10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
102,165 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2004 Toyota Sequoia steering problems

steering problem

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2004 Toyota Sequoia Owner Comments

problem #12

Mar 122020

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 240,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When turning left or right, and at low speeds, vts is turning on and causing the vehicle to lose power. This happens when pulling out in front of traffic and I cannot speed up until the vehicle is straight.

- Ooltewah, TN, USA

problem #11

Nov 152019

Sequoia

  • miles
Frame has rust holes and the steering stabilizer mount rusted completely off. Very unsafe ! the rest of the car is in excellent condition so the severity of rust on the frame seems very out of place. This issue is extreme and not normal. Not acceptable from a manufacturer known for its quality systems. Tps six sigma embarrasment in my opinion

- Byron Center, MI, USA

problem #10

May 122016

Sequoia

  • 161,000 miles
Vsc track sensor and engine check lights came on while driving at 40 mph in the city. I have noticed in the past two months that when I slow to make a turn the breaks lock up and grind, but not always. The safety break is also on. I have read that when the vsc lights do come on that you cannot go over 50 miles an hour or when on the highway the car will slow down to 50 and cannot go any faster. I'm afraid of this happening when traveling on the highway.

- Rockwall, TX, USA

problem #9

May 072016

Sequoia

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Me and my family were driving southeast on highway 280 on the far right lane trying to take junction 85 gilroy when all of a sudden through tire on the front driver side came off and the car just was limp on that side and all I can see was sparks and smoke my whole family was terrified.I was trying with all my strength to control the car and with the will of god I managed to safely stop the car.I step out to see what happened and the tire was stuck under the car and completely of the joint with the brecksame still connected to the tire

- Salinas, CA, USA

problem #8

Mar 172016

Sequoia

  • 215,444 miles
Last week, (3/17/16) my neighbor was taking her three children to school in her 2004 Toyota Sequoia. She was traveling on a new road at approximately 30 mph when the front end of the vehicle dropped on driver's side. She thought she had a flat tire so she steered to the side of the road. It appears the driver's side, lower ball joint failed (see photos). I called hendrick Toyota of apex, nc and talked with Mr. John specht (919-335-1678). He checked the VIN and said the lower ball joints had a recall and were changed on Aug. 15, 2007. He also suggested I contact Toyota to request their assistance to cover the cost to repair the vehicle (case no.[xxx]). he advised the vehicle be brought in for the airbag recall too. Vehicle was towed home on a dolly to prevent any damage to the transmission. The vehicle has 215,444 miles and was not used for off-road driving. The vehicle recently passed state inspection with no problems noted about the front end. If the lower ball joints were already replaced in a recall (2007) what did they replace them with, and how did they correct the problem? this failure could have caused a deadly accident at higher speed. When a lower ball joint breaks, the driver can only steer with one wheel.[xxx] 'information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'

- Cary, NC, USA

problem #7

May 042015

Sequoia 6-cyl

  • 98,000 miles
Brakes do not work correctly. There was a recall on the Sequoia however, when I called Toyota last month they had told me that I was unable to have the recall taken care of because my time had expired! how can that be possible if there is a defect in the Sequoia" sure enough I was driving and there was a problem stopping as had been noted in the recall. This is extremely dangerous and unfair! if I get into an accident Toyota will be liable! what can I do about this??"

- Bronx, NY, USA

problem #6

Mar 022015

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 74,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

After getting off the highway and parking, I found it hard to move steering wheel and the car began making loud noise. When our mechanic looked at it, he said the entire frame had rusted, including the part that holds the power steering fluid, causing the power steering fluid to fall out, and creating the steering problems. He determined the vehicle was unsafe to drive and recommended I called Toyota dealerships to see if they would replace the frame as part of Toyota's frame replacement program. I tried calling 2 Toyota dealerships (including the one from which I purchased the vehicle) and both said they're not running that program anymore and there's nothing they can do. I then called Toyota customer service, filed my case and requesting that frame be replaced due to the extreme rust and the problems it was causing with under 75,000 mi on it. They simply said there is nothing they can do. I am now without the vehicle, which I use for my business, and purchased just a year and a half ago. When we purchased the vehicle, we were not told there had been a recall or possible problem with rust.

- Holden, MA, USA

problem #5

Aug 272014

Sequoia

  • 160,000 miles
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. While driving approximately 55 mph, the steering wheel seized without warning. The contact lost control of the vehicle, but no crash occurred. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 07V013000 (suspension), but did not confirm if the vehicle was included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #4

Mar 302014

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 116,376 miles
After pressing the 4WD and center differential button, the center differential froze and would not unlock. The dealer mechanic could not unlock the differential and had to replace the solenoid (switch) in order to resolve the problem. The dealer claims this is due to a maintenance issue ( such as lock and unlock the center differential a few times a year) but we disagree. There I no information about this in the owner's manual or maintenance instructions. This should not occur or if the solenoid is faulty, the center differential should not remain locked as this is causes a serious steering safety problem.

- Walnut Creek, CA, USA

problem #3

Mar 112013

Sequoia 8-cyl

  • 105,000 miles
Cornering at about 65 or so on highway. Sensors went off, terrible grinding noise, shaky steering.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

problem #2

Jan 052012

Sequoia

  • miles
Was driving my 2004 Toyota Sequoia at 35-40mphin heavy traffic when there was a loud bang, a drop in the front left of the truck and the sound of metal scrapping the pavement. I turned the wheel to the right and hit the brakes to avoid going over the median into on coming traffic. I then skidded across 2 lanes of traffic and hit a car trying to enter the parkway. An eyewitness said he saw the wheel come dislodged for no reason. Luckily the lady who was in the other car only had minor injuries and other than a so far minor case of whip lash everyone is ok. Upon inspecting the vehicle with the police officer it looked as if the wheel and axle were ripped fron the truck. Unfortunately the Sequoia gave me no indications of anything going wrong or I would have taken it to the shop.

- Midlothian, VA, USA

problem #1

Jul 312008

Sequoia

  • 55,659 miles
*******2004 Toyota Sequoia ltd vsc computer failure, wheel lockup on left********* brake light, vsc and trac light all came on. I was driving approx. 20 mph and the left front wheel locked up and the car pulled sharply to the left. The brake pedal went to the floor and I lost brake pedal effectiveness. I turned the car off and restarted it and all lights went out and brake feel and effectiveness appears ok. I took the car straight to the dealer for inspection. For the last 2 years the brake light would come on and stay on and when I turned off the car and restarted it the light would go off. For 2 years my local dealer in butler, pa could not get a failure code. When I took the car for diagnostics, the cause was the ECM part number 89541-OC062 at a cost of about $1377. They replaced it at the great dealership in langhorne, pa. I have 55,659 miles on this vehicle. Since the repair the brake warning light has come on one time and stayed on, when we restarted the car it went away. I will return to dealer to have this checked again next time it comes on. It seems to me that this lockup of the wheel and loss of braking effectiveness is a real big safety issue on these vehicles. Please get back to me to tell me if NHTSA is looking into this situation. Thank you!

- Harmony, PA, USA

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