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The Toyota Sequoia is a popular full-size SUV that people seem to enjoy driving. With any vehicle that has been around for a few years, problems always start to surface. What issues should you look for on the Sequoia to avoid major headaches?

What problems do Toyota Sequoias have?

The worst Toyota Sequoia problems
The new Toyota Sequoia on display | Gabriel Bouys/AFP via Getty Images

Looking back at the last 21 years of problems on the Car Complaints website, the 2001 years through 2008 years have the most issues. The biggest complaints were about the interior accessory problems. The Sequoias owners reported various issues like phantom lights on the dashboard, door handles falling off, and random clicking noises. There were a lot of problems noted with lights on the dashboard lighting up without reason.

On the outside of the Toyota Sequoia, people noted more issues with latches, door handles, and hinges not working correctly. People said that handles would fall off, latches would fail, and locks wouldn’t work. There are instances of premature rust, a loss of acceleration, and a battery that dies too quickly.

One area that a variety of years reported an issue with was the transmission. Owners reported total transmission failure in a few years and improperly working transmissions for others. Some of these are easy fixes, while others might cost a few thousand dollars to fix.

The NHTSA has records of Toyota Sequoia complaints and recalls

Once you move past 2008, the problems start to become fewer. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were a few issues in the 2011 Sequoia. Owners noted problems with the doors not locking and unlocking correctly. Another person filed a complaint about the speedometer running at the wrong speed.

By the time the 2019 Toyota Sequoia rolled around, the NHTSA had six different recalls. One was for the power steering assembly failing due to an oil leak. If that happened, it could cause a loss of power steering, which would increase the risk of a crash.

Another recall refers to a failing fuel pump. If this fails, the engine could fail, which would increase the risk of a crash. Replacing the fuel pump can also be a costly fix if your vehicle does not have a warranty.

Looking for a used Sequoia SUV? Look for a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle

Based on the sheer amount of complaints about the 2001-2008 Toyota Sequoia vehicles, it might be worth avoiding these early versions. Once 2009 rolled around, there were fewer complaints overall. Toyota is known for making reliable vehicles, but that isn’t always the case.

If you want a vehicle that will last more than 100,000 miles, get a 2009 Toyota Sequoia or newer. The newer the car is, the better chance it has at surviving and remaining reliable for a longer period of time. Looking at the NHTSA website for newer Sequoia years gives the feeling that Toyota improved upon the SUV as much as possible. If you are considering buying a used Toyota SUV, purchasing a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle or getting a pre-purchase inspection is always recommended.

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Staff Writer

Amanda Cline

Amanda Cline is an avid fan of Formula 1 and joined MotorBiscuit in 2021. A Southwest Floridian, she easily and often finds automotive events to attend in the Tampa, Orlando, and Miami areas.
Amanda is a graduate of the University of Central Florida, where she earned a Bachelor’s in English Literature and a Master’s in Technical Communication. Combining her editorial and digital media expertise, Amanda served as a content creator for FanSided and now provides our readers with a variety of automotive subject matter like pickup trucks and SUVs, including valuable consumer advice.

Amanda closely follows many F1 drivers, including Lewis Hamilton, George Russell, and the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team. Her all-time favorite author is Shel Silverstein.