NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
107 reports50,000 miles · Jul 20, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control System
OUR 2003 SEQUOIA HAS SAME TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEM AS ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, RESULTING IN VSC/ABS/TRAC LIGHTS ON WITH NO ADDITIONAL SAFETY BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT TRACTION CONTROL OR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES OTHER THAN THE STANDARD HYDRAULIC BRAKES. THE SYSTEM FAILED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AND WE PLACED A COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE HOPIN…
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OUR 2003 SEQUOIA HAS SAME TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEM AS ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, RESULTING IN VSC/ABS/TRAC LIGHTS ON WITH NO ADDITIONAL SAFETY BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT TRACTION CONTROL OR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES OTHER THAN THE STANDARD HYDRAULIC BRAKES. THE SYSTEM FAILED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AND WE PLACED A COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE HOPING FOR A RECALL. WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE REPORTED RECALL AND ALL THEY DID IS FIX SOME INTERNAL COMPUTER SETTING. THEY SAID THE RECALL HAD NOTHING DO WITH THE WARNING LIGHTS OR FIXING THE FAULTY "STAR" SAFETY SYSTEM. WE LEFT WITH ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS STILL ON AND THE OFFER FOR THE DEALER TO INVESTIGATE THE WARNING LIGHTS AT A COST OF $300. I DON'T BELIEVE THE INTENT OF ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WAS TO FIX AN INTERNAL COMPUTER SETTING BUT RATHER TO BRING LIGHT TO THE WIDESPREAD FAILURE OF A MAJOR SAFETY SYSTEM AT A HUGE COST TO THE CONSUMER. I URGE THE NHTSA TO RE-OPEN THIS CASE, INVESTIGATE THE REAL CAUSES, HOLD TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE AND NOT ACCEPT A SOFTBALL ANSWER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10344304
90,000 miles · Jul 16, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
I OWN AN EARLY MODEL 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA, I HAD THE VSC, ESC AND ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATION, THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT THE MOST DANGEROUS TIMES, IS INCONSISTENT AND SEEMS AS THOUGH POWER IS CUT TO THE AXLE SO I CANNOT PULL AWAY. I AM AWARE OF THE RECALL AND CALLED TOYOTAS HOTLINE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS I…
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I OWN AN EARLY MODEL 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA, I HAD THE VSC, ESC AND ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATION, THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY WILL NOT ACCELERATE AT THE MOST DANGEROUS TIMES, IS INCONSISTENT AND SEEMS AS THOUGH POWER IS CUT TO THE AXLE SO I CANNOT PULL AWAY. I AM AWARE OF THE RECALL AND CALLED TOYOTAS HOTLINE. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE CAR WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND THAT I WOULD GET A LETTER FOR SERVICE IN LATE MAY. LATE MAY CAME AND WENT AND I WAITED UNTIL MID JUNE FOR THE LETTER AND THEN CALLED AGAIN WHEN IT DIDN'T ARRIVE. THEY NOW SAID THAT ON FURTHER EXAMINATION, THE CAR WAS NO LONGER RECALLED. TOYOTA WANTS AN EXHORBRANT AMOUNT FOR THE SERVICE, AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE, IT HAS TO BE DONE. QUITE FRANKLY, TOYOTA WAS RUDE TO ME LOCALLY AND THE TOYOTA RECALL HOTLINE WERE RUDE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW 67000 TOYOTAS THAT WERE MADE IN 2003, AND 50000 WERE RECALLED MINE IS NOT INCLUDED WHEN IT IS DEMONSTRATING THE EXACT PROBLEM THE RECALL WAS INSTITUTED FOR. SOUND CRIMINAL. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10343575
Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2010
Traction Control System
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WHICH WE PURCHASED NEW. EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT THE TRAC OFF, VSC TRAC, AND ABS DASHBOARD LIGHTS USED TO GO OFF PERIODICALLY. SINCE THE DEALER COULD NOT SEE THE LIGHTS WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THEM, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW THE LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON BUT (OF COU…
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I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WHICH WE PURCHASED NEW. EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT THE TRAC OFF, VSC TRAC, AND ABS DASHBOARD LIGHTS USED TO GO OFF PERIODICALLY. SINCE THE DEALER COULD NOT SEE THE LIGHTS WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THEM, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW THE LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON BUT (OF COURSE) THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE DRIVES ERRATICALLY AT TIMES AND MY HUSBAND AND I ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10342556
90,354 miles · Jul 1, 2010
Traction Control System
STARTED UP THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT, THE VCS OFF LIGHT AND THE VCS TRAC LIGHT ALL CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. WE'VE HAD THE FACTORY RECALL FOR AOG VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM, SKID CONTROL ECU UPDATE DONE, AND NOW WE'RE TOLD IT WILL BE $500 TO REPLACE THE YAW-ACCELERATION STABILITY CONTROL . THIS IS A VERY COMMON SA…
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STARTED UP THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT, THE VCS OFF LIGHT AND THE VCS TRAC LIGHT ALL CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. WE'VE HAD THE FACTORY RECALL FOR AOG VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM, SKID CONTROL ECU UPDATE DONE, AND NOW WE'RE TOLD IT WILL BE $500 TO REPLACE THE YAW-ACCELERATION STABILITY CONTROL . THIS IS A VERY COMMON SAFETY PROBLEM, AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL, IT HAPPENS A LOT! *TR
NHTSA ODI #10341035
105,000 miles · Jun 21, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM IS TOO SENSITIVE. VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE AS THE ESCS WILL ACTIVATE AND APPLY BRAKES NOT ALLOWING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY BY APPLYING BRAKES AND CUTTING POWER TO THE ENGINE. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10339340
140,000 miles · Jun 18, 2010
Traction Control System
MY SEQUOIA IS EXPERIENCING VERY SIMILAR ISSUES AS NOTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V176000. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE HAS A DELAY AND SEEMS TO ENGAGE THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM PREVENTING ACCELERATION AND THEN IT JUST KICKS IN AND OFF YOU GO. UNFORTUNATELY THIS OFTEN LEAVES YOU IN A DANGEROUS SITUATIO…
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MY SEQUOIA IS EXPERIENCING VERY SIMILAR ISSUES AS NOTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V176000. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE HAS A DELAY AND SEEMS TO ENGAGE THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM PREVENTING ACCELERATION AND THEN IT JUST KICKS IN AND OFF YOU GO. UNFORTUNATELY THIS OFTEN LEAVES YOU IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF YOU HAVEN'T LEFT YOURSELF MORE THAN THE USUAL DISTANCE BETWEEN VEHICLES. ALSO IT IS VERY SPORADIC SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. I EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE MORE DURING TURNS FROM START AND PARTICULARLY DURING RAINY OR INCLEMENT WEATHER THOUGH THE TIRES ARE NOT SLIPPING. I CONTACTED MY TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY VIN IS NOT UNDER THE RECALL. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER AND THEN TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME PART WITH THE ISSUE. I INFORMED THEM THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I HAD THE CAR AND THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. THEY SAID I COULD BRING IT IN AND HAVE AN ANALYSIS DONE BUT I WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR IT. I TOLD THEM IT WAS HAPPENING EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEIR MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. I HAVE A YOUNG DRIVER WHO WILL BE USING THIS VEHICLE AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ADMIT OTHER SEQUIOA'S MAY HAVE THIS ISSUE AND DO NOT WANT TO ADDRESS THEM. THIS IS SERIOUS AND WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY SO FAR TO NOT HAVE IT HAPPEN IN A BAD SITUATION. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA FOR SIMPLY PUSHING THIS VEHICLE ASIDE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN BE SO CONFIDENT THEY'VE IDENTIFIED ONLY CERTAIN VEHICLES WHICH WILL HAVE THE ISSUE. HOW CAN THEY JUSTIFY THAT OTHER VEHICLES WILL NOT EXPERIENCE SIMILAR ISSUES. I GUESS THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO MANY PEOPLE TO ADMIT THERE COULD BE SOMETHING TRUE FROM WHAT THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE TELLING THEM. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA SINCE MY VEHICLE FITS THE RECALL MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS NOTE BUT THEY ARE SIMPLY TURNING AWAY FROM A LONG TIME CUSTOMER. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10339097
96,000 miles · Jun 14, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Traction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control
2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA - THE VSC, TRAC AND BRAKE LIGHT ALL ILLUMINATED WITH A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. THE CAR SHUDDERED TO A STOP DURING ACCELERATION. BARELY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BY QUICKLY PULLING THE CAR OVER. JUST CHECKED WITH TOYOTA AND MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM. PLEASE…
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2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA - THE VSC, TRAC AND BRAKE LIGHT ALL ILLUMINATED WITH A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. THE CAR SHUDDERED TO A STOP DURING ACCELERATION. BARELY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BY QUICKLY PULLING THE CAR OVER. JUST CHECKED WITH TOYOTA AND MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM. PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR REASONING BEHIND NOT INCLUDING ALL SEQUOIA'S WITH THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10336244
105,000 miles · Jun 11, 2010
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM FAILURE...VSC, TRAC, AND ABS FAILURE...ALL 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10335880
89,000 miles · Jun 11, 2010
Traction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control
THE VSC TRAC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS COME ON SOMETIMES WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SOMETIMES NOT. I WAS TOLD IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT WOULD BE 2,800 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE EBS SYSTEM OR SOMETHING. I HEAR THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THE 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA'S. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10335803
100,000 miles · May 24, 2010
Traction Control System
THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT WE NOTICED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO--BUT EVERY TIME I'VE TAKEN IT TO A DEALER, WE'VE BEEN BRUSHED OFF. WHILE TURNING ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IN MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5, WE NOTICE THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES. THE VEHICLE SLOWS CONSIDERABLY TO THE POINT THAT WE HAVE BEEN CRAWLING AND EVEN BLOCKING AN I…
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THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT WE NOTICED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO--BUT EVERY TIME I'VE TAKEN IT TO A DEALER, WE'VE BEEN BRUSHED OFF. WHILE TURNING ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IN MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5, WE NOTICE THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES. THE VEHICLE SLOWS CONSIDERABLY TO THE POINT THAT WE HAVE BEEN CRAWLING AND EVEN BLOCKING AN INTERSECTION. THE TRACTION CONTROL ALSO ENGAGES WHEN WE TURN INTO OUR DRIVEWAY OR WHEN WE TURN ONTO SIDE STREETS. CARS BEHIND US HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO AROUND US OR HAVE SLOWED UNTIL WE CAN MOVE AGAIN. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD AT FIRST IT WAS JUST OUR TIRES. THEN THEY TOLD US IT WAS GOING TO COST OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR BECAUSE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS BAD. OUR EXPERIENCE IS EXACTLY THAT OF THE MOST RECENT RECALL OF OTHER 2003 SEQUOIAS, BUT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10331907