2004 Toyota SEQUOIA problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
380 owner complaints analyzed
6 distinct recall campaigns
95,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 296 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) is the most frequently named component, appearing in 98 of 380 complaints (25.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 149 | 39.2% |
| Steering behavior | 24 | 6.3% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 11 | 2.9% |
| Engine operation | 8 | 2.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 3 | 0.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 3 | 0.8% |
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) | 98 |
| Structure:Body | 57 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 52 |
| Service Brakes | 50 |
| Electrical System | 32 |
| Traction Control System | 31 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 30 |
| Suspension | 30 |
Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 98; Structure:Body: 57; Vehicle Speed Control: 52; Service Brakes: 50; Electrical System: 32; Traction Control System: 31; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 30; Suspension: 30
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 22 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 37 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 52 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 44 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 78 |
| 150,000 and above | 63 |
Under 25,000: 22; 25,000 to 49,999: 37; 50,000 to 74,999: 52; 75,000 to 99,999: 44; 100,000 to 149,999: 78; 150,000 and above: 63
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (78). 84 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 8 |
| 2005 | 9 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 23 |
| 2008 | 19 |
| 2009 | 23 |
| 2010 | 56 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2012 | 25 |
| 2013 | 25 |
| 2014 | 32 |
| 2015 | 34 |
| 2016 | 19 |
| 2017 | 24 |
| 2018 | 10 |
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 9 |
| 2021 | 9 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2004: 8; 2005: 9; 2006: 9; 2007: 23; 2008: 19; 2009: 23; 2010: 56; 2011: 18; 2012: 25; 2013: 25; 2014: 32; 2015: 34; 2016: 19; 2017: 24; 2018: 10; 2019: 13; 2020: 9; 2021: 9; 2022: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 5; 2025: 2; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Electronic Stability Control (Esc) leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 149 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 24 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 11 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 10072999 · 2004-05-22 (May 22, 2004)
WHEN I WAS GOING UP A HILL / DIRT ROAD IN 4WHEEL HIGH, AT THE MIDWAY POINT UP, THE ENGINE LOST POWER, I HAD THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR AND THE BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. IT FELT LIKE BRAKES WERE BEING APPLIED AUTOMATICALLY. I PUT THE GEARSHIFT IN PARK AND NEUTRAL PUT GEAR IN 4 LOW AND 4 HIGH WITH AND WITHOUT CENTER DIFFERENTIAL LOCKED AND UNLOCKED WITH NO RESULTS, VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE UPHILL.*AK I THEN HAD TO REVERSE DOWN TO A LEVEL AREA, WHICH WAS VERY DANGEROUS AS THERE WAS NO ROOM TO TURN AROUND, AFTER REACHING A MO…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10072999 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10088152 · 2004-08-18 (August 18, 2004)
BRAKES .... DEALER REPLACED ONCE AND REQUIRING ME TO PAY FOR THE OTHER, BOTH BRAKE JOBS HAVE BEEN DONE WITHIN A YEAR. BOTH WERE SUPPOSED TO BE UNDER WARRANTY WAS TOLD BASICALLY I DIDN'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A SUV.(EX BUS DRIVER& 18 WHEELER) *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 14,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10088152 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107731 · 2005-01-22 (January 22, 2005)
NEW 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LEASED ON 8/8/04 WITH 78 ODOMETER MILES, SUSTAINED DAMAGES TO THE FRONT PASSENGER-SIDE STEERING ARM AT ABOUT 2,379 MILES AT 7:30 A.M. ON 11/5/04 IN PLANTATION, FLORIDA, AND IMMEDIATE/COMPLETE SEPARATION OF PASSENGER-SIDE FRONT WHEEL. AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, THE ASPHALT-PAVED ROADWAY WAS FREE OF ANY ABNORMAL CONDITIONS, AND THE WEATHER WAS CLEAR. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN IN MOTION FOR ONLY A FEW FEET AFTER A FULL STOP, SECONDS BEFORE THE BREAKDOWN. EXCEPT FOR BODY DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE 5,000-LB VEHICLE FALLING ON TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 2,379 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107731 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128921 · 2005-07-15 (July 15, 2005)
TODAY TOYOYA IS REFUSING TO FIX MY 2004 SEQUOIA THAT WAS RECENTLY RECALLED FOR FRONT SUSPENSIION-CONTROL ARM: LOWER BALL JOINT.THE CONSEQUENCES IS THAT THE LOWER JOINT MAY SEPAPARTE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCURR WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.TOYOTA REFERENCE #200507150957
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128921 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10092972 · 2004-09-21 (September 21, 2004)
APPROXIMATELY 20% OF THE TIME, WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE THE GAS 'EMPTY' LIGHT IS ON AND THE NEEDLE READS 'EMPTY'; ALTHOUGH THERE MAY BE 1/2-3/4 TANK OF GAS. THE NEEDLES VARIES FOR APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES UNTIL IT 'SETTLES'. THIS ELECTRICAL ERROR HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED BY THE TOYOTA DEALER AS THEY CLAIM THEY CANNOT VIEW AN ERROR; ALTHOUGH THE TECHNICAL PERSON WAS IN THE CAR WHEN THE NEEDLE ROSE FROM 1/4 TANK TO 1/2 TANK, THEN DROPPED BACK TO 1/4 TANK - ALL WITHIN A 10 MINUTE TEST RIDE. WITH THIS SITUATION IT IS VERY HARD TO DETERMINE THE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10092972 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10128184 · 2005-07-09 (July 9, 2005)
CAR FREQUENTLY REFUSES TO START. HAD TO HAVE AAA COME OUT AND JUMP START IT. ROSEVILLE TOYOTA SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND THE TROUBLE. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN THE VERY NEXT DAY, TOOK IT TO MAITA TOYOTA. MAITA SAID THE MANUFACTURER'S BATTERY WAS DEFECTIVE (HAD A HOLE IN IT) AND THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY. WORKED FINE FOR A FEW WEEKS, NOW HAVING MORE INCIDENTS OF THE SAME "REFUSING TO START" PROBLEM. CAR IS STILL REFUSING TO START ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE NOW IS THAT THE DASH LIGHTS COME ON WHEN I TRY TO START IT, THE DOOR MAKES T…
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10128184 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10123879 · 2005-06-01 (June 1, 2005)
WHEN I COME TO A ROLLING STOP, TURN, AND PRESS THE ACCELERATOR THERE IS NOTHING. IT DOESNT STALL AND ITS STILL RUNNING BUT THERE IS NO POWER. IT HAS TAKEN THEM A WHILE TO EVEN TRY TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEY NEEDED TO BE ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. TWO WEEKS IN THE SHOP AND IT STILL HAS THE PROBLEM.
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10123879 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10350482 · 2010-08-19 (August 19, 2010)
ON FRIDAY, JULY 30, 2010, MY 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5 SUDDENLY DISENGAGED IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC WITH LOSS OF POWER; DASHBOARD LIGHTS VSC, BRAKE, AND TRAC LIGHTS, ILLUMINATING, LOUD METAL SKIDDING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH, AND SUBTLE BURNING SMELL ALL HAPPENING SIMULTANEOUSLY AS IT CRUISED IN FATIGUE-MODE THE REST OF THE WAY. SCARED THE LIFE OUT OF ME AS ALL I COULD DO WAS PRAY THAT A TRACTOR TRAILER WAS NOT BEHIND ME IN FULL SPEED AS THEY SO OFTEN DO ON MAJOR ROADWAYS. AS THE TRUCK CONTINUED TO GLIDE AND DRIVERS HONKING FOR ME …
Owner-reported narrative. 177,425 miles reported. Look up ODI 10350482 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10236291 · 2008-07-29 (July 29, 2008)
ON JULY 6TH AT APPROXIMATELY 2:00 IN THE AFTERNOON MY SON AND I WENT TO PULL OUR BOAT OUT OF THE WATER WITH OUR 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA.(WE BACKED THE TRAILER INTO THE WATER AND LOADED OUR BOAT ONTO THE TRAILER AS WE ALWAYS DO. WE THEN SECURED THE BOAT TO THE TRAILER AND PROCEEDED TO PULL THE TRUCK AND LOADED TRAILER UP THE HILL ABOUT 30 FEET AND PARKED ON THE BOAT LAUNCH RAMP. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND LEFT THE SEQUOIA IN FOUR WHEEL DRIVE HIGH, IN PARK, WITH THE PARKING BRAKE ON. ABOUT 5 MINUTES LATER, WE HEARD A REPEATED CLICKING SOUND AND T…
Owner-reported narrative. 61,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10236291 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10328305 · 2010-04-30 (April 30, 2010)
OUR 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA FREQUENTLY LOSES POWER AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH BECAUSE THE VSC TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM UNNECESSARILY ENGAGES. THIS OCCURS IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS, INCLUDING WHEN IT IS SUNNY OUT AND THE ROAD IS COMPLETELY DRY AND SMOOTH. WE HAVE NOTICED THAT THIS USUALLY HAPPENS AFTER A FULL FILL-UP OF GASOLINE. WHEN THE VSC ENGAGES, THE DASH INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES EACH TIME WE TRY TO REAPPLY THE ACCELERATOR. WE EITHER HAVE TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, AND RECRANK THE CAR TO GET THE VSC TO STOP ENGAGING…
Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328305 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10280661 · 2009-08-17 (August 17, 2009)
I HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS THE GAS NEEDLE, ON OCCASION FAILS TO REGISTER THE TRUE LEVEL OF GAS IN THE TANK. WHEN I START THE CAR, THE NEEDLE REFLECTS THE TANK IS EMPTY AND THE GAS EMPTY LIGHT IS ON. IT TAKES APPROXIMATELY 10-15 MINUTES TO CORRECT. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I IMMEDIATELY STOPPED TO FILL THE GAS TANK. IT TOOK LESS THAN THREE DOLLARS TO TOP OFF THE TANK. AFTER TOPPING OFF, IT STILL SHOWED THE TANK WAS EMPTY FOR AT LEAST 10 TO 15 MINUTES. THE LATEST INCIDENT WAS IN JUNE 2009. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10280661 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10289904 · 2009-10-26 (October 26, 2009)
2004 SEQUOIA 77K MILES / VSC OFF / VSC TRAC / ABS LIGHTS ON ALL AT ONCE. ISSUE HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SINCE NEW PURCHASE IN AUG 2004, MOST OF THE TIME THE ISSUE WAS RESOLVED AFTER LOOSEN THE GAS CAP AND FILLING UP THE GAS TANK WHICH USUALLY CURED MY ISSUE. EACH TIME I HAD THE VSC OFF AND VSC TRAC / ABS ISSUE I HAD TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER WHICH AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED THE ERRORS WERE NOT PRESENT,,? IT HAS RETURNED OCCASIONAL OVER THE YEARS AND DEALT WITH IT DUE TO IT RESETS ITSELF - PRESENTLY IT IS SOLID AFTER A FE…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10289904 at NHTSA ↗