vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2012 Toyota SEQUOIA: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

20 owner complaints analyzed

3 distinct recall campaigns

27,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes is the most frequently named component, appearing in 6 of 20 complaints (30.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior630.0%
Transmission and shifting15.0%
Engine operation15.0%
Electrical and battery issues15.0%
Fuel system concerns15.0%

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.

Service Brakes
6
Electrical System
5
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
4
Engine
3
Fuel/Propulsion System
3
Structure:Body
3
Vehicle Speed Control
2
Equipment
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Service Brakes6
Electrical System5
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)4
Engine3
Fuel/Propulsion System3
Structure:Body3
Vehicle Speed Control2
Equipment1

Service Brakes: 6; Electrical System: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 4; Engine: 3; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Equipment: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
7
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
3
75,000 to 99,999
1
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
1
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0007
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9993
75,000 to 99,9991
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above1

Under 25,000: 7; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 1

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 6 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.

2012
1
2013
3
2014
5
2015
1
2016
1
2017
3
2021
2
2022
2
2025
2
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20121
20133
20145
20151
20161
20173
20212
20222
20252

2012: 1; 2013: 3; 2014: 5; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 3; 2021: 2; 2022: 2; 2025: 2

Pattern summary

Service Brakes leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 1 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10484018 · 2012-11-12 (November 12, 2012)

I PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2012 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. SINCE I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE HAS HAD IDLE/ACCELERATOR PROBLEMS, ERRATIC PROBLEMS WITH EXCESSIVE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTING, RACING, SURGING, AND FLUCTUATION OF ENGINE RPM'S, MAKING THE VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO STOP SAFELY. WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE VEHICLE, THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IT WAS A NEW VEHICLE AND IT NEEDED TIME,??ONE THOUSAND MILES,?? FOR THE ENGINE TO BREAK IN. THEIR INITIAL SOLUTION TO MY VEHICLE'??S PROBLEM DID NOT RECTIFY ITSELF. I HAVE HAD TO RETURN IT TO THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10484018 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10532639 · 2013-07-30 (July 30, 2013)

VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHEN BRAKING DOWNHILL AT AROUND 60-65 MPH. THIS STARTED AT 5000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA DEALER SAID THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. THEY SAID THEY MACHINED THE ROTORS AS A "GOODWILL" GESTURE AS BRAKES ARE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. NOW AT 16K MILES AND 6 MONTHS LATER THE VEHICLE IS SHAKING VIOLENTLY DOWNHILL WHEN BRAKING. TOYOTA DEALER AND CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE SAY THEY FEEL THE BRAKE WEAR IS NORMAL AND THEY SAID THE VEHICLE REQUIRES A BRAKE JOB. HOW WOULD THE BRAKES FAIL TWICE AND THE VEHICLE ISN'T EVE…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10532639 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10544592 · 2013-09-20 (September 20, 2013)

VSC LIGHTS ARE ON ALL THE TIME, AND SO IS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. HAVE SPENT $$$$ OF DOLLARS REPLACING OXYGEN SENSORS, MUFFLERS, HOSES, ETC. JUST HAD THE FRAME REPLACED UNDER RECALL, BUT TOO MANY OTHER PARTS ROTTED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL FOR ADDITIONAL COSTS. I LOVE THE CAR, BUT WHEN I BRAKE THE WHEEL VIBRATES TOO MUCH AND MAKE CONTROLLING THE CAR DIFFICULT. I BELIEVE THIS IS DUE TO THE VSC CONTROL. NOT TO MENTION THE CAR STABILITY LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF EVERYTIME I ACCELERATE (TAKING THE SUV IN FOR THAT VOLUNTARY RECALL AS WELL). …

Owner-reported narrative. 115,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10544592 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10552214 · 2013-11-14 (November 14, 2013)

I BROUGHT MY SEQUOIA IN FOR A 10,000 MILE OIL CHANGE AND WHEN I PICKED IT UP, I WAS TOLD THAT THE DEALERSHIP HAD COMPLETED SSC DOE UPDATE. SINCE THE UPDATE, MY VEHICLE MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN TURNING THE ENGINE OFF AND THEN A THUMP SOUND. WAS TOLD THAT THE NOISE IS COMING FROM THE AIR INJECTION PUMPS THAT WERE AFFECTED FROM THE DOE UPDATE. TOYOTA WILL NOT GIVE ME ANY DOCUMENTATION ON THE RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE THAT AFFECTS THE EMISSION CONTROL EJECTOR TO FAIL AND THE VEHICLE GOING INTO FAIL SAFE MODE. TOYOTA REPRESENTATIVES ARE TELLING ME THAT T…

Owner-reported narrative. 9,741 miles reported. Look up ODI 10552214 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10566518 · 2014-02-28 (February 28, 2014)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 TOYOTA TUNDRA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WOULD SPORADICALLY BECOME STUCK IN THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERWHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THEY WOULD PAY FOR FIFTY PERCENT OF THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10566518 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10625823 · 2014-08-17 (August 17, 2014)

I HAVE A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA & HAVE HAD ABOUT 7 INSTANCES SINCE THE BEGINNING OF AUGUST WHERE TRAC OFF TRAC VSC AND SLIP INDICATOR LIGHT ALL COME ON WHILE CAR LOCKS UP AND BEEPING NOISE ALL WHILE DRIVING. HAVE FOUND SEVERAL INSTANCES OF THE SAME SITUATION. APPARENTLY TOYOTA RECALLED THE 2003 MODELS FOR THE APPARENT SAME REASON BUT DID NOT INCLUDE THE 2002'S ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS. WOULD BE HORRIBLE IF SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE TOYOTA TAKES THIS SERIOUSLY. HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/SEQUOIA/2002/BRAKES/SER…

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10625823 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10637422 · 2014-09-19 (September 19, 2014)

ON MY 2012 TOYOTA SEQUOIA MY 2YR OLD CHILD HAPPEN TO PULL UP THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW SWITCH WHILE MY 6 YR OLD WAS TALKING TO ME WHEN I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE WINDOW. I GRABBED THE WINDOW TO GET IT TO STOP BUT THE WINDOW WOULDN'T STOP AND I COULDN'T OVER POWER THE WINDOW MOTOR. MY WIFE IN THE DRIVERS SEAT WITH THE VEHICLE MOTOR RUNNING STARTED PUSHING DOWN ON THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW SWITCH. WITH THE 2YR OLD PULLING UP ON THE SWITCH AT THE SAME TIME THE DRIVER SWITCH DOESN'T OVERRIDE THE REAR SWITCH. AFTER A BRIEF PANIC OF YELLING AN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10637422 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10644747 · 2014-10-15 (October 15, 2014)

MY VEHICLE BEGAN SHAKING VIOLENTLY WHEN BRAKING DOWNHILL AT AROUND 60-65 MPH. THIS STARTED AT 15000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA DEALER SAID THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. TOYOTA DEALER AND CORPORATE CUSTOMER SERVICE SAY THEY FEEL THE BRAKE WEAR IS NORMAL AND THEY SAID THE VEHICLE REQUIRES A BRAKE JOB. THE BRAKING SHAKES THE WHOLE VEHICLE SO VIOLENTLY I AM AFRAID I WILL LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10644747 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

13V014000 · Seats | Air Bags:Frontal:Sensor/Control Module-Inactive

Reported: 2013-01-16 (January 16, 2013)

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model year 2010-2013 model year Corolla, Sienna and Tundra; model year 2009-2013 Highlander and Venza; model year 2012 Prius V; and model year 2010-2012 Sequoia. During modification by SET to include accessories such as leather seat covers, seat heaters or headrest DVD systems, these vehicles may not have had the passenger seat occupant sensing system calibration tested. Without passing the calibration test, the occupant sensing system may not operate as designed.

Consequence: If the front passenger seat occupant sensing system is out of calibration, the front passenger airbags may not deploy or they may deploy inappropriately for the passenger's size and position. This could increase the risk of personal injury during the event of a vehicle crash necessitating airbag deployment.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will test the sensitivity of the occupant detection sensors, and recalibrate them as necessary. The recall began on March 21, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
13V123000 · Equipment:Other:Labels

Reported: 2013-04-09 (April 9, 2013)

Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota Land Cruiser, 2010-2013 Toyota Venza, 2010-2011 Toyota 4Runner, 2010-2013 Toyota Tacoma, 2011-2012 Toyota Sienna, 2012 Toyota Prius, 2013 Scion FR-S, 2011 Scion XD, 2011 Scion XB, and 2012 Scion TC vehicles. These vehicles were sold with labels that were outside the allowable one percent of accuracy of actual weight added. Thus, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) Number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Consequence: An inaccurate label could lead to owners overloading their vehicles and tires. An overloaded vehicle can result in a tire failure which may result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or property damage.

Remedy: Southeast Toyota will notify owners and provide a corrected label with instructions concerning its installation. A small group of the affected vehicles will need additonal remedies which are still being developed. The recall began on May 28, 2013. Owners may contact Southeast Toyota at 1-800-301-6859.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V920000 · Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | Steering:Rack And Pinion

Reported: 2021-11-23 (November 23, 2021)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.

Consequence: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.

NHTSA campaign record ↗