2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5 problems
The 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5 has 177 complaints on file with NHTSA. The largest share (20%) concerns stability control. Next are cruise control (16%) and brakes (16%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 177 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Stability control 20% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 6 and 2
- Injuries and deaths
- 6 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 101,000 miles 151 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 4 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 16 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 17 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 34 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 30 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 21 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 13 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 5 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 3 |
| 200k+ miles | 5 |
What the data shows
Of the 151 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 101,000 miles. For stability control specifically, the median reported mileage is about 96,000 miles (32 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 6 complaints mention a crash; 2 complaints mention a fire; 6 injuries reported.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
While driving down a familiar two lane road with many curves and not reaching a speed above 45 MPH, I came upon a curve, braked, and steered my sequoia appropriately. I was driving on the outside of the curve, but when I tried to turn with the curve, my sequoia headed toward the oncoming lane of traffic. As it veered toward the fence posts on the other side of the road, I could not slow it down or steer it back to my lane. No matter how I pressed the brakes, it would not slow down but instead sped up.
"ball joint failure" while travelling down freeway at 35-40 MPH the passenger front tire had come off and caused the vehicle to drop. Lost steering, brakes and any control of the vehicle at this time. The vehicle skid into the guard rail spinning it around and sliding until it came to a stop. The arm came directly off the vehicle and is still attached to the wheel.
I noticed oil leaking from rear axle housing. When I took the vehicle in for service I was told that the axle housing is leaking due to defective welds and must be replaced, it cannot be repaired. At the same time I was also told that the vehicle frame has rotted from the inside out due to defective or inadequate factory rustproofing. I was told that this problem is pervasive in toyota sequoias which have the same frame as toyota tundras.