VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY LURCHES FORWARD WHEN IN GEAR WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. VEHICLE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE ACCELERATION IN HEAVY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. *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
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.
Vehicle Speed Control complaints
101 reportsMY 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE VSC/TRAC LIGHTS COMING ON AND THEN THE SKID CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON FORCING CAUSING POWER TO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I MANAGED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAIT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. WHEN IT COOLED OFF, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE…
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MY 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA HAS HAD ISSUES WITH THE VSC/TRAC LIGHTS COMING ON AND THEN THE SKID CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON FORCING CAUSING POWER TO GO OUT WHILE DRIVING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY. IT WAS VERY DANGEROUS. I MANAGED TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAIT TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. WHEN IT COOLED OFF, I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT A LITTLE FARTHER. THE DEALER SAYS IT IS THE YAW RATE SENSOR AND IT WILL COST $670.89 TO REPAIR. BUT I HAVE BEEN READING IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS. THEY JUST HAVE NOT COMPLAINED ABOUT IT. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. AN INCREASE OF ACCELERATION OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STEERED INTO ANOTHER LANE DUE TO A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL; ANOTHER VEHICLE…
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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER CONDITIONS. AN INCREASE OF ACCELERATION OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE STEERED INTO ANOTHER LANE DUE TO A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE AND CRASHED INTO A WALL; ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED WITH INJURIES TO THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 4/26/10 *CN UPDATED 05/11/10.*JB
THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TO 40MPH WHILE I WAS DOING 65. MECHANIC SAID THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I ESCAPED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE BRAKES HAD BECAME LOOSED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO HANDLE. THE CAR STARTED JERKING, AND ALMOST RAN OVER. I WENT TO LLEHMAN TOYOTA ON 441 NO…
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THE CAR SLOWED DOWN TO 40MPH WHILE I WAS DOING 65. MECHANIC SAID THE THROTTLE BODY ASSEMBLY IS NOT WORKING PROPERLY. I ESCAPED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS WHILE I WAS DRIVING, THE BRAKES HAD BECAME LOOSED, AND THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME VERY HARD TO HANDLE. THE CAR STARTED JERKING, AND ALMOST RAN OVER. I WENT TO LLEHMAN TOYOTA ON 441 NORTH MIAMI BEACH, THEY CHARGED ME 1800 DOLLARS TO FIX THE CENSOR, AND THE STEERING WHEEL ASSEMBLY. NOW, THE SAME PROBLEM REPEATS. *TR
OWNER OF 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA THAT INFREQUENTLY HAS AN ISSUE WHERE OUT OF NOWHERE THE VSC DEVICE ACTIVATES. THE VEHICLES FRONT LEFT WHEEL STARTS TO GRIND AND YOU CAN HEAR THE DEVICE GOING FRANTICALLY UNTIL IT STOPS ON ITS OWN. NORMALLY IT IS BRIEF AND THE 'VSC OFF' LIGHT COMES ON, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE IT HAS HAPPENED A…
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OWNER OF 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA THAT INFREQUENTLY HAS AN ISSUE WHERE OUT OF NOWHERE THE VSC DEVICE ACTIVATES. THE VEHICLES FRONT LEFT WHEEL STARTS TO GRIND AND YOU CAN HEAR THE DEVICE GOING FRANTICALLY UNTIL IT STOPS ON ITS OWN. NORMALLY IT IS BRIEF AND THE 'VSC OFF' LIGHT COMES ON, BUT THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES WHERE IT HAS HAPPENED AT HIGH SPEED CAUSING DISTRESSING SITUATION. TOYOTA DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THAT IT COULD BE A DEFECTIVE CONTROL MODULE, BUT THEY COULDN'T FIND AN OBVIOUS CAUSE. THEY CLEANED THE SENSORS AT THE WHEELS AND WHERE THE CONNECTION HOOKS TO THE DASHBOARD FOR VSC OFF BUTTON. I WROTE TOYOTA IN HOPES THAT THEY WOULD OFFER ASSISTANCE, BUT THEY RESPONDED WITH THE TERMS OF THE WARRANTY AND THAT THERE WAS NO ISSUE. *TR
THE THROTTLE STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY MAINTAINING 65 MPH. THE VSC AND ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. THERE WAS SUDDENLY NO ACCELERATION AND RESPONSE FROM THE PEDAL SO WE CAME TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE ENGINE STILL ON. I HAD A NEAR COLLISION WHEN THIS HAP…
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THE THROTTLE STUCK IN THE CLOSED POSITION WHILE WE WERE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY MAINTAINING 65 MPH. THE VSC AND ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON. THERE WAS SUDDENLY NO ACCELERATION AND RESPONSE FROM THE PEDAL SO WE CAME TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITH THE CAR IN DRIVE AND THE ENGINE STILL ON. I HAD A NEAR COLLISION WHEN THIS HAPPENED A WEEK PRIOR IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION AND THE ACCELERATION WAS LOST. THIS IS FIXED TEMPORARILY BY TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND BACK ON AGAIN 5 MINUTES LATER. I HAD TO GET THE WHOLE THROTTLE BODY REPLACED. THIS HAPPENED AT 85,000 MILES. THIS HAPPENED WITH THE SAME VEHICLE AT 48,000 MILES 3 YEARS AGO AND THEY SEEMED TO FIX IT BY CLEANING THE THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR REALLY GOOD. I'VE SEEN REPORTS OF OTHERS EXPERIENCING THIS AS WELL ON LINE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM...THANK GOD WE ARE STILL ALIVE! *TR
UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION ON A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA REGISTERED TO A MOTHER OF 4. INCIDENT OCCURRED ON I85 AT MILE-MARKER 104 IN BROAD DAYLIGHT WITH CLEAR, DRY CONDITIONS. WITH RECENT REVELATIONS ABOUT TOYOTA HIDDEN SAFETY AROUND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, THIS IS THE ONLY EXPLANATION THAT MAKES SENSE WITH REGARDS THIS FATAL ACCIDEN…
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UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION ON A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA REGISTERED TO A MOTHER OF 4. INCIDENT OCCURRED ON I85 AT MILE-MARKER 104 IN BROAD DAYLIGHT WITH CLEAR, DRY CONDITIONS. WITH RECENT REVELATIONS ABOUT TOYOTA HIDDEN SAFETY AROUND UNEXPECTED ACCELERATION, THIS IS THE ONLY EXPLANATION THAT MAKES SENSE WITH REGARDS THIS FATAL ACCIDENT. *TR UPDATED 03/14/10 *BF ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT, THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE OF THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROADWAY TO THE RIGHT ONTO THE RUMBLE STRIP. THE DRIVER OVER CORRECTED AND SWERVED TO THE LEFT, LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CROSSING ALL THREE LANES OF TRAVEL. THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD TO THE LEFT, STRIKING A PLASTIC CONSTRUCTION BARRELL. THE VEHICLE BEGAN OVERTURNING IN THE MEDIAN AND STRUCK THE MEDIAN GUARDRAIL CABLE. UPDATED 06/17/10. *JB UPDATE 9/19/2011*CW
ECU COMPUTER AND TRACTION FAILURE IN 2001 TOTOTA SEQUOIA. *TR
I HAVE A SEQUOIA WHICH I BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2001. FOR ALL MY SERVICES I TAKE IT TO ATLANTA TOYOTA IN DULUTH, GA. RECENTLY MY VSC TRAC AND VSC OFF SENSOR LIGHT TURNING ON AND OFF AND I'M HEARING GRINDING NOISE WHEN IT AUTO-ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE. MY DEALERSHIP WAS ASKING ABOUT $1300 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE ALL PARTS IN S…
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I HAVE A SEQUOIA WHICH I BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 2001. FOR ALL MY SERVICES I TAKE IT TO ATLANTA TOYOTA IN DULUTH, GA. RECENTLY MY VSC TRAC AND VSC OFF SENSOR LIGHT TURNING ON AND OFF AND I'M HEARING GRINDING NOISE WHEN IT AUTO-ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE. MY DEALERSHIP WAS ASKING ABOUT $1300 TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE ALL PARTS IN STOCK I'M NOT SURE WHETHER IT IS VSC COMPUTER ($1500), COMPLETE BREAKING SYSTEM, OR YAW RATE SENSOR ($550 + $95 LABOR) SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL POWER MOMENTARILY. I WOULD LIKE TOYOTA TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM FOR ME, SINCE I'M SUCH A LOYAL CUSTOMER. I AM SURPRISED AND PRETTY DISAPPOINTED THAT THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN SEEN ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE FIRST MODEL YEAR TILL 2005. TOYOTA COULD HAVE FIGURED OUT A PERMANENT FIX BY NOW. ATLANTA TOYOTA TOLD ME ABOUT LEAKY/DEFECTIVE BRAKE BOOSTER $1400 REPAIR. *TR
VSC TRAC WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON THEY GO AWAY. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER SEVERAL TIMES UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NEVER GET IT TO FAIL. THEY TOLD ME TO COME IN WHEN IT IS FAILING AND THEY COULD THEN LOOK AT IT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON INTERM…
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VSC TRAC WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY COMES ON WHILE DRIVING. IF YOU TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN BACK ON THEY GO AWAY. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER SEVERAL TIMES UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NEVER GET IT TO FAIL. THEY TOLD ME TO COME IN WHEN IT IS FAILING AND THEY COULD THEN LOOK AT IT. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON INTERMITTENTLY FOR YEARS NOW. I AM CONCERNED THAT IT WILL FINALLY FAIL COMPLETELY AND MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. WAY TO MANY OF THESE SEQUOIA'S ARE HAVING THIS SAME PROBLEM FOR THIS TO BE AN ISOLATED ISSUE. TOYOTA NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THIS AS IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. 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.
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