2002 Toyota Sequoia problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Vehicle Speed Control (130) · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) (68) · Traction Control System (42)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Toyota Sequoia model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
533 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (4)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2019-10-17 · campaign 19V741000 · 928,220 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2018-12-12 · campaign 18V883000 · 168,993 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, or replace the air bag assembly that includes an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota
Air Bags 2015-05-13 · campaign 15V285000 · 1,973,468 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004. On June 16, 2015, Toyota expanded the recall to include an additional 1,270,468 vehicles, including model year 2002-2003 and 2005-2007 Sequoia, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2003-2007 Corolla, 2003-2007 Corolla Matrix, 2003-2007 Po
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag. The recall began on July 13, 2015. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Pontiac owners may call
Air Bags 2015-05-13 · campaign 15V286000 · 1,069,055 vehicles
Defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa. On June 16, 2015 Toyota expanded the recall to cover an additional 769,055 vehicles, including certain model yea
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the passenger side front air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota began the recall on July 13, 2015. Po
Service bulletins (161)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0038-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
to prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. the purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Structure:body 2024-12-06 · T-SB-0035-24 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
acid rain results from rainwater or other airborne moisture that become acidic due to industrial chemical impurities in the atmosphere. if these acidic compounds settle on an exposed vehicle, especially the horizontal areas such as the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage to the painted surfa
Structure:body 2024-12-05 · T-SB-0061-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
toyota vehicles are currently protected with rapgardtm protective film designed to protect the horizontal painted surfaces. this material protects from acid rain, environmental fallout, and rail contamination. follow the removal procedure in this bulletin to remove the rapgardtm protective film wi
Structure:body 2024-12-03 · T-SB-0062-23 Rev2 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
vehicles may occasionally be subjected to contamination by airborne iron particles shed from railroad tracks, train wheels, exposure to heavy machinery facilities, grinding, welding, etc. this type of contamination can be identified by the presence of small, red or brown particles on the paint surfa
Structure:body 2024-07-12 · T-SB-0039-24 Rev1 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. if these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof,
Showing the 6 most recent of 161 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-06-13 · Unknown Or Other“i am submitting a safety complaint regarding a set of lionhart lionclaw atx2 tires purchased through walmart and installed by a professional tire shop. after installation, the vehicle developed a persistent vibration at driving speeds. the vehicle was inspected by discount tire, which performed road-force testing and documented high road-force mea…”
2026-01-17 · Unknown Or Other“they should not have towed my car …”
2025-08-30 · Unknown Or Other“i was driving my 2002 toyota sequoia on the freeway at approximately 65 mph on the [xxx] when suddenly the vehicle made a beeping noise and the vsc light and trac light came on. the vehicle suddenly lost control in the wheels and tires and suddenly decelerated out-of-nowhere. due to the sudden, abrupt movement and loss of control, the vehicle near…”
2024-06-18 · Wheels“my vehicle has randomly been flashing vbs/abs/traction control lights. sometimes nothing happens other than the flashing lights. other times i’ll be driving & when going around a curve my car makes a beeping noise (sounds like the abs noise activated) & i’ll feel a pulsing under the brake & hear a grinding sound. it doesn’t allow me to brake effect…”
2024-03-14 · Structure:body“ component/system failed: the frame of my 2002 toyota sequoia has severely rusted, resulting in a gaping hole. it is available for inspection upon request. safety risk: the rusted frame jeopardizes my safety and renders the vehicle unsafe for use. confirmation: a mechanic has confirmed the rust issue. manufacturer inspection: toyota has not inspect…”
2023-10-07 · Wheels“while driving on a curved road, the vehicle made a grinding sound with flashing vsc off and trac off lights, as it pulled violently to the right and almost ran off the road with my two children in the back seat. this was an extremely scary incident. i 1. while driving on a curved road, the vehicle made a grinding sound with flashing vsc off and t…”
2023-10-03 · Unknown Or Other“the frame and attached components of the 2002 sequoia are rusting at alarming rates. seemingly surface quickly turned into structurally penetrating rust (i.e. holes in the frame rails). additionally rocker panels and wheel arches show signs of significant penetrating rust. pieces of rusted metal were found under the car on my driveway recently. …”
2023-09-02 · Unknown Or Other“frame of vehicle is rusting. never reserved any recall notifications. called toyota supervisor said not covered missed deadline. now have to pay $2000 + for undercoating. toyota should pay for it they are refusing. i am not the only one not being g notified.…”
2023-08-24 · Suspension“to whom it may concern, i recently purchased a 2002 toyota sequoia. i brought the truck to a local shop for a (overall assessment of the vehicle) since i just purchased it. the shop owner ( i have their name address if needed). the chassis is rusty and has holes sue to rust. if someone can get back to me it’s much appreciated …”
2023-07-18 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · 222,715 mi“the contact owns a 2002 toyota sequoia. the contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle made an abnormal grinding sound and hesitated to respond. the contact depressed the brake pedal a second time, and the vehicle stopped. the abs warning light was illuminated. the contact stated that the failure had …”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.