Owner-reported complaints naming the other system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words
"BALL JOINT FAILURE" WHILE TRAVELLING DOWN FREEWAY AT 35-40 MPH THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE HAD COME OFF AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DROP. LOST STEERING, BRAKES AND ANY CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE VEHICLE SKID INTO THE GUARD RAIL SPINNING IT AROUND AND SLIDING UNTIL IT CAME TO A STOP. THE ARM CAME DIRECTLY OFF THE VEHICLE AND IS STILL ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL.
VCS OFF LIGHT, VCS TRAC LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AND WILL NOT GO OFF. . *TR
ECU, ABS, TRACTION CONTROL , LIGHTS STAYING ON ALL THE TIME. *TR
TRAC OFF LIGHT COMES ON AND ENGINE LIGHT. THIS IS TWICE THIS HAS HAPPENED. *TR
RE: NHTSA RECALL # 10V176000 I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THIS RECALL BUT THE SAME LIGHTS STAYED ON AFTER THE DEALER SUPPOSE TO HAVE FIXED THE PROBLEM. I INQUIRED THIS WITH THE SERVICE ADVISOR AND HE TOLD ME THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT REPLACE THE ECU SINCE IT DOES NOT EFFECT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. I DISCUSSED THIS ISSUE WITH SEVERAL MECHANICS AND THEY ALL AGREED THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTED CHIP. AFTER REACHING ONLINE, I CAME ACROSS THIS GOVERNMENT WEBSITE. UNDER NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V176000, IT CLEARLY STATED THAT " IF THE REFLASH CANNOT BE COMPLETED ON A PARTICULAR VEHICLE, THE ECU WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE." I NEED YOUR HELP TO HAVE TOYOTA TO REPLACE THE DEFECTED ECU IN MY VEHICLE WHICH WAS NOT DONE UNDER THE RECALL. *TR
MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VSC TRACTION SYSTEM HAS FAILED 5 TIMES. THE SYSTEM FAILED AT 54,546, AGAIN AT 78,358, AGAIN AT 93,939, AGAIN AT 104,238, AND THE LAST TIME AT 145,000. THE FIRST TIME CODE C124 C1231 REPLACED STEERING SENSOR. THE SECOND TIME CODE C1231 REPLACED STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. THE THIRD TIME CODE C1203 1231 REPLACED AND REPROGRAMMED STEERING ANGLE SENSOR. THE FOURTH TIME NO CODE INDICATED, BUT REPLACED SKID CONTROL ECM. THE FIFTH TIME I BROUGHT IN IN FOR THE RECALL, IT DID NOT QUALIFY AND THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT DIAGNOSE WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR IT, SO I DO NOT HAVE A CODE YET. I AM IN A BATTLE WITH TOYOTA AND THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT WHO SHOULD PAY FOR THIS DEFECTIVE SYSTEM. I HAVE PAID PORTIONS THE FIRST 2 OCCASIONS. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS IT HAPPENS ONE OF TWO WAYS. THE FIRST WAY IS WHEN I THE VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED AND IS AT ABOUT 4 MILES PER HOUR, THE CAR THINKS I AM SKIDDING, THE BRAKES GO ON AUTOMATICALLY, A HORRIBLE SCREECHING SOUND OCCURS, AND AFTER A COUPLE OF SECONDS THE BRAKES ARE RELEASED AND THE SYSTEM IS DEACTIVATED AND BOTH THE VSC LIGHTS GO ON ON THE DASHBOARD. THE SECOND WAY IS THAT I START THE CAR AND AT SOME TIME WHILE DRIVING THE SYSTEM SHUTS OFF WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND THE LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD GO ON INDICATING THAT THE SYSTEM IS NOT ENGAGED. I RECENTLY READ ABOUT THE MUSHY PEDAL SYNDROME, AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED THAT AS WELL, BUT I NEVER ASSOCIATED THE SYMPTOM WITH ANYTHING SPECIFIC. WHEN IT HAPPENS IT IS OFTEN AS I AM LEAVING MY 300FT DRIVEWAY AND ENTERING MY STREET. *KB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VSC AND TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE AS HE LOST CONTROL OF IT. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKING SYSTEM WAS INOPERABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 105,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
VSC/TRAC LIGHTS ARE ON, ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. TOYOTA DEALER TELLS ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA BUT THERE'S NO RECALL. THE INTERNET IS AFLAME WITH TOYOTA SEQUOIA OWNERS, 2003 MODEL, DEALING WITH REPEATED FIXES FOR THE VSC/TRAC LIGHTS AND ENGINE LIGHTS THAT COME ON AFTER 111,000 MILES. *TR
IN DECEMBER 2010 WE TOOK OUR TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2003 TO FIX THE DEFECTS MENTIONED IN THE EA09006 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER VICKSBURG TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN VICKSBURG, MS. AT THE MOMENT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED US THAT THE ECU COULD NOT REFLASH. HOWEVER, THE ECU WAS NOT REPLACED AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL. A WEEK AGO, ONCE AGAIN, THE VSC ECU LIGHTS TURNED ON. AGAIN WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ECU IS COMPLETELY DAMAGED AND I HAVE TO INCUR AN EXPENSE OF $ 650 TO REPLACE THE UNIT. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TALK WITH TOYOTA, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE INDICATED TO ME THAT THE NEW PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL 1. TOYOTA EVADED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO CHANGE THE UNIT SO THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER CORRECTED RECALL 2. IF THE RECALL REQUIRED THE UNIT WAS REPLACED BY A NEW ONE COULD NOT REFLASH THE UNIT. TOYOTA IS PUTTING THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND THOSE CLOSE TO OUR VEHICLE DRIVERS WHEN DRIVEN 3. WE HOPE THAT THE NHTSA CAN PROTECT OUR LIVES AND THOSE WHO FACE THESE PROBLEMS OF LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY OF TOYOTA AND ITS DEALERS. *TR
FIRST VSC TRAC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS COMPUTER FAILURE: MARCH 20 2009 DEALERSHIP FOUND THE SKID CONTROL COMPUTER MALFUNCTIONED AND WAS REPLACED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS $1521. DUE TO OUR EXTENDED WARRANTY, WE PAID $50. SECOND VSC TRAC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS COMPUTER FAILURE NOVEMBER 15 2010 RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE IN MAIL. MADE APPOINTMENT WITH TOYOTA SERVICE. SINCE THE COMPUTER WAS REPLACED PREVIOUSLY DURING FIRST TRACTION CONTROL FAILURE, THEY WOULD NOT "UPDATE" THE SOFTWARE IN THE COMPUTER, NOR DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT @ DEALERSHIP DID NOT EVEN GIVE ME A CHANCE TO DO THE DIAGNOSTIC WORK AND TOLD ME THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC TIME WOULD HAVE TO BE "RE SCHEDULED" AT A LATER DATE. DUE TO MY TAKING THE DAY OFF FROM WORK TO DO THIS RECALL REPAIR, I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP WITH NO REPAIR WORK NOR IDEA AS TO WHY THE COMPUTER FAILED A SECOND TIME. THIS IS MY 3RD REAL ISSUE WITH THIS PARTICULAR DEALERSHIP , AND I VOWED TODAY TO NEVER BUY ANOTHER TOYOTA VEHICLE. *TR
I'VE HAD PROBLEMS WITH MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA TRAC CONTROL, VSC, AND ABS LIGHTS GOING, ABOUT A DOZEN TIMES SINCE NEW, BUT THEY WOULD GO OFF AFTER SHUTTING THE CAR OFF. NOW THAT HAVE COME ON AND STAY ON. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAY ITS THE YAW SENSOR AND WILL COST AROUND $650 WITH PARTS AND LABOR. I THINK THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS WITH THIS PART FAILING AND MAYBE SOMETHING THAT NEEDS LOOKING INTO SINCE ITS PART OF THE VEHICLES SAFETY EQUIPMENT. *TR
2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VSC / ABS SKID CONTROL ECU FAILURE. WENT TO TOYOTA DEALER ON FRIDAY 10/01/2010 FOR A RECALL ON MY TOYOTA TO UPDATE THE VSC ECU. DEALER COMES BACK AND SAYS MY VSC ECU NEEDS TO BE REPLACED FOR $900.00 PRIOR TO UPDATING THE ECU. I DECLINED THE REPAIRS AND THEY HAD ME SIGN A RELEASE STATING TOYOTA IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY FAILED COMPONENTS DUE TO MY DECISION. I DO NOT HAVE ANY WARNING LIGHTS COMING ON INDICATING A PROBLEM WITH THE VSC. *TR
TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5 2003. PROBLEM WITH TRAC/VSC AND ABS SYSTEM ARE ALWAYS LITE UP ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS HAS BEEN SERVICED BY THE DEALER SEVERAL MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AND SEVERAL YEARS AFTER THAT. CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM, IT ALWAYS IS TEMPORARILY FIXED BY DEALER AND THEN REAPPEARS AT A LATER DATE. *TR
VSC AND TRAK OFF WARNING DASH LIGHT INDICATORS CONTINUE TO COME ON/OFF, NOW MORE FREQUENT AND INTERMITTENT LOSS OF ACCELERATIONS. INITIAL TRIGGERING OF INDICATORS WAS FEB 06 BUT WERE INTERMITTENT, NOW THEY ARE MORE FREQUENT. *TR
VSC/SVC TRAC LIGHTS ON. HAVE BEEN COMING ON/OFF 1-3 TIMES/MONTH. NOW THEY ARE ON AT ALL TIMES. SEEMS TO BE A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH THE 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIAS. *TR
2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. TRACK OFF, VSC TRAC, ASB LIGHTS TURN ON. DEALER DIAGNOSTIC PROBLEM CODES:P1242 DECELERATION CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION, P1244 STROKE SENSOR MALFUNCTION; NECESSARY TO REPLACE SKID CONTROL ECU COSTS $1045.00; NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE YAW RATE SENSOR COST $662.00. TOYOTA HEADQUARTERS STATED VEHICLE IS NOT ON RECALL LIST AND REFUSE TO PAY FOR REPAIR. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA AND THE VSC AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS COME ON FOR NO REASON AND THE TRACTION CONTROL DOES NOT ENGAGE PROPERLY. MY VEHICLE ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES ON IT.. TOOK IT TO DEALER THEY SAID THE ONLY RECALL IS FOR A SOFTWARE COMPUTER UPDATE. THEY UPDATED AND STILL HAVE PROBLEM. TOOK IT BACK IN TODAY AND WAS TOLD ERROR CODE C1203 FOUND NEED NEW TRANSLATE COMPUTER ASSEMBLY. CLEARLY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH ALL OF THE SEQUOIA TRACKING SYSTEMS... TOYOTA NEEDS TO REPLACE THESE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. WHY SHOULD I BE OUT OF POCKET 1000 FOR REPAIRS FOR SOMETHING THEY KNOW IS A BAD PART! PLEASE HELP! *TR
OUR 2003 SEQUOIA HAS SAME TRACTION CONTROL PROBLEM AS ALL OF THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, RESULTING IN VSC/ABS/TRAC LIGHTS ON WITH NO ADDITIONAL SAFETY BRAKING SYSTEM LIGHT TRACTION CONTROL OR ANTI-LOCK BRAKES OTHER THAN THE STANDARD HYDRAULIC BRAKES. THE SYSTEM FAILED A NUMBER OF YEARS AGO AND WE PLACED A COMPLAINT ON THIS SITE HOPING FOR A RECALL. WE TOOK THE CAR IN FOR THE REPORTED RECALL AND ALL THEY DID IS FIX SOME INTERNAL COMPUTER SETTING. THEY SAID THE RECALL HAD NOTHING DO WITH THE WARNING LIGHTS OR FIXING THE FAULTY "STAR" SAFETY SYSTEM. WE LEFT WITH ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS STILL ON AND THE OFFER FOR THE DEALER TO INVESTIGATE THE WARNING LIGHTS AT A COST OF $300. I DON'T BELIEVE THE INTENT OF ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS ISSUE WAS TO FIX AN INTERNAL COMPUTER SETTING BUT RATHER TO BRING LIGHT TO THE WIDESPREAD FAILURE OF A MAJOR SAFETY SYSTEM AT A HUGE COST TO THE CONSUMER. I URGE THE NHTSA TO RE-OPEN THIS CASE, INVESTIGATE THE REAL CAUSES, HOLD TOYOTA ACCOUNTABLE AND NOT ACCEPT A SOFTBALL ANSWER. *TR
I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WHICH WE PURCHASED NEW. EVER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT THE TRAC OFF, VSC TRAC, AND ABS DASHBOARD LIGHTS USED TO GO OFF PERIODICALLY. SINCE THE DEALER COULD NOT SEE THE LIGHTS WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THEM, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW THE LIGHTS ARE ALWAYS ON BUT (OF COURSE) THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE DRIVES ERRATICALLY AT TIMES AND MY HUSBAND AND I ARE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. *TR
STARTED UP THE VEHICLE AND THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT, THE VCS OFF LIGHT AND THE VCS TRAC LIGHT ALL CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY. WE'VE HAD THE FACTORY RECALL FOR AOG VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM, SKID CONTROL ECU UPDATE DONE, AND NOW WE'RE TOLD IT WILL BE $500 TO REPLACE THE YAW-ACCELERATION STABILITY CONTROL . THIS IS A VERY COMMON SAFETY PROBLEM, AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY A RECALL, IT HAPPENS A LOT! *TR
MY SEQUOIA IS EXPERIENCING VERY SIMILAR ISSUES AS NOTED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 10V176000. WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE HAS A DELAY AND SEEMS TO ENGAGE THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM PREVENTING ACCELERATION AND THEN IT JUST KICKS IN AND OFF YOU GO. UNFORTUNATELY THIS OFTEN LEAVES YOU IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION IF YOU HAVEN'T LEFT YOURSELF MORE THAN THE USUAL DISTANCE BETWEEN VEHICLES. ALSO IT IS VERY SPORADIC SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL HAPPEN. I EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE MORE DURING TURNS FROM START AND PARTICULARLY DURING RAINY OR INCLEMENT WEATHER THOUGH THE TIRES ARE NOT SLIPPING. I CONTACTED MY TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD MY VIN IS NOT UNDER THE RECALL. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY GAVE ME A CASE NUMBER AND THEN TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE ISSUE BECAUSE MY VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME PART WITH THE ISSUE. I INFORMED THEM THE ISSUE HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE I HAD THE CAR AND THEY WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING. THEY SAID I COULD BRING IT IN AND HAVE AN ANALYSIS DONE BUT I WOULD NEED TO PAY FOR IT. I TOLD THEM IT WAS HAPPENING EVEN WHEN THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEIR MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. I HAVE A YOUNG DRIVER WHO WILL BE USING THIS VEHICLE AND I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ADMIT OTHER SEQUIOA'S MAY HAVE THIS ISSUE AND DO NOT WANT TO ADDRESS THEM. THIS IS SERIOUS AND WE HAVE BEEN LUCKY SO FAR TO NOT HAVE IT HAPPEN IN A BAD SITUATION. I'M VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA FOR SIMPLY PUSHING THIS VEHICLE ASIDE. I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAN BE SO CONFIDENT THEY'VE IDENTIFIED ONLY CERTAIN VEHICLES WHICH WILL HAVE THE ISSUE. HOW CAN THEY JUSTIFY THAT OTHER VEHICLES WILL NOT EXPERIENCE SIMILAR ISSUES. I GUESS THEY WON'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL SOMETHING BAD HAPPENS TO MANY PEOPLE TO ADMIT THERE COULD BE SOMETHING TRUE FROM WHAT THEIR CUSTOMERS ARE TELLING THEM. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN TOYOTA SINCE MY VEHICLE FITS THE RECALL MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING OF THIS NOTE BUT THEY ARE SIMPLY TURNING AWAY FROM A LONG TIME CUSTOMER. *TR
2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA - THE VSC, TRAC AND BRAKE LIGHT ALL ILLUMINATED WITH A GRINDING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE CAR. THE CAR SHUDDERED TO A STOP DURING ACCELERATION. BARELY AVOIDED AN ACCIDENT BY QUICKLY PULLING THE CAR OVER. JUST CHECKED WITH TOYOTA AND MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL FOR THIS IDENTICAL PROBLEM. PLEASE EXPLAIN YOUR REASONING BEHIND NOT INCLUDING ALL SEQUOIA'S WITH THIS DANGEROUS PROBLEM. *TR
THE VSC TRAC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS COME ON SOMETIMES WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT SOMETIMES NOT. I WAS TOLD IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND IT WOULD BE 2,800 DOLLARS TO REPLACE THE EBS SYSTEM OR SOMETHING. I HEAR THIS IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THE 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA'S. *TR
THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM THAT WE NOTICED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO--BUT EVERY TIME I'VE TAKEN IT TO A DEALER, WE'VE BEEN BRUSHED OFF. WHILE TURNING ON A SLIGHT INCLINE IN MY 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5, WE NOTICE THE TRACTION CONTROL ENGAGES. THE VEHICLE SLOWS CONSIDERABLY TO THE POINT THAT WE HAVE BEEN CRAWLING AND EVEN BLOCKING AN INTERSECTION. THE TRACTION CONTROL ALSO ENGAGES WHEN WE TURN INTO OUR DRIVEWAY OR WHEN WE TURN ONTO SIDE STREETS. CARS BEHIND US HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GO AROUND US OR HAVE SLOWED UNTIL WE CAN MOVE AGAIN. UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WE WERE TOLD AT FIRST IT WAS JUST OUR TIRES. THEN THEY TOLD US IT WAS GOING TO COST OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS TO REPAIR BECAUSE THE COMPUTER SYSTEM WAS BAD. OUR EXPERIENCE IS EXACTLY THAT OF THE MOST RECENT RECALL OF OTHER 2003 SEQUOIAS, BUT OUR VEHICLE WAS NOT RECALLED. *TR
I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. ABOUT A MONTH AGO HAD TO STOP THE CAR ABRUPTLY UNDER RAIN TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH A VEHICLE THAT FAILED TO PERFORM A STOP AT AN INTERSECTION. THE VEHICLE ABS DID NOT WORK AND I SKIDDED OF THE ROAD WITHOUT MAJOR CONSEQUENCES. . AFTER A VISIT TO THE DEALER THEY REPORTED THAT VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL MODULE, IT IS NOT WORKING. CURRENTLY THE VEHICLE HAS 66000 MILES. THE PROBLEM WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL MODULE IS THAT IS DISABLES THE ABS WHEN THE MODULE STOPS WORKING. I RESEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND MULTIPLE PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS IN VEHICLES UNDER WARRANTY AND VEHICLES WITH RELATIVE LOW MILEAGE. I BELIEVE THIS IS ALSO A PROBLEM FOR THE TOYOTA TUNDRA TRUCK. *TR
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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