2002 Toyota Sequoia problems
Owners have filed 1,126 complaints about the 2002 Toyota Sequoia with NHTSA. Electronic stability control (ESC) accounts for 17.4% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of vehicle speed control at 12%.
Complaints1,126
Crashes41
Fires1
Injuries68
Deaths0
What owners report breaking
Electronic stability control (ESC) 17.4% · 196
Vehicle speed control 12.0% · 135
Structure 8.8% · 99
Service brakes 8.3% · 94
Service brakes, hydraulic 8.3% · 94
Steering 6.9% · 78
Traction control system 6.1% · 69
Power train 5.2% · 59
Severity
Of those complaints, 41 describe a crash, 1 describe a fire and 68 report an injury.
Reading the numbers
Across the 7 model years of the Toyota Sequoia in this data, 2002 draws the most complaints of any of them.
Filings have fallen off, 10 in the last three years against 35 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 120,000 miles.
In owners' own words
The vsc and trac off light comes on when driving. There is a sound when I hit a pot hole or hit the brakes. The vehicle is then a little unstable.This happens on the street and the interstate. When I hit the brake there is a loud sound and then the vsc and trac off light comes on.This is scary. This have been happening for the last two weeks on and off.This has been happening when driving slow at 10 mph or 60mph. Electronic stability control (ESC) · reported at 90,000 miles
Driving on dry, straight highway when vsc light and trac light come on and beeping started. Vehicle starting trying to engage 4wd I think...Lots of grinding in the front end and steering shaking. Went on for about 2 minutes then stopped. Vehicle not easy to control when this happened. Has happened multiple times since. Taking to mechanic this week. Not safe for wife and kids to be driving. Electronic stability control (ESC) · reported at 135,000 miles
All of sudden my car starts to make beeping sound, clunking and thumping. Grinding noise. Braking is hard and seems unstable. Skid control light came on and vsc track light came on as well. This happens on a flat, normal road condition on a sunny day. It feels very dangerous and Toyota needs to recall and fix it asap. This happens regularly and I am afraid it may lead to an accident. Electronic stability control (ESC) · reported at 125,000 miles
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Other Toyota Sequoia years
2001 857 complaints · 14.5% electronic stability control (ESC) 2003 877 complaints · 18.0% electronic stability control (ESC) 2004 579 complaints · 16.9% electronic stability control (ESC) 2005 558 complaints · 16.7% electronic stability control (ESC) 2006 293 complaints · 15.7% air bags 2007 194 complaints · 17.5% air bags