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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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

16 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

BOUGHT NOVEMBER 4TH 2000. NEW TIRES AT 20000. SMELLED EXAHUST WHEN VENTS ARE IN RECYLCE MODE. HAVE A DAMAGED EXAHUST MANIFOLD AT 55,000. DEALER HAS SATED THAT NONE OF THESE ARE UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEMS. I BUY TOYOTAS FOR RELIABLITY AND SERVICE. I FEEL THAT I HAVE NOT HAD THE SERVIC…

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BOUGHT NOVEMBER 4TH 2000. NEW TIRES AT 20000. SMELLED EXAHUST WHEN VENTS ARE IN RECYLCE MODE. HAVE A DAMAGED EXAHUST MANIFOLD AT 55,000. DEALER HAS SATED THAT NONE OF THESE ARE UNDER WARRANTY. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVING SAME PROBLEMS. I BUY TOYOTAS FOR RELIABLITY AND SERVICE. I FEEL THAT I HAVE NOT HAD THE SERVICE NOR THE RELIABILITY EXPECTED. IT WOULD BE A GOOD SIGN OF COMMITTMENT IF TOTYOTA DOES HONOR A SOLUTION TO THESE TWO PROBLEMS, EXAHUST MANIFOLD/EXAHUST ENTERING CABIN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10088297

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED INTO THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10067240

Mileage unknown · Jan 15, 2004
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

WE HAVE A TOYOTA SEQUOIA, THE PROBLEMS ARE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE IS NOT OPERATING ALL THE TIME. IT DOES NOT ENGAGE SOMETIMES AND DOES NOT STAY IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. ONE EXAMPLE IS MY WIFE HAD SIX FRIENDS IN THE VEHICLE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT STAY ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL MADE THE ENGINE LOOSE POWER SO SHE SLID BACKWARDS D…

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WE HAVE A TOYOTA SEQUOIA, THE PROBLEMS ARE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE IS NOT OPERATING ALL THE TIME. IT DOES NOT ENGAGE SOMETIMES AND DOES NOT STAY IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. ONE EXAMPLE IS MY WIFE HAD SIX FRIENDS IN THE VEHICLE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT STAY ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL MADE THE ENGINE LOOSE POWER SO SHE SLID BACKWARDS DOWN A HILL. NO ONE WOULD RIDE IN OUR 4WHEEL DRIVE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL MAKES THE ENGINE LOOSE POWER WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THERE IS ALSO A HESITATION IN THE ENGINE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS NOT ADEQUATE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE FRONT BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR THE SAME REPAIRS AT LEAST 10 TIMES AND IS STILL NOT WORKING THE WAY IT SHOULD. WE HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION FOR SERVICE ON OUR SEQUOIA. WE HAVE DONE INTERNET RESEARCH THROUGH NHTSA AND HAVE FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER TOYOTA SEQUOIA'S. THERE WAS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER HAVING A BAD ODER FROM BACTERIA GROWING, THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS LOOSE AND THE POWER WINDOW MOTORS MADE A LOUD NOISE. WE HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT ON ALL THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH NHTSA, COMSUMER AFFAIRS OF CALIFORNIA AND YOU. WE WANT TO PURSUE THE LEMON LAW AND GET OUR MONEY BACK. WE ARE CURRENTLY WORKING WITH TOYOTA ARBRITRATION BUT ARE GETTING NOWHERE. WE HAVE HAD TOYOTA'S PREVIOUSLY AND HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THEM. THIS VEHICLE IS A LEMON.

NHTSA ODI #10069885

24,000 miles · Feb 28, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

NAR 02/28/2003 MR A STRONG SMELL IS COMING FROM THE EXHAUST WHEN ACCELERATING. *CB

NHTSA ODI #10014750

24,000 miles · Jan 20, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER MEETING WITH DISTRICT PARTS AND SERVICE OPERATIONS MANAGER STEVE CARLSON ON 9/23/02. I''VE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THE SMELL COMING FROM MY 2001 SEQUOIA. FIRST OF ALL, I HAD TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP AT 10:30 IN MORNING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MANAGER WAS GOING TO BE THERE. SECON…

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AFTER MEETING WITH DISTRICT PARTS AND SERVICE OPERATIONS MANAGER STEVE CARLSON ON 9/23/02. I''VE COME TO THE CONCLUSION THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT FIX THE PROBLEM I HAVE WITH THE SMELL COMING FROM MY 2001 SEQUOIA. FIRST OF ALL, I HAD TO CALL THE DEALERSHIP AT 10:30 IN MORNING TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MANAGER WAS GOING TO BE THERE. SECOND IS THAT I GOT THE RUN AROUND ABOUT I SHOULD TRY A ''FOR FUN AND GIGGLES'' BY NOT RUNNING MY RECYCLING MODE WHEN DRIVING WITH THE A/C ON. THIRD IS THAT WHEN THE FRONT WINDOWS ARE OPEN I''M STILL GETTING THE WORST SMELL OF EXHAUST COMING FROM THE REAR. I UNDERSTAND HIS POINT ABOUT THE BALANCE OF AIR WITH OPENING AND CLOSING OF BAFFLES IN THE REAR AND FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. I WANT TO MAKE A NOTE THAT THE VENTING OF THIS VEHICLE WITHOUT THE RECYCLING ON IS THE WORST I''VE HAD IN ALL THE VEHICLES I''VE OWNED. THE IDEA OF ASKING ME TO USE THE FRONT VENTS INSTEAD OF RECYCLING IS A CATCH 22. WHERE IF I KEEP THE RECYCLING ON AND SMELL THE EXHAUST SMELL WITH IT''S 0% EMISSIONS IN MY VEHICLE COMPARED TO OPENING THE FRONT VENT AND SMELLING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME WITH WHO KNOWS WHAT. FOURTH, I HAVE TO GET ENOUGH PEOPLE TO COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE TOYOTA WILL DO ANYTHING TO FIX THIS DESIGN FAULT

NHTSA ODI #10002986

18,582 miles · Jan 15, 2003
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

WE HAVE A TOYOTA SEQUOIA, THE PROBLEMS ARE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE IS NOT OPERATING ALL THE TIME. IT DOES NOT ENGAGE, WHEN IT DOES SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT STAY IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. ONE EXAMPLE IS WHEN MY WIFE HAD SIX FRIENDS IN THE VEHICLE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT STAY ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL MADE THE ENGINE LOOSE POWER SO SH…

Read full complaint

WE HAVE A TOYOTA SEQUOIA, THE PROBLEMS ARE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE IS NOT OPERATING ALL THE TIME. IT DOES NOT ENGAGE, WHEN IT DOES SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT STAY IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. ONE EXAMPLE IS WHEN MY WIFE HAD SIX FRIENDS IN THE VEHICLE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT STAY ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL MADE THE ENGINE LOOSE POWER SO SHE SLID BACKWARDS DOWN A HILL. NO ONE WOULD RIDE IN OUR 4 WHEEL DRIVE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL ACTIVATES AT RADOM ON DRY PAVEMENT. THE SKID CONTROL MAKES THE ENGINE LOOSE POWER WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THERE IS ALSO A HESITATION IN THE ENGINE WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A COMPLETE STOP. ANOTHER PROBLEM IS THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS ANOT ADEQUATE FOR THE VEHICLE. THE ENTIRE FRONT BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR THE SAME REAIRS AT LEAST FIVE TIMES AND IS STILL NOT WORKING THE WAY IT SHOULD. WE HAVE ALL THE DOCUMENTATION FOR SERVICE ON OUR SEQUOIA. WE HAVE DONE INTERNET RESEARCH THROUGH THE NHTSA AND HAVE FOUND THE SAME PROBLEM WITH OTHER TOYOTA SEQUOIA'S.

NHTSA ODI #10002756

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.