What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2003 Toyota Sequoia

Typical pattern

3.2% of complaints about the 2003 Toyota Sequoia came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2003 vehicle — around the middle of the 228 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 7.9 yr in service. The most-reported system is electronic stability control (esc) (149 complaints), typically at 7.8 yr or about 91,000 miles.

Complaints
846
Median age at failure
7.9 yr
Median mileage
85,000 n=647
Crash / fire / tow
3.5% of reports
Safety recalls
7

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Electronic stability control (esc)
149 reports · 91,000 mi
7.8 yr
0.7%
Structure
97 reports · 133,000 mi
11.3 yr
1%
Speed control
89 reports · 86,000 mi
8.1 yr
4.5%
Service brakes, hydraulic
86 reports · 56,768 mi
5.0 yr
4.7%
Electrical system
66 reports · 60,000 mi
5.4 yr
3%
Service brakes
55 reports · 118,000 mi
11.6 yr
1.8%
Traction control system
45 reports · 91,250 mi
7.6 yr
2.2%
Air bags
41 reports · 126,000 mi
12.3 yr
9.8%
Suspension
39 reports · 117,000 mi
9.4 yr
5.1%
Other
30 reports · 100,000 mi
14.3 yr
6.7%
Steering
23 reports · 107,433 mi
9.9 yr
8.7%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

19V741000 2019-10-17
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propella

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

18V883000 2018-12-12
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation.

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

15V286000 2015-05-13
Air bags

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa. On June 16, 2015 Toyota expanded the recall to cover an additional 769,055 vehicles, including certain model year 2002-2004 Lexus SC, Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix, Toyota Corolla, Pontiac Vibe,

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

15V285000 2015-05-13
Air bags

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004. On June 16, 2015, Toyota expanded the recall to include an additional 1,270,468 vehicles, including model year 2002-2003 and 2005-2007 Sequoia, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2003-2007 Corolla, 2003-2007 Corolla Matrix, 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe and 2002-2007 Lexus SC vehicles. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side

In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.

10V176000 2010-04-30
Electronic stability control (esc)

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 SEQUOIA PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 1, 2002 THROUGH APRIL 17, 2003. THE CENTER POSITION OF THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR (SAS) MAY NOT BE STORED CORRECTLY DUE TO IMPROPER LOGIC OF THE SKID CONTROL ECU PROGRAMMING. THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC) SYSTEM COULD ACTIVATE AT LOW SPEED FOR A FEW SECONDS DURING ACCELERATION FROM A STOPPED POSITION.

SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT ACCELERATE AS QUICKLY AS THE DRIVER EXPECTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

06E049000 2006-05-24
Exterior lighting

CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

05V225000 2005-05-17
Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.

THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

In owners’ own words

Service brakes, hydraulic 5,190 mi 11 mo in service
2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED, 5 MONTHS OLD, 5200 MILES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AS VSC LIGHTS. SEEMS TO BE OTHER REPORTS OF SAME INCIDENT. ALSO, BRAKES SEEM TO BE INADEQUATE FOR VEHICLE WEIGHT WITH LOING STOPPING DISTANCE, AND SIGNIFICANT TRAVEL WHEN PARKING BRAKE APPLIED (LOW PEDAL)*AK
Service brakes, hydraulic 10,000 mi 1.0 yr in service
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. AT 10,740 MILES, THE FRONT DISC BRAKES WERE WORN OUT AND REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. THE BRAKES SHOULD HAVE LASTED LONGER AND SUGGESTS AN UNDERSIZED DESIGN OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. TOYOTA DID PERFORM A "COURTESY" REPLACEMENT OF THE BRAKES BUT I AM CONCERNED THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE NEEDING INVESTIGATION. *LA
Service brakes, hydraulic mileage not reported 1.0 yr in service
BRAKING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS - ON FOUR DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS HAVE COME ON REQUIRING THAT I PULL THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE IGNITION OFF TO RESET THE LIGHTS. ERROR CODES IN THE COMPUTER HAVE RESULTED IN REPLACEMENT OF BRAKE BOOSTER / MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY REPLACEMENT, BRAKE FLUID SENSOR CHECK, BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH ADJUSTMENT. BRAKING ON THIS VEHICLE IS INCONSISTANT WITH OVERALL CONCERNS REGARDING BRAKE SYSTEM PERFORMANCE. *AK
Speed control 5,190 mi 11 mo in service
2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED, 5 MONTHS OLD, 5200 MILES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AS VSC LIGHTS. SEEMS TO BE OTHER REPORTS OF SAME INCIDENT. ALSO, BRAKES SEEM TO BE INADEQUATE FOR VEHICLE WEIGHT WITH LOING STOPPING DISTANCE, AND SIGNIFICANT TRAVEL WHEN PARKING BRAKE APPLIED (LOW PEDAL)*AK

Other Sequoia model years

20082007200620052004200320022001

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