2008 Toyota Sequoia Engine Problems

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

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

4LO, VDC, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & ANTI- SKID LIGHT KEEP COMING ON FOR YEARS.DEALERSHIP AND TOYOTA SPECIALIST COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG. LATEST WAS 12/28/15 I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE WITH ALL 4 LIGHTS ON ... CHARGED ME $1THOUSAND DOLLARS EVEN THE PROBLEM IS RECURRENT FOR YEARS. I P/U THE VEHICLE THE NEXT DAY, PUT GAS AT COSTCO AND PARKED IT FOR THE NIGHT. THE NEXT DAY ... ENROUTE TO TO LAS VEGAS; UPON ENTERING THE I-15 NORTH FREEWAY ( LESS THAN 2 HRS OF DRIVING ON D DRIVE ) LIGHTS CAME ON AGAIN. OUR FAMILY DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE HELP US.

NHTSA ID

10817452

Incident

Dec 30, 2015

Mileage

118,000 mi

AT 66,000 MILES MY SEQUOIA HAD ENGINE PROBLEM, ( THAT'S WHAT TOYOTA PEOPLE SAID ) I TOOK MY TRUCK FOR MAINTENANCE AND OIL CHANGE IF I SEE THE LIGHT IS ON FOR MAINTENANCE. FRIDAY SEPT 16, 2011 I TOOK IT TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR OIL CHANGE AND BRAKE PADS DONE, WED THE 21 OF SEPT, I HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND IT JUST STOP! I WAS DEVASTATED BECAUSE, THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT HAVE CAUSED IT, PLEASE HELP! *TR

NHTSA ID

10427101

Incident

Sep 21, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR UNKNOWN SERVICE IN MARCH 2010 AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER, HE NOTICED OIL LEAKING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY WERE UNABLE TO LOCATE THE SOURCE OF THE OIL LEAK. THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED TO THE CONTACT YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER A THIRD TIME AND THE DEALER REPLACED THE O-RING. THE FAILURE STOPPED HOWEVER WITHIN SEVERAL DAYS, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED TAKING THE VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 10,000.

NHTSA ID

10339686

Incident

May 10, 2010

Mileage

10,000 mi

2008 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LOST POWER WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER ON THE FREEWAY THEN THE CAR LOST ALL POWER, EVEN TO STEERING. TECH SAID IT IS NOT BATTERY, STARTER, ETC... *TR

NHTSA ID

10331896

Incident

May 21, 2010

Mileage

29,500 mi

ENGINE OIL SEEPAGE (OR SLOW LEAK) AT THE CAM HOUSING AND ENGINE HEAD CONNECTION (GASKET SEAM) AREA, ABOVE THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, ON THE RIGHT-HAND-SIDE ENGINE CYLINDER BANK. OIL FIRST DETECTED AT 9,000 MILES (VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW). CONCERN: POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE IF THE OIL SEEPAGE BECOMES WORSE OVER THE COURSE OF ADDITIONAL MILES DRIVEN. OIL SEEPAGE SHOULD NOT OCCUR IN AN ENGINE THIS NEW - ESPECIALLY IN AREAS NEAR A HOT EXHAUST MANIFOLD. OTHER SIMILAR TOYOTA V8 ENGINES APPEAR CLEAN AT THE SAME AREA - NO OIL RESIDUE APPARENT IN OTHER TOYOTA V8 5.7L ENGINES OF SIMILAR SPECIFICATIONS. THIS APPEARS TO BE A MATERIAL SURFACE MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN MY VEHICLE'S ENGINE. ENGINE INFO: TOYOTA 5.7L V8 CORRECTIVE ACTION: I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO TOYOTA DEALER TO REPAIR THE SEEPAGE OR LEAK TO AVOID A POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE (AS A PREVENTIVE MEASURE), AND DEALER TOLD ME I HAD TO CALL TOYOTA. I CALLED THE TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER 1-800 NUMBER AND THE RECORDING STATED I WAS NOT ABLE TO SPEAK TO A TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVE AND I SHOULD CALL BACK LATER. I HAVE NOT BEEN HAPPY WITH TOYOTA'S CUSTOMER SERVICE. WHEN I ASKED A SERVICE MANAGER AT A DEALER ABOUT GETTING THIS REPAIR DONE UNDER WARRANTY, HE RESPONDED BY SAYING "I CAN'T DO THAT TO TOYOTA." IT IS UNFORTUNATE THAT TOYOTA VALUES ITSELF MORE THAN IT VALUES CUSTOMERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10320246

Incident

Jun 10, 2009

Mileage

15,000 mi

AFTER 4,399 MI. THE LEFT EXHAUST MANIFOLD CRACKED AND PRODUCED A TICKING SOUND ON ACCELERATION AND EXHAUST FUMES CAN BE SMELLED THROUGH THE VENTS WHEN FAN IS ON. AS PER DEALERS ADVICE, IT'S OK TO USE VEHICLE PENDING REPAIR. IT'S BEEN 5 DAYS AND THE PART HASN'T ARRIVED YET. CONTACTED DEALER FEW TIMES TO FACILITATE REPAIR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10263839

Incident

Mar 23, 2009

Mileage

4,399 mi

WHENEVER I DRIVE UP HILL OR JUST SPEED UP, THE BAD SMELL OF ROTTEN EGGS COMES INTO THE VEHICLE INTERIOR EVEN WITH THE WINDOWS ROLL UP AND WITH THE RECALCULATING VENT BUTTON ON. *TR

NHTSA ID

10255483

Incident

Aug 29, 2008

Mileage

1,000 mi