IllustrationDRIVING MY RECENTLY PURCHASED 2001 SEQUOIA AND THE VSC SYSTEM GOES OFF LIKE WE'RE ON ICE. DOES IT UNTIL THE SYSTEM STAYS OFF. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS RANDOMLY. VERY SCARY... RECALL NEEDS TO BE DONE. *TR
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
Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints
124 reportsSKID CONTROL ENGAGE UNEXPECTEDLY. *TR
BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY APPLY ON THERE OWN, PULLING THE CAR LEFT OR RIGHT. I AM SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE OPTION OF DISABLING THE VSC ON THIS VEHICLE BUT THAT FUNCTION DOES NOT WORK. IT WILL DISABLE ITSELF AFTER AN EPISODE, LATER IT WILL SELF ENABLE AND IT STARTS OVER AGAIN. I'VE HAD IT IN TO TOYOTA SERVICE TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND W…
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BRAKES INTERMITTENTLY APPLY ON THERE OWN, PULLING THE CAR LEFT OR RIGHT. I AM SUPPOSED TO HAVE THE OPTION OF DISABLING THE VSC ON THIS VEHICLE BUT THAT FUNCTION DOES NOT WORK. IT WILL DISABLE ITSELF AFTER AN EPISODE, LATER IT WILL SELF ENABLE AND IT STARTS OVER AGAIN. I'VE HAD IT IN TO TOYOTA SERVICE TO FIX THIS ISSUE AND WAS TOLD I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW CPU, BUT THAT WOULD NOT NECESSARILY FIX THE PROBLEM. I'VE SEEN OTHER SEQUOIA OWNERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM ON MANY SEQUOIA OWNER FORUMS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR SEQUOIA OWNERS. THE DEALER HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE ABS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. THE TRAC AND VSC WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SKID COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFA…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE ABS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. THE TRAC AND VSC WARNING LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE SKID COMPUTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 176,791. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
VEHICLE SKID CONTROL LIGHT, ABS, AND VSC OFF LIGHTS COME ON. GET GRINDING NOISE FROM RIGHT FRONT WHEEL AS THE ABS APPLIES THE BRAKE AND STEERING WHEEL AND VEHICLE PULLS EXTREMELY TO THE RIGHT. ALMOST LOOSE CONTROL OF VEHICLE IF YOUR NOT EXPECTING IT. THIS HAPPENS ON DRY PAVEMENT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM ENGAGED WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE RESET WHICH FAILED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM ENGAGED WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM MALFUNCTIONED AND NEEDED TO BE RESET WHICH FAILED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE INCORRECT BRAKE FLUID WAS USED WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE GASKET LINING TO MALFUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 162,000.
MY CAR AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED IT'S BRAKES AND VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON. THIS EVENT REPEATED ITSELF SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET HOME. IT ALMOST FORCED ME OFF THE ROAD. IF I HAD BEEN IN THE LEFT LANE, I WOULD HAVE HIT ANY CAR IN THE RIGHT LANE OR IF I HAD BEEN GOING FASTER AT THE TIM…
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MY CAR AUTOMATICALLY APPLIED IT'S BRAKES AND VEERED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT. THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON. THIS EVENT REPEATED ITSELF SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I COULD GET HOME. IT ALMOST FORCED ME OFF THE ROAD. IF I HAD BEEN IN THE LEFT LANE, I WOULD HAVE HIT ANY CAR IN THE RIGHT LANE OR IF I HAD BEEN GOING FASTER AT THE TIME, IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT. THE CARS BEHIND ME HAD TO SLAM ON BRAKES TO AVOID ME. I CHECKED ONLINE AND THERE ARE MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE TOYOTA SEQUOIA IN MULTIPLE YEARS. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE EARLY 2003 MODELS. TOYOTA SERVICE SAYS IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE YAW SENSOR AND AN $800 REPAIR.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. DURING THE FAILURE, THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TOWARDS THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE T…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. DURING THE FAILURE, THE FRONT WHEELS LOCKED AND THE VEHICLE PULLED TOWARDS THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 119,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. VSC TRAC/VSC OFF SKID CONTROL LIGHTS ALL ILLUMINATE. VEHICLE SHUTTERS AGGRESSIVELY AND DECELERATES SUDDENLY (OCCURRED AT LEAST 8 TIMES BETWEEN 65 AND 45 MPH). VEHICLE BECOMES VERY UNSTABLE AND DIFFICULT TO CONTROL UNTIL FULL STOP. UNSAFE TO OPERATE!! *TR
THE VSC AND OTHER LIGHTS IN DASH LIGHT UP AND HAS CAUSED THE VEHICLES BRAKES TO ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. ITS PULLS THE STEERING WHEEL VIOLENTLY TO THE TO LEFT. IT HAPPENS AT HIGH AND LOW SPEEDS. WENT TO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE SKID CONTROL COMPUTER AND THE COST TO REPLACE IT IS 1,200 DOLLARS. *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.