YEARS OLD BUT JUST OUT OF MILEAGE WARRANTY, SO THEY SAID THIS COST WAS UP TO ME TO PAY. MY MOTHER OWNS THE SAME MODEL & YEAR SEQUOIA & THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED TO HER CAR & THE SAME DEALERSHIP FIXED HER PROBLEM AT 36K MILES BUT WON'T FIX MINE @ 46K B/C I'M OUT OF WARRANTY. MY HUSBAND'S EMPLOYER HAD SAME PROBLEM AT 40K MILES ON HIS 2003 SEQUOIA & HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR. I KNOW PERSONALLY 5 FAMILIES WHO OWN SEQUOIAS & 4 OF US HAVE HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM. THE 5TH JUST BOUGHT THEIR CAR 4 MONTHS AGO, SO WE ARE JUST WAITING FOR THEIR PROBLEM TO OCCUR. I'M MEETING WITH THE DISTRICT FACTORY REP TOMORROW & WILL BRING UP THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS WEBSITE ABOUT THE VSC COMPUTER FAILURE. *NM

I HAVE HAD MY ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS CHANGED A FEW TIMES DUE TO A CONSPICUOUS ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE. AT BRAKING TIMES DURING ANY SLIGHT "HARD" STOP, COMING FROM EITHER HIGHWAY OR STREET SPEEDS THE VEHICLE STARTS TO VIBRATE ON THE FRONT END. TIRES SEEM TO BE WOBBLY AND SHAKE QUITE A BIT. NEARLY HAD A FEW ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS PHENOMENA. HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING AT REPUTABLE REPAIR SHOPS AND HAVE HAD ROTORS "CUT" AND NEW BRAKE PADS INSTALLED FREQUENTLY. HAVE EVEN HAD TO BUY NEW TIRES, EVEN THOUGH NOT NEEDED, BASED ON DEALER RECOMMENDATION. SEEMS THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THESE TOYOTA VEHICLES AFTER HAVING DONE SOME RESEARCH AND SPOKEN TO A FEW OTHER SEQUOIA OWNERS. CATASTROPHIC BRAKE FAILURE IS A POSSIBILITY ON THESE VEHICLES. WILL IT TAKE AN INJURY OR EVEN A DEATH TO FINALLY HAVE SOMEONE DELVE INTO THIS ISSUE?

DT: THE INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE ON DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR FRACTURED WITH VERY MINOR FORCE. THERE WERE NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE DOOR HANDLE, THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP, WHO DID NOT HAVE PART IN STOCK. THE PART ITSELF WAS PLASTIC, NO METAL REINFORCEMENT. HOWEVER, CONSUMERS FELT THE PART SHOULD BE METAL. VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME. CONSUMER DID CONTACT TOYOTA'S COMPLAINT LINE AND FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE COMPANY. *AK

WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR LOCK ASSEMBLY AND VARIOUS OTHER PARTS ASSOCIATED WITH IT 4 TIMES DUE TO RUSTING. DUE TO THE PART RUSTING IT WILL NO LONGER LATCH THE DOOR CLOSED. THE DOOR CAN EITHER POP OPEN AND THUS CAUSE A ISSUE! WHEN IT WON'T LOCK INORDER TO DRIVE THE CAR IT HAS TO BE BUNGEE CORDED SHUT. WHICH ISN'T SAFE EITHER. WE HAVE SPENT ALMOST $3000 ON THESE REPAIRS FROM 2005 UNTIL TODAY. RESEARCHING THE WEB HAS REVEALED THIS IS AN ISSUE WITH THE SEQUOIA SYSTEM. TOYOTA DOESN'T FEEL IT IS A CONCERN WHEN THEIR 1-800 NUMBER IS CALLED AND THE ISSUE REPORTED. I FEEL THIS ISSUE IS A CONCERN AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THIS ASSEMBLY ISSUE. *TR

MY 2003 SEQUOIA HAS 31,000 MILES AND ALREADY THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES, BACK BRAKES REPLACED ONCE AND THE ROTARS RESURFACED THREE TIMES. FROM WHAT I'VE READ ON THE INTERNET OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY FRIEND WHO HAD A 2001 MODEL HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN IN AND THE WHOLE BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED DUE TO A TSB. WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERS THEY TOLD ME THAT THE TSB ONLY AFFECTED THE YEARS 2000 & 2001. HOWEVER, THE 2003 SEEMS TO HAVE PROBLEMS, TOO! I'VE NEVER HAD BRAKE PROBLEMS UNTIL THIS VEHICLE. THE FIRST TIME I HAD THE VEHICLE SERVICED AT 6700 MILES THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN TOLD ME MY FRONT BRAKES HAD PREMATURE WEARING AND ACCUSED ME OF BRAKING TOO HARD BUT AGREED TO HAVE TO HAVE THEM REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AND THE ROOTERS WERE MACHINED. THE SECOND TIME THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND AT 17,500 MILES OUR FRONT BRAKES WERE TOUCHING METAL TO METAL. THE ROTERS WERE ALSO RESURFACED AT A COST OF ABOUT $500.00. AT THAT TIME THE SERVICE MANAGER CONVINCED US THAT THIS WAS NORMAL I'VE HAD OTHER MECHANICS SAY IT IS NOT. AT 30,000 MILES I WAS INFROMED THAT MY FRONT AND BACK BRAKES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THE ROTERS AGAIN WERE RESURFACED. WE WENT TO ANOTHER MECHANIC AND PAID $400. I'VE READ THAT THE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THE SEQUOIA IS INADEQUATE, TUNDRAS ARE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS AND THE CALIPERS ARE TOO SMALL THUS CAUSING WARPING AND THE BRAKES TO WEAR OUT PREMATURELY.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE, A RECALL NOTIFICATION WAS RECEIVED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, #05V225000, REGARDING THE SUSPENSION. THE PARTS NEEDED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE ARE NOT AVAILABLE AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE AND NO REPAIRS WERE MADE.

TOYOTA SEQUOIA 03 -- BRAKE LIGHT HAS BEEN COMING ON STARTING ABOUT 50,000 MILES, IT STAYS ON FOR WEEKS THEN GOES OUT, THEN COMES ON AGAIN. BOTH THE VSC TRACKING LIGHT COME ON AND OFF, NOW MOSTLY ON ALL THE TIME AND NOW THE VEHICLE SHAKES AND ACTS LIKE THE BREAKS ARE ON WITHOUT WARNING WHEN DRIVING. WE HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY HAVE RESET THE LIGHT NUMEROUS TIMES, BUT IT NEVER REALLY LASTS FOR LONG. I THINK THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS, I KNOW WE CAN'T BE THE FIRST TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS. IT IS NOW BECOMING UNSAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE SHAKING AND LACK OF STEERING CONTROL. *TR

TOYOTA SEQUOIA - CONSISTENT FAILURE OF THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WHILE DRIVING. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED BY THE DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES TO NO SUCCESSFUL REPAIR. WE ALSO HAVE HAD SIGNIFICANT ISSUES WITH THE REAR WINDOW SEALS LEAKING AND CAUSING THE WINDOW MOTOR TO FAIL. *NM

ON MY 2003 SEQUOIA WITH 50K MILES, I BELIEVE I HAVE AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION! ON TURNS, ESPECIALLY RIGHT TURNS WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE INTO FAST MOVING TRAFFIC I EXPERIENCE A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER WITH NO ACCELERATION. I CAN PUMPING THE GAS PEDAL AND PRESS IT TO THE FLOOR, BUT I JUST COAST SLOWLY INTO THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND WAIT TO BE POSSIBLY REAR ENDED. THIS HAPPENS IN DRY ROAD CONDITIONS, AND SEEMS TO OCCUR MORE OFTEN WHEN THE ENGINE IS COLD. MY SKID/TRACTION LIGHTS BLINK FOR A SECOND OR TWO, THEN I RE-GAIN ENGINE POWER ANOTHER SECOND OR SO AFTER THAT. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED MY STEERING HAS BECOME VERY STIFF WHEN DRIVING IN VERY SLOW SITUATIONS 2-4 MPH (PARKING LOTS, DRIVEWAY ETC.), I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS RELATED. THANK YOU, DAVE FRAZEE - STRONGSVILLE, OHIO. *NM