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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

Power Train complaints

35 reports
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36,000 miles · Jul 29, 2008
Power Train

IN 2007, I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA SEQUOIA TO WORK AND IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP THEY TOLD ME THAT MY TRANSMISSION FAIL AND IT COST ME $3500.00. I CALLED TOYOTA FOR SOME ASSISTANCE THEY DID NOT EVEN CARE ABOUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10236264

118,000 miles · Jun 10, 2008
Power Train

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD STARTING HEARING WEIRD NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE ARE. I MADE IT HOME AND NEXT DAY I WAS DRIVING TRIED TO ACELERATE AND IT WOULDN'T . ENGINE KEPT RUNNING BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE HAD TRUCK TOWED HOME(62 MILES) CAR IS A 2001 WITH 118000 MILES NEVER WOULD THINK THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO TOYOTA..PLS HELP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10230521

101,000 miles · May 7, 2008
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING 40MPH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE DID NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY THE TOYOTA DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE OVERDRIVE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. I SHOULD OF LOOKED IN THIS WEBSITE BEFORE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE PLEASE HAVE TOYOTA RECALL THIS D…

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WHILE DRIVING 40MPH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE DID NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY THE TOYOTA DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE OVERDRIVE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. I SHOULD OF LOOKED IN THIS WEBSITE BEFORE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE PLEASE HAVE TOYOTA RECALL THIS DEFECT AND REPAIR OUR VEHICLES. I LOVE THE CAR, I HATE THIS COSTLY PROBLEM. TOYOTA SHOULD MAINTAIN US FAITHFUL IN THEIR QUALITY AND HONESTY BY REPAIRING OUR VEHICLE BEING IT WAS FIRST GENERATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226979

87,000 miles · May 5, 2008
Power Train

TRANSMISSION FAILING AND HAVE NOTICED NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON SAME MODEL VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER APPARENTLY HAS DONE NOTHING TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER WITH THE COST TO REPLACE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10226737

65,000 miles · Jul 30, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING 25-70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARS A NOISE COMING FROM THE VSE AND THE TRACK OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATES AS A RESULT OF THIS INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY BE THE STEERING AN…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING 25-70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARS A NOISE COMING FROM THE VSE AND THE TRACK OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATES AS A RESULT OF THIS INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY BE THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR, BUT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE FAILURE WOULD GO AWAY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA ODI #10197853

84,000 miles · Jul 9, 2007
Power Train

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT IT COULD LEAK ON THE BRAKE ROTORS. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE FOR FREE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE IN 2004. HOWEVER, SINCE THERE IS AN UPDATED SERVICE BULLET…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT IT COULD LEAK ON THE BRAKE ROTORS. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE FOR FREE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE IN 2004. HOWEVER, SINCE THERE IS AN UPDATED SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE FAILURE, HE FEELS HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AGAIN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,000.

NHTSA ODI #10195916

61,000 miles · Jun 14, 2007
Power Train

THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES CAUSING MY FAMILY TO LOSE ALL ACCELERATION ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND GET A TOW TO THE TOYOTA DEALER (DAVID MAUS) AND THEY THOUGHT INITIALLY THAT THE WHOLE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($2000+) BUT AFTER THE MECHANIC CLEANED THE SENSOR IT R…

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THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES CAUSING MY FAMILY TO LOSE ALL ACCELERATION ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND GET A TOW TO THE TOYOTA DEALER (DAVID MAUS) AND THEY THOUGHT INITIALLY THAT THE WHOLE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($2000+) BUT AFTER THE MECHANIC CLEANED THE SENSOR IT RESOLVED THE ISSUE THUS FAR, ITS BEEN THREE MONTHS WITHOUT RECURRENCE. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THIS IS A CHEAP FIX AS I BELIEVE OTHERS NOTED HERE THAT THE DEALERSHIP ONLY OFFERED REPLACEMENT AS A SOLUTION. I DID HAVE A SECOND QUOTE DONE ELSEWHERE JUST TO BE SURE AND THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE WHOLE THROTTLE BODY AS WELL WITHOUT TRYING AN ALTERNATIVE. BE CAREFUL OUT THERE AND GET A SECOND OPINION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10193318

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2007
Power Train

OWNER OF 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WHO'S TRANSMIISION HAS FAILED AND REQUIRES NEW TRANSMISSION. MANY POSTINGS ON INTERENT WITH THE SAME ISSSUE OF FAILURE DUE TO SO CALLED OVERDRIVE PLANETARY GEAR DEFECT. SHOULD BE A NATIONAL RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #10185524

110,000 miles · Dec 28, 2006
Power Train

TL* - THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITH 110000 MILES ON VEHICLE WHEN HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY TOLD HIM ALL OF THE GEARS WERE DAMAGED*AK …

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TL* - THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITH 110000 MILES ON VEHICLE WHEN HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY TOLD HIM ALL OF THE GEARS WERE DAMAGED*AK THE TECHNICIAN FOUND METAL SHAVING IN THE TRANSMISSION PAN. THE TRANSMISSION HAD SEVER INTERNAL FAILURE. UPDATED 01/19/07. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10177171

64,000 miles · Apr 26, 2006
Power Train

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40MPH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE DID NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE OVERDRIVE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT.

NHTSA ODI #10156132

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.