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2001 Toyota Sequoia

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

424 reports with mileage · 107 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.

  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 124 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 102 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 101 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

20 crash reports0 fire reports10 injury reports

Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints

124 reports
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112,500 miles · Oct 23, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE HAS EXHIBITED RANDOM ACTIVATION OF THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON DRY, SMOOTH PAVEMENT. EACH INCIDENT IS CHARACTERIZED BY: THE ACTIVATION OF A BRIEF AUDIBLE WARNING BEEP, THE VSC INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES ALONG WITH THE SLIPPERY SURFACE LIGHT (TWO SQUIGGLY LINES) AND T…

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ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE HAS EXHIBITED RANDOM ACTIVATION OF THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON DRY, SMOOTH PAVEMENT. EACH INCIDENT IS CHARACTERIZED BY: THE ACTIVATION OF A BRIEF AUDIBLE WARNING BEEP, THE VSC INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES ALONG WITH THE SLIPPERY SURFACE LIGHT (TWO SQUIGGLY LINES) AND THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY BEGINS RANDOMLY APPLYING HARD ABS BRAKING TO THE WHEELS INTERMITTENTLY SHIFTING FROM SIDE TO SIDE, BACK TO FRONT, ACCOMPANIED WITH A LOUD GRINDING NOISE THAT APPEARS TO EMANATE FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM. DURING THESE INCIDENTS, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE AS IT JERKS FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND SHAKES VIOLENTLY. THE ONLY VIABLE RESPONSE IS TO REDUCE SPEED AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE. TO RECOVER CONTROL, THE VEHICLE IGNITION MUST BE TURNED OFF AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. OVER THE PAST YEAR, THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM HAS RECURRED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES WITHOUT WARNING AND THERE IS NOT PREDICTABLE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT SEEMS TO INITIATE AN OCCURRENCE. MY WIFE NOW REFUSES TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE AND I HAVE DRAMATICALLY REDUCED THE USAGE THIS SUV FOR FEAR THAT ANOTHER INCIDENT MAY RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10649475

173,000 miles · Oct 7, 2014
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, TRAC, EMERGENCY BRAKE & ABS LIGHTS ARE ALL ILLUMINATED. SEEMS LIKE EVERY SEQUOIA 2001 - 2005 HAS THIS PROBLEM. AFTER LOTS OF RESEARCH IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A FAULT WITH THE VSC COMPUTER AND ECU COMPUTER WHICH DEALERS WANT $2000 AND UP! THESE MALFUNCTIONS IN COMPUTERS AFFECT THE VEHICLES ABS BRAKES, AND STABILITY …

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VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, TRAC, EMERGENCY BRAKE & ABS LIGHTS ARE ALL ILLUMINATED. SEEMS LIKE EVERY SEQUOIA 2001 - 2005 HAS THIS PROBLEM. AFTER LOTS OF RESEARCH IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A FAULT WITH THE VSC COMPUTER AND ECU COMPUTER WHICH DEALERS WANT $2000 AND UP! THESE MALFUNCTIONS IN COMPUTERS AFFECT THE VEHICLES ABS BRAKES, AND STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH POSES A THREAT TO SAFETY OF DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10643190

96,000 miles · Sep 25, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT ~40MPH, CAR JEERED TO THE RIGHT AND MADE A NOISE AS IF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE PUMPING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VSC & TRAC LIGHTS CAME ON. VEHICLE THEN DROVE NORMALLY UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED REPEATEDLY MAKING IT UNSAFE TO OP…

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WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT ~40MPH, CAR JEERED TO THE RIGHT AND MADE A NOISE AS IF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE PUMPING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VSC & TRAC LIGHTS CAME ON. VEHICLE THEN DROVE NORMALLY UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED REPEATEDLY MAKING IT UNSAFE TO OPERATE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW YAW SENSOR - $558. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10639128

230,000 miles · Sep 23, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

VEHICLE'S TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING ON DRY FLAT PAVEMENT. SKID LIGHT AND SOUND CAME ON FOLLOWED BY VSC AND TRAC CONTROL LIGHTS. VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT, MADE LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AND WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL STEERING AND BRAKING. THIS CONTINUED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE, STOPPED…

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VEHICLE'S TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING ON DRY FLAT PAVEMENT. SKID LIGHT AND SOUND CAME ON FOLLOWED BY VSC AND TRAC CONTROL LIGHTS. VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT, MADE LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AND WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL STEERING AND BRAKING. THIS CONTINUED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE, STOPPED, AND THEN DID IT AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO FATAL ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. IT HAPPENED FEW TIMES, TOOK IT TO DEALER CAN NOT FIND ISSUE BUT APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638442

122,086 miles · Sep 18, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AS THE ABS AND SKID CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE F…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE AS THE ABS AND SKID CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FOUR TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,086.

NHTSA ODI #10637390

80,000 miles · Sep 12, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

APPEARS CARS STABILITY SYSTEM CAME ON WITH APPLICATION OF BRAKES, NOISE ON THE BRAKES. WEATHER WAS CLEAR. VSC, TRACK LIGHT CAME ON. HAPPENS EVERY FEW WEEKS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632629

170,700 miles · Sep 9, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSuspension

IT FEELS LIKE ITS SLIPPING AND THE WARNING SIREN GOES OFF, TRAC & VCS LIGHTS START FLASHING AND VEHICLE STARTS GRINDING SOUNDS LIKE METAL ON METAL AND LOOSE CONTROL OF CAR, CAN'T BRAKE, CAN'T STEER JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO PASS AS YOU ARE ROLLING AWAY. VERY VERY SCARY - WHAT IF I WAS ON A HIGHWAY??? NOT A HAPPY TOYOTA OWNER…

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IT FEELS LIKE ITS SLIPPING AND THE WARNING SIREN GOES OFF, TRAC & VCS LIGHTS START FLASHING AND VEHICLE STARTS GRINDING SOUNDS LIKE METAL ON METAL AND LOOSE CONTROL OF CAR, CAN'T BRAKE, CAN'T STEER JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO PASS AS YOU ARE ROLLING AWAY. VERY VERY SCARY - WHAT IF I WAS ON A HIGHWAY??? NOT A HAPPY TOYOTA OWNER RIGHT NOW!!!!THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS, I SEE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS THAT SOUND JUST LIKE MINE ON THE INTERNET AND CAN'T BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT - ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOME FATALITIES TO HAPPEN. THIS IS MY 1ST TOYOTA AND I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND UP UNTIL NOW THIS HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT VEHICLE TO DRIVE (14YEARS). NOW I'M AFRAID FOR MY LIFE... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632010

169,000 miles · Aug 25, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

ALL OF A SUDDEN A GRINDING NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE, ANTI SKID BEEPING, VSC LIGHT POPPED ON. VERY HARD TO STEER AND BRAKES NOT WORKING WELL. HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. PULLED OVER, TURNED VEHICLE OFF. ENGINE ON, DROVE OFF, 5 MILES LATER, ALL OVER AGAIN, BUT MORE SEVERE. NOT SAFE AT HIGH SPEEDS, MORE THAN 25 MPH. THIS OCCURR…

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ALL OF A SUDDEN A GRINDING NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE, ANTI SKID BEEPING, VSC LIGHT POPPED ON. VERY HARD TO STEER AND BRAKES NOT WORKING WELL. HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. PULLED OVER, TURNED VEHICLE OFF. ENGINE ON, DROVE OFF, 5 MILES LATER, ALL OVER AGAIN, BUT MORE SEVERE. NOT SAFE AT HIGH SPEEDS, MORE THAN 25 MPH. THIS OCCURRED IN AUGUST, NO SNOW, NO RAIN, DRY CEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627946

94,000 miles · Jul 22, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING ON HWY APPROX 65 MPH. VSC AND TRAC LIGHTS CAME ONE. GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD AS VEHICLE PULLED. I WAS BY MYSELF THANKFULLY. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND GLAD MY WIFE WAS NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND HAD THE STABILITY CONTROL ECU REPLACED - 945.00. WOULD HAVE BEEN 1,200.00 BUT THE D…

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DRIVING ON HWY APPROX 65 MPH. VSC AND TRAC LIGHTS CAME ONE. GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD AS VEHICLE PULLED. I WAS BY MYSELF THANKFULLY. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND GLAD MY WIFE WAS NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND HAD THE STABILITY CONTROL ECU REPLACED - 945.00. WOULD HAVE BEEN 1,200.00 BUT THE DEALER WAIVED THREE OF THE FIVE HOURS OF LABOR. THIS SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE A RECALL AND IS VERY UNSAFE. PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED FROM TOYOTA DEALER AS A FAMILY VEHICLE BECAUSE MY WIFE AND I HAD OUR FIRST CHILD. VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. WHY IS THIS NOT A SAFETY RECALL? I HAVE READ MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT WERE EXACTLY LIKE MINE EXPERIENCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615491

96,500 miles · Jul 21, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I OWN A TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2001 LIMITED. LIKE 6 MONTHS AGO I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AROUND 60 MPH UPHILL. SVC-TRAC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON AND SOME NOISE THIS HAPPENED IN DRY PERFECT DRIVING CONDITIONS. AFTER THAT, SOME TIMES THE LIGHTS CAME ON WITH OUT NOISE. AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF AND TURNED …

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I OWN A TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2001 LIMITED. LIKE 6 MONTHS AGO I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AROUND 60 MPH UPHILL. SVC-TRAC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON AND SOME NOISE THIS HAPPENED IN DRY PERFECT DRIVING CONDITIONS. AFTER THAT, SOME TIMES THE LIGHTS CAME ON WITH OUT NOISE. AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF AND TURNED ON AGAIN ALL LIGHTS WERE GONE. I SCANNED TO SEE IF ANY CODE WAS STORED BUT NOTHING. UNTIL ONE DAY DRIVING ON MAIN BOULEVARD SPEED AROUND 40 MPH IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CAR PULLED ME TO THE RIGHT AND LOUD GRINDING NOISE HAPPENED AT SAME TIME. THIS SOUND AND SHAKE OF THE VEHICLE LAST NO MORE THEN 15 SECONDS. AFTER THAT, IT STARTED TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN UP TO THE TIME THAT IT WAS HAPPENING EVERY MILE. THE CAR WAS BRAKING ITSELF WITHOUT WARNING, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND LEFT REAR WHEEL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SCANNED AND NOTHING, ASKED ME IF I COULD LEAVE THE CAR ONE MORE DAY. NEXT DAY THEY CALL ME TO SAY THAT YAW RATE SENSOR WAS FAULTY. I REPLACED, SENSOR PLUS LABOR WAS $ 800. I HAVE NOT FELT THAT PROBLEM AGAIN. TOYOTA PEOPLE SEEM THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT THEY KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING. AT FREEWAY SPEED THIS WILL CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. WHY THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM IT IS THE BIG QUESTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615167

Official recalls

1

02V129000 · Wheels

May 1, 2002

ON CERTAIN 4X2 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ALLOY WHEEL TIRE UPGRADE (OPTIONS WM4, WM8, ZL1-ZL4, DH4, OR DH5) INSTALLED BY THE PROCESSING CENTERS IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA OR COMMERCE, GEORGIA, A LABEL IDENTIFYING THE SPARE TIRE AS A TEMPORARY USE SPARE TIRE WAS NOT INSTALLED. THE UPGRADE INCLUDES 4 LARGER SIZE TIRES WITH ALLOY WHEELS. THE ORIGINAL SPARE TIRE/STEEL WHEEL IS NOT PART OF THE UPGRADE AND WAS NOT CHANGED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DIFFERENT OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS CAN BE EXPERIENCED WHEN THE SPARE TIRE IS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CAUTION LABEL AND AN INSERT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.

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

1

PE16006 · Yaw Rate Sensor Malfunction

Opened Jun 14, 2016 · Closed Dec 20, 2016

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electronic Stability Control

On June 14, 2016, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE16-006 to investigate 135 complaints alleging incidents of yaw rate sensor malfunctions resulting in unexpected Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) activations and steering pull while driving in model year (MY) 2001-2002 Toyota Sequoia vehicles.ODI identified a total of 958 incidents in complaints provided by Toyota or submitted to ODI by consumers.ODI conducted the following work to assess the alleged defect in the subject vehicles: 1) evaluated the design of the subject yaw rate sensor; 2) initiated vehicle testing and instrumentation; 3) performed failure analysis on subject components collected from the field; 4) analyzed field data for evidence of system faults; and 5) reviewed the performance of the subject system in fault simulations testing conducted by Toyota.ODI review indicated that an overwhelming majority of incidents are related to flashing VSC slip indicators on the instrument panel accompanied by warning buzzers and grinding noise or vibration caused by pulsed brake application to one of the front wheels.Yaw rate sensor malfunctions resulting in VSC brake applications is accompanied by a brief duration of longitudinal deceleration with minimal changes in vehicle speed and will not result in abrupt lane change or loss of vehicle control due to steering controllability.This preliminary evaluation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding that a safety related defect does not exist.For additional information, see the closing resume appendix and the investigation file for PE16-006.