IllustrationTHE VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, BRAKE AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON AND ARE STAY ON UNTIL THE ENGINE IS SHUT DOWN. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS COME ON AS SOON AS STARTUP. SOMETIMES WHEN IDLING. SUSPENSION IS VERY STIFF, AND STEERING SEEMS AFFECTED AS WELL AS ENGINE SEEMS TO LUG WHEN DRIVING AND THE LIGHTS COME ON.
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
260–25K
2625–50K
3750–75K
5975–100K
149100–150K
127150K+
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
What owners actually said
531 reportsTOYOTA 2001 SEQUOIA FRAME ROT MAY 20TH, I WAS DRIVING WITH, MY DAUGHTER. THE CAR SHOOK BACK AND FORTH. I DROVE TO OUR MECHANIC. THEY CALLED SAYING THE FRAME WAS HORRIBLY RUSTED AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE. SAID IT WAS A MIRACLE MYSELF AND CHILD WERE NOT IN A DEVASTATING, CATASTROPHIC, DEADLY SITUATION THAT DAY. TOYOTA REFUSES TO D…
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TOYOTA 2001 SEQUOIA FRAME ROT MAY 20TH, I WAS DRIVING WITH, MY DAUGHTER. THE CAR SHOOK BACK AND FORTH. I DROVE TO OUR MECHANIC. THEY CALLED SAYING THE FRAME WAS HORRIBLY RUSTED AND WAS NOT DRIVABLE. SAID IT WAS A MIRACLE MYSELF AND CHILD WERE NOT IN A DEVASTATING, CATASTROPHIC, DEADLY SITUATION THAT DAY. TOYOTA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.
AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING MECHANIC DETERMINED THE CODE TO WAS B0132 SHORT IN PT SQUIB RIGHT CIRCUIT GROUND. TOYOTA DEALER DETERMINED THE CAUSE WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THE RIGHT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY IN THE PASSENGER SIDE. ONCE THAT WAS REPLACED, THE ERROR PERSISTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SENSOR ALSO HAS TO BE…
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AIRBAG LIGHT WAS FLASHING MECHANIC DETERMINED THE CODE TO WAS B0132 SHORT IN PT SQUIB RIGHT CIRCUIT GROUND. TOYOTA DEALER DETERMINED THE CAUSE WAS A MECHANICAL FAILURE IN THE RIGHT SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY IN THE PASSENGER SIDE. ONCE THAT WAS REPLACED, THE ERROR PERSISTED AND DETERMINED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE SENSOR ALSO HAS TO BE REPLACED. AIRBAG SENSOR FAILURE IS COMMON IN MANY TOYOTA MODELS. HOWEVER, TOYOTA SAID THAT THE 2001 SEQUOIA IS NOT IN THE RECALL LIST.
AUDIBLE SOUND GOES OFF; TRUCK ABS BRAKES AND PULLES TO THE RIGHT; VSC LIGHT COMES ON AND TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON; GRINDING NOISES COMES FROM FRONT AND MIDDLED OF TRUCK. THIS OCCURED WHILE RIDING HWY I-95S AT 80MPH ON SUNNY DRY DAY. THIS HAS TO HAPPEN MUTIBLE TIMES OVER LAST 5YRS; MILEAGE WHEN IT STARTED WAS 128,000…
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AUDIBLE SOUND GOES OFF; TRUCK ABS BRAKES AND PULLES TO THE RIGHT; VSC LIGHT COMES ON AND TRACTION LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON; GRINDING NOISES COMES FROM FRONT AND MIDDLED OF TRUCK. THIS OCCURED WHILE RIDING HWY I-95S AT 80MPH ON SUNNY DRY DAY. THIS HAS TO HAPPEN MUTIBLE TIMES OVER LAST 5YRS; MILEAGE WHEN IT STARTED WAS 128,000 AND PRESENT HAVE 159,000.
THE FRAME OF THE TOYOTA SEQUOIA IS ROTTED OUT. MY MECHANIC WAS DOING A SAFETY AFTER I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. HE DISCOVERED THE FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT. (HIS WORDS) HE SAID THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE.
WHEN I START MY 2001 SEQUOIA THE BRAKE AND VCS TRAC LIGHT COME ON. THEY STAY ON UNTIL I RUN IT FOR A WHILE, TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON. THEY WILL GO OUT BUT NO DEALER CAN TELL ME WHAT IS WRONG.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE ONE OF THE TIRES, HE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE FAULTY TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO MOUNT THE VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BECAUSE THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE DEALER STATE…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE ONE OF THE TIRES, HE WAS UNABLE TO REMOVE THE FAULTY TIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO MOUNT THE VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING BECAUSE THE ENTIRE FRAME WAS ROTTED OUT. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE DEALER STATED THAT IT WAS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 171,289.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND NEARLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS B…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND NEARLY GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO THE DEALER IN 2000 FOR FRAME INSPECTION, AND IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRAME WAS INTACT AND DID NOT REQUIRE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
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.
WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH BOARD COME ON PERIODICALLY FOR NO APPARENT REASON. I MAINTAIN THE CAR PROPERLY WITH REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND MANUFACTURER RECOMMENDED SERVICE. THEY GO OFF ON THEIR OWN. MY MECHANIC HAS NO IDEA WHAT CAUSES THIS. IT HAPPENS STANDING STILL, IN MOTION OR JUST BY STARTING THE VEHICLE.
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.