2008 Toyota Sequoia Owner Complaints

While accelerating to pass a vehicle that was signaling and operating well below the speed limit, my vehicle experienced sudden and continued unintended acceleration. I was able to bring the vehicle to a stop while fighting against the engine within an intersection but the engine continued building revs, bouncing off the limiter while my foot was entirely removed from the accelerator pedal and fully applied to the brake. During this time I had moved the gear selector to neutral, only furthering the engine's revs, and attempted to place the vehicle into park without success, before having to reach beneath my dashboard, foot still on the brake, to pull the accelerator pedal up. I verified both visually and by feel that the pedal was stuck in it's position entirely on it's own, there was no outside object or floormat inhibiting it's ability to return.

NHTSA ID

11751908

Incident

Jul 12, 2026

Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2008 Toyota Sequoia. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 143,000. It was later discovered, when the contact received the Title, the mileage was 248,000.

NHTSA ID

11717336

Incident

Feb 9, 2026

Mileage

248,000 mi

The drivers seat belt sometime does not retract. One of the seat belts in the middle row retracts slowly or sometimes does not retract. Another seatbelt is very tough to pull out to buckle. I just purchased this vehicle so I’m not sure how long the seatbelts have been an issue.

NHTSA ID

11576476

Incident

Mar 8, 2024

My wife pulled out of a parking lot and there was a loud noise and the vehicle began to shudder violently. Approximate speed was 10 mikes an hour and she was able to stop. The drivers side rear suspension airbag had broken through the lower control arm, and was under the rear driver side tire. It appears some frame members are cracked as well. Had this happened at highway speeds, it may have resulted in a catastrophic accident. Writer contacted Toyota, as I do not recall being notified of their ZH9 frame replacement program that resulted from a class action settlement, and the rear of the frame is horribly rusted. Vehicle probably would have qualified at that time to be fixed, but am now out of the window. Manufacturers should be made to notify via certified mail, so they know their customers received notifications like this.

NHTSA ID

11569276

Incident

Jan 31, 2024

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the independent mechanic for an oil change, the mechanic informed her husband that the chassis was severely rusted. The dealer and other unknown dealers were notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle under Toyota Campaign Number: ZH7 because the campaign had expired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed the assessment from the dealers. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000. The VIN was unavailable.

NHTSA ID

11530450

Incident

Jun 5, 2023

Mileage

30,000 mi

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in for routine service, the independent mechanic discovered that the rear subframe was severely damaged due to rust and corrosion. The contact was advised that holes were present in the subframe, and the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure and informed that the vehicle was no longer qualified under the Extended Warranty Coverage for the failure. The failure mileage was 168,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA ID

11517022

Incident

Apr 13, 2023

Mileage

168,000 mi

A valve spring in the engine failed causing one cylinder to fail as well. The failure fortunately happened at low speed and the engine didn't seize. This a known problem with Toyota V8s of this model year and was the reason for a recall of Lexus vehicles with the same engine. Had this happened at highway speed, the engine, we were told, could have experienced a total failure causing the engine to seize likely leading to a serious accident. The car is available for inspection at the moment, but this failure requires a total engine rebuild or an engine replacement which are both very costly and we may have to purchase a new car. The car has not been inspected by Toyota, police, insurance or anyone other than a car service center. There were no warning lights, messages or any symptoms prior to the failure. It was sudden with no warning at all. The car has been very well maintained over the years with regular maintenance done on a consistent schedule.

NHTSA ID

11494722

Incident

Nov 18, 2022

Activation of VSC off and slip indicator flashing.

NHTSA ID

11470585

Incident

Jun 22, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the dealer for an unknown repair, the dealer informed the contact that the sub-frame was corroded. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11454160

Incident

Feb 25, 2022

Mileage

125,000 mi

Tony Divino Toyota, a Toyota Motor Company dealership, sold me this vehicle sight unseen knowing I would immediately be towing a boat trailer 350 miles at highway speeds through construction zones on I-80 with children and our dog onboard. I was told it had passed a "160 point inspection" and was "in great condition". However, when delivered to me the dealership knew it was not road worthy and in fact illegal to drive on public roads due to missing a third brake light, bad rear brakes were bad, the transmission had failed, the battery had failed, the shocks/struts had failed, and a live shotgun shell was rolling around under the drivers seat. Both Toyota Motor Corporation and the dealership refused to address or correct these vehicle defects which could have resulted in a disastrous crash with injury/death to myself and children. This systemic Toyota disregard for used vehicle quality creates a national safety issue with all cars processed through the Toyota Motor Company network.

NHTSA ID

11439219

Incident

Jul 30, 2021

WHEN I'M SLOWING DOWN FOR A RED LIGHT, THEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN. AND I HIT THE ACCELERATION THE CAR WOULD JERK. AND SAME THING WHEN I MAKE A LEFT TURN. IT WOULD JERK AND FEELS LIKE I HAVE NO ACCELERATION.

NHTSA ID

11386721

Incident

Aug 1, 2018

Mileage

90,000 mi

I HAD MY BRAKES CHECKED OUT AT A SHOP IN MOUNTAIN HOME ARKANSAS, MOUNTAIN MOTORS HWY 5 N.. ASKING THAT THEY BLEED AND INSPECT AS NECESSARY ,AND CHECK TORQUES. AFTER AN HOUR AND TWENTY MINUTES I WAS TOLD THAT THE BLEEDER ON ONE CALIPER BROKE OFF! THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE BLEEDER, THEY SAID IT WOULD BE OK! THE BRAKES FAILED COMPLETELY LESS THAN 1000 LATER! WE WERE LUCKY, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR IN A SMALL TOWN IN WISCONSIN. WE WERE MOVING SLOW AND I COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT! THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED AND $750.00 LATER WE CONTINUED OUR TRIP. THERE IS NO REGULATORY AGENCY IN ARKANSAS,AND THE REPAIR SHOP IS IGNORING ME! CAN YOU HELP? I HAVE RECIEPTS.

NHTSA ID

11349792

Incident

Jul 20, 2020

Mileage

150,000 mi

THE BACK COVER OF THE MIDDLE SEATS ARE BROKEN AND REMOVED.I TRIED TO REPLACE THEM BUT, I CAN NOT. THE IRONS THAT HOD THE SEAT ARE UNCORVERED AND NOT SAFE . WHEN PEOPLE ,IF THEY HAVE LONG LEGS I DO NOT THINK IT IS SAFE SAFE FOR THEM. THE CAR IS NOT ABLE TO PLAYER NEITHER RADIO NOR CDS. WHEN TRYING TO PLAY EITHER RADIO OR CD, IT MAKES A CRAZY NOISE. THE VEHICULE IS STILL IN MOTION.

NHTSA ID

11348515

Incident

Sep 30, 2016

GOOD AFTERNOON, DURING THE DRIVE-THRU AND THE CAR, STARTED TO SHAKE, AND THE ENGINE STOPS. AFTER THAT, I CONTACTED THE TOW-TRUCK AND BROUGHT IT TO TOYOTA DEALER. THE DEALER HAS FINALLY OPENED THE ENGINE, AND THE RESULT WAS THE VALVE SPRING WAS BROKEN IN HALF, AND THE SPARK PLUG ALSO MELTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

11331786

Incident

Jun 15, 2020

Mileage

128,612 mi

TOYOTA SERVICE SAID THE REAR SUB-FRAME IS RUSTING AND EVENTUALLY REAR WHEELS COULD SEPARATE FROM VEHICLE. THIS WAS DISCOVERED WHILE TOYOTA WAS REPLACING THE MAIN FRAME UNDER A CLASS ACTION SUIT.THE SUB-FRAME WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE SUIT' THEREFORE TOYOTA WANTS ME TO PAY THE ENTIRE COST OF $2550

NHTSA ID

11265409

Incident

Dec 5, 2018

Mileage

115,005 mi

THE FRAME ON MY TOYOTA SEQUOIA HAS RUSTED.THIS CONDITION IS COMMON TO THESE VEHICLES.HOWEVER MINE HAS AND THE ALIGNMENT RUSTED IN THE AREA THAT THE ALIGNMENT ADJUSTERS ARE LOCATED.I RECENTLY PURCHASED NEW TIRES AND AN ALIGNMENT COULD NOT BE PERFORMED, AS A RESULT MY VEHICLE IS UNSAFE! THE FRAME MUST BE REPLACED!

NHTSA ID

11182142

Incident

Sep 22, 2008

MY VEHICLE INVOLVED IN A RECALL IN WHICH THERE IS EXCESSIVE RUST IN THE FRAME MAINLY IN STATES WHERE THERE IS SNOW AND USES SALT IN ROADS, MICHIGAN IS ONE OF THESE STATES WHERE I USE TO LIVE AND MY CAR IS REGISTERED IN, HOWEVER I JUST RELOCATED TO CA FEW MONTH AGO, THE DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MY VEHICLE IS AFFECTED WITH THIS RECALL, HOWEVER TOYOTA REFUSE TO DO IT IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA! BUT IF I TAKE MY CAR BACK TO MICHIGAN THEY WILL DO IT, ITS 3000 MILES AWAY AND NOT PLANING TO GO BACK PLEASE HELP TOYOTA CASE # 1902071493

NHTSA ID

11175877

Incident

Feb 7, 2019

Mileage

95,000 mi

S10 DIRECT REPLY - LETTER ADDRESSED TO PRESIDENT TRUMP REQUESTING ASSISTANCE WITH DEFECTIVE TOYOTA SEQUOIA. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD RELEASE FROM PARK WITHOUT BEING STARTED OR WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. THE CONSUMER'S 7 YEAR OLD GRANDSON PULLED THE GEAR SHIFT CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL INTO THE GARAGE. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONSUMER ACCIDENTALLY KNOCKED IT OUT OF GEAR. THE CONSUMER RECEIVED AN INJURED KNEE, SHOULDER, AND LOWER BACK. *JS

NHTSA ID

11155088

Incident

Oct 12, 2015

RUSTY PARTS (RUST EXTENDED WARRANTY) THE BACK WINDOW ON MY 2008 TOYOTA SEQUOIA FELL DOWN ABRUPTLY WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. ITEMS FLEW FROM MY BACK WINDOW AND I WAS FORCED TO SLOW DOWN ABRUPTLY AND PREVENT DRIVERS IN MY REAR FROM BEING IN AN ACCIDENT. AFTER PULLING OVER, I HAD TO RETRIEVE THOSE ITEMS ON A BUSY ROADWAY. I ATTEMPTED TO DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE BY POWERING THE WINDOW BACK UP, BUT IT WOULDN'T WORK. I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE WINDOW TO THE UP POSITION AND IT WOULD NOT WORK. I HAD TO SECURE MY ITEMS AND DRIVE HOME SLOWLY. LATER THAT DAY, I CONDUCTED SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THE 1ST GENERATION SEQUOIA WAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM. APPARENTLY, THE ISSUE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY WINDOW REGULATOR FROM RUST. UNFORTUNATELY, I DO NOT SEE ANY RECALLS FOR THE 2ND GENERATION MODELS. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO A LOCAL MECHANIC AND ONCE THEY EXAMINED THE BACK DOOR, THEY DIAGNOSED THAT THE CAUSE FOR THE WINDOW FALLING DOWN ABRUPTLY WAS INDEED FROM A RUSTY REGULATOR AND RUSTY PARTS. I CONDUCTED MORE RESEARCH AND FOUND OUT THAT TOYOTA HAS BEEN INFAMOUS FOR INSTALLING PARTS THAT RUST OVER TIME. TOYOTA ISSUED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR RUST, BUT IT DOESN'T STATE SPECIFICALLY WHAT IT COVERS. I CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO TAKE IT INTO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE RUST EXTENDED WARRANTY RECALL PERTAINS ONLY TO THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE AND NOT ANYTHING ELSE. THE NOTICE IS THE MAIL DID NOT SPECIFY THE UNDERCARRIAGE. MY RUSTY PARTS ARE NOT COVERED UNDER THE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR RUST. IT IS NOT RIGHT THAT TOYOTA IS FINDING A WAY TO REMOVE THEMSELVES FROM ANY LIABILITY WITH THEIR VEHICLES DEVELOPING RUST OVER A QUICK PERIOD OF TIME. IF A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR RUST ON THE FRAME, THAT'S AN INDICATOR THAT TOYOTA USES POOR QUALITY PARTS.

NHTSA ID

11142569

Incident

Oct 13, 2018

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK TO THE FLOORBOARD AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TO A HIGH SPEED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL HAD TO BE DEPRESSED WITH EXTREME FORCE TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) YEARS EARLIER; HOWEVER, THE REMEDY FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 88,000. THE VIN WAS NOT PROVIDED.

NHTSA ID

11130582

Incident

Sep 1, 2018

Mileage

88,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED USED IN MAY 2011 WITH 60,000 MILES ON IT. IT CURRENTLY HAS 100,440 MILES ON IT.. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE FROM A DEALER, AN UNDER CAR INSPECTION INDICATED NO VISIBLE RUST TO SPEAK OF AND PAINT/FINISH WAS STILL PATENT ON REAR SUSPENSION, AT THE LAST OIL CHANGE OIL CHANGE, THE TECH NOTED THE EXTENSIVE RUST ON THE REAR SUSPENSION AND COMMENTED THAT HIS TOYOTA TUNDRA A FEW YEARS OLDER HAD A RECALL FOR SEVERE RUST AND REPLACEMENT FOR THE SAME THING, AND THAT THIS WOULD LIKELY BE SUBJECT TO A RECALL TOO IN TIME. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TOYOTA DEALER TODAY FOR A FRAME INSPECTION UNDER THE EXTENDED FRAME WARRANTY AND THE FRAME WAS DECLARED FAULTY FOR A SMALL RUST THROUGH AREA AND WILL BE REPLACED. HOWEVER THE ENTIRE REAR SUSPENSION AND CROSS FRAME WERE SEVERELY RUSTED THROUGH AND CRUMBLING, WHICH THEY SAID WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE FRAME WARRANTY. THIS PRESENTS A SEVERE SAFETY SITUATION SINCE THIS SUSPENSION COULD FAIL AT ANY TIME CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. SINCE THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED IN THE PAST ON TOYOTAS AND RESULTED IN A RECALL, IT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AGAIN FOR THIS MAKE AND MODEL. AT NO TIME DURING OUR OWNERSHIP HAS IT BEEN IN OR NEAR SALT WATER, NOR EVER SUBMERGED IN FRESH WATER. IT'S STORED OUTSIDE ON AN ASPHALT DRIVEWAY YEAR ROUND AND USED PRIMARILY AS A BACK UP FOR OUR MAIN VEHICLE. UNFORTUNATELY THE DEALER REMOVED IT FROM THE HOIST BEFORE I COULD GET A PHOTO OF IT IN CURRENT CONDITION.

NHTSA ID

11093195

Incident

May 9, 2018

Mileage

100,414 mi

THE REAR LIFTGATE ON OUR 2008 TOYOTA SEQUOIA STARTED ACTING UP LATE MAY 2016. THE LIFTGATE LOCK ACTUATOR BEGAN GETTING STUCK AND VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN. NOW IT CANNOT BE OPENED BY NEITHER THE POWER LIFTGATE BUTTON NOR MANUALLY WITH THE HANDLE. WE CAN SEE THAT THERE IS EVIDENCE OF EXCESSIVE RUST ON THE ACTUATOR. IT HAS SEIZED AND ARE NOW VERY CONCERNED THAT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ESCAPE THROUGH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE SHOULD ALL OTHER EXITS ARE BLOCKED. NOT EVEN THE REAR WINDOW IS WORKING AND BELIEVE THAT THERE IS A DEFECT AFFECTING THE COMPONENTS INSIDE THE LIFTGATE ITSELF. UPON RESEARCHING THE MATTER WE HAVE DISCOVERED THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF THE SAME VEHICLE. WE FEEL THIS WARRANTS AN INVESTIGATION INTO THIS SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT TO FIND OUT WHAT IS CAUSING THE EXCESSIVE RUST/CORROSION AND MECHANICAL FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11080786

Incident

May 23, 2016

TWO SEATBELTS, BOTH FOR THE MIDDLE ROW BUCKET SEATS, FAILED. THEY BOTH STOPPED RETRACTING PROPERLY AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. LUCKILY, WE WERE NOT INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11078420

Incident

Feb 13, 2018

Mileage

125,000 mi

I WAS DRIVING ON I-15 IN UTAH WHEN MY PASSENGERS HEARD HONKING AND LOOKED AROUND. SUDDENLY A WHITE CAR SWERVED CLOSE TO ME AND CUT ME OFF. THE DRIVER WAS LOOKING DOWN AND CONTINUED TO SWERVE AROUND. THEN SLOWED AND PUT ON HER FLASHERS. SHE CONTINUED TO SWERVE AND THEN FOLLOWED US OFF THE FREEWAY. SHE STOPPED AT THE STOP LIGHT AND SAID WE HAD HIT HER. I SAID THAT WAS A LIE AND SHE HAD BEEN SWERVING INTO MY LANE AND PEOPLE WERE HONKING AT HER. WE DROVE TO IKEA AND SHE DID NOT FOLLOW. THEN I FILED THIS COMPLAINT. I AM CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF ME AND MY PASSENGERS. SHE WAS NOT FRIENDLY. I ATTACHED HER LICENSE NUMBER.

NHTSA ID

11056583

Incident

Dec 26, 2017

Mileage

136,345 mi

THE REAR HATCH SWITCH PAD MELTS RENDERING THE HANDLE INOPERABLE. TOYOTA CLAIMS THIS IS NOT A DEFECT YET, MANY SEQUOIA OWNERS HAVE SAME COMPLAINT. TOYOTA SAYS OVER $400 TO REPAIR. TOYOTA DENIES THE REAR HATCH IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY EXTENSION FOR DOORS 11/5/17

NHTSA ID

11047062

Incident

Nov 3, 2015

Mileage

60,000 mi