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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

Service Brakes complaints

76 reports
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143,000 miles · Jun 26, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VSC WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED MOMENTARILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAM. THE VEHICLE WA…

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TL * THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VSC WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED MOMENTARILY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM NEEDED TO BE REPROGRAM. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND FAILURE RECURRED SHORTLY AFTER THE LEAVING THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE YAW RATE SENSOR WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 144,000. ..UPDATED 08/11/14 *BF

NHTSA ODI #10606105

175,000 miles · May 1, 2014
Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VSC TRAC TURNS ON AND MY STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO THE RIGHT ALMOST HIDING THE VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT LANE.. I NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED.ITS VERY HARD TO SLOW …

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I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VSC TRAC TURNS ON AND MY STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO THE RIGHT ALMOST HIDING THE VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT LANE.. I NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED.ITS VERY HARD TO SLOW DOWN. ITS IF I HIT A PUDDLE OF WATER BUT THIS WAS ON A SUNNY AND CLEAR DAY. THIS HAPPENED NUMEROUS OF TIMES. NOW THE TRUCK JUST SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY DUE TO THE SCARE OF DRIVING IT AND SOMEONE GETTING KILLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10585822

134,232 miles · Feb 4, 2014
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING AT 45 MPH + A GRINDING NOISE STARTS COMING FROM THE FRONT, NO BRAKE PEDAL, THEN A SHAKING SENSATION ON THE STEERING WHEEL, THE ABS/VCS LIGHTS START BLINKING. PULLED OVER AND THEN IT STOPPED. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10562953

139,500 miles · Dec 26, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesTraction Control SystemCrashInjury

VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL TROUBLE LIGHTS IN COLD WEATHER. WHILE DRIVING IN SUB FREEZING WEATHER ON WET HEAVILY SALTED NEARLY CLEAR (POSSIBLE SLIGHT SLUSH FROM SNOW DUSTING) INTERSTATE ALONG A STRAIGHT SMOOTH SLIGHT UPGRADE STRETCH, THE VEHICLE WITHOUT DIVER ACTION (STEERING, BRAKING, OR ACCE…

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VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL TROUBLE LIGHTS IN COLD WEATHER. WHILE DRIVING IN SUB FREEZING WEATHER ON WET HEAVILY SALTED NEARLY CLEAR (POSSIBLE SLIGHT SLUSH FROM SNOW DUSTING) INTERSTATE ALONG A STRAIGHT SMOOTH SLIGHT UPGRADE STRETCH, THE VEHICLE WITHOUT DIVER ACTION (STEERING, BRAKING, OR ACCELERATION) EXPERIENCED A REAR END SWERVE TO THE RIGHT AND INABILITY TO CONTROL. RESULT WAS LEAVING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY DOWN A 25-30 FOOT EMBANKMENT (NO GUARDRAIL) AND A VEHICLE ROLL (ONE TIME, ENDING UP WHEELS DOWN, STILL RUNNING). TRAVEL WAS AT OR BELOW THAT OF TRAFFIC. NO OTHER VEHICLES EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY ON THE SAME STRETCH OF ROAD. IT IS BELIEVED THAT A SUDDEN RANDOM ACTUATION OF THE STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM INITIATED THE EVENT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A GENERIC ISSUE WITH THE TOYOTA SYSTEM SPANNING SEVERAL MODELS AND YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10557330

145,000 miles · Oct 16, 2013
Service BrakesSteeringVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH PAVEMENT THE VSC/TRAC SYSTEM ENGAGES FOR NO REASON. SOUNDING OFF THE INTERNAL CHIME AND TURNING THE VSC/TRAC LIGHTS ON THE DASH. THE ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN AND GRINDS ON THE BRAKES. LOSS OF STEERING IS PRESENT AS THE VEHICLE PULLS TO ONE SIDE. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10548121

165,000 miles · Oct 9, 2013
Service BrakesSuspensionVehicle Speed ControlCrash

LAST YEAR MY CAR WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH JUST COLLAPSED. MY BALL JOINTS FELL COMPLETELY OFF. MY THE GRACE OF GOD I WASN'T KILLED BECAUSE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE SINCE HAD IT REPAIRED BUT NOT BY A TOYOTA DEALER. AT THE TIME AS NOW, ALL MY LIGHTS WERE LIT VSC TRAC, ABS ETC. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM THROUGHOUT H…

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LAST YEAR MY CAR WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH JUST COLLAPSED. MY BALL JOINTS FELL COMPLETELY OFF. MY THE GRACE OF GOD I WASN'T KILLED BECAUSE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE SINCE HAD IT REPAIRED BUT NOT BY A TOYOTA DEALER. AT THE TIME AS NOW, ALL MY LIGHTS WERE LIT VSC TRAC, ABS ETC. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM THROUGHOUT HAVING THIS TOYOTA AND IT HAS BEEN VERY COSTLY. NOW AS WE SPEAK MY CAR IS AT A DEALER AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THEY WILL TELL ME IT'S THE FAULTY COMPUTER CHIP. I WILL ALSO HAVE THEM CHECK FOR RUST SINCE I'M HEARING OF ALL THESE CASES OF RUST. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN TIP TOP SHAPE DUE TO MY HUSBANDS KNOWLEDGE OF CARS. HOWEVER, SOME OF THESE REPORTS APPEAR TO BE INCIDENTS BEYOND OUR CONTROL. I'M LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I GUESS IF I HAD BEEN KILLED TOYOTA WOULD STILL BE DENYING THEIR PRODUCT IS FAULTY. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO STEP UP AND PAY FOR SOME OF THESE ISSUES I'VE HAD AND IF MY CAR NEEDS THIS EXPENSIVE COMPUTER CHIP..ABS IS ENGAGING MY BRAKES THEY PAY FOR IT. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I'VE MADE A REPORT AND I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING FROM TOYOTA... *TR

NHTSA ODI #10547378

142,000 miles · Sep 1, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesSteering

MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST 5 MONTHS MY 2001 SEQUOIA WILL SUDDENLY APPLY THE BRAKES STRONGLY WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES CAUSING THE STEERING TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THANKFULLY THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN SHORTLY AFTER BEGINNING TO DRIVE, SO THE SPEEDS HAVE BEEN MUNICIPAL SPEED, RATHER THAN HIGHWAY. AT THE SAME TIME, A WARNING BELL SOUNDS …

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MULTIPLE TIMES OVER THE PAST 5 MONTHS MY 2001 SEQUOIA WILL SUDDENLY APPLY THE BRAKES STRONGLY WHILE DRIVING, SOMETIMES CAUSING THE STEERING TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. THANKFULLY THIS SEEMS TO HAPPEN SHORTLY AFTER BEGINNING TO DRIVE, SO THE SPEEDS HAVE BEEN MUNICIPAL SPEED, RATHER THAN HIGHWAY. AT THE SAME TIME, A WARNING BELL SOUNDS AND THE VSC AND ABS LIGHTS COME ON IN YELLOW. SOMETIMES WHEN I START THE VEHICLE, THE VSC AND ABS LIGHTS ARE ALREADY ON, SO THE SUDDEN BRAKING DOES NOT OCCUR. IF THE LIGHTS ARE OFF, I HAVE LEARNED TO PREPARE FOR THE SUDDEN BRAKING. I WILL TAKE THIS TO TOYOTA BEFORE THE SNOW FLIES HERE IN NORTHERN NY BECAUSE THIS IS A DEFINITE SAFETY HAZARD, AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT WHEN THE ROADS ARE SNOW AND ICE COVERED. *JS

NHTSA ODI #10538259

147,000 miles · Jul 12, 2013
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Service BrakesVehicle Speed Control

DRIVING THE FAMILY FROM CO TO CA. ON THE LAST LEG BETWEEN LAS VEGAS AND LOS ANGELES. CRUISING ALONG AT 75 WHEN THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON. MY TRUCK IMMEDIATELY BRAKED AND PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DECELERATING. LONGEST 5 SECONDS OF MY LIFE. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE TO MY IMMEDIATE LEFT. TAKING IT TO A DEALER SHORTLY FOR …

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DRIVING THE FAMILY FROM CO TO CA. ON THE LAST LEG BETWEEN LAS VEGAS AND LOS ANGELES. CRUISING ALONG AT 75 WHEN THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON. MY TRUCK IMMEDIATELY BRAKED AND PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DECELERATING. LONGEST 5 SECONDS OF MY LIFE. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE TO MY IMMEDIATE LEFT. TAKING IT TO A DEALER SHORTLY FOR CONSULTATION. SOMEONE WILL GET HURT IF THIS IS NOT ADDRESSED! *TR

NHTSA ODI #10524511

70,000 miles · Jul 2, 2013
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BRAKE SEIZED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK. THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUZZING AND GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BRAKE SEIZED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO JERK. THE CONTACT NOTICED A BUZZING AND GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10522792

154,000 miles · Jun 12, 2013
Service Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE TRACTION CONTROL, VSC TRAC AND THE SLIP WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO BRAKE INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE PULLED INTO THE RIGHT ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES WHEN THE CONTACT W…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THE TRACTION CONTROL, VSC TRAC AND THE SLIP WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN BEGAN TO BRAKE INDEPENDENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE PULLED INTO THE RIGHT ABNORMALLY. THE FAILURE RECURRED FIVE TIMES WHEN THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154,000.

NHTSA ODI #10519417

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.