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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

101 reports
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83,500 miles · Mar 15, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

1.ON DRY PAVEMENT CIRCULAR ENTRANCE/EXIT RAMPS THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL SYSTEM KICKS IN AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH WHICH IS NOT ONLY ALARMING BUT POSSIBLY DANGEROUS IF SOMEONE IS TAILGATING. I'M ASSUMING THIS IS SOMETHING RELATED TO PULLING G FORCES SINCE IT'S NEVER DONE THIS IN A STRAIGHT LINE. 2.I TESTED UNDER BOTH 2WD AND 4WD AND …

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1.ON DRY PAVEMENT CIRCULAR ENTRANCE/EXIT RAMPS THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL SYSTEM KICKS IN AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH WHICH IS NOT ONLY ALARMING BUT POSSIBLY DANGEROUS IF SOMEONE IS TAILGATING. I'M ASSUMING THIS IS SOMETHING RELATED TO PULLING G FORCES SINCE IT'S NEVER DONE THIS IN A STRAIGHT LINE. 2.I TESTED UNDER BOTH 2WD AND 4WD AND IT BEHAVED THE SAME. 3.WHEN I KICKED IN THE VSC OFF BUTTON UNDER 4WD BEFORE ENTERING THE RAMP, THE VSC DID NOT KICK IN, SO THAT SEEMS TO BE WORKING. SEE NUMEROUS OTHER IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS AT THIS LINK: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/SEQUOIA/2001/BRAKES/ELECTRONIC_STABILITY_CONTROL.SHTML. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10572575

125,000 miles · Mar 4, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

VSC LIGHT ILLUMINATION/FAILURES INITIALLY APPEARED AT 42,000 MILES, VERY INTERMITTENT AND SEEMINGLY RANDOM. FREQUENCY INCREASED AFTER 75,000 MILES; ABS LIGHT APPEARED LATER. 1. VSC OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED (VARIABLE SPEED CONTROL) INITIALLY AT INTERMITTENT TIME WHILE DRIVING, NOW ILLUMINATED FULL-TIME. 2. VSC TRAC LIGHT ILLUMINATED…

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VSC LIGHT ILLUMINATION/FAILURES INITIALLY APPEARED AT 42,000 MILES, VERY INTERMITTENT AND SEEMINGLY RANDOM. FREQUENCY INCREASED AFTER 75,000 MILES; ABS LIGHT APPEARED LATER. 1. VSC OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED (VARIABLE SPEED CONTROL) INITIALLY AT INTERMITTENT TIME WHILE DRIVING, NOW ILLUMINATED FULL-TIME. 2. VSC TRAC LIGHT ILLUMINATED (VARIABLE SPEED CONTROL) INITIALLY AT INTERMITTENT TIME WHILE DRIVING, NOW ILLUMINATED FULL-TIME. 3. ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED (ANTI LOCK BRAKES) INITIALLY AT INTERMITTENT TIME WHILE DRIVING, NOW ILLUMINATED FULL-TIME. ABS NOW INOPERABLE. TESTED TO VALIDATE INOPERABLE STATUS - FULL BRAKE LOCKUP, NO ABS OPERATION. VARIABLE SPEED CONTROL NOW INOPERABLE. SPUN OUT TWICE RECENTLY IN SLOW SPEED RIGHT HAND OFF-CAMBER TURN ON WET PAVEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #10567286

134,232 miles · Feb 4, 2014
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING AT 45 MPH + A GRINDING NOISE STARTS COMING FROM THE FRONT, NO BRAKE PEDAL, THEN A SHAKING SENSATION ON THE STEERING WHEEL, THE ABS/VCS LIGHTS START BLINKING. PULLED OVER AND THEN IT STOPPED. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562953

139,500 miles · Dec 26, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesTraction Control SystemCrashInjury

VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL TROUBLE LIGHTS IN COLD WEATHER. WHILE DRIVING IN SUB FREEZING WEATHER ON WET HEAVILY SALTED NEARLY CLEAR (POSSIBLE SLIGHT SLUSH FROM SNOW DUSTING) INTERSTATE ALONG A STRAIGHT SMOOTH SLIGHT UPGRADE STRETCH, THE VEHICLE WITHOUT DIVER ACTION (STEERING, BRAKING, OR ACCE…

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VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL TROUBLE LIGHTS IN COLD WEATHER. WHILE DRIVING IN SUB FREEZING WEATHER ON WET HEAVILY SALTED NEARLY CLEAR (POSSIBLE SLIGHT SLUSH FROM SNOW DUSTING) INTERSTATE ALONG A STRAIGHT SMOOTH SLIGHT UPGRADE STRETCH, THE VEHICLE WITHOUT DIVER ACTION (STEERING, BRAKING, OR ACCELERATION) EXPERIENCED A REAR END SWERVE TO THE RIGHT AND INABILITY TO CONTROL. RESULT WAS LEAVING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY DOWN A 25-30 FOOT EMBANKMENT (NO GUARDRAIL) AND A VEHICLE ROLL (ONE TIME, ENDING UP WHEELS DOWN, STILL RUNNING). TRAVEL WAS AT OR BELOW THAT OF TRAFFIC. NO OTHER VEHICLES EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY ON THE SAME STRETCH OF ROAD. IT IS BELIEVED THAT A SUDDEN RANDOM ACTUATION OF THE STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM INITIATED THE EVENT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A GENERIC ISSUE WITH THE TOYOTA SYSTEM SPANNING SEVERAL MODELS AND YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557330

145,000 miles · Oct 16, 2013
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH PAVEMENT THE VSC/TRAC SYSTEM ENGAGES FOR NO REASON. SOUNDING OFF THE INTERNAL CHIME AND TURNING THE VSC/TRAC LIGHTS ON THE DASH. THE ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN AND GRINDS ON THE BRAKES. LOSS OF STEERING IS PRESENT AS THE VEHICLE PULLS TO ONE SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548121

165,000 miles · Oct 9, 2013
Service BrakesSuspensionVehicle Speed ControlCrash

LAST YEAR MY CAR WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH JUST COLLAPSED. MY BALL JOINTS FELL COMPLETELY OFF. MY THE GRACE OF GOD I WASN'T KILLED BECAUSE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE SINCE HAD IT REPAIRED BUT NOT BY A TOYOTA DEALER. AT THE TIME AS NOW, ALL MY LIGHTS WERE LIT VSC TRAC, ABS ETC. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM THROUGHOUT H…

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LAST YEAR MY CAR WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH JUST COLLAPSED. MY BALL JOINTS FELL COMPLETELY OFF. MY THE GRACE OF GOD I WASN'T KILLED BECAUSE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE SINCE HAD IT REPAIRED BUT NOT BY A TOYOTA DEALER. AT THE TIME AS NOW, ALL MY LIGHTS WERE LIT VSC TRAC, ABS ETC. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM THROUGHOUT HAVING THIS TOYOTA AND IT HAS BEEN VERY COSTLY. NOW AS WE SPEAK MY CAR IS AT A DEALER AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THEY WILL TELL ME IT'S THE FAULTY COMPUTER CHIP. I WILL ALSO HAVE THEM CHECK FOR RUST SINCE I'M HEARING OF ALL THESE CASES OF RUST. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN TIP TOP SHAPE DUE TO MY HUSBANDS KNOWLEDGE OF CARS. HOWEVER, SOME OF THESE REPORTS APPEAR TO BE INCIDENTS BEYOND OUR CONTROL. I'M LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I GUESS IF I HAD BEEN KILLED TOYOTA WOULD STILL BE DENYING THEIR PRODUCT IS FAULTY. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO STEP UP AND PAY FOR SOME OF THESE ISSUES I'VE HAD AND IF MY CAR NEEDS THIS EXPENSIVE COMPUTER CHIP..ABS IS ENGAGING MY BRAKES THEY PAY FOR IT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE MADE A REPORT AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM TOYOTA... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547378

110,000 miles · Oct 2, 2013
EngineVehicle Speed Control

AFTER COMING BACK FROM TRIP, ME AND MY FAMILY WERE HEADING HOME (WE WERE ABOUT 2 MILES FROM HOME), AND UPON COMING TO A RED LIGHT, I STEPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL ON MY 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA, AND THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP; BUT WHEN THE GREEN LIGHT TRAFFIC CAME ON, AND AS SOON AS I LET GO OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND ABOUT TO PRESS THE …

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AFTER COMING BACK FROM TRIP, ME AND MY FAMILY WERE HEADING HOME (WE WERE ABOUT 2 MILES FROM HOME), AND UPON COMING TO A RED LIGHT, I STEPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL ON MY 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA, AND THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP; BUT WHEN THE GREEN LIGHT TRAFFIC CAME ON, AND AS SOON AS I LET GO OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND ABOUT TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR JUST STALLED ( ALSO WITH BATTERY LIGHT ON INDICATION LIT, CHECK ENGINE ON, ABS LIT, VSC TRAC LIT, VSC OFF LIT, BRAKE LIGHT INDICATION LIT, ABS LIGHT). SO, FIRST THING I DID IS TURN OFF THE ENGINE , PUT THE CAR IN THE PARK GEAR ( AT THE SAME TIME MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL), BUT AS SOON AS I TURN ON THE ENGINE, PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND LET GO OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR STALLED AGAIN. NEXT THING I DID IS LET 2 PEOPLE PUSH THE CAR WHILE IN NEUTRAL TO PUT THE CAR IN A SAFE PLACE WHERE THERE IS NO TRAFFIC, UPON THEM PUSHING THE CAR, THEY LEFT, AND THE CAR WAS STILL RUNNING EVEN NO ONE PUSHING IT, AND CAME THE SCARIEST 20 SECONDS OF MY LIFE, CAR MADE A LOUD ANNOYING GRINDING SOUND, CAR STILL MOVING, EVEN WITH EMERGENCY BRAKE ON, MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, KEY REMOVED FROM IGNITION, CAR PLACED IN PARK, IN OTHER WORDS I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE CAR. AFTER 20 SECONDS, THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND WE GOT OUT OF THE CAR SCARED AND SHAKING, I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING TO DIE THAT DAY, BUT THANK GOD THE CAR STOPPED, OR MAYBE MY KIDS ANGELS HELPED AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT. ALSO GOOD THING THERE WAS NO HEAVY INCOMING TRAFFIC, THERE WAS 1 OR 2 CARS ONLY IN THE WAY THAT STAYED OUT OF OUR WAY. I NEED HELP, TOYOTA HAS TO RECALL AND FIX IT BECAUSE IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND ALSO IT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO, IF NOT I WILL BE REPORTING THESE TO THE BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU AND THE LOCAL STATE CONSUMER AGENCY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10546466

147,000 miles · Jul 12, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING THE FAMILY FROM CO TO CA. ON THE LAST LEG BETWEEN LAS VEGAS AND LOS ANGELES. CRUISING ALONG AT 75 WHEN THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON. MY TRUCK IMMEDIATELY BRAKED AND PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DECELERATING. LONGEST 5 SECONDS OF MY LIFE. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE TO MY IMMEDIATE LEFT. TAKING IT TO A DEALER SHORTLY FOR …

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DRIVING THE FAMILY FROM CO TO CA. ON THE LAST LEG BETWEEN LAS VEGAS AND LOS ANGELES. CRUISING ALONG AT 75 WHEN THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON. MY TRUCK IMMEDIATELY BRAKED AND PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DECELERATING. LONGEST 5 SECONDS OF MY LIFE. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE TO MY IMMEDIATE LEFT. TAKING IT TO A DEALER SHORTLY FOR CONSULTATION. SOMEONE WILL GET HURT IF THIS IS NOT ADDRESSED! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524511

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

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.