Toyota Sequoia Steering Problems
Owners have filed 195 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Toyota Sequoia across 16 model years. The 2002 model year has the most (78). The words owners use most often: “vsc trac” (22% of reports).
- 195steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 15mention a crash
- 10mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 46%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 42 of 195 complaints (22%)
- Grinding noise: mentioned in 32 of 195 complaints (16%)
- Traction control: mentioned in 20 of 195 complaints (10%)
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 151 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 195 complaints, 15 mention a crash, 10 an injury.
Toyota Sequoia steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Sequoia | 1 | 100% | — |
| 2019 Sequoia | 1 | 14% | — |
| 2018 Sequoia | 1 | 5% | 100,000 |
| 2016 Sequoia | 1 | 9% | 13,000 |
| 2014 Sequoia | 1 | 6% | — |
| 2012 Sequoia | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2011 Sequoia | 1 | 6% | — |
| 2010 Sequoia | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2008 Sequoia | 2 | 3% | 2,882 |
| 2007 Sequoia | 9 | 7% | 110,890 |
| 2006 Sequoia | 4 | 2% | 142,068 |
| 2005 Sequoia | 6 | 2% | 142,457 |
| 2004 Sequoia | 14 | 4% | 108,000 |
| 2003 Sequoia | 23 | 4% | 95,717 |
| 2002 Sequoia | 78 | 12% | 136,000 |
| 2001 Sequoia | 51 | 10% | 154,760 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:hydraulic power assist system; steering:rack and pinion
Model years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022
Problem: 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.
Risk: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Turned into a laundromat parking lot and my balljoint snapped and my truck was sitting on the ground on the driver side front. Bent my fender and door also.
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…
Power steering rack assembly malfunctioned and started shaking violently. Upon inspection, a fluid leak was found from the passenger side of the steering rack.
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that while having routine maintenance at the local dealer, he was informed that the outer seals were leaking and full of fluid. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the rack and pinion seals had failed. The outer seals were…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Toyota Sequoias have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 195 owner complaints about steering 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 steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Toyota Sequoia?
The most frequent phrase is “vsc trac”, in 42 of 195 complaints, followed by “grinding noise” (32).
Other Toyota Sequoia problems
See all Toyota Sequoia problems.