2001 Toyota SEQUOIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
531 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
119,632 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2001 model year. Data snapshot: . 424 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) is the most frequently named component, appearing in 124 of 531 complaints (23.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 224 | 42.2% |
| Steering behavior | 65 | 12.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 20 | 3.8% |
| Engine operation | 16 | 3.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 10 | 1.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 124 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 100 |
| Service Brakes | 76 |
| Traction Control System | 54 |
| Steering | 50 |
| Structure:Body | 45 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 40 |
| Suspension | 36 |
Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 124; Vehicle Speed Control: 100; Service Brakes: 76; Traction Control System: 54; Steering: 50; Structure:Body: 45; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 40; Suspension: 36
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 26 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 26 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 37 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 59 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 149 |
| 150,000 and above | 127 |
Under 25,000: 26; 25,000 to 49,999: 26; 50,000 to 74,999: 37; 75,000 to 99,999: 59; 100,000 to 149,999: 149; 150,000 and above: 127
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (149). 107 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 |
| 2002 | 9 |
| 2003 | 23 |
| 2004 | 36 |
| 2005 | 6 |
| 2006 | 11 |
| 2007 | 24 |
| 2008 | 30 |
| 2009 | 35 |
| 2010 | 66 |
| 2011 | 49 |
| 2012 | 45 |
| 2013 | 28 |
| 2014 | 36 |
| 2015 | 30 |
| 2016 | 28 |
| 2017 | 14 |
| 2018 | 15 |
| 2019 | 12 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 6 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2001: 4; 2002: 9; 2003: 23; 2004: 36; 2005: 6; 2006: 11; 2007: 24; 2008: 30; 2009: 35; 2010: 66; 2011: 49; 2012: 45; 2013: 28; 2014: 36; 2015: 30; 2016: 28; 2017: 14; 2018: 15; 2019: 12; 2020: 7; 2021: 7; 2022: 6; 2023: 3; 2024: 4; 2025: 2; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 224 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 65 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 20 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10002756 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)
WE HAVE A TOYOTA SEQUOIA, THE PROBLEMS ARE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE IS NOT OPERATING ALL THE TIME. IT DOES NOT ENGAGE, WHEN IT DOES SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT STAY IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE. ONE EXAMPLE IS WHEN MY WIFE HAD SIX FRIENDS IN THE VEHICLE THE 4 WHEEL DRIVE DID NOT STAY ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL MADE THE ENGINE LOOSE POWER SO SHE SLID BACKWARDS DOWN A HILL. NO ONE WOULD RIDE IN OUR 4 WHEEL DRIVE AGAIN. THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL ACTIVATES AT RADOM ON DRY PAVEMENT. THE SKID CONTROL MAKES THE ENGINE LOOSE POWER WHILE IN TRAFFIC. THERE IS ALSO A HES…
Owner-reported narrative. 18,582 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002756 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004170 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)
CONSUMER STATES" EVERY 3000 MILES THE VEHICLE BRAKES ARE BEING REPLACED. DUE TO BRAKE PEDAL HAVING TO BE PRESSED TO THE FLOOR BEFORE THEY STOP VEHICLE. DEALER HAS REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTORS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004170 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002155 · 2003-01-06 (January 6, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE STEERING WHEEL WAS WOBBLING AND PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR TIRE TREAD SEPERATED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. PH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002155 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049104 · 2003-12-03 (December 3, 2003)
SINCE OWNING THE VEHICLE, VSC INITIALIZES ON DRY STRAIGHT PAVEMENT, AT LOW SPEEDS. RETURNED TO LOCAL CT DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES. NO PROBLEM FOUND. ON A RECENT TRIP, DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY, STRAIGHT ROAD, 70MPH, ALL OF A SUDDEN IT FELT LIKE THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMING APART. THE NEXT THING I KNEW I WENT FROM THE RIGHT TO LEFT LANE AND INTO THE MEDIAN. LUCKILY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED AND NO ROLLOVER OCCURRED. I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL. THE VSC WAS THE CAUSE. THIS TIME THE VSC WOULD NOT RESET. TOOK IT TO A TOYOTA DEALE…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,482 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049104 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002624 · 2003-01-13 (January 13, 2003)
I NEED TO REPORT MY 2001 TOYOTA SEQUIOA AFTER AN INCIDENT THAT NEARLY BECAME A DEADLY ACCIDENT THAT NO ONE COULD HAVE FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS BECAUSE OF A MANUFACTURER'S TRANSMISSION DEFAULT HAD I NOT SURVIVED THAT INCIDENT.ON DEC. 24, 2002, I WAS DRIVING MY 2001 TOYOTA SEQIOUA IN FWY 5 WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FWY 5.I WAS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE, BUT IT DIED DOWN AFTER I CHANGED THE (AUTOMATIC) GEAR TO DRIVE.I, TOGETHER WITH TWO PASSENGERS: ONE ADULT AND A 4-YR OLD TODDLER,WAS STUCK IN THE VEHICLE WAITING FOR THE I…
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002624 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10020769 · 2003-05-30 (May 30, 2003)
PURCHASED A TOYOTA SEQUOIA 7/01. BEEN IN AND OUT OF SERVICE EVER SINCE. WE ARE CURRENTLY ON OUR 3RD SET OF BRAKES, 3RD TRIP COMPUTER, AND 3RD SET OF TIRES, 2ND BATTERY, 2ND AMPLIFIER. CAR ONLY HAS 33,000 MILES MANY OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDING SOME ELECTRICAL. CURRENTLY WAITING FOR WORD FROM DEALERSHIP ON PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION AND FUEL SYSTEM. EVERYTHING UP TO THIS POINT (EXCEPT TIRES #3) HAS BEEN COVERED BY WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP GOT A CASE # WITH TOYOTA SO THESE PROBLEMS WILL BE COVERED IF THEY PERSIST. FEEL LIKE WE ARE ON THE PATH TO …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10020769 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10066362 · 2004-04-17 (April 17, 2004)
TOYOTA SEQUIOA 2001 STALLS AND SHUTS OFF WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STOP AND IN GEAR. ON MANY OCCASION WHILE GETTING READY TO ENTERING INTO TRAFFIC OR PROCEEDING FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE STALLS AND SHUT OFF STRANDING VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF ROAD OR INTERSECTION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 37,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10066362 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10071690 · 2004-06-14 (June 14, 2004)
WHILE APPLYING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL VEHICLE CUT THE THROTTLE BACK FROM IDLING. THIS CAUSED THE WHEELS TO SPIN, THEN VEHICLE MOVED FORWARD ON ITS OWN, AND STALLED. CONSUMER RESTARTED VEHICLE, AND DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. DEALER INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED, BUT IT WAS UNSAFE TO OPERATE IT. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10071690 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10144541 · 2005-12-06 (December 6, 2005)
HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT SHUT OFF AFTER THE ENGINE IS TURNED OFF. ALSO, A BUZZING NOISE COMES FROM THE FUSE BOX WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. AS A RESULT OF THE HEADLIGHTS STAYING ON, THE BATTERY RUNS DOWN. THE ONLY WAY TO START SEQUOIA IS TO JUMP/BOOST WITH ANOTHER CAR/BATTERY. LEGACY TOYOTA, 4115 JONESBORO ROAD, UNION CITY, GA 30291, [phone removed] REPLACED THE FUSE BOX JUNCTION BLOCK ASSEMBLY AND BLOCK ASSEMBLY ON 11/30/04. I TOOK THE SEQUOIA BACK TO LEGACY THIS MORNING FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10144541 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10052390 · 2004-01-05 (January 5, 2004)
GAS GAUGE ERRONEOUSLY INDICATES NO FUEL IN GAS TANK (INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH FUEL LEVEL SENDING UNIT, THAT HAPPENS WHEN FUEL LEVEL IS IN THE 2/3 TO 1/2 RANGE. PROBLEM LASTS FOR A SHORT WHILE AND WILL GO AWAY AFTER DRIVING A FEW MILES WHEN THE FUEL LEVEL IN THE TANK DROPS. TOYOTA DEALER STATES THAT THERE IS NO TOYOTA SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 39,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10052390 at NHTSA ↗