RoadVitals

2010 Toyota Sequoia Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Jun 9, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
39%
of 31 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Toyota Sequoia submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Engine
Filed Jun 9, 2026

I bought the vehicle under the assumption that it only had 138,000 miles on it. Upon trying to register it with Carfax I was informed that the odometer had been tampered with and the actual mileage is 345,000

NHTSA ID
11742874
Incident
Jun 16, 2025
Engine
Filed May 24, 2021

The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was moisture and condensation in the air injection pump and the air switching valve. The contact stated that there was a manufacturer’s warranty pertaining to the failure causing the check engine warning light to become illuminated however, the warranty was for 150,000 miles or 10 years, whichever came first. The vehicle was no longer covered under the warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000. "The contact was informed that there was moisture and condensation in the air injection pump and the air switching valve." since this is not correct. The dealer only said that the items needed to be replaced due to the indicator light. They could not verify that there was a specific issue with the parts but said that it was an indicator that the parts could go bad and needed to be replaced.

NHTSA ID
11418336
Incident
May 5, 2021
Mileage
103,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 25, 2020

A VALVE SPRING BROKE WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SHUDDER AND REQUIRE A SLOWER SPEED. I FORTUNATELY WAS NOT IN HEAVY TRAFFIC BUT HAD CIRCUMSTANCES BEEN DIFFERENT THIS COULD HAVE POSED A MORE SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE. UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM, I'M FINDING INCREASINGLY MORE INSTANCES WHERE THE SAME ISSUE HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER TOYOTA OWNERS WITH THE SAME ENGINE. ALL AROUND THE SAME MILEAGE (117K).

NHTSA ID
11311467
Incident
Feb 13, 2020
Mileage
117,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 9, 2017

WHILE TOWING 6000 LB TRAVEL TRAILER HEAT EXITING THE EXHAUST HAS MELTED REAR BUMPER COVER NEAR EXHAUST TIP. EVERYTHING ON VEHICLE IS FACTORY ORIGINAL AND SHOULD NOT BE MELTING FROM EXCESS HEAT GENERATED BY TOWING WITHIN FACTORY SPECIFIED WEIGHT LIMITS. POSES A FIRE RISK.

NHTSA ID
11032316
Incident
Oct 8, 2017
Mileage
92,500 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Nov 12, 2015
2 injuries reported

I HAVE AN AMMONIA SMELL, WORSE THAN A ROTTEN EGG, UNDER HARD ACCELERATION, THAT COMES THROUGH THE VEHICLE VENTS AND INTO THE CABIN, EVEN WITH ALL WINDOWS UP AND VENTS ON RECIRCULATION OR OUTSIDE AIR. MANY SEQUOIA OWNERS HAVE REPORTED THIS TO TOYOTA, AND THEY HAVE NO KNOWN FIX. THE ODOR THAT COMES INTO THE CABIN BURNS YOUR EYES FOR A FEW SECONDS, AS WELL AS MAKES MY PASSENGERS AND I NAUSEOUS, AND DISTRACTS ME WHEN I'M DRIVING. I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, BECAUSE WE ARE INHALING WHATEVER IS IN THE CABIN, AND I CAN IMAGINE THAT IT IS NOT SAFE, LIKE ANY EXHAUST.

NHTSA ID
10789979
Incident
Nov 11, 2015
Mileage
93,861 mi
Body & structureEngine
Filed Sep 16, 2012

DISCOVERED REAR BUMPER WAS SEVERELY BURNED AROUND TAIL PIPE AFTER PULLING A TRAILER. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW FROM MODESTO TOYOTA. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO MODESTO TOYOTA AND REPORTED THE PROBLEM AS A FACTORY DEFECT. THEY INSPECTED THE PROBLEM AND REPORTED BACK TO ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TAIL PIPE AND BECAUSE IT WAS BEYOND THE WARRANTY PERIOD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY WOULD. I HAVE LOOKED AT ANOTHER 2010 SEQUOIA WHICH PULLS A TRAVEL TRAILER AND DISCOVERED THE SAME PROBLEM. I FEEL THIS PROBLEM HAS A POTENTIAL TO START A FIRE AND SHOULD BE COVERED BY TOYOTA REGARDLESS OF VEHICLE MILES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10475566
Incident
Jun 16, 2010
Mileage
50,250 mi
Engine
Filed Mar 10, 2012
Fire reported

IT MADE NOISE ON START AND WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING THE FLAMES/SMOKE CAME UNDER THE ENGINE/HOOD AND WHOLE VEHICLE GOT BURNED IN FEW MINUTES. RECENTLY HAD 30K SERVICE DONE BY TOYOTA DEALER. IT HAS BEEN RUNNING IN EXCELLENT CONDITION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10451067
Incident
Mar 10, 2012
Engine
Filed Jul 26, 2011

WHILE PULLING OUR TRAVEL TRAILER WITH OUR 2010 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED 5.7, UPON STOPPING TO FUEL UP THE BUMPER AROUND THE EXHAUST PIPE HAD MELTED AND WAS SMOKING. WE NOTICED IN THE INTERIOR A FOUL SMELL, LIKE A PLASTIC BURNING BUT COULDN'T FIGURE IT OUT. WE STOPPED TO FUEL UP AND I CHECKED UNDER THE HOOD AND THEN DISCOVERED WHERE THE PROBLEM WAS. THE TOW VEHICLE WAS WELL WITHIN LIMITS ACCORDING TO THE MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10415155
Incident
Jul 22, 2011
Mileage
19,255 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 28, 2011

2010 SEQUOIA PLATINUM EDITION. WHEN TOWING A TRAILER THE REAR BUMPER SECTION AROUND THE EXHAUST PIPE EXIT BECOMES BLACK AND MELTS FROM THE EXTREME HEAT. A FIRE HAZARD. DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITH NO CORRECTIVE ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10384707
Incident
May 19, 2010
Engine
Filed Oct 20, 2010

IN JUNE 2010, TOOK FAMILY VACATION FROM VIRGINIA TO DISNEY WORLD. PULLED TRAVEL TRAILER RATED BELOW TOW RATING (7,000 LBS). WHEN ARRIVED, NOTICED THAT THE REAR BUMPER MELTED ALL AROUND THE EXHAUST. EXHAUST DOES NOT CLEAR THE BUMPER. IF YOU LOOK AT OTHER TOW VEHICLES, THE EXHAUST PIPE CLEARLY IS AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. THE EXCESS LOAD FROM PULLING THE TRAILER CREATES EXCESS HEAT. REPORTED THE PROBLEM TO TOYOTA, THEY PROVIDED ME WITH A NEW BUMPER, CHANGED NOTHING ELSE. DECIDED I DID NOT WANT THIS TO HAPPEN AGAIN, WENT TO A TOYOTA PARTS SITE ON THE SOUTH EAST REGION AND ORDERED A EXHAUST PIPE TIP. WORKS GREAT. TAKES THE HEAT PAST THE BUMPER. I SHOULD NOT HAVE HAD TO BUY THIS, TOYOTA SHOULD RECALL AND PROVIDE THE EXHAUST TIP ON ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10361393
Incident
Jun 17, 2010
Mileage
5,000 mi
Engine
Filed Aug 21, 2010

2010 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. BRAND NEW. BUMPER BEGAN TO MELT FROM EXTREME HEAT EMITTING FROM EXHAUST PIPE. STRONG SMELL OF SMOKE IN VEHICLE. BROUGHT TO TOYOTA. HAD TOYOTA REP. INSPECT. HE STATED THAT TOYOTA HAS REC.'D. OTHER COMPLAINTS OF SAME AND THAT THEY ARE WORKING ON SOLUTION. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10351093
Incident
Jul 8, 2010
Mileage
2,500 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Feb 26, 2010

WHILE DRIVING OUR VEHICLE, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY REVVED UP ON ITS OWN WITHOUT THE ACCELERATOR BEING DEPRESSED. NO CARPET WAS OVER THE ACCELERATOR AND THE PEDAL AND CARPET HAD BEEN REPLACED BY TOYOTA ALREADY. WE CONTACTED TOYOTA AND THEY DID NOT RESPOND. *TR

NHTSA ID
10314557
Incident
Feb 15, 2010

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

Data on this page last refreshed .