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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

Service Brakes complaints

76 reports
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48,000 miles · Jun 11, 2013
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON. THE SEQUOIA MADE A SCRUBBING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SKIDDED LEFT AND RIGHT A FEW TIMES. SCARY! THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON. THEY WENT OFF LATER THAT NIGHT, BUT HAVE COME BACK ON AT LEAST THREE OTHER TIMES SINCE THEN. THE VEHICLE HAS SKIDDED ALL BUT ONE TIME. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. I…

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THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON. THE SEQUOIA MADE A SCRUBBING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SKIDDED LEFT AND RIGHT A FEW TIMES. SCARY! THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON. THEY WENT OFF LATER THAT NIGHT, BUT HAVE COME BACK ON AT LEAST THREE OTHER TIMES SINCE THEN. THE VEHICLE HAS SKIDDED ALL BUT ONE TIME. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS BUT NO RECALLS OR HELP. THE SPEED DOES NOT MATTER AND THERE IS NO WARNING THAT THIS IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. HELP! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10519373

102,000 miles · Mar 29, 2013
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING FORWARD FROM A STOPPED POSITION ON A FLAT, LEVEL, PAVED ROAD WITH THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AT 72, THE VSC (VEHICLE SKID CONTROL) ACTIVATED AND NEARLY PULLED ME INTO THE LANE NEXT TO ME. THERE WERE NO POT HOLES OR ANYTHING IN THE ROAD THAT WOULD'VE CAUSED IT. IT STOPPED AFTER A FEW SECONDS AND THEN AGAIN, ABOUT TWO …

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WHILE DRIVING FORWARD FROM A STOPPED POSITION ON A FLAT, LEVEL, PAVED ROAD WITH THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AT 72, THE VSC (VEHICLE SKID CONTROL) ACTIVATED AND NEARLY PULLED ME INTO THE LANE NEXT TO ME. THERE WERE NO POT HOLES OR ANYTHING IN THE ROAD THAT WOULD'VE CAUSED IT. IT STOPPED AFTER A FEW SECONDS AND THEN AGAIN, ABOUT TWO MINUTES LATER AT A 25MPH SPEED , THE SYSTEM ACTIVATED AGAIN AND I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE BRAKES OR STEERING WHILE THE SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATING. THE CAR IS GREAT SHAPE, ONE-OWNER, WELL MAINTAINED AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A HISTORY WITH TOYOTA AND THE VSC SYSTEM. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THAT THE VSC PUT ME IN. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504909

175,000 miles · Mar 23, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VSC TRAC LIGHT CAME ON, THE VEHICLE STARTED GRINDING WHILE I WAS PRESSING THE GAS AND BRAKES. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS LOOSING POWER, I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE CAR WAS LOSING POWER AND CONTROL. THE ABS LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AND VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VERY BADLY. THIS HAPPENS S…

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WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VSC TRAC LIGHT CAME ON, THE VEHICLE STARTED GRINDING WHILE I WAS PRESSING THE GAS AND BRAKES. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS LOOSING POWER, I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE CAR WAS LOSING POWER AND CONTROL. THE ABS LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AND VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VERY BADLY. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I'M DRIVING VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO BE SERVICED FROM THE DEALER BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I WILL TALK WITH AN ATTORNEY ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE I AM VERY AFRAID OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY WIFE AND KIDS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10504290

64,500 miles · Mar 12, 2013
Service Brakes

DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND CAR INCREASED SPEED APPLIED BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP, TAKING OFF AND CAR HAS NO POWER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502439

65,000 miles · Mar 11, 2013
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT A SPEED OF 55 MILES THE VCS TRAC CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH OUT ME HITTING THE BREAKS, I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING FOR A SLIGHT SECOND, THE TRUCK SWERVED TO THE LEFT, IT ALMOST CAUSE ME TO HIT A CAR ON THE LEFT OF ME ON THE FREEWAY. ONCE I TURNED THE CAR OFF, THE VCS TR…

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TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT A SPEED OF 55 MILES THE VCS TRAC CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH OUT ME HITTING THE BREAKS, I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING FOR A SLIGHT SECOND, THE TRUCK SWERVED TO THE LEFT, IT ALMOST CAUSE ME TO HIT A CAR ON THE LEFT OF ME ON THE FREEWAY. ONCE I TURNED THE CAR OFF, THE VCS TRAC LIGHTS TURNED OFF, THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE STREET AT A LOWER SPEED OF 45 MILE THE VCS TRAC LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE TRUCK SWERVED TO THE LEFT, THE LIGHTS STAYED ON AGAIN UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE TRUCK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10502275

107,901 miles · Jan 12, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA AND EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT AT 5 MPH. OUR VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND SWERVED TO THE RIGHT WHILE A BUZZER WENT OFF & THEN THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE NEXT TWO INCIDEN…

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I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA AND EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT AT 5 MPH. OUR VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND SWERVED TO THE RIGHT WHILE A BUZZER WENT OFF & THEN THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE NEXT TWO INCIDENTS OCCURRED OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN 20-25 MPH. ON BOTH OCCASIONS OUR VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY DEFECT THAT HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY TOYOTA FOR THE 2003 SEQUOIA'S AND BY THE VAST AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS SHOULD EXTEND TO EARLIER MODELS AS WELL. I RECENTLY TOOK OUR SEQUOIA INTO A MECHANIC AND THEIR TROUBLE SHOOTING REVEALED THAT THE SKID CONTROL ECU WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, COSTING OVER $3400. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10492321

137,000 miles · Oct 7, 2012
Service BrakesVehicle Speed ControlCrash

WAS DRIVING DOWN MAJOR INTERSTATE WHEN THE VSC WARNING CAME ON WITH BUZZER. BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY WERE BEING GROUND DOWN, ENGINE DECELERATED, AND COULD FEEL BUMPING AND GRINDING ON BRAKE PEDAL. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED UNDER CAR, FOUND NOTHING. GOT BACK ON INTERSTATE AND SAME THING HAPPENED ONLY THIS TIME THE SYSTEM TURNED ITSELF…

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WAS DRIVING DOWN MAJOR INTERSTATE WHEN THE VSC WARNING CAME ON WITH BUZZER. BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY WERE BEING GROUND DOWN, ENGINE DECELERATED, AND COULD FEEL BUMPING AND GRINDING ON BRAKE PEDAL. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED UNDER CAR, FOUND NOTHING. GOT BACK ON INTERSTATE AND SAME THING HAPPENED ONLY THIS TIME THE SYSTEM TURNED ITSELF OFF. CAN NOT TURN THE VSC OFF WITH THE BUTTON PROVIDED. RESEARCH ON INTERNET REVEALS NOT AN UNIQUE ISSUE WITH SEQUOIA. HAS ALSO HAPPENED WITH TUNDRA AND OTHER TOYOTAS WITH VSC SYSTEM. NO FIX AVAILABLE AS OF 09/30/2012 THAT CAN BE FOUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10478936

110,000 miles · Aug 15, 2012
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

WIFE WAS PULLING OFF FROM A STOPLIGHT WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT (SKIDDING CAR ICON) AND WARNING BUZZER CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD GRINDING SOUND, VIBRATING, AND PULLING TO THE RIGHT. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, TURNED IT OFF, AND CALLED ME TO COME SWAP VEHICLES WITH HER. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR,…

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WIFE WAS PULLING OFF FROM A STOPLIGHT WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT (SKIDDING CAR ICON) AND WARNING BUZZER CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD GRINDING SOUND, VIBRATING, AND PULLING TO THE RIGHT. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, TURNED IT OFF, AND CALLED ME TO COME SWAP VEHICLES WITH HER. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, OF COURSE, THE SYMPTOMS HAD GONE AWAY. SEVERAL DAYS LATER ON A FAMILY TRIP, I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65-70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING SHE HAD DESCRIBED. WE PULLED OVER, THE NOISE STOPPED, AND THEN THE VSC/TRAC AND TRAC OFF CAME ON. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FIX. TOO MANY VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, OVER SEVERAL PRODUCTION YEARS (2003'S ACTUALLY HAVE A RECALL FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE). HOWEVER, READING VARIOUS FORUMS HAS MADE ME THINK TOYOTA DOESN'T EVEN KNOW THE ROOT CAUSE OF THIS. BUT IT'S DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE CHECKED OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10470780

120,000 miles · Aug 4, 2012
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

TODAY DRIVING AT 40MPH MY 2001 SEQUOIA SUDDENLY JOLTED AND BRAKE WITH A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE, THIS WHILE I WAS USING THE GAS PEDAL! IT WAS VERY SCARY AND SHOCKING THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY DO SUCH AN UNSAFE MANEUVER. MY CHILDREN & I WERE TERRIFIED AS THE BEEPING STARTED AND THEN A STEADY NOISE WHILE THE GRINDING PERSISTED. I…

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TODAY DRIVING AT 40MPH MY 2001 SEQUOIA SUDDENLY JOLTED AND BRAKE WITH A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE, THIS WHILE I WAS USING THE GAS PEDAL! IT WAS VERY SCARY AND SHOCKING THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY DO SUCH AN UNSAFE MANEUVER. MY CHILDREN & I WERE TERRIFIED AS THE BEEPING STARTED AND THEN A STEADY NOISE WHILE THE GRINDING PERSISTED. I AM SO GLAD THE CAR BEHIND US DID NOT PLOW INTO US, AND STILL DO NOT KNOW HOW THEY DID NOT. TO EVERYONE THAT HAS STATED THIS: "PEOPLE WILL BE KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS", YOU ARE VERY CORRECT. IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE SUCH A FAULTY SYSTEM IN A CAR ON THE ROAD. WE HAD IS TOWED AWAY, AND FRANKLY I KNOW NOT WHAT TO DO SINCE READING ALL OF THESE OTHER INCIDENTS. EVEN IF WE HAVE IT FIXED, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL NOT CEASE. I HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE IN THE LAST 2 DAYS, BUT THOUGHT I'D RUN OVER A POTHOLE OR SOMETHING. TODAY, IT WAS SMOOTH PAVEMENT AND NICE WEATHER. WE REALLY NEED A RECALL TO SAVE LIVES! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10469156

153,000 miles · Jul 30, 2012
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

WAS DRIVING DOWN MAJOR INTERSTATE WHEN THE VSC WARNING CAME ON WITH BUZZER. BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY WERE BEING GROUND DOWN, ENGINE DECELERATED, AND COULD FEEL BUMPING AND GRINDING ON BRAKE PEDAL. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED UNDER CAR, FOUND NOTHING. GOT BACK ON INTERSTATE AND SAME THING HAPPENED ONLY THIS TIME THE SYSTEM TURNED ITSELF…

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WAS DRIVING DOWN MAJOR INTERSTATE WHEN THE VSC WARNING CAME ON WITH BUZZER. BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY WERE BEING GROUND DOWN, ENGINE DECELERATED, AND COULD FEEL BUMPING AND GRINDING ON BRAKE PEDAL. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED UNDER CAR, FOUND NOTHING. GOT BACK ON INTERSTATE AND SAME THING HAPPENED ONLY THIS TIME THE SYSTEM TURNED ITSELF OFF. CAN NOT TURN THE VSC OFF WITH THE BUTTON PROVIDED. RESEARCH ON INTERNET REVEALS NOT AN UNIQUE ISSUE WITH SEQUOIA. HAS ALSO HAPPENED WITH TUNDRA AND OTHER TOYOTAS WITH VSC SYSTEM. NO FIX AVAILABLE AS OF 07/30/2012 THAT CAN BE FOUND. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10468330

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.