Toyota Sequoia Engine Problems
Owners have filed 110 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the Toyota Sequoia across 15 model years. The 2005 model year has the most (33). The words owners use most often: “vsc trac” (25% of reports).
- 110engine complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $4,200typical repair cost reported by owners
- 28%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Vsc trac: mentioned in 28 of 110 complaints (25%)
- Air injection: mentioned in 14 of 110 complaints (13%)
- Traction control: mentioned in 11 of 110 complaints (10%)
- Valve spring: mentioned in 6 of 110 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the Toyota Sequoia at $4,200, and half of them between $3,400 and $5,300.
Based on 11 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2013–2020), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 92 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 110 complaints, 1 a fire, 1 an injury.
Toyota Sequoia engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 Sequoia | 1 | 14% | 52,000 |
| 2014 Sequoia | 1 | 6% | 400 |
| 2013 Sequoia | 3 | 25% | 31,000 |
| 2012 Sequoia | 3 | 15% | 9,741 |
| 2011 Sequoia | 2 | 12% | 137,000 |
| 2010 Sequoia | 4 | 13% | 93,861 |
| 2009 Sequoia | 1 | 17% | 150,000 |
| 2008 Sequoia | 3 | 4% | 123,306 |
| 2007 Sequoia | 16 | 12% | 134,000 |
| 2006 Sequoia | 11 | 5% | 119,033 |
| 2005 Sequoia | 33 | 9% | 112,000 |
| 2004 Sequoia | 4 | 1% | 122,000 |
| 2003 Sequoia | 14 | 2% | 170,000 |
| 2002 Sequoia | 9 | 1% | 165,000 |
| 2001 Sequoia | 5 | 1% | 110,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine for the Toyota Sequoia. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I bought the vehicle under the assumption that it only had 138,000 miles on it. Upon trying to register it with Carfax I was informed that the odometer had been tampered with and the actual mileage is 345,000
Starter replacement is exceptionally high, self repair impossible. There should be recall on manufacturing design of starter placement inside intake manifold amongst other impossible expectations
The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, he became aware of a cranking sound and the vehicle suddenly started jerking and shaking. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired, and the front wheel speed…
On [XXX] while driving our 2011 Toyota Sequoia 4x4 Limited (5.7 iforce non flex fuel) my wife was preparing to stop at a traffic light. Completely unexpected and with no warning, the vehicle started bucking, the engine began making a knocking noise and numerous dashboard lights started flashing. It…
Can not get BSC, TRC engine lights off traction control kicks in and locks steering and brakes . Unsafe can not smog after spending thousands replacing parts
Frequently asked questions
Do all Toyota Sequoias have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 110 owner complaints about engine for the Toyota Sequoia. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Toyota Sequoia engine?
No recall currently lists engine for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the Toyota Sequoia?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,200 (half paid between $3,400 and $5,300), from 11 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the Toyota Sequoia?
The most frequent phrase is “vsc trac”, in 28 of 110 complaints, followed by “air injection” (14).
Other Toyota Sequoia problems
See all Toyota Sequoia problems.