← New search

2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

90 reports with mileage · 17 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Traction Control System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

34 reports
Clear category filter
89,500 miles · Nov 22, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

VSC, VSC TRACTION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAY ON. NO OTHER PROBLEM TO DRIVE. LIGHTS SEEN FROM 89000 MILE. CHANGED BRAKE SYSTEM ON 75000 MILE INCLUDING ROUTER AND WORKS FINE.

NHTSA ODI #11047959

95,500 miles · Aug 15, 2017
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

VSC/TRAC LIGHTS HAVE COME ON . I STILL DRIVE THE CAR ,IT WAS HAPPEN 3RD TIMES . I WENT TO LOCAL MECHANIC BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF GUARANTEE .

NHTSA ODI #11015477

197,000 miles · Oct 4, 2015
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

STARTING IN DECEMBER OF 2014 MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA HAS HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON AND WHEN APPLYING THE BREAKS HAVING SHAKING IN THE FRONT END. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO TOYOTA AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, ECU. THEY REPLACED THE SKID CONTROL ECU AND THE RIGHT REAR SPEED SENSOR. COSTING ME 1196.90. THEN IN MARCH …

Read full complaint

STARTING IN DECEMBER OF 2014 MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA HAS HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT COMING ON AND WHEN APPLYING THE BREAKS HAVING SHAKING IN THE FRONT END. I TOOK MY VEHICLE INTO TOYOTA AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, ECU. THEY REPLACED THE SKID CONTROL ECU AND THE RIGHT REAR SPEED SENSOR. COSTING ME 1196.90. THEN IN MARCH THE BRAKE LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AND OFF AGAIN PERIODICALLY. IT IS NOW OCTOBER 2015 AND ON THE WAY HOME FROM CHURCH THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND VSC AND TRACTION CONTROL , AND ENGINE LIGHTS KEEP COMING ON. I WAS TURNING AND THE ENGINE STALLED AND NEARLY DIED IN ONE OF THE BUSIEST INTERSECTIONS. I HAVE SINCE PARKED IT IN THE DRIVEWAY AND WILL HAVE TO GET SOMEONE OVER HERE TO LOOK AT IT BECAUSE I DO NOT FEEL SAFE OR COMFORTABLE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10779569

120,533 miles · Aug 18, 2015
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED, NO OTHER SYMPTOMS. STAYED ON FOR 2 DAYS THEN DISAPPEARED AGAIN. TWO MONTHS LATER THE BRAKE LIGHT HAD BECOME ILLUMINATED, PUT IT IN PARK TO LOAD PASSENGERS, AND WHEN RETURNED TO DRIVE, THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AND A GRINDING…

Read full complaint

TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED, NO OTHER SYMPTOMS. STAYED ON FOR 2 DAYS THEN DISAPPEARED AGAIN. TWO MONTHS LATER THE BRAKE LIGHT HAD BECOME ILLUMINATED, PUT IT IN PARK TO LOAD PASSENGERS, AND WHEN RETURNED TO DRIVE, THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AND A GRINDING SOUND WAS HEARD WHEN APPLYING BRAKES - ALONG WITH THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. TURNED THE CAR OFF, CHECKED FLUIDS AND FUSES, WHEN RESTARTED ONLY BRAKE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND CAR APPEARED TO BE DRIVING NORMALLY. TOOK IT IN TO TOYOTA TODAY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT AS THE BRAKE LIGHT IS STILL ON, AND THE GRINDING NOISE WAS A CONCERN - AND AM TOLD THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IN ALL MY RESEARCH ON THIS, I'M VERY CONCERNED AS IT APPEARS TO BE QUITE A COMMON PROBLEM, AND ON A SEARCH OF MY VIN IT SAYS THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL (ALTHOUGH I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALER THAT MY ECU WAS 'FLASHED TO THE UPDATED PROGRAMMING') CURRENT COST QUOTED IS $1,508 - BUT WAS ALSO TOLD THAT ONCE THE BOOSTER IS INSTALLED THEY HAVE TO RE-RUN THEIR CHECK AND IT MAY NOT BE THE ONLY PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING AS WE OWN 2 OTHER TOYOTAS, AND PURCHASED THIS CAR AS A DAILY DRIVER TO TAKE OUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, EVERYTHING I'VE SEEN REGARDING THESE ISSUES LEAVES ME VERY CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY.

NHTSA ODI #10749564

165,000 miles · Dec 6, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND STARTED TO CHANGE LANES, WHEN I SAW A DAMAGED AREA ON THE FREEWAY DROVE OVER IT AND THE LIGHT FOR TRAC CONTROL LIGHT, VSC LIGHT, AND ABS LIGHT WERE ALL ON. THEN I EXITED TO CHECK FOR ANY VISIBLE PROBLEMS NOTHING THAT I COULD NOTICE. SO I STATED TO RESEARCH ABOUT THIS AND FOUND FORUMS TO SEE WHAT I CAN FI…

Read full complaint

I WAS ON THE FREEWAY AND STARTED TO CHANGE LANES, WHEN I SAW A DAMAGED AREA ON THE FREEWAY DROVE OVER IT AND THE LIGHT FOR TRAC CONTROL LIGHT, VSC LIGHT, AND ABS LIGHT WERE ALL ON. THEN I EXITED TO CHECK FOR ANY VISIBLE PROBLEMS NOTHING THAT I COULD NOTICE. SO I STATED TO RESEARCH ABOUT THIS AND FOUND FORUMS TO SEE WHAT I CAN FIND OUT. THIS IS A BIG PROBLEM FROM WHAT I SEE. DO YOUR PART TO GET THINGS DONE WITH THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10662500

101,000 miles · Nov 26, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

THE VSC AND TRAC LIGHTS STARTED COMING AFTER A CLUCKING SOUND HEARD FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN IT GOES AWAY. BUT IT COMES BACK INTERMITTENTLY. THE PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AS WE WILL NEED TO GO ON A LONG FAMILY…

Read full complaint

THE VSC AND TRAC LIGHTS STARTED COMING AFTER A CLUCKING SOUND HEARD FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR FOLLOWED BY A LOSS OF POWER. AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN IT GOES AWAY. BUT IT COMES BACK INTERMITTENTLY. THE PROBLEM NEEDS TO BE FIXED. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AS WE WILL NEED TO GO ON A LONG FAMILY TRIP IN A FEW WEEKS. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10661046

170,000 miles · Nov 7, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING I CAME TO A STOP AND WHEN PUT MY FOOT BACK ON THE GAS THE VSC TRAC LIGHT CAME ON AND ALSO THE SKID LIGHT. IT MADE A GRINDING NOISE, THEN WHEN I HIT THE GAS IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THIS IS A SCARY FEELING!!! WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS?!! SEEMS TO ME IT'S MORE THEN JUST ME EXPRENCING THIS!!! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10653249

92,220 miles · Oct 26, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CHECK ENGINE, VSC OFF, AND THE VSC TRAC LIGHTS CAME ON AND THEY WON'T TURN OFF. TOOK IT IN TO TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE THE FOLLOWING DATE AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE ECU AND SKID ECU COMPUTER BOARD AND THAT IT MAY FIX IT? IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE WOULD LIKE TO KN…

Read full complaint

I WAS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CHECK ENGINE, VSC OFF, AND THE VSC TRAC LIGHTS CAME ON AND THEY WON'T TURN OFF. TOOK IT IN TO TOYOTA DEALER SERVICE THE FOLLOWING DATE AND THEY SAID IT WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH THE ECU AND SKID ECU COMPUTER BOARD AND THAT IT MAY FIX IT? IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE WOULD LIKE TO KNOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10650049

151,000 miles · Sep 28, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control

VCS OFF LIGHT, VCS TRAC LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AND WILL NOT GO OFF. . *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639616

122,863 miles · Jun 14, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

VCS OFF LIGHT, VCS TRAC LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AND WILL NOT GO OFF. UNDERSTAND THERE IS A DANGER OF CRASH DUE TO THIS CONDITION. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10598288

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.