2026 Toyota Sequoia Hybrid Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2026 Toyota Sequoia Hybrid, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Airbags316.7%
- Steering316.7%
- Interior & seats211.1%
- Driver assistance211.1%
- Seat belts211.1%
- Brakes15.6%
- Other / unspecified15.6%
- Visibility15.6%
- Body & structure15.6%
- Suspension15.6%
- Electrical15.6%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2026 Toyota Sequoia Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at 51 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a collision with another vehicle that failed to stop at a red light. The vehicle struck the rear driver side of the other vehicle. The seat belt pretensioner failed to restrain the contact, and the air bags failed to deploy. The message "Safety Restraint Error" was displayed, and the air bag, lane departure alert, advanced ultrasonic detection and range alert, LED headlight system alert, check engine, and radiator grille shutter warning lights illuminated after the collision. In addition, the Toyota mobile application displayed the message "SRS Air Bag System Malfunction." The contact sustained injuries to the neck, spine, back, wrist, face, and head when the face and head struck the steering wheel and flew back into the seat. The contact briefly lost consciousness while the vehicle rolled to a stop, before regaining consciousness. The contact was transported to the hospital by ambulance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not repaired. The insurance company was notified of the incident, but had not determined total loss status. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 19,100.
Supplementing Tracking #11731142. 2026 Toyota Sequoia i-FORCE MAX Hybrid 4WD, VIN [XXX] , ~7,500 mi. Purchased new 11/22/2025 from Prestige Toyota of Ramsey, NJ. Toyota Case XXX. THREE DEFECTS: 1. STEERING: Steering wheel has physical flex, looseness, and audible creak when touched or pushed. Connected directly to airbag module — raises concerns about steering integrity and airbag deployment in a collision. Video evidence (XXX). First noticed Dec 2025, reported in writing 1/15/2026. 2. DRIVER HEADREST: Will not hold adjusted position. When lowered to align with seat top for proper head support, it slips back up on its own. Passenger headrest holds position fine. Driver head restraint may not be in correct protective position during rear impact. Reported in writing 1/15/2026. 3. PASSENGER SEAT/LUMBAR: Front passenger seat has mechanical looseness and noise near automatic lumbar area, especially in fully rearward position. Minimal passenger use. Onset recent. DEALER RESPONSE: Vehicle brought to Prestige Toyota 2/5/2026. Written 5-item issue list emailed to service advisor Joseph Criscione same day. On 2/6/2026 dealer reported "no defects found." Automated Xtime inspection: 50 passed, 0 cautioned, 0 failed. No defect diagnosed or repaired for any item. GM Bruce Laga told me to get another dealership on 2/7/2026, refusing future service. Toyota confirmed 4/14/2026 I can go to any dealer. No crash. No injury. No fire. No warning lamps. All symptoms physical/mechanical. All components on vehicle, available for inspection. Videos available upon request INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
Was driving at freeway speed on a straight freeway when suddenly vehicle looses control. Vehicle begins to sharply zig zag across the freeway at freeway speed! Could not control the vehicle at first, zig zagging lasted about 5-6 seconds. Nothing came up on the dashboard. Somehow managed to pull it over, I was so scared. Checked tires to see if anything was wrong. All tires seemed fine and once again reiterating nothing came up on dashboard. We continued on to our destination with caution, slower speed, with hazard lights on because all tires were fine when we checked and nothing came up on the dashboard. 20-30 min later the zig zagging began again but since we were cautious at slow speed we quickly pulled over. I also want to note this second time that this happened the headlights turned off on its own. We had to get our vehicle towed because this was clearly a huge safety issue even if nothing on the dashboard popped up and all tires were good (no flat tires or nails or anything). I wanted to put this online so there is a record of this, written, and to the public in case this happens to someone else or if anyone is considering buying this vehicle to please read and consider this incident that happened to me. There could’ve been an accident, there could’ve been fatalities, this was a near death experience caused by this vehicle. I could not drive anymore after this due to being scared of this happening again, I am traumatized and likely will need therapy or help. I am not sure what could’ve caused this to happen, but my guess is it’s an electrical problem, a defected electrical issue on these vehicles that caused this near death experience. Please be aware people. This is a brand new car, 2026 with barely 8,800 miles, this is supposed to have the best parts, best engine, no defects yet I was in a near death experience in this vehicle. Luckily I am alive to write this on here and make it aware to the public. But what if this incident led to something worse.
Supplementing Tracking #11731142. 2026 Toyota Sequoia i-FORCE MAX Hybrid 4WD, VIN [XXX] , ~7,500 mi. Purchased new 11/22/2025 from Prestige Toyota of Ramsey, NJ. Toyota Case XXX. THREE DEFECTS: 1. STEERING: Steering wheel has physical flex, looseness, and audible creak when touched or pushed. Connected directly to airbag module — raises concerns about steering integrity and airbag deployment in a collision. Video evidence (XXX). First noticed Dec 2025, reported in writing 1/15/2026. 2. DRIVER HEADREST: Will not hold adjusted position. When lowered to align with seat top for proper head support, it slips back up on its own. Passenger headrest holds position fine. Driver head restraint may not be in correct protective position during rear impact. Reported in writing 1/15/2026. 3. PASSENGER SEAT/LUMBAR: Front passenger seat has mechanical looseness and noise near automatic lumbar area, especially in fully rearward position. Minimal passenger use. Onset recent. DEALER RESPONSE: Vehicle brought to Prestige Toyota 2/5/2026. Written 5-item issue list emailed to service advisor Joseph Criscione same day. On 2/6/2026 dealer reported "no defects found." Automated Xtime inspection: 50 passed, 0 cautioned, 0 failed. No defect diagnosed or repaired for any item. GM Bruce Laga told me to get another dealership on 2/7/2026, refusing future service. Toyota confirmed 4/14/2026 I can go to any dealer. No crash. No injury. No fire. No warning lamps. All symptoms physical/mechanical. All components on vehicle, available for inspection. Videos available upon request INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
Supplementing Tracking #11731142. 2026 Toyota Sequoia i-FORCE MAX Hybrid 4WD, VIN [XXX] , ~7,500 mi. Purchased new 11/22/2025 from Prestige Toyota of Ramsey, NJ. Toyota Case XXX. THREE DEFECTS: 1. STEERING: Steering wheel has physical flex, looseness, and audible creak when touched or pushed. Connected directly to airbag module — raises concerns about steering integrity and airbag deployment in a collision. Video evidence (XXX). First noticed Dec 2025, reported in writing 1/15/2026. 2. DRIVER HEADREST: Will not hold adjusted position. When lowered to align with seat top for proper head support, it slips back up on its own. Passenger headrest holds position fine. Driver head restraint may not be in correct protective position during rear impact. Reported in writing 1/15/2026. 3. PASSENGER SEAT/LUMBAR: Front passenger seat has mechanical looseness and noise near automatic lumbar area, especially in fully rearward position. Minimal passenger use. Onset recent. DEALER RESPONSE: Vehicle brought to Prestige Toyota 2/5/2026. Written 5-item issue list emailed to service advisor Joseph Criscione same day. On 2/6/2026 dealer reported "no defects found." Automated Xtime inspection: 50 passed, 0 cautioned, 0 failed. No defect diagnosed or repaired for any item. GM Bruce Laga told me to get another dealership on 2/7/2026, refusing future service. Toyota confirmed 4/14/2026 I can go to any dealer. No crash. No injury. No fire. No warning lamps. All symptoms physical/mechanical. All components on vehicle, available for inspection. Videos available upon request INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
2026 Toyota Sequoia Hybrid. Three safety-related defects reported to dealer, all dismissed without proper diagnosis. STEERING: Steering wheel exhibits noticeable flex, looseness, and audible creak when touched or lightly pushed. The steering wheel houses the airbag module. Looseness raises concerns about steering integrity and airbag deployment reliability. Video evidence available. First noticed within weeks of purchase. Reported in formal written complaint to dealer on 1/15/2026 and again at service visit on 2/5/2026 with written issue list. On 2/6/2026 dealer reported no defects found. Automated inspection showed 50 items passed zero issues despite this documented complaint. PASSENGER SEAT: Front passenger seat has developed mechanical looseness and noise near the automatic lumbar area when set to fully rearward position. Minimal passenger use. Seats are safety-relevant for crash protection and seatbelt anchor integrity. HEADREST: Passenger headrest reported as defective in 1/15/2026 written complaint to dealer. Not addressed during service visit. Dealer service visit on 2/5-2/6/2026 at Prestige Toyota of Ramsey [XXX] resulted in all-green inspection with zero issues found despite three safety complaints documented in writing. Vehicle has approx 7500 miles. Toyota Case XXX. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
Was driving at freeway speed on a straight freeway when suddenly vehicle looses control. Vehicle begins to sharply zig zag across the freeway at freeway speed! Could not control the vehicle at first, zig zagging lasted about 5-6 seconds. Nothing came up on the dashboard. Somehow managed to pull it over, I was so scared. Checked tires to see if anything was wrong. All tires seemed fine and once again reiterating nothing came up on dashboard. We continued on to our destination with caution, slower speed, with hazard lights on because all tires were fine when we checked and nothing came up on the dashboard. 20-30 min later the zig zagging began again but since we were cautious at slow speed we quickly pulled over. I also want to note this second time that this happened the headlights turned off on its own. We had to get our vehicle towed because this was clearly a huge safety issue even if nothing on the dashboard popped up and all tires were good (no flat tires or nails or anything). I wanted to put this online so there is a record of this, written, and to the public in case this happens to someone else or if anyone is considering buying this vehicle to please read and consider this incident that happened to me. There could’ve been an accident, there could’ve been fatalities, this was a near death experience caused by this vehicle. I could not drive anymore after this due to being scared of this happening again, I am traumatized and likely will need therapy or help. I am not sure what could’ve caused this to happen, but my guess is it’s an electrical problem, a defected electrical issue on these vehicles that caused this near death experience. Please be aware people. This is a brand new car, 2026 with barely 8,800 miles, this is supposed to have the best parts, best engine, no defects yet I was in a near death experience in this vehicle. Luckily I am alive to write this on here and make it aware to the public. But what if this incident led to something worse.
Complaint Against Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. I am filing this complaint regarding the extraordinary delay in obtaining Toyota replacement parts needed to repair my 2026 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro. I purchased this vehicle new for approximately $89,000. On [XXX], it was rear-ended by another driver. The vehicle was delivered to the Ed Morse collision repair center, Delray Beach on April 3, 2026 and has remained there ever since. The repair cannot be completed because Toyota replacement parts, including part numbers 51934-0C030 and 51949-0C040, have been unavailable for months. I was previously advised that Toyota expected a mid-June release date for the parts. However, the dealership parts department is now reporting the status as "TBD" with no confirmed availability date. As a result, I have been without my vehicle for more than two months. My insurance rental coverage has been exhausted, and I have incurred continuing transportation expenses while waiting for Toyota to supply the necessary parts. I opened Toyota Brand Engagement Center Case #[XXX] and have made repeated attempts to obtain accurate information regarding part availability and repair completion. Despite these efforts, I still have no reliable timeline for when my vehicle will be repaired and returned. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2026 Toyota Sequoia Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at 51 MPH, the vehicle was involved in a collision with another vehicle that failed to stop at a red light. The vehicle struck the rear driver side of the other vehicle. The seat belt pretensioner failed to restrain the contact, and the air bags failed to deploy. The message "Safety Restraint Error" was displayed, and the air bag, lane departure alert, advanced ultrasonic detection and range alert, LED headlight system alert, check engine, and radiator grille shutter warning lights illuminated after the collision. In addition, the Toyota mobile application displayed the message "SRS Air Bag System Malfunction." The contact sustained injuries to the neck, spine, back, wrist, face, and head when the face and head struck the steering wheel and flew back into the seat. The contact briefly lost consciousness while the vehicle rolled to a stop, before regaining consciousness. The contact was transported to the hospital by ambulance. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not repaired. The insurance company was notified of the incident, but had not determined total loss status. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 19,100.
The passenger 2nd row seat seat belt failed to unbuckle. child was strapped into car seat with seat belt. seat belt was not able to unbuckle and child was trapped. fire department had to cut fabric on seat belt to release child due to failed restraint system.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
Nearly a complete loss of braking downhill. I am very familiar with the stretch of road I was traveling and have traveled it in other vehicles without issue. When I did need to use my brakes I noticed they were not working as they should, I had to basically stand in the brake petal and the truck shook barely slowing. I eased off the brakes and applied pressure again with the truck still shaking and barely slowing again. I was finally able to downshift and slow down enough to stop the vehicle and pulled off the side of the road allowing the brakes and rotors a chance to cool down. Had I not been able to stop the vehicle, it would have gone off the side of the mountain likely resulting in death. I did take the vehicle to the local Toyota service center complaining of loss of brakes and they returned with everything is within specs. I have not had another issue like that yet but I do still experience a brake squealing when braking especially in reverse. There were no prior issues and didn’t notice any warning lamps. Vehicle is available for inspection upon request.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
This past weekend I rented a car from Budget Car Rental. The vehicle assigned to me was handed over in a dangerously compromised condition. The moment I pulled out of the rental facility lot, a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) warning light was actively illuminated on the dashboard. In the pitch dark of night, in an unfamiliar vehicle layout, it took a brief moment on the roadway to register the dash warning. As I was merging onto I-15, the left rear tire suffered a complete failure and went entirely flat. As a retired firefighter and paramedic with decades of emergency medical and rescue experience, I have responded to and worked far too many highway fatalities directly resulting from disabled vehicles stuck on the shoulder at night. Working on a wheel well inches from high-speed traffic at night is one of the single most dangerous positions a person can be placed in, and it is a scenario that all too often ends in a fatal struck-by incident. It is appalling to see a national rental car operator actively dispatching vehicles onto public highways with illuminated safety warnings, directly exposing paying customers to these life-threatening scenarios. Waiting for roadside assistance in the middle of the night on a busy interstate was not an option. I was left stranded on the shoulder of I-15 in the pitch dark, forced to manually change a flat tire on the side of an active interstate. A simple review of the vehicle’s onboard computer telematics log will conclusively prove that the TPMS fault was triggered and active before and at the exact moment the vehicle was dispatched to me. This vehicle had clearly been cycled through prior rental turns without even the most basic safety inspection. Renting out vehicles displaying active dashboard safety lights represents a gross violation of duty of care, creating severe hazards not only for rental customers but for every motorist sharing the road. I request that the Department of Transportation investigate Budget Rent A
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2026 Toyota Sequoia Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH on the interstate, there was a loud popping sound coming from the sunroof, and the sunroof glass shattered. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the sunroof needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the cost of the repair was not covered. The approximate failure mileage was 2,960.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
I just bought a 2026 sequoia and the sunroof exploded all of a sudden while driving down the road and almost caused a serious wreck
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
Complaint Against Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. I am filing this complaint regarding the extraordinary delay in obtaining Toyota replacement parts needed to repair my 2026 Toyota Sequoia TRD Pro. I purchased this vehicle new for approximately $89,000. On [XXX], it was rear-ended by another driver. The vehicle was delivered to the Ed Morse collision repair center, Delray Beach on April 3, 2026 and has remained there ever since. The repair cannot be completed because Toyota replacement parts, including part numbers 51934-0C030 and 51949-0C040, have been unavailable for months. I was previously advised that Toyota expected a mid-June release date for the parts. However, the dealership parts department is now reporting the status as "TBD" with no confirmed availability date. As a result, I have been without my vehicle for more than two months. My insurance rental coverage has been exhausted, and I have incurred continuing transportation expenses while waiting for Toyota to supply the necessary parts. I opened Toyota Brand Engagement Center Case #[XXX] and have made repeated attempts to obtain accurate information regarding part availability and repair completion. Despite these efforts, I still have no reliable timeline for when my vehicle will be repaired and returned. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Was driving at freeway speed on a straight freeway when suddenly vehicle looses control. Vehicle begins to sharply zig zag across the freeway at freeway speed! Could not control the vehicle at first, zig zagging lasted about 5-6 seconds. Nothing came up on the dashboard. Somehow managed to pull it over, I was so scared. Checked tires to see if anything was wrong. All tires seemed fine and once again reiterating nothing came up on dashboard. We continued on to our destination with caution, slower speed, with hazard lights on because all tires were fine when we checked and nothing came up on the dashboard. 20-30 min later the zig zagging began again but since we were cautious at slow speed we quickly pulled over. I also want to note this second time that this happened the headlights turned off on its own. We had to get our vehicle towed because this was clearly a huge safety issue even if nothing on the dashboard popped up and all tires were good (no flat tires or nails or anything). I wanted to put this online so there is a record of this, written, and to the public in case this happens to someone else or if anyone is considering buying this vehicle to please read and consider this incident that happened to me. There could’ve been an accident, there could’ve been fatalities, this was a near death experience caused by this vehicle. I could not drive anymore after this due to being scared of this happening again, I am traumatized and likely will need therapy or help. I am not sure what could’ve caused this to happen, but my guess is it’s an electrical problem, a defected electrical issue on these vehicles that caused this near death experience. Please be aware people. This is a brand new car, 2026 with barely 8,800 miles, this is supposed to have the best parts, best engine, no defects yet I was in a near death experience in this vehicle. Luckily I am alive to write this on here and make it aware to the public. But what if this incident led to something worse.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .