Toyota Sequoia Complaints (2004)

380 consumer complaints on file.

#11762470September 6, 2026
POWER TRAIN, SUSPENSION
I own a 2004 Toyota Sequoia and have owned it since it was built by Toyota. In 2013 Toyota had a safety recall on the frame for that vehicle because in certain Northern states they are having issues with the frame rotting and braking. I brought my vehicle in May of 2013 and Carlson Toyota in Minnesota inspected. It said that it passed and they installed a corrosion kit. This vehicle has been meticulously cared for over the years and it still looks that way on the exterior and interior. I have always had this vehicle enrolled in a car wash club so it gets washed almost daily in the winter and has for its entire life. But the frame of this vehicle is to the point now where it shouldn't be driven. It is so dangerously, rotted and breaking apart. I had the vehicle in Florida for spring break and while I was driving it there it was making some weird clunking noises. So I took it to a repair shop and the frame repair shop said that the frame was beyond repair and probably should not be driven. But it was my only vehicle and I had no choice but to drive it back to Minnesota. Since then I've had several issues when taking off and stopping with loud clunking noises, but it is my daily vehicle and I believe that Toyota should do something to fix it or replace it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11747762July 1, 2026
WHEELS, SUSPENSION, SERVICE BRAKES
Description of the Safety Crash/Informed Incident: Vehicle Information: 2004 Toyota Sequoia (VIN: [XXX]) Incident Date: [XXX] Location: [XXX] Police Agency: California Highway Patrol (Report #:[XXX]) Speed at Incident: Highway speeds (~65 MPH) Description of Defect/Failure: Structural mechanical failure leading to sudden, catastrophic wheel separation at highway speeds. Nine days prior to the incident, on [XXX], the vehicle underwent a comprehensive brake, rotor, and tire rotation service at a certified Toyota dealership (Toyota of Chula Vista, Work Order #[XXX]). While traveling on the interstate, the right rear passenger wheel assembly completely detached from the moving vehicle. As a result, the wheel flew off crossing several traffic lanes, traveling over a jersey wall on the freeway shoulder, landing into a nearby drainage ditch. The vehicle dropped onto the remaining brake/rotor assembly, generating extreme sparks, causing an immediate loss of braking pressure, and creating an imminent threat of a rollover or multi-vehicle fatal collision. Subsequent post-incident inspection on a maintenance lift revealed that all wheel studs on the right rear hub were completely sheared or stripped off. This indicates a severe technician failure to properly torque the wheel lug nuts to factory specifications during reassembly, or an un-diagnosed structural failure of the wheel mounting components following certified dealer service. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737255May 12, 2026
STRUCTURE
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. There was an abnormal rattling sound detected in the front area. The vehicle was shaking. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the frame was completely rusty and unsafe to drive. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to have the frame checked, and it was determined there was minor rust detected. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Crestmont Toyota Parts · Crestmont Toyota Service, 730 NJ-23 N, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444, who determined there was rust detected but was not repaired. The contact wrote a letter to the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11676855July 28, 2025
STRUCTURE:BODY
Rust! Frame completely rusted, even though the CRC was applied back in 2013.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674182July 17, 2025
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that while completing an inspection and emissions test on the vehicle, the mechanic informed the contact that there was severe rust on the rear subframe of the vehicle, near the control arm, and several other areas on the subframe. The contact stated that there were several holes on the subframe caused by the extreme rust. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 203,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11617958October 3, 2024
STRUCTURE
See attached document for complaint.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11611616August 29, 2024
STRUCTURE
See attached document for complaint.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11588514May 13, 2024
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated while driving at approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and went to the floorboard. The contact stated that the check brakes and a traction control warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent at first but had become a recurring failure. When Toyota issued a recall for the braking issue, the contact did not receive notices, so the contact called them and was told it was a few selected 2004 Toyota Sequoia recalled for those who had complained but, it was not broadcasted like that. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, but the vehicle was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 07E023000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic). The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 143,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11582378April 11, 2024
SUSPENSION, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Frame is rotting out
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11579668March 27, 2024
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, STRUCTURE:BODY
TOYOTA frame is falling apart due to the use of faulty metal to manufacture those frames they ran a limited service campaign to replace some of the frames and they denied many other owners that right please help by telling TOYOTA North America to take care of this very hazardous issue thank you
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11552901October 31, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Frame
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11491571October 31, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY, SERVICE BRAKES, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The undercarriage is rotten you help my thanks
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11477258August 2, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Frame has rust issues throughout. Frame not properly treated at the factory and now I am suffering because it has virtually rusted through in front of the drivers side rear wheel which was pointed out to me at Toyota when my car was in for service.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11451641February 12, 2022
STRUCTURE:BODY
The frame is rusting away due to poor grade of metal that it is built from.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11449428January 30, 2022
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Rotting frame!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11434634September 28, 2021
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The tail gate will not open. I had the vehicle since 2018 and it was working and now it's not working. I taken it to toyota dealership and the cost is to much for at this point. I was wondering is there anything that can be done?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11414721May 1, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
SIGNIFICANT FRAME RUST IN THE REAR LEFT AND RIGHT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11414630April 30, 2021
SUSPENSION
I WAS SIMPLY PARKING MY 2004 TOYOTA SEQUOIA IN PARKING LOT SPACE. LEFT FRONT TIRE FELL COMPLETELY OFF THE CAR WITHOUT ANY PREVIOUS WARNING OF PENDING PROBLEMS! BALL JOINT CATASTROPHICALLY FAILED! PRIOR RECENT NEW TIRES AND ALIGNMENT SHOWED NO PENDING PROBLEMS. DID A CHECK AND FOUND MANY PRIOR BALL JOINT ISSUES FOR THIS CAR AND A PRIOR RECALL YEARS AGO. TOWED TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN CAPITOLA CA. THEY REPLACED BALL JOINT AND RELATED PARTS. THEY CHARGED ME LOTS OF MONEY CLAIMING THAT THIS VEHICLE HAD "PREVIOUSLY BEEN RECALLED AND REPAIRED IN 2007 SO NO LIABILITY ON THEIR PART. I CALLED TOYOTA CORPORATE AND COMPLAINED AND WAS BOUNCED AROUND UNTIL A FELLOW NAMED "GARRET" TOLD ME THE BALL JOINTS HAD BEEN "FIXED" IN 2007 DURING A RECALL. GREAT. THEN WHY DO THESE ISSUES CONTINUE? MY CAR IS DRIVEN ONLY ON PUBLIC STREETS AND THERE WAS NO WARNING OF THIS IMPENDING FAILURE. THE BALL JOINT AND RELATED SIMPLY FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY. I TAKE EXCELLENT CARE OF THIS VEHICLE AS I INTENDED ON KEEPING IT REGARDLESS OF MILEAGE. WHAT BS IS TOYOTA PULLING WHEN THEIR SEQUOIA (AND OTHER SIMILAR TOYOTA VEHICLES) CONTINUE TO CATASTROPHICALLY FAIL WITHOUT WARNING? I WONDER HOW MANY PEOPLE DIED ON THE FREEWAY ETC BECAUSE OF THIS? I HAVE PERSONALLY OWNED AND/OR FAMILY, FRIENDS ETC. MANY CARS, TRUCKS ETC. BALL JOINTS LIKE BRAKES, TIRES HOSES ETC WEAR OUT SLOWLY AND GIVE AMPLE WARNING WHEN THEY NEED REPLACEMENT IE TIRE WEAR IS INCREASED, STEERING DIFFICULTY ETC. NOT IN TOYOTA'S CASE. THERE WAS NO WARNING AT ALL BEFORE THE WHEEL JUST FELL OFF THE VEHICLE. THESE CATASTROPHIC FAILURES OF WHEELS FALLING OFF WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY MOMENT ARE HORRIBLY DANGEROUS AND YET COMMON KNOWLEDGE INCLUDING PRIOR RECALL(S) AND YET THEY STILL ARE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE. THIS IS RIDICULOUS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11404776March 25, 2021
STRUCTURE:BODY
FRAME RUSTED THROUGH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11403018March 15, 2021
SUSPENSION
LEFT FRONT (DRIVERS SIDE) WHEEL BALL JOINT(S) FAILED CATASTROPHICALLY CAUSING WHEEL TO FALL OFF AND WEDGE UNDER CAR WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE. NO PRIOR WARNING, NO PRIOR NOISE, NO PRIOR STEERING ISSUES, NO STRANGE TIRE WEAR (TIRES JUST REPLACED 6 MONTHS AGO). JUST INSTANT AND CATASTROPHIC FAILURE!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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