Illustration2003 SEQUOIA : 1. VSC AND ENGINE LIGHTS WENT ON THREE TIMES, HAVE CAR IN SERVICE DEPT, BUT NO ROOT CAUSE HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED. 2. DEALER CHARGED FOR EACH REPAIRED TIME , SEVERAL PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT THE SAME PROBLEM REAPPEARED AFTER FEW MONTHS. *TR
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Other model years Selected year
Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
20–25K
725–50K
1550–75K
2275–100K
31100–150K
13150K+
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
What owners actually said
107 reportsI OWN A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. ABOUT A MONTH AGO HAD TO STOP THE CAR ABRUPTLY UNDER RAIN TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH A VEHICLE THAT FAILED TO PERFORM A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE ABS DID NOT WORK AND I SKIDDED OF THE ROAD WITHOUT MAJOR CONSEQUENCES. . AFTER A VISIT TO THE DEALER THEY REPORTED THAT VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WI…
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I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. ABOUT A MONTH AGO HAD TO STOP THE CAR ABRUPTLY UNDER RAIN TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH A VEHICLE THAT FAILED TO PERFORM A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE ABS DID NOT WORK AND I SKIDDED OF THE ROAD WITHOUT MAJOR CONSEQUENCES. . AFTER A VISIT TO THE DEALER THEY REPORTED THAT VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL MODULE, IT IS NOT WORKING. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE HAS 66000 MILES. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL MODULE IS THAT IS DISABLES THE ABS WHEN THE MODULE STOPS WORKING. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND MULTIPLE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS IN VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY AND VEHICLES WITH RELATIVE LOW MILEAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS ALSO A PROBLEM FOR THE TOYOTA TUNDRA TRUCK. *TR
2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VSC/TRAC LIGHT TURNS ON FOR NO REASON AND WILL NOT TURN OFF UNLESS ENGINE IS RESTARTED. *TR
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA AND HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT GOING OFF AND ON DUE TO THE VSC/ABS TRAC LIGHT RELATED TO THE SKID CONTROL COMPUTER SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. NOW THE LIGHT STAYS ON AND IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE NOW THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I ONLY HAVE 56,000 MILES ON MY CAR. DURING AN INTERNET SEARCH I FIN…
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I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA AND HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE ENGINE LIGHT GOING OFF AND ON DUE TO THE VSC/ABS TRAC LIGHT RELATED TO THE SKID CONTROL COMPUTER SINCE I BOUGHT IT BRAND NEW. NOW THE LIGHT STAYS ON AND IT'S A SAFETY ISSUE NOW THAT IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY. I ONLY HAVE 56,000 MILES ON MY CAR. DURING AN INTERNET SEARCH I FIND THAT MULTIPLE OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE EITHER BEEN IN ACCIDENTS OR ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM DUE TO IT SAFETY ISSUE. IT IS ALSO VERY COSTLY AND THE TOYOTA COMPANY DOESN'T SEEM TO CARE. I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT YET AND HOPE I NEVER WILL BUT IT IS SAFETY CONCERN. *TR
BRAKE LIGHTS ON TOYOTA SEQUOIA COMES ON WITHOUT WARNING, STAYS ON TILL IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. HOWEVER, BRAKES SEEM TO WORK FINE, BUT VEHICLE SLOWS WHEN MAKING A TURN, INCLUDING MINOR TURN AT LOW SPEED AND THE ROLL OVER LIGHT COMES ON, WITH THE WHEELS HARDLY TURNING. VEHICLE IS 2003 BUT LESS THAN 50, 000 MILES (APPROX. 48,689). …
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BRAKE LIGHTS ON TOYOTA SEQUOIA COMES ON WITHOUT WARNING, STAYS ON TILL IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. HOWEVER, BRAKES SEEM TO WORK FINE, BUT VEHICLE SLOWS WHEN MAKING A TURN, INCLUDING MINOR TURN AT LOW SPEED AND THE ROLL OVER LIGHT COMES ON, WITH THE WHEELS HARDLY TURNING. VEHICLE IS 2003 BUT LESS THAN 50, 000 MILES (APPROX. 48,689). *TR
VTRAC TRAC OFF AND ENGINE LIGHT ON. COMPUTER MALFUNCTION. *TR
ABOUT 9AM MONDAY MORNING, AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 20 MPH, I ARRIVED AT A STOP SIGN. AS I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE SEQUOIA WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. I HAVE DEPRESS THE ACCELERATION TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO MOVE THE CAR AND SUDDENLY IT TOOK OFF. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE C…
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ABOUT 9AM MONDAY MORNING, AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 20 MPH, I ARRIVED AT A STOP SIGN. AS I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AND MAKE A RIGHT HAND TURN, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE SEQUOIA WOULD NOT MOVE AT ALL. I HAVE DEPRESS THE ACCELERATION TO THE FLOOR IN ORDER TO MOVE THE CAR AND SUDDENLY IT TOOK OFF. I WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF THE CAR AND SAFETY DROP OFF MY CHILDREN. *TR
TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY $1,500 REPAIR PER DEALER. THE TRANSMISSION DIFFERENTIAL LIGHT FLASHES ON THE DASH, WE FOUND OUT THE SEAL, RELAY AND ACTUATOR ARE ALL BAD $1,500 REPAIR I FOUND NUMEROUS CASES OF THIS ON THE INTERNET. TOYOTA REFUSES TO HELP STATING THE MILEAGE. *TR
VSC, TRAC WARNING LIGHT ON 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA (75K MILES) - $1718 REPAIR BILL FIRST INCIDENT - 3/11/04 (8.5K MILES), COMPUTER SKID/COMPUTER ASSY REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY LATEST INCIDENT - 1/8/2010 (75K MILES), BRAKE BOOSTER ($763 REPAIR) AND CHARCOAL CANISTER ($550 REPAIR). REFERENCED REPAIRS MAY BE RECURRING EVENTS SUPPORTIN…
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VSC, TRAC WARNING LIGHT ON 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA (75K MILES) - $1718 REPAIR BILL FIRST INCIDENT - 3/11/04 (8.5K MILES), COMPUTER SKID/COMPUTER ASSY REPAIRED UNDER WARRANTY LATEST INCIDENT - 1/8/2010 (75K MILES), BRAKE BOOSTER ($763 REPAIR) AND CHARCOAL CANISTER ($550 REPAIR). REFERENCED REPAIRS MAY BE RECURRING EVENTS SUPPORTING A POTENTIAL RECALL PROGRAM BASED ON NUMEROUS WEBSITE REFERENCES... *TR
THIS OCCURS DAILY (SINCE I NOW LIVE IN ARIZONA). THE VENT RECIRCULATE SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY OVERIDES TO RECIRCULATE MODE IN MANUAL MODE WHEN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES DIFFER. THIS CAUSES THE WINDOW FOGGING AND LIMITED VISIBILITY. THE RECIRCULATE WILL TURN ON EVEN IN FRONT WINDOW DEFROST MODE - A COMPLETE DISREGARD FO…
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THIS OCCURS DAILY (SINCE I NOW LIVE IN ARIZONA). THE VENT RECIRCULATE SYSTEM AUTOMATICALLY OVERIDES TO RECIRCULATE MODE IN MANUAL MODE WHEN INSIDE AND OUTSIDE TEMPERATURES DIFFER. THIS CAUSES THE WINDOW FOGGING AND LIMITED VISIBILITY. THE RECIRCULATE WILL TURN ON EVEN IN FRONT WINDOW DEFROST MODE - A COMPLETE DISREGARD FOR VISIBILITY SAFETY. TOYOTA SERVICE TECH STATED THE ONBOARD COMPUTERS FIRMWARE IS TO BLAME AND THERE IS NO FIX AVAILABLE. TOYOTA UNRESPONSIVE OTHERWISE. *TR
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.