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2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5

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

90 reports with mileage · 17 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.

  • Traction Control System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electronic Stability Control (esc). Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports1 fire reports1 injury reports

What owners actually said

107 reports
135,000 miles · Feb 18, 2010
Traction Control System

VSC REPLACEMENT THIS IS MY 3RD INCIDENT WITH THE TOYOTA SEQUOIAS. I WAS IN SNOW AND ICE AND PUT THE CAR IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. I STARTED TO BACK OUT AND A BUZZING SOUND AND THE VSC AND THE VSC TRAC LIGHTS CAME ON. NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED FOR A WHILE AND WHEN I PUT IT BACK INTO 2 WHEEL DRIVE IT DROVE FINE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP…

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VSC REPLACEMENT THIS IS MY 3RD INCIDENT WITH THE TOYOTA SEQUOIAS. I WAS IN SNOW AND ICE AND PUT THE CAR IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. I STARTED TO BACK OUT AND A BUZZING SOUND AND THE VSC AND THE VSC TRAC LIGHTS CAME ON. NOTHING ELSE HAPPENED FOR A WHILE AND WHEN I PUT IT BACK INTO 2 WHEEL DRIVE IT DROVE FINE FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP ABOUT 200 MILES. I STOPPED AND FUELED UP AND WHEN DRIVING OFF THE CAR STARTED MAKING A LOUD VIBRATING/GRINDING NOISE THEN STALLED AND THE BRAKES SUDDENLY PULLED THE CAR TO THE RIGHT.. I TURNED IT OFF AND TRIED AGAIN AND THE VSC LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN BUT IT DROVE OK UNTIL THE NEXT TIME I RESTARTED IT AGAIN GOT OUT IN TRAFFIC AND IT MADE THE SAME GRINDING NOISE, STALLED AND THE BRAKES PULLED IT TO THE RIGHT AGAIN....I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AND WAS NEARLY HIT BY THE CAR IN THE RIGHT LANE. I CALLED THE TOYOTA DEALER AND EXPLAINED WHAT HAD HAPPENED AND HE SAID IT JUST NEEDED RECALIBRATING AND THE COST WOULD BE AROUND $100. I TOOK IT IN AND THE WHOLE SKID CONTROL COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $1400 PLUS LABOR $200. I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN 2003 AND THIS IS THE 3RD VSC ISSUE I HAVE HAD. THE LAST ONE WAS $600 2 OR 3 YEARS AGO. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN RECALLED OR AT LEAST A FIX SENT TO DEALERSHIPS WHEN THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE IN WARRANTY. THE REST HAVE BEEN OUT OF MY POCKET. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311861

88,125 miles · Feb 18, 2010
Traction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control

TURNING RIGHT INTO DRIVEWAY MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE WITH A LOUD GRINDING SOUND. LET OFF GAS, NOISE CEASED, APPLIED GAS GENTLY AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED AS NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. IT ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR DURING A RIGHT TURN AT A VERY LOW SPEED. THE VSC AND TRAC LIGHTS EACH COME ON WHEN THIS OCCURS. THEY …

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TURNING RIGHT INTO DRIVEWAY MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE WITH A LOUD GRINDING SOUND. LET OFF GAS, NOISE CEASED, APPLIED GAS GENTLY AND THE VEHICLE PROCEEDED AS NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES SINCE. IT ONLY SEEMS TO OCCUR DURING A RIGHT TURN AT A VERY LOW SPEED. THE VSC AND TRAC LIGHTS EACH COME ON WHEN THIS OCCURS. THEY USED TO BE OFF EACH TIME I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE BUT NOW THEY DO NOT TURN OFF AT ALL. WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT I NEED TO HAVE THE "COMPUTER SYSTEM" THAT CONTROLS THE VSC AND TRAC REPLACED. WAS QUOTED A PRICE OF $1,700.00. THIS PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER, I CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT SINCE THIS IS MY ONLY VEHICLE AND I HAVE 3 CHILDREN WHOSE SAFETY MAY BE AT RISK AS THIS DEFECT OCCURS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311763

46,500 miles · Feb 18, 2010
Service Brakes, ElectricTraction Control System

VEH. TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2003,THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL (VSC) AND TRACTION CONTROL (TRACK) LIGHTS REMAIN ON ALSO THE ENG. LIGHT. AND THE DIAGNOSE SYSTEM DOESN'T HAVE ANY CODE RELATED TO THE ABS. BECAUSE OF THIS THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYST. DOESN'T WORK. THE CODES SHOWN ARE RELATED TO THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND M.A.F. SENSOR, WE CHANGE ALL 4 O…

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VEH. TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2003,THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL (VSC) AND TRACTION CONTROL (TRACK) LIGHTS REMAIN ON ALSO THE ENG. LIGHT. AND THE DIAGNOSE SYSTEM DOESN'T HAVE ANY CODE RELATED TO THE ABS. BECAUSE OF THIS THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE SYST. DOESN'T WORK. THE CODES SHOWN ARE RELATED TO THE OXYGEN SENSOR AND M.A.F. SENSOR, WE CHANGE ALL 4 OXG. SENSOR AND THE MAF AND STILL THE SAME CONDITION. THE SEQUOIA HAS 47,000 MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311726

60,000 miles · Feb 16, 2010
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WILL UNEXPECTEDLY LOOSE POWER WHEN TURNING AND THEN ACCELERATION RACES UP AFTER A LONG PAUSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT ONCE PER MONTH SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN 2003 AND HAS SEVERAL TIMES RESULTED IN NEAR-MISS CRASHES FROM APPROACHING TRAFFIC AS THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFI…

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2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WILL UNEXPECTEDLY LOOSE POWER WHEN TURNING AND THEN ACCELERATION RACES UP AFTER A LONG PAUSE. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT ONCE PER MONTH SINCE PURCHASING THE VEHICLE IN 2003 AND HAS SEVERAL TIMES RESULTED IN NEAR-MISS CRASHES FROM APPROACHING TRAFFIC AS THE VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE OUT OF THE WAY OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10311093

60,000 miles · Feb 7, 2010
Vehicle Speed Control

THE VSC AND 4 WD LIGHTS CAME ON IN OUR 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHEN STARTING IN FORWARD, THERE IS A LOUD GRIND AND A THUMP. THIS HAPPENED SHORTLY (1 WEEK) AFTER REPLACING THE BRAKE PADS. I PLACED THE CAR IN MANUAL 4 WHEEL DRIVE AND MOVE IT VERY SLOWLY BACK AND FORTH. THE LIGHTS ARE OFF, BUT IT SEEMS LIKE A TEMPORARY FIX. *TW

NHTSA ODI #10307208

58,600 miles · Jan 3, 2010
Traction Control System

VSC OFF/VSC TRAC LIGHT STARTED COMING ON. AT INITIAL START OF TOYOTA SEQUOIA AFTER PUTTING IT IN DRIVE, VEHICLE WOULD SHUDDER AND CUT OFF IGNITION. THIS WOULD CAUSE A BRIEF STALL, AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE. THIS OCCURS EVERYTIME VEHICLE IS USED. FAULT IS DTC C1231. VEHICLE SKID CONTROL SENSOR IS FAULTY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10297933

70,000 miles · Dec 29, 2009
Traction Control System

2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VSC TRAC CONTROL LIGHTS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL ON ALL THE TIME NOW I HAVE RESET THEM SEVERAL TIMES NOW AND HELP FROM DEALERSHIP IS AT IT BEST A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY. AS OF THIS DATE I HAVE ONLY HAD TWO DRIVING RELATED INCIDENTS . ON A TRIP TO TENN THIS YEAR AFTER STOPPING FOR A BREAK I STARTED THE VEHICLE UP …

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2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VSC TRAC CONTROL LIGHTS ON INSTRUMENT PANEL ON ALL THE TIME NOW I HAVE RESET THEM SEVERAL TIMES NOW AND HELP FROM DEALERSHIP IS AT IT BEST A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY. AS OF THIS DATE I HAVE ONLY HAD TWO DRIVING RELATED INCIDENTS . ON A TRIP TO TENN THIS YEAR AFTER STOPPING FOR A BREAK I STARTED THE VEHICLE UP AND STARTED DRIVING THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND A LOUD CLANGING CAME FROM UNDER THE CAR AS SOON AS I COULD PULL OVER TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM IT WAS APPARENT THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AS IT WAS ONLY A SHORT DISTANCE TO WHERE I WAS GOING I PROCEEDED ON BACK ROADS WITH CAUTION TO WHERE I WAS GOING AND IT WAS LATE SO I WOULD LOOK AT IT IN THE MORNING.THAT NIGHT I SPENT MOST OF IT ON THE INTERNET RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AND FOUND SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM ON THIS MODEL WITH THE SAME RESULTS FROM THERE DEALERSHIPS . THE NEXT MORNING I CHECKED EVERYTHING OUT ONLY TO FIND NOTHING APPARENTLY WRONG RESET THE SYSTEM AND PROBLEM WAS GONE I THOUGHT. ON THE RETURN TRIP TO FLA. I ENCOUNTERED A HEAVY RAIN WHILE DRIVING WHILE GOING AROUND A LONG CORNER AT A SLOWER SPEED THAN POSTED THE TIRES HIT WATER RUNNING ACROSS THE ROAD AND THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL LIGHTS BACK ON AND A REAL SCARY BATTLE TO CORRECT THE CAR LUCKY FOR ME THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC ON THE ROAD AT THAT POINT AS IT TOOK BOTH SIDES OF THE ROAD TO BRING IT BACK UNDER CONTROL . FROM WHAT I HAVE READ THIS A PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING BEING A MECHANIC ALL MY LIFE AND A VERY EXPERIENCED DRIVER IN EXTREME CONDITIONS I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN AS LUCKY AN I HATE TO THINK OF THE MANY WOMEN WITH KIDS IN THIS CAR WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS TYPE OF INCIDENT. BEING A MECHANIC I HAVE A GOOD UNDERSTANDING OF THIS PROBLEM AND TOYOTA'S SOLUTION TO JUST KEEP CHANGING OUT THE COMPUTER AT 2,000.00 DOLLARS A CRACK IS ONLY A BANDAID NOT A FIX . THIS CONDITION NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED WITH TOTOTA AS MOST OF THESE CAR'S ARE NOW OF THE AGE THAT THIS SHOWS UP. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10297278

88,000 miles · Dec 10, 2009
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHTS COME ON WHILE IS RUNNING , ONLY WAY TO TAKE IT OFF IS TURNING THE CAR OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10295207

55,004 miles · Nov 30, 2009
Traction Control SystemVehicle Speed Control

VSC/TRAC LIGHT WARNING & SENSOR IS ON....PARKING BRAKE GOES OFF & ON. VEHICLE STOP SUDDENLY. I TOOK TO DEALER & DIAGNOSED IT AS "STEERING ANGLE SENSOR" FOR ABS HARD CODE C1231....TOTAL REPAIR QUOTE $743. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10294053

42,000 miles · Nov 16, 2009
Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I WAS DRIVING TO INTERSTATE 10 GOING TO SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND MAKE AN EXIT AND THEN TURN LEFT AND TURN LEFT GOING BACK TO INTERSTATE 10 EAST BOUND. MY TIRES SKID AT THE ROUGH ROAD (LITTLE STONES) AND MY TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5 2003 LOST CONTROL AND VERY HARD TO STABILIZE FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 SECONDS. I JUST HOLD THE STEERING AND DID NO…

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I WAS DRIVING TO INTERSTATE 10 GOING TO SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS AND MAKE AN EXIT AND THEN TURN LEFT AND TURN LEFT GOING BACK TO INTERSTATE 10 EAST BOUND. MY TIRES SKID AT THE ROUGH ROAD (LITTLE STONES) AND MY TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5 2003 LOST CONTROL AND VERY HARD TO STABILIZE FOR ABOUT 5 TO 10 SECONDS. I JUST HOLD THE STEERING AND DID NOT PULL RIGHT OR LEFT, AND DID NOT STEP ON THE BRAKE UNTIL IT WAS STABILIZED. I DID NOT REPORT IT TO THE DEALER, THINKING THE TRACK OFF SYSTEM WAS OFF. WE WERE LUCKY THAT NO OTHER VEHICLES ON MY SIDE AND AT THE REAR. PROBABLY IT WAS APRIL 2009. NOW I AM HAVING PROBLEM WITH THE TRACK OFF SYSTEM AND ABS SYSTEM LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD. I REPLACED THE 4 TIRES AND DISK PADS (REAR AND FRONT) LAST OCTOBER 2009. MAYBE THAT IS ONE OF THE REASON. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER AND THE PROBLEM WAS THE SKID CONTROL SYSTEM AND THE YAW RATE SENSOR WHICH WILL COST ME AROUND $1,600.00. THE CODE WAS 1223 AND 1244. I DID NOT GO AHEAD FOR THE REPAIRS SINCE I CAN NOT BELIEVE FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF THE CAR. I BARELY USED THIS CAR WITH 42,000 PLUS MILES ON IT. BESIDES I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH MONEY FOR THE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10292322

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.