WHEN OPERATING AT SPEED, THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY SHUTTER BRIEFLY, AND PULL TO RIGHT. SEEMINGLY A WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONTROL OF STEERING IS LOST. VSC LIGHT COMES ON, AND CANNOT BE REST UNTIL RESTATING THE ENGINE.
2001 Toyota Sequoia
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
Compare all Sequoia years →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
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.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
101 reportsTHE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL RANDOMLY ENGAGES FOR NO REASON. IT CAUSES LOST OF POWER AND BRAKING, CAUSING STEERING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT.
MY 2001 SEQUOIA WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN NOVEMBER 2014. IT WAS TOTALED BUT I DECIDED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AS IT WAS IN GREAT RUNNING CONDITION PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. IT HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE TO AROUND MAY WHEN THE VSC WENT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CURVE MAKING ME ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN INTERM…
Read full complaint
MY 2001 SEQUOIA WAS IN AN ACCIDENT IN NOVEMBER 2014. IT WAS TOTALED BUT I DECIDED TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AS IT WAS IN GREAT RUNNING CONDITION PRIOR TO ACCIDENT. IT HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE TO AROUND MAY WHEN THE VSC WENT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING AROUND A CURVE MAKING ME ALMOST LOSE CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE SAME THING WOULD HAPPEN INTERMITTENTLY WITH A SLIGHT JERK OF THE CAR TO THE LEFT. ON JUNE 25TH THERE WAS A VERY VIOLENT JERK TO THE LEFT WHILE I WAS DRIVING WITH MY BOYS. TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP ON 6/27/15 AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE YAW RATE SENSOR. DEALERSHIP RE-CALIBRATED AND IT RAN FINE FOR 2 DAYS. ON 6/29/15 THERE WAS ANOTHER VIOLENT JERK OF THE TRUCK WITH THE VSC LIGHTS COMING ON. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO BRING IT BACK IN. TOOK TRUCK IN ON 6/30/15 AND WAS TOLD I WOULD NEED TO REPAIR THE YAW RATE SENSOR SINCE THE RECALIBRATION DID NOT WORK. I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $746.29 FOR REPLACEMENT AND THIS WAS TAKING INTO ACCOUNT THE $108 I SPENT ON 6/27/15. TOLD THE REPAIRMAN I WOULD INVESTIGATE FURTHER AND WOULD GET BACK WITH HIM. AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP GOING LESS THAN 5 MPH, THE TRUCK JERKED VIOLENTLY AGAIN ALMOST SLAMMING ME INTO THE CAR IN THE LEFT LANE. WITH THE HIGH MILEAGE OF THE TRUCK I DO NOT WANT TO SPEND AN ABSORBENT AMOUNT OF MONEY FOR REPAIRS. AS THESE SENSORS HAVE REPORTEDLY HAD REPORTS OF MULTIPLE MALFUNCTIONS IN THE PAST BASED ON MY RESEARCH, I AM NOT EVEN SURE THAT HAVING IT REPLACED WOULD EVEN FIX THE PROBLEM AND IF IT DID, WOULD I BE FACED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM A FEW MONTHS DOWN THE ROAD WHEN THE NEW SENSOR GOES BAD. I CAN NOT BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA OR THE GOVERNMENT WOULD ALLOW THIS TYPE OF MALFUNCTION WHICH IS LIFE-THREATENING TO GO ON UNRESOLVED. IS IT REALLY GOING TO TAKE THE LOSS OF LIVES AS IN THE CASE OF THE AIRBAGS BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? HELP!
MY 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VIOLENTLY EXPERIENCED A VSC TRAC ERROR WHEN DRIVING NEXT TO A SEMI ON THE FREEWAY. IT ALMOST PULLED MY CAR INTO THE SEMI, AND THEN OFF THE ROAD AS THE WHEEL JERKED, BRAKES AND ENGINE RESPONSE CUT SIGNIFICANTLY. THIS HIGHWAY ISSUE HAPPENED LAST MONTH, AND JUST THIS WEEK, THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT…
Read full complaint
MY 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VIOLENTLY EXPERIENCED A VSC TRAC ERROR WHEN DRIVING NEXT TO A SEMI ON THE FREEWAY. IT ALMOST PULLED MY CAR INTO THE SEMI, AND THEN OFF THE ROAD AS THE WHEEL JERKED, BRAKES AND ENGINE RESPONSE CUT SIGNIFICANTLY. THIS HIGHWAY ISSUE HAPPENED LAST MONTH, AND JUST THIS WEEK, THE PROBLEM HAS BECOME MORE FREQUENT, OCCURRING ON NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS WITH ABSOLUTELY NO TRIGGERS. THE STEERING WHEEL SOMETIME SHAKES, AND SOMETIME PULLS SUDDENLY. IT OCCURS SOMETIMES DURING A SLOW TURN, BUT IS ALSO HAPPENING JUST DRIVING AT 25 MILES AN HOUR DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD.....UPDATED 11/13/15 *BF UPDATED 12/28/2015*JS
A LOUD NOISE DRIVER SIDE, VSC LIGHT ON AND ABS. *TR
WHEN THE GAS PEDDLE IS DEPRESSED THE CAR WILL NOT GO! I'VE ALMOST BEEN IN 2 ACCIDENTS DUE TO IT! *TR
MY VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, BRAKE, & ABS LIGHTS WON'T TURN OFF. *TR
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, MY 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA HAS SHOWN RANDOM ACTIVATION OF THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON DRY, SMOOTH PAVEMENT. EACH INCIDENT THE SAME THING HAPPENS: THE ACTIVATION OF A BRIEF AUDIBLE WARNING BEEP, THE VSC INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES ALONG WITH THE SLIPPERY SURFACE LIGHT (TWO SQUIGGLY LIN…
Read full complaint
ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, MY 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA HAS SHOWN RANDOM ACTIVATION OF THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ON DRY, SMOOTH PAVEMENT. EACH INCIDENT THE SAME THING HAPPENS: 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 RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, ACCOMPANIED WITH A LOUD GRINDING NOISE THAT SOUNDS LIKE IT COMING FROM THE BRAKING SYSTEM. THE BRAKES FEEL AS IF THEY ARE PULSATING DURING EACH OF THESE INCIDENTS, IT IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. IT JERKS AND SWERVES FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND SHAKES VIOLENTLY. THE ONLY WAY TO REGAIN CONTROL IS TO REDUCE THE SPEED AND PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AS QUICKLY AND SAFELY AS POSSIBLE. THE LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS CUT OFF. ONCE THE CAR IS TURNED OFF THE LIGHTS WILL GO OUT. AFTER THE CAR SITS FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES OR MORE OR OVER NIGHT THE LIGHTS WILL NO LONGER BE LGO OUT. I HAVE HAD THE TRUCK DIAGNOSED WITH THE YAW RATE CENSOR CODE BY ONE REPAIR SHOP AND ONE AUTOPARTS STORE. OVER THE PAST YEAR, THIS SERIOUS PROBLEM HAS RECURRED AT LEAST FOUR TIMES WITHOUT WARNING AND THERE IS NOT A PREDICTABLE SET OF CIRCUMSTANCES THAT SEEMS TO CAUSE 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!!! IT IS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE FOR ME AND MY FAMILY. I HAVE 98,200 MILE ON THE VEHICLE. *TR
AT HIGHWAY SPEED GOING DOWN HILL FULLY LOADED AT NIGHT IN SIERRA WITH TEMPS IN LOW 30S AND NO SNOW IN THE AREA WHERE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, MY 01 TOY SEQUOIA PULLED TO THE LEFT WITHIN SECONDS BOTH TRAC OFF/VSC TRAC LIGHTS CAME ON. ALL OF MY MUD AND SNOW TIRES HAVE GOOD TREAD. LUCKILY, I HAD BOTH HANDS FIRMLY ON THE STEERING WHEE…
Read full complaint
AT HIGHWAY SPEED GOING DOWN HILL FULLY LOADED AT NIGHT IN SIERRA WITH TEMPS IN LOW 30S AND NO SNOW IN THE AREA WHERE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, MY 01 TOY SEQUOIA PULLED TO THE LEFT WITHIN SECONDS BOTH TRAC OFF/VSC TRAC LIGHTS CAME ON. ALL OF MY MUD AND SNOW TIRES HAVE GOOD TREAD. LUCKILY, I HAD BOTH HANDS FIRMLY ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN IT HAPPENED. ABLE TO GET HOME SAFELY AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED. THESE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON UNTIL TO DATE (1/17/16) BECAUSE I HAVE NOT TAKEN IN TO TOY DEALERSHIPS; GUESS MANY THIRD PARTIES DON'T WANT TO MESS AROUND WITH THIS ISSUE. MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN POSTED IN REGARDS TO VSC ISSUE. TOY NEED TO RECALL THIS MODEL NOW. *TR
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…
Read full complaint
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
Official recalls
102V129000 · 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
1PE16006 · 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.
Illustration