2003 Toyota Sequoia Complaint Log

2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED, 5 MONTHS OLD, 5200 MILES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AS VSC LIGHTS. SEEMS TO BE OTHER REPORTS OF SAME INCIDENT. ALSO, BRAKES SEEM TO BE INADEQUATE FOR VEHICLE WEIGHT WITH LOING STOPPING DISTANCE, AND SIGNIFICANT TRAVEL WHEN PARKING BRAKE APPLIED (LOW PEDAL)*AK

CONCERN STARTED WITH A VSC AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHTS IN INSTRUMENT CLUSTER COMING ON AND OFF IN AN INTERMITTENT FASHION WITHOUT PATTERN OR EXTERNAL CAUSE. THE WARNING LIGHTS WOULD NOT REMAIN ON BUT INSTEAD WOULD GLOW FOR A BRIEF BIT OF TIME AND THEN EXTINGUISH. THE VEHICLE DID EXHIBIT A SPONTANEOUS DECELERATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE OPERATING AT LOW SPEED (LESS THAN 20 MPH) AND ON LEVEL, SMOOTH GROUND. THE EPISODES WERE BRIEF AND NORMAL BRAKE OPERATION RETURN IMMEDIATELY ONCE SPEED DROPPED TO APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH. IN THE DECADES THAT I HAVE OPERATED THIS AUTOMOBILE, THE WARNING LIGHTS WENT FROM LIGHTING INTERMITTENTLY TO BEING ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY; THE SPONTANEOUS BREAKING HAS SEEMINGLY CEASED SINCE THESE LIGHTS HAVE REMAINED ON. DEALERSHIP AND FACTORY WERE INFORMED OF THIS CONCERN WITH EACH SERVICE VISIT. DEALERSHIP RESPONSE WAS THAT THEY WERE UNWILLING OR UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE AN INTERMITTENT CONCERN. ONCE THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON, I WAS INITIALLY INFORMED THAT THEY SUSPECTED A DEFECTIVE YAW SENSOR AND MORE RECENTLY, MALFUNCTIONING BRAKE BOOSTER COMPONENTS; WARRANTY PERIOD HAD LAPSED AND NO EXTENSION WAS OFFERED. ATTEMPTS TO CORRECTLY DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR THIS CONCERN HAVE DRAGGED ON FOR 10 YEARS WITH DEALERSHIP AND FACTORY POSITION THAT REPAIRS, BE THEY DIAGNOSTIC (THE YAW SENSOR REPLACEMENT) OR DEFINITIVE (BOOSTER AND BRAKE SYSTEM), WERE NOT WARRANTY ISSUES DESPITE THEIR INTERMITTENT PRESENTATION DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. MY PERIODIC PRACTICAL TESTING OF THE BRAKES DEMONSTRATES THAT THE ABS SYSTEM FUNCTIONS PROPERLY DESPITE WARNING LIGHT INDICATIONS TO THE CONTRARY. CURRENT DEALERSHIP ESTIMATED COST TO REPLACE BRAKE BOOSTER AND ACTUATORS IS $3800 WITH A 12 MONTH WARRANTY. TOYOTA USA'S POSITION IS THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE AS OF APRIL 2013. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE AND THE VSC AND TRAC LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE SHAKING STOPPED AFTER FIVE SECOND BUT THE LIGHTS STAYED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP TWICE; ON THE FIRST VISIT, THE DEALER TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS AND ON THE SECOND VISIT, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TRANSLATE COMPUTER ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,300. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000.

WHILE DRIVING, THE OWNER SMELLED GAS FUMES FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE FUMES SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM THE VENTS. WHEN THE WINDOW WAS OPENED THE SMELL BECAME WORSE. THE FUMES MADE THE OWNER NAUSEAS WHICH ALSO CAUSED HER ASTHMA TO FLARE UP. THE CONSUMER CALLED THE DEALERSHIP, BUT NOTHING WAS CORRECTED. *AK. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED THE CONSUMER THE REASON SHE WAS SMELLING GAS FUMES WAS BECAUSE SHE WAS USING 89 OCTANE GAS INSTEAD OF 87 OCTANE AND THE COMPUTER WAS PROGRAMMED FOR 87 OCTANE. *TS *JB

MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA ECU IS OUT THIS WAS OUT AT 53,000 MILES AND IS GOING TO COST 1300 FOR THE PART AND 500 FOR LABOR! READING THIS IS A HUGE ONGOING COMPLAINT WITH THE 2003 SEQUOIA'S. SHOULD THIS BE CONSIDERED A RECALL DUR TO THE HUNDRED AND HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS STRICTLY REGARDING THE ECU SKID CONTROL LIGHTS. *TR

MY TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2003 IS HAVING ABS LIGHTS,BRAKE LIGHT AND VSC/TRAC LIGHTS ON PROBLEM. BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW AT THE TOYOTA DEALER IN HAYWARD, CALIFORNIA. VSC/TRAC LIGHT CAME ON WHEN I FIRST BOUGHT THE CAR(BRAND NEW FROM THE LOT); THEY REPLACED THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. THESE LIGHTS ARE ON AND OFF THROUGH OUT THE YEARS. FOUND OUT THE THERE IS A RECALL LAST YEAR, 2010, BUT I DID NOT GET ANY NOTICE. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER JUNE 30, 2011, PAID FOR THE CHECK UP, INITIATED THE FLASHING OF ECU TO CORRECT TROUBLE CODE C1247, AND THEY SAID THAT ECU NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND WOULD COST ME $1500.00 MINIMUM, MAYBE MORE TO FIX THE VSC/TRAC/ABS/BRAKE LIGHTS PROBLEMS. MY CAR IS NOW 110.000 MILES AND ACCORDING TO TOYOTA -TIM HOWE OF 1800 331-4331 HOT LINE NUMBER, THEY CAN NOT GIVE ANY FREE SERVICE AND PARTS DUE TO OVER 100K MILES ON THE CAR. THIS IS NOT MY FAULT, THERE WERE 50,000 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA HAVE BEEN AFFECTED WITH THIS KIND OF PROBLEM. THE FACT THAT I DID NOT RECEIVED ANY RECALL NOTICE TO THEM, IT IS JUST FAIR ,TOYOTA SHOULD COVER THE REPAIR WHETHER THE MILES IS LESS OR OVER 100K MILES. I MAINTAIN MY CAR TO THE FULLEST BEST, JUST TO NAME ONE RECORD, I SPENT $2000.00 FOR VALVES ADJUSTMENTS AND BELTS REPLACEMENTS AT THE SAME DEALER. I THINK TOYOTA SHOULD COVER THIS REPAIR AS PER THE RECALL ISSUED ON APRIL 2010. THIS REPAIR IS A BIG AMOUNT OF MONEY ON MY PART, CONSIDERING MY JOB IS ONLY TEMPORARY. ANY ASSISTANCE TO GIVE PRESSURE TO TOYOTA WILL BE HIGHLY APPRECIATED.

A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2WD/LIMITED WAS PLACED IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING ON A DOWN SLOPE DRIVEWAY. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE, OPENED UP THE BACK TO GET SOMETHING TO DELIVER. THE PERSON BEGAN WALKING UP THE SIDEWALK TO THE FRONT DOOR WHEN AN EYE WITNESS NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS IN FOWARD MOTION AND YELLED A WARNING. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A CLOSED GARAGE DOOR AND KNOCKED IT OUT OF PLACE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER RAN TO THE CAR AND THE GEAR LEVER WAS IN PARK. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.*JB

RE: VIN [XXX] I AM WRITING THIS LETTER IN REGARDS TO THE 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA I PURCHASED IN JANUARY 2003 WITH APPROXIMATELY 40 MILES FROM TOYOTA TOWN DEALERSHIP IN STOCKTON CALIFORNIA. AFTER MAKING SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM WITH THE DEALERSHIP, I AM NOW WRITING TO YOU AS A LAST RESORT. MY VEHICLE EXPELS A VERY STRONG AMMONIA SMELL FROM THE VENT SYSTEM AFTER ACCELERATION. THE SMELL HAS BEEN STRONG ENOUGH TO MAKE ONE SNEEZE OR YOUR EYES WATERY. THE THIRD AND FINAL TIME I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR A SOLUTION, THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED ME HE HAD CONTACTED TOYOTA MANUFACTURER MECHANICS. THEY STATED IT WAS A CONDENSATION SMELL FROM THE AIR-CONDITIONING SYSTEM THAT WAS VERY COMMON. THEY SUGGESTED USING THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM MORE OFTEN. I INFORMED HIM I WAS AWARE OF THAT SMELL BUT THAT WAS ALSO DIFFERENT FROM THE AMMONIA. THE REPRESENTATIVE INFORMED THEY WOULD CONTACT ME WHEN THE MANUFACTURER HAD A SOLUTION. HE WANTED TO SET UP ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO SERVICE MY CAR, BUT I REFUSED. TOYOTA TOWN HAD THE CAR TWICE BEFORE TO CHECK THE PROBLEM AND DID NOT COME UP WITH A SOLUTION, BUT WAS ONLY ABLE TO INCONVENIENCE ME FROM GETTING TO WORK ETC. I AM DISAPPOINTED THAT I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 9 MONTHS AND CANNOT RELAX BECAUSE I HAVE AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED, BUT YET I AM PAYING FOR IT. THE AMMONIA SMELL IS NOT NORMAL AND IT IS NOT COMFORTING TO KNOW THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT STAND BY THEIR WORD AND TRY TO COME UP WITH A SOLUTION. THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR LOOKING INTO THIS MATTER. PLEASE FEEL TO CALL ME AT[XXX]. SINCERELY, [XXX]. *JB INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THEN, CONSUMER AGAIN APPLIED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NUMEROUS TIMES AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. HE WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WITHIN A MONTH OF PURCHASE IN JANUARY 2003 THE VSC & TRAC LIGHT WERE COMING ON UPON VEHICLE START UP SPORADICALLY FOR SEVERAL WEEKS. ON OCCASION THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD ALSO COME ON. SOMETIMES I WOULD HAVE A FOOT ON THE GAS & IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKE WAS BEING APPLIED. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN SEVERAL TIMES, AND THEY SAID THEIR WASN'T AN ISSUE. I LEFT IT OVERNIGHT AND THE LIGHTS DIDN'T COME ON AT 2000 MILES. THIS CONTINUED SPORADICALLY FOR A YEAR USUALLY DURING COLDER WEATHER. IN JANUARY 2004 AT 16,870 MILES THE VCS/TRAC CAME ON WHEN NEAR TOYOTA AND FINALLY WAS VALIDATED & REPLACED DUE TO TSB BR002-03, PART#89630-0C011. THE ISSUE STILL CONTINUES STILL IN COLDER WEATHER. IN DECEMBER 2005, AT 48,000 THE VCS/TRAC & ENGINE LIGHT WERE ON, AND STAYED ON ALL DAY & TOYOTA REPLACE THE CAT CONVERTER. TWO WEEKS LATER I RETURN WITH ALL THREE LIGHTS ON & THEY REPLACE THE CAT CONVERTER AGAIN. NOW THE ISSUES ARE SPORADIC ALL YEAR LONG. IN AUGUST 2008 AT 89,000 MILES DURING SERVICE WORK THEY ARE ABLE TO PULL CODES WITH VSC/TRAC LIGHTS OFF. THEY REPLACE ECM TO CORRECT STEERING ANGLE & DECELERATION. THE LIGHTS STILL CAME ON LAST WEEK AGAIN AT START UP AND THE VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN PULLING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. STILL LOOKING FOR A RESOLUTION... *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING, THE VSC, ABS AND TRAC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CODES WERE RESET. THE FAILURE OCCURRED AGAIN A YEAR LATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CODES WERE RESET AGAIN; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ECU NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR RECALL 10V176000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). WHEN HE WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TO HAVE THE RECALL REPAIRED, HE WAS TOLD HE WOULD BE BILLED BECAUSE THE DECELERATION SENSOR ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 71,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000.

SUNROOF SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH DOWN A QUIET STREET. *CN

2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA: PERSISITANT ROTTEN EGG SMELL IN VEHICLE. SERVICE AND CORP SAY TYPE OF GASOLINE. HAVE SWITCHED OUT GASOLINE BRANDS AND TYPES FOR OVER 1 YEAR W/ NO CHANGE. THE VEHICLE HAS PRODUCED SEVERE HEALTH PROBLEMS IN FAMILY W/ INCREASE IN FREQUENT HEADACHES, BRONCHITIS & ASTHMA FLARE-UPS AND SINUS INFECTIONS. HAVE NOTIFIED DEALERSHIP (ROUTE ONE TOYOTA, INC AVENEL, NJ) AS WELL AS TOYOTA CORP.. NO RESPONSE EXCEPT "SORRY FOR THE INCONVENIENCE.. IT'S THE GAS.*AK

2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. CONSUMER STATES EXTREME SHAKING AND VIBRATIONS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THERE ARE FOUR ACTIVE RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE FRONT SUSPENSION RECALL, BUT HE BELIEVES THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AS THERE IS AN EXTREME SHAKING AND VIBRATION COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DIFFERENT DEALER FOR THE TRACTION CONTROL RECALL, BUT THE TRAC OFF, VSC TRAC AND ABS LIGHTS ARE STILL ON, THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD IT COULD BE A MYRIAD OF THINGS WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED THE LIGHTS TO REMAIN ON. *JB

THE ANTI-SKID CONTROL ENGAGED WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON DRY PAVEMENT UNDER 25 MPH *AK *JB

BRAKE PADS ARE WEARING PREMATURELY.*MR CONSUMER HEARD A SCRATCHING NOISE LIKE A ROCK WAS STUCK IN THE ROTORS. WHEN ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THEM REPLACED, HE WAS TOLD THE ROTORS WERE ON A BACK ORDER.*TS *JB

CONSUMER NOTICED A ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMING THROUGH AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) VENTS, MAKING CONSUMER AND PASSENGERS SICK. THE VEHICLE WAS TESTED FOR HIGH CARBON MONOXIDE EXHAUST. *AK THE CONSUMER, HUSBAND, ANY OR ALL PASSENGER INCLUDING THE INFANT CHILD WOULD FEEL DIZZY, LIGHT HEADED, AND NAUSEAS. THE CONSUMERS INFANT CHILD WOULD SLEEP HARD AND WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND DIAGNOSED WITH "CO EXPOSURE." NO ONE WOULD FEEL THESE SYMPTOMS ANY LONGER WHEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE. *SCC

WHEN THE BACK WINDOWS ARE ROLLED DOWN AND VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THERE IS A VIOLENT WIND TUNNEL THAT BENDS THE ROOF AND MAKES A HORRENDOUS SOUND. VEHICLE SOUNDS AS IF IT IS AIRBORNE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AN AMMONIA AND SULFUR SMELL ENTERED THE PASSENGER'S CABIN. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE SMELL. THE CONSUMER'S DOCTOR RECOMMENDED NOT TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE HEADACHES THAT THE CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING. *AK THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM THEY CAN CONTACT TOWN HALL TOYOTA BY CLICKING ON EDMUND.COM. *CB *JB

ON APRIL 14, 2004 CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. UPON TAPPING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD WITH GREAT FORCE. DRIVER LOST CONTROL, AND HIT A SCHOOL. *AK