2002 Toyota SEQUOIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
666 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
112,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2002 model year. Data snapshot: . 533 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) is the most frequently named component, appearing in 196 of 666 complaints (29.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 264 | 39.6% |
| Steering behavior | 82 | 12.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 23 | 3.5% |
| Engine operation | 14 | 2.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 2.0% |
| 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) | 196 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 134 |
| Service Brakes | 94 |
| Steering | 73 |
| Traction Control System | 69 |
| Structure:Body | 49 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 40 |
| Suspension | 39 |
Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 196; Vehicle Speed Control: 134; Service Brakes: 94; Steering: 73; Traction Control System: 69; Structure:Body: 49; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 40; Suspension: 39
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 41 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 44 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 67 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 68 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 165 |
| 150,000 and above | 148 |
Under 25,000: 41; 25,000 to 49,999: 44; 50,000 to 74,999: 67; 75,000 to 99,999: 68; 100,000 to 149,999: 165; 150,000 and above: 148
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (165). 133 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 14 |
| 2003 | 28 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 27 |
| 2006 | 25 |
| 2007 | 28 |
| 2008 | 25 |
| 2009 | 43 |
| 2010 | 71 |
| 2011 | 42 |
| 2012 | 52 |
| 2013 | 51 |
| 2014 | 43 |
| 2015 | 53 |
| 2016 | 42 |
| 2017 | 25 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 23 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 6 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2002: 14; 2003: 28; 2004: 15; 2005: 27; 2006: 25; 2007: 28; 2008: 25; 2009: 43; 2010: 71; 2011: 42; 2012: 52; 2013: 51; 2014: 43; 2015: 53; 2016: 42; 2017: 25; 2018: 19; 2019: 23; 2020: 14; 2021: 10; 2022: 4; 2023: 6; 2024: 3; 2025: 1; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 264 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 82 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 23 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 10001172 · 2002-12-18 (December 18, 2002)
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD VIBRATE WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKES, DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED AND REPLACED ROTORS, TWO WEEKS LATER CONSUMER STATES HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND DEALER INSPECTED AND CAN CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10001172 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10001857 · 2003-01-02 (January 2, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING, REAR BRAKES ARE SLUGGISH CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER STATES "THAT THE BOTH FRONT AND REAR BRAKE SYSTEM IS AN ADEQUATE FOR THE VEHICLE'S SIZE. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001857 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10026059 · 2003-07-14 (July 14, 2003)
THE FRONT BRAKE ROTORS HAVE WARPED FOR THE SECOND TIME CAUSING EXCESSIVE FRONT END VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. THE STEERING WHEEL OSCILLATES TO THE EXTENT THAT BRAKING FROM HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS UNSTABLE. I HAD TO RESURFACE BOTH FRONT ROTORS AT 8500 AND 22000 MILES TO REMOVE RUN OUT. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FOR A $40K VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY SEEN NORMAL USE AND IS REGULARLY MAINTAINED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 22,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10026059 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10130623 · 2005-07-29 (July 29, 2005)
DT: 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE BRAKE ROTORS AND PADS WORE OUT QUICKLY. THIS CAUSED SHAKING IN THE STEERING AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ON 12-12-2002, AND THEY REPLACED THE CALIPER ASSEMBLY, THE FRONT CALIPERS, BACK PLATE, AND BEARINGS. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN ON 8-5-2004. HOWEVER, WARRANTY EXPIRED. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BECAUSE THE FRONT END VIBRATED AGAIN AND THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE. THE DEALER REPLACED THE BRAKES PADS AND MACHINED THE ROTORS. THE THIRD TIME…
Owner-reported narrative. 14,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10130623 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10121625 · 2005-05-19 (May 19, 2005)
(1) GRINDING NOISE ON ACCELERATION. ENGINE CUTTING OFF WHEN STOPPING VEHICLE. (2) STUCK IN MIDDLE OR ROAD TRYING TO GET TRUCK TO STAY CRANKED. (3) REPLACED TRANSMISSION AT 1/2 DEALER COST AND 1/2 MY COST WHEN COMPLAINT STARTED ON PROBLEM WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY.
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10121625 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138944 · 2005-10-06 (October 6, 2005)
I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA CAMRY WITH 82,000 MILES. THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN OCTOBER 2005. ON AUGUST 2005, THE CADALLIC CONVERTER WENT OUT ALSO. I FEEL THIS CAR IS A LEMON AND THE MANUFACTURING OF THE CAR IS EXTREMELY POOR. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 82,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138944 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003333 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM ON MY 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA IS DANGEROUS. IT CUTS ENGINE POWER AND TRACTION TO THE REAR WHEELS UNDER ACCELERATION IN SLIPPERY CONDITIONS. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT SEVERAL TIMES AS A RUSULT OF MY VEHICAL "STALLING" UNDER ACCELERATION WHEN PULLING OUT INTO AN INMTERSECTION OR BUSY ROAD. TOYOTA CLAIMS IT CAN NOT DISABLE THE SYSEM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003333 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10125277 · 2005-06-14 (June 14, 2005)
DT: CONSUMER SAYS VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING. CONSUMER WAS DRIVING LAST THURSDAY WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. ALSO, VEHICLE STALLED SIX TIMES THIS MORNING WHEN CONSUMER WAS TAKING IT TO GARAGE. SOMETIMES IT STARTS MISSING, AND ONE CAN PUSH THE GAS PEDAL AND VEHICLE WILL CONTINUE ON WITH OUT STALLING.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 11,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10125277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10172112 · 2006-10-30 (October 30, 2006)
1)TOOK MY 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA TO THE DEALER TO PERFORM 50,000 MILE SERVICE. THEY PERFORMED THE SERVICE AND REPLACED THE BATTERY. WHEN PICKING UP THE CAR I NOTICED VEHICLE SKID CONTROL (VSC) AND ABS LIGHTS WERE OFF. *JB 2) I ASKED THE DEALER TO CHECK THIS PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THAT THE ECU (COMPUTER) THAT CONTROLS THESE SAFETY SYSTEMS HAD FAILED ITSELF AND DISABLED THE ABOVE MENTIONED SAFETY FEATURES. 3) THE DEALER WANTS $2300 FROM ME TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10172112 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10178282 · 2007-01-10 (January 10, 2007)
I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA 4X2. THE VSC/TRAC LIGHTS CAME ON AFTER I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED ON DEC. 20, 2006. MY TOYOTA SPECIALIST COULD NOT FIGURE OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BUT SAID THAT THE SEQUOIA'S SEEM TO HAVE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS RELATING TO BRAKES AND COMPUTERS. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER ON JAN. 8, 2007 AND THEY SAID IT HAS BEEN A COMMON/ONGOING PROBLEM. TOYOTA HAS NOT RECALLED THIS PROBLEM THOUGH. THEY COULD FIX THE ECC (ELECTRICAL COMPUTER COMPONENT) AT THE COST OF $1,600. I SAID NO THANKS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10178282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10323064 · 2010-03-31 (March 31, 2010)
SPOKE WITH MR. RICHARD NEWMAN-SERVICE MANAGER AT FRONTIER TOYOTA IN CALIFORNIA ON 3/13/10 REGARDING RECENT ISSUES WITH THE GAS TANK SENSOR ON OUR 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WE HAVE A PHANTOM PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL GAUGE READING NO GAS WHILE OUR MILEAGE COUNTER INDICATES LARGE MILEAGE LEAPS TAKEN WHILE NOT DRIVING HARDLY ANY MILEAGE. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN SPORADIC OVER THE SEVERAL MONTHS. MR. NEWMAN STATED TOYOTA HAS BEEN OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE AND MODEL YEAR FOR SEVERAL YEARS AND WHEN WE TOLD HIM THAT TOYOTA REFUSED TO FIX IT WHEN WE FIRST BRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 48,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10323064 at NHTSA ↗