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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

What owners actually said

531 reports
170,700 miles · Sep 9, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSuspension

IT FEELS LIKE ITS SLIPPING AND THE WARNING SIREN GOES OFF, TRAC & VCS LIGHTS START FLASHING AND VEHICLE STARTS GRINDING SOUNDS LIKE METAL ON METAL AND LOOSE CONTROL OF CAR, CAN'T BRAKE, CAN'T STEER JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO PASS AS YOU ARE ROLLING AWAY. VERY VERY SCARY - WHAT IF I WAS ON A HIGHWAY??? NOT A HAPPY TOYOTA OWNER…

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IT FEELS LIKE ITS SLIPPING AND THE WARNING SIREN GOES OFF, TRAC & VCS LIGHTS START FLASHING AND VEHICLE STARTS GRINDING SOUNDS LIKE METAL ON METAL AND LOOSE CONTROL OF CAR, CAN'T BRAKE, CAN'T STEER JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO PASS AS YOU ARE ROLLING AWAY. VERY VERY SCARY - WHAT IF I WAS ON A HIGHWAY??? NOT A HAPPY TOYOTA OWNER RIGHT NOW!!!!THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS, I SEE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS THAT SOUND JUST LIKE MINE ON THE INTERNET AND CAN'T BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT - ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOME FATALITIES TO HAPPEN. THIS IS MY 1ST TOYOTA AND I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND UP UNTIL NOW THIS HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT VEHICLE TO DRIVE (14YEARS). NOW I'M AFRAID FOR MY LIFE... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10632010

190,000 miles · Sep 4, 2014
Structure

TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD DRIVEN OVER A BUMP ON THE ROAD AND SUDDENLY LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE,WHICH SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, DECREASED THE SPEED AND COASTED TO THE E…

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TL-THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD DRIVEN OVER A BUMP ON THE ROAD AND SUDDENLY LOSS CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE,WHICH SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, DECREASED THE SPEED AND COASTED TO THE EMERGENCY LANE. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGERS HAD EXITED THE VEHICLE TO PERFORM A BRIEF INSPECTION AND NOTICED THAT THAT STABILIZER BAR FROM THE REAR AXLE WAS CORRODED AND WAS DETACHED. THE ENTIRE SUB FRAME WAS FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT HAD CONTACTED THE DEALER TO EXPLAIN THE FAILURE AND THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS A VOLUNTARY RECALL FOR THE SUB FRAME, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO BECAUSE THE RECALL HAD EXPIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VOLUNTARY RECALL WAS EXPIRED AND NO ONE WAS INJURED AND NO ACTIONS COULD BE TAKEN TO ACCOMODATE HIM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.GB

NHTSA ODI #10630680

169,000 miles · Aug 25, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

ALL OF A SUDDEN A GRINDING NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE, ANTI SKID BEEPING, VSC LIGHT POPPED ON. VERY HARD TO STEER AND BRAKES NOT WORKING WELL. HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. PULLED OVER, TURNED VEHICLE OFF. ENGINE ON, DROVE OFF, 5 MILES LATER, ALL OVER AGAIN, BUT MORE SEVERE. NOT SAFE AT HIGH SPEEDS, MORE THAN 25 MPH. THIS OCCURR…

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ALL OF A SUDDEN A GRINDING NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE, ANTI SKID BEEPING, VSC LIGHT POPPED ON. VERY HARD TO STEER AND BRAKES NOT WORKING WELL. HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. PULLED OVER, TURNED VEHICLE OFF. ENGINE ON, DROVE OFF, 5 MILES LATER, ALL OVER AGAIN, BUT MORE SEVERE. NOT SAFE AT HIGH SPEEDS, MORE THAN 25 MPH. THIS OCCURRED IN AUGUST, NO SNOW, NO RAIN, DRY CEMENT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10627946

110,000 miles · Aug 14, 2014
Service Brakes, HydraulicTraction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. DURING THE FAILURE, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE D…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. DURING THE FAILURE, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ODI #10622237

94,000 miles · Jul 22, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING ON HWY APPROX 65 MPH. VSC AND TRAC LIGHTS CAME ONE. GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD AS VEHICLE PULLED. I WAS BY MYSELF THANKFULLY. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND GLAD MY WIFE WAS NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND HAD THE STABILITY CONTROL ECU REPLACED - 945.00. WOULD HAVE BEEN 1,200.00 BUT THE D…

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DRIVING ON HWY APPROX 65 MPH. VSC AND TRAC LIGHTS CAME ONE. GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD AS VEHICLE PULLED. I WAS BY MYSELF THANKFULLY. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND GLAD MY WIFE WAS NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND HAD THE STABILITY CONTROL ECU REPLACED - 945.00. WOULD HAVE BEEN 1,200.00 BUT THE DEALER WAIVED THREE OF THE FIVE HOURS OF LABOR. THIS SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE A RECALL AND IS VERY UNSAFE. PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED FROM TOYOTA DEALER AS A FAMILY VEHICLE BECAUSE MY WIFE AND I HAD OUR FIRST CHILD. VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. WHY IS THIS NOT A SAFETY RECALL? I HAVE READ MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT WERE EXACTLY LIKE MINE EXPERIENCE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615491

96,500 miles · Jul 21, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I OWN A TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2001 LIMITED. LIKE 6 MONTHS AGO I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AROUND 60 MPH UPHILL. SVC-TRAC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON AND SOME NOISE THIS HAPPENED IN DRY PERFECT DRIVING CONDITIONS. AFTER THAT, SOME TIMES THE LIGHTS CAME ON WITH OUT NOISE. AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF AND TURNED …

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I OWN A TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2001 LIMITED. LIKE 6 MONTHS AGO I EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM THE FIRST TIME WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY AROUND 60 MPH UPHILL. SVC-TRAC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON AND SOME NOISE THIS HAPPENED IN DRY PERFECT DRIVING CONDITIONS. AFTER THAT, SOME TIMES THE LIGHTS CAME ON WITH OUT NOISE. AFTER SHUTTING ENGINE OFF AND TURNED ON AGAIN ALL LIGHTS WERE GONE. I SCANNED TO SEE IF ANY CODE WAS STORED BUT NOTHING. UNTIL ONE DAY DRIVING ON MAIN BOULEVARD SPEED AROUND 40 MPH IT HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CAR PULLED ME TO THE RIGHT AND LOUD GRINDING NOISE HAPPENED AT SAME TIME. THIS SOUND AND SHAKE OF THE VEHICLE LAST NO MORE THEN 15 SECONDS. AFTER THAT, IT STARTED TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN UP TO THE TIME THAT IT WAS HAPPENING EVERY MILE. THE CAR WAS BRAKING ITSELF WITHOUT WARNING, RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AND LEFT REAR WHEEL. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY SCANNED AND NOTHING, ASKED ME IF I COULD LEAVE THE CAR ONE MORE DAY. NEXT DAY THEY CALL ME TO SAY THAT YAW RATE SENSOR WAS FAULTY. I REPLACED, SENSOR PLUS LABOR WAS $ 800. I HAVE NOT FELT THAT PROBLEM AGAIN. TOYOTA PEOPLE SEEM THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO ABOUT THIS ISSUE, BUT THEY KNOW THIS IS HAPPENING. AT FREEWAY SPEED THIS WILL CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT. WHY THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM IT IS THE BIG QUESTION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10615167

133,000 miles · Jul 17, 2014
Structure

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED UNDER A "LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN" FOR EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST. VEHICLES FOR THIS CAMPAIGN ARE BEING INSPECTED AND IF THEY DO NOT HAVE SIGNIFICANT FRAME PERFORATION FROM RUST, A RUST RESISTANT COMPOUND IS BEING APPLIED. FOR VEHICLES THAT DO HAVE SIGNIFICANT FRAME PERFORATION, FAILING THE INSPECTION, T…

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THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN RECALLED UNDER A "LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN" FOR EXCESSIVE FRAME RUST. VEHICLES FOR THIS CAMPAIGN ARE BEING INSPECTED AND IF THEY DO NOT HAVE SIGNIFICANT FRAME PERFORATION FROM RUST, A RUST RESISTANT COMPOUND IS BEING APPLIED. FOR VEHICLES THAT DO HAVE SIGNIFICANT FRAME PERFORATION, FAILING THE INSPECTION, TOYOTA IS REPLACING THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT WHILE TOYOTA IS REPLACING THE FRAME FREE OF CHARGE, THEY ARE NOT GOING TO COVER THE COSTS OF ANY COMPONENT THAT BREAKS (DUE TO SIGNIFICANT RUST) DURING THE DISASSEMBLY OR REASSEMBLY, I.E. ANY RUSTED PARTS OR EVEN NUTS AND BOLTS THAT ARE NOT REUSABLE. THIS IS OUTRAGEOUS, IT IS THEIR FAULT THAT MANY THINGS WILL HAVE TO BE REMOVED WHEN THEY OTHERWISE WOULDN'T HAVE TO BE, AND I WILL BE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR IT? THIS TREATMENT WAS CONFIRMED BY CALLING TOYOTA CUSTOMER CARE. I BELIEVE I WILL BE LOOKING AT SIGNIFICANT COSTS, WHICH ARE UNKNOWN UNTIL THEY HAPPEN, AT WHICH POINT I WILL BE FORCED TO PAY FOR IT OR BE LEFT WITH A PARTIALLY ASSEMBLED, UNDRIVEABLE VEHICLE DUE TO FAULTY TOYOTA PARTS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10611198

150,000 miles · Jul 9, 2014
Service Brakes

TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES FOR NO REASON ,MAKES A LOUD GRUMBLE NOISE , PULLS TO THE RIGHT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10609313

212,000 miles · Jul 7, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

BOUGHT MY 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2 YEARS AGO (OBVIOUSLY USED) AND THE VSC/TRAC LIGHTS HAVE COME ON IN THE PAST BUT NEVER REALLY EFFECTED DRIVING. THEY WOULD GO BACK OFF BY THEMSELVES BECAUSE THE BUTTON ON THE DASH DIDN'T TURN THEM OFF. TODAY I WENT TO DRIVE IT AND NOTICED THE LIGHTS WERE ON AGAIN. AS I'M DRIVING, I'M NOTICING THAT …

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BOUGHT MY 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2 YEARS AGO (OBVIOUSLY USED) AND THE VSC/TRAC LIGHTS HAVE COME ON IN THE PAST BUT NEVER REALLY EFFECTED DRIVING. THEY WOULD GO BACK OFF BY THEMSELVES BECAUSE THE BUTTON ON THE DASH DIDN'T TURN THEM OFF. TODAY I WENT TO DRIVE IT AND NOTICED THE LIGHTS WERE ON AGAIN. AS I'M DRIVING, I'M NOTICING THAT THE VEHICLE IS ACTING LIKE I'M DRIVING ON WATER (ALMOST LIKE I'M IN 4X4 MODE) AND IT'S SHAKING BAD BECAUSE THE ROADS ARE DRY. MY HUSBAND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY AND REATTACHED. THE LIGHTS WERE OFF AND DROVE FINE ON THE TEST DRIVE. TURNED OFF VEHICLE AND WENT TO LEAVE LATER, THE LIGHTS WERE BACK ON AND IT WAS DOING THE SAME THING. IT KEEPS JERKING AND IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. LOOKED FOR A TOYOTA RECALL BUT FOUND NOTHING EXCEPT A LOAD OF COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM ON THIS VEHICLE. IT LOOKS LIKE IT TAKES A LOT OF MONEY TO GET REPAIRED AND WHEN YOU'RE WORKING JUST TO PAY YOUR BILLS AND SUPPORT YOUR FAMILY, YOU DEFINITELY DON'T HAVE AN EXTRA $2000 LAYING AROUND TO FIX SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE UNDER A RECALL. NOT EVEN SURE WHAT TO DO NOW SINCE I STILL OWE ANOTHER YEAR ON THIS VEHICLE. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10608488

135,000 miles · Jun 27, 2014
Service BrakesCrashInjury

AFTER DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5 4X4, 70 MPH FOR 45 MILES, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABRUPT RIGHT HAND TURN ON ITS OWN. THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM LOCKED THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TURN RIGHT. LATER THAT WEEK MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE YAW SENSOR. SINCE THEN, THE TRUCK HAS BEHAVED AS EXPECTED. I JUST…

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AFTER DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5 4X4, 70 MPH FOR 45 MILES, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABRUPT RIGHT HAND TURN ON ITS OWN. THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM LOCKED THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO TURN RIGHT. LATER THAT WEEK MY MECHANIC REPLACED THE YAW SENSOR. SINCE THEN, THE TRUCK HAS BEHAVED AS EXPECTED. I JUST HEARD A FRIEND ALSO HAD A 2001 4X4 TOYOTA TACOMA AND THE SAME THING HAPPENED, ALTHOUGH HIS VEHICLE ROLLED 5 TIMES AND THERE WERE SEVERAL INJURIES. HE HAD ABOUT 135000 MILE ON HIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10606484

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.