2004 Toyota Sequoia Other / unspecified Problems

Description of the Safety Crash/Informed Incident: Vehicle Information: 2004 Toyota Sequoia (VIN: [XXX]) Incident Date: [XXX] Location: [XXX] Police Agency: California Highway Patrol (Report #:[XXX]) Speed at Incident: Highway speeds (~65 MPH) Description of Defect/Failure: Structural mechanical failure leading to sudden, catastrophic wheel separation at highway speeds. Nine days prior to the incident, on [XXX], the vehicle underwent a comprehensive brake, rotor, and tire rotation service at a certified Toyota dealership (Toyota of Chula Vista, Work Order #[XXX]). While traveling on the interstate, the right rear passenger wheel assembly completely detached from the moving vehicle. As a result, the wheel flew off crossing several traffic lanes, traveling over a jersey wall on the freeway shoulder, landing into a nearby drainage ditch. The vehicle dropped onto the remaining brake/rotor assembly, generating extreme sparks, causing an immediate loss of braking pressure, and creating an imminent threat of a rollover or multi-vehicle fatal collision. Subsequent post-incident inspection on a maintenance lift revealed that all wheel studs on the right rear hub were completely sheared or stripped off. This indicates a severe technician failure to properly torque the wheel lug nuts to factory specifications during reassembly, or an un-diagnosed structural failure of the wheel mounting components following certified dealer service. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11747762

Incident

Jun 13, 2026

The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The contact stated that the check brakes and a traction control warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but had become a recurring failure. When Toyota issued a recall for the braking issue, the contact did not receive notices, so the contact called them and was told it was a few selected 2004 Toyota Sequoia recalled for those who had complained but, it was not broadcasted like that. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, but the vehicle was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 07E023000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.

NHTSA ID

11588514

Incident

Mar 14, 2022

Mileage

143,000 mi

THE ENTIRE FRAME IS RUSTING INCLUDING THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL, SUSPENSION AND OTHER STRUCTURAL COMPONENT. THE DEALER SPRAYED ON A LIQUID TAR BUT NOW THAT IS FALLING OFF WITH THE RUST WHICH WAS SPRAYED OVER.

NHTSA ID

10876808

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

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).' *BF

NHTSA ID

10850861

Incident

Mar 17, 2016

Mileage

215,444 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRACTION LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SOFTWARE FOR THE BRAKE CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND GAVE THE CONTACT A REFERENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10839276

Incident

Jul 15, 2015

Mileage

120,000 mi

MADE A LEFT HAND TURN AND THE CONTROL ARM BROKE OFF FROM RUSTED FRAME WHILE TRAVELING AT ABOUT TEN MPH. REPAIR CENTER SAYS THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS, BECAUSE THE FRAME IS NOT SAFE, NOTHING TO RE-ATTACH CONTROL ARM TO! *TR

NHTSA ID

10714156

Incident

Apr 30, 2015

Mileage

165,447 mi

YES, WE JUST PURCHASED THIS USED 04 SEQUOIA FROM A PRIVATE PARTY SELLER AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE THE FIRST MONTH WE DROVE IT THEN THE VSC LIGHT AND THE TRAC OFF LIGHT CAME ON. NOW THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND WE HAD IT TESTED AT AUTOZONE FOR FREE. THE TESTING SHOWED A BAD O2 SENSOR. THE CAR STILL DRIVES FINE ITS JUST THE LIGHTS ARE ON. ITS REALLY IRRITATING. I GOOGLED IT AND READ A BUNCH OF CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE. I READ THAT THE 03 SEQUOIAS WERE RECALLED FOR THESE ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10597537

Incident

Jun 1, 2014

Mileage

93,243 mi

VSC, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATED AND IS NOW STAYING ILLUMINATED. SLIGHT LOSS OF POWER AND HESITATION DURING ACCELERATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10587907

Incident

May 1, 2014

Mileage

206,178 mi

VSC OFF, VSC TRAC LIGHTS GO ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME. ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10543223

Incident

Sep 1, 2011

VSC OFF LIGHT ON TRAC OFF LIGHT IS ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10537169

Incident

Aug 25, 2013

VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN APPROX 30 MILES WHEN BRAKE,VSC OFF,VSC TRAC WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON WILL NOT GO OFF...JUST PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 7/28/2012 FROM BERGLUND,CHRYSLER,JEEP,DODGE RAM IN ROANOKE, VA. *TR

NHTSA ID

10469044

Incident

Aug 2, 2012

Mileage

49,160 mi

AS I WAS DRIVING MY VEHICLE, THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON FOR THE BRAKES, VSC AND SKID CONTROL. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE REPAIR WILL BE $1900 TO REPLACE THE ECU. *TR

NHTSA ID

10463889

Incident

Jun 28, 2012

Mileage

52,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442592

Incident

Jan 5, 2012

ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS DURING LOW SPEED LEFT TURNS MY 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA HAS SHUTTERED AND STRUGGLED TO STAY ON THE ROAD, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON AND BEEPS, AND BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATES. VEHICLE ALSO SHUTTERS WHEN BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. I TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE MASTER CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACE. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC TO REPLACE MASTER CYLINDER, BECAUSE OF TOYOTA'S HIGH PRICE TO REPLACE. THE MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND ANY ISSUE WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER AND SUGGESTED IT WAS AN ISSUE CALL A "LOW SPEED DROP" AND WAS PROBABLY RELATED TO THE ABS SYSTEM OR TRAC CONTROL. CALLED DEALERSHIP AND ASKED WHAT TYPE OF DIAGNOSTICS WERE PERFORMED AND WAS TOLD THAT THEY HOOK UP A COMPUTER WHICH PRODUCED A CODE RELATED TO THE MASTER CYLINDER. THEY COULD NOT EXPLAIN WHY THE COMPUTER GAVE THEM THEMASTER CYLINDER CODE AND DID NOT OFFER TO REINSPECT VEHICLE TO DETERMINE ACTUAL CAUSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10412128

Incident

Jun 8, 2011

Mileage

87,000 mi

RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE (USED) THE VSC TRAC, TRAC OFF, BRAKE LIGHTS & CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS CAME ON RANDOMLY. TOYOTA ENDED UP REPLACING THE SKID COMPUTER. IT HAS BEEN JUST OVER A YEAR AND IT IS NOW DOING THE SAME THING. IT LOOSES TRACTION AND WON'T ACCELERATE. TOYOTA TOLD ME ITS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE, THE SAME ONE THAT THE 2003 MODELS WERE RECALLED FOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10396879

Incident

Apr 20, 2011

WE HAD TIRES CHANGED, THEN THE SKID LIGHT CAME ON WE LOST POWER ON THE FREEWAY THE CAR FISH TAILED MY HUSBAND CHANGED THE FUEL FILTER THINKING THAT THERE WAS NO WAY CHANGING TIRES COULD MAKE OUR 2004 SEQUOIA LOSE POWER, THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS I AM FRIGHTENED TO DRIVE MY CAR THE LIGHT COMES ON I LOSE POWER AT 70MPH THIS COULD CREATE SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I HAVE READ LOTS OF OTHERS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM THESE SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10383924

Incident

Feb 2, 2011

Mileage

100,091 mi

ON MY 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA THE VSC TRAC LIGHT AND TRAC OFF LIGHT ARE BOTH ON. THEY WILL NOT GO OFF. SO I DON'T KNOW IF IT IS WORKING. I READ ON MANY FORUMS AND I AM NOT THE ONLY EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO CORRECT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10383395

Incident

Jan 20, 2011

MY 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA IS EXPERIENCING VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL ISSUES THAT I BELIEVE POSE A SIGNIFICANT THREAT TO MY FAMILIES SAFETY. UNDER ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE THINKS IT'S LOSING TRACTION AND ENGAGES THE TRACTION CONTROL BY REDUCING POWER. ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WHILE ACCELERATING INTO TRAFFIC, THE VEHICLE BOGS DOWN. THIS IS HAZARDOUS FOR US, AND FOR OTHER DRIVERS. THIS WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE 2003 MODEL OF THE SEQUOIA AND TOYOTA ISSUED A RECALL. I'VE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY CLAIM THE RECALL DOESN'T APPLY TO THE 2004 MODEL EVEN THOUGH IT'S EXPERIENCING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10379916

Incident

Jan 31, 2011

Mileage

126,000 mi

PROBLEM WITH ECU UNIT, VSC TRAC AND TRAC OFF LIGHT COMING ON IN VEHICLE. THE BRAKES WERE RECENTLY CHANGED AND IT IS NOW MAKING A SCREECHING NOISE. SOMETHING IS NOT RIGHT. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE AND TOOK IT TO TOYOTA FOR SOME OTHER RECALL THEY TOLD ME THAT MY ECU UNIT NEEDED TO BE CHANGED. THE ECU UNIT IS NOW ON RECALL BUT THEY ARE RESTRICTING IT TO ONLY 2003 MODEL. I HAVE A 2004 & IT HAS THE SAME PROBLEM THE 2003 HAS. I FEEL SORRY FOR ALL THE MONEY THEY HAD TO PAY OUT WITH OTHER DEFECTS BUT I FEEL IF THERE IS A PROBLEM THEN THEY SHOULD OWN UP TO IT AND FIX IT. MY VEHICLE IS ALSO LOSING POWER ON TURNS AND I THINK IT IS FROM THIS SAME ISSUE BASED ON THE FORUMS I HAVE READ. THIS CAN BE DANGEROUS ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING TURNS IN ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I WOULD FEEL REALLY BAD FOR TOYOTA IF I WERE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT FOR SOMETHING THEY CAN OWN UP TO AND JUST REPAIR IN GOOD FAITH. VERY FRUSTRATED CONSUMER. CRASH WAS MISSED BY INCHES BECAUSE THE TRUCK SLOWS DOWN ON TURNS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10366440

Incident

Nov 15, 2010

Mileage

95,000 mi

THE VSC TRACK, TRAC OFF AND EMERGENCY LIGHT OF MY 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA,CAME ON, ON ABOUT OCTOBER, 2009. I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALER, THEY TOLD ME THAT I HAD TO REPLACE, OXYGEN SENSORS, A NEW BATTERY, AND SKID CONTROL COMPUTER. TOTAL MORE THAN $2000.00. I WAS TOLD THAT IF I DON'T REPLACE THE SKID CONTROL COMPUTER, MY BREAK SYSTEM CAN FAIL AND CONSEQUENTLY LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IT SOUNDED LIKE A MAJOR DEFECT AND EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND I WAS PUFFERED AS TO WHY THERE WASN'T ANY RECALL ON SUCH PROBLEM. AFTER THE CAR WAS SERVICED, THE VSC TRACK, TRACK OFF, AND EMERGENCY LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN IN LESS THAN A WEEK.. THIS TIME THE COMPUTER TOLD THEM THAT :THERE WAS AIR IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. THIS IS THEIR REMEDY FOR ME: "I NEED TO CLOSE AND SEAL THE FUELING CAP AFTER EACH FUELING." I DO SEAL THE FUEL CAP EVERYTIME AFTER REFUEL. I DON'T RECALL THAT I EVER MISS ONE TIME. THEY RESET THE SYSTEM AND SENT ME OFF. I WAS WONDERING IF THE FIRST REPAIR WAS EVER NECESSARY, MAYBE THE SKID CONTROL COMPUTER NEVER FAILED. IT WAS JUST AIR IN THE FUEL SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10362937

Incident

Oct 3, 2009

Mileage

71,697 mi

THE TRAC OFF, VSC TRAC AND ABS LIGHTS ON MY 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA CAME ON SIMULTANEOUSLY AND REMAINS ON. ON ONE OCCASION, MY VEHICLE LOST POWER WHILE I WAS DRIVING WHEN THE SYSTEM ENGAGED. I REPORTED THIS DIRECTLY TO TOYOTA SINCE THIS IS HAZARDOUS AND IS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT OCCURRED WITH MANY OF THE 2003 SEQUOIAS WHICH RESULTED IN A RECALL BEING ISSUED. MY VEHICLE IS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE TOYOTA PERSONNEL THAT I SPOKE WITH SAW THIS AS MY ISSUE AND NOT ONE OF TOYOTA AND ISSUED ME A REFERENCE NUMBER. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS WOULD BE MY RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED. IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT WITH ALL OF THE COMPLAINTS FILED REGARDING THIS ISSUE THAT TOYOTA WILL NOT ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY AND DO SOMETHING. IT SEEM AS IF A DEATH OR INJURY IS NECESSARY TO MAKE THEM STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR MANUFACTURING DEFAULTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10362771

Incident

Jul 10, 2010

Mileage

168,000 mi

MY 2004 SEQUOIA VSC TRACK, TRAC OFF, AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHTS, TURN ON WHILE I'M DRIVING OR WHILE THE TRUCK IS IDLING. HAVE TAKEN IT SEVERAL TIME TO MY TOYOTA DEALER. THEY NEVER SEEM TO FIND WHATS WRONG. MY WARRANTY IS OVER AND I NEED TO KNOW IF TOYOTA WILL FIX THE PROBLEM, SINCE I HAVE RECORDS OF REPORTING IT TO MY TOYOTA DEALER. IT OCCURS OFTEN AND THE TRUCK MAKES A VIOLENT RATTLING NOSE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10362131

Incident

Nov 5, 2005

Mileage

19,991 mi

I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA THAT HAD THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED LAST WEEK AT MY TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. NOW THE ENGINE LIGHT IS STAYING ON AS WELL AS THE VHS TRAC AND TRAC OFF INDICATOR LIGHTS. THE CAR JERKS WHEN ACCELERATING. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN INTERMITTENT FOR TWO MONTHS BUT IS NOW ALL THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10360939

Incident

Oct 16, 2010

Mileage

118,000 mi

THE VSC AND TRAC LIGHTS COME ON INTERMITTENTLY .THE VEHICLE WILL ALSO DRAMATICALLY DE-ACCELERATE. THERE IS ALSO A SMELL LIKE SMOKE. AFTER SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF AND LATER RESTARTING ALL WAS OK. TOYOTA IS VERY AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. SUCH A PROBLEM OCCURRING ESPECIALLY AT HIGHER SPEEDS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF VEHICLE LEADING TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WITH POTENTIAL FOR NUMEROUS FATALITIES. TOYOTA HAD A RECALL FOR EXACTLY THE SAME PROBLEM ON IT"S 2003 MODEL, BUT NOTHING FOR THE 2004. CONSIDERING THEIR MOST RECENT PROBLEMS WITH ACCELERATION I CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE EXPECTED BY NOW THAT THE NHTSA WOULD HAVE INVESTIGATED AND MANDATED THAT TOYOTA CORRECT THIS PROBLEM BEFORE A SERIOUS ACCIDENT...NOT AFTER THE FACT. AGAIN, THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED FACT ON TOYOTAS OWN WEBSITE. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED TO NO AVAIL. THEIR REFUSAL TO RECALL AND RECTIFY THE SITUATION SHOULD BE A WAKE UP CALL TO THE NHTSA. IF I HEAR NOTHING MORE ON THIS MATTER, I WILL ASSUME NEITHER TOYOTA NOR THE NHTSA IS CONCERNED ABOUT THIS POTENTIALLY DISASTROUS DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10358501

Incident

Sep 23, 2010

Mileage

60,000 mi

MY 2004 SEQUOIA BRAKE AND VSC TRAC SENSOR LIGHTS TURNING ON AND OFF AND HEARING GRINDING NOISE WHEN IT AUTO-ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10355021

Incident

Jul 1, 2007

Mileage

60,000 mi