Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2002 Toyota Sequoia — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2003 to Dec 2012
The most reported issue is electronic stability control (esc) problems (67 complaints). 25 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fire.
Open Safety Recalls (8)
NHTSA Campaign: 19V741000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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 under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
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.
NHTSA Campaign: 18V883000
Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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's numbers for these recalls are J0A (Zone A Toyota), J0B (Zone B Toyota), J0C (Zone C Toyota), JLI (Zone A Lexus), JLJ (Zone B Lexus), and JLK (Zone C Lexus). Note: This recall includes vehicles that have had their air bag previously replaced under an earlier air bag campaign.
NHTSA Campaign: 15V285000
Component: AIR BAGS
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 Pontiac Vibe and 2002-2007 Lexus SC vehicles. This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.
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 1-800-762-2737. NOTE: This recall supersedes recall 14V-312 in its entirety.
NHTSA Campaign: 15V286000
Component: AIR BAGS
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 year 2002-2004 Lexus SC, Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix, Toyota Corolla, Pontiac Vibe, and Toyota Tundra vehicles, as well the vehicles covered by the May 13, 2015 notification in the portions of Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas that were not previously included. The inflators in the front passenger air bags are susceptible to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the front passenger air bag.
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. Pontiac Vibe owners may contact GM at 1-800-762-2737. GM began the recall on June 29, 2015. NOTE: This recacll supersedes recall 14V-655 in its entirety. For vehicles located in the U.S. states not listed above, please see Toyota recall 15V-285 which covers all other U.S. states.
NHTSA Campaign: 06E049000
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
NHTSA Campaign: 07E023000
Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.
Risk: LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Fix: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
NHTSA Campaign: 05V225000
Component: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, DUE TO A MANUFACTURING ISSUE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE SURFACE OF THE BALL OF THE JOINT MAY HAVE BEEN SCRATCHED. THE BALL JOINT MAY EVENTUALLY EXPERIENCE EXCESSIVE WEAR AND LOOSENESS, RESULTING IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT.
Risk: THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
NHTSA Campaign: 02V129000
Component: WHEELS
ON CERTAIN 4X2 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ALLOY WHEEL TIRE UPGRADE (OPTIONS WM4, WM8, ZL1-ZL4, DH4, OR DH5) INSTALLED BY THE PROCESSING CENTERS IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA OR COMMERCE, GEORGIA, A LABEL IDENTIFYING THE SPARE TIRE AS A TEMPORARY USE SPARE TIRE WAS NOT INSTALLED. THE UPGRADE INCLUDES 4 LARGER SIZE TIRES WITH ALLOY WHEELS. THE ORIGINAL SPARE TIRE/STEEL WHEEL IS NOT PART OF THE UPGRADE AND WAS NOT CHANGED.
Risk: DIFFERENT OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS CAN BE EXPERIENCED WHEN THE SPARE TIRE IS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE.
Fix: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CAUTION LABEL AND AN INSERT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 691)
Structure →3 issues
Your 2002 Toyota Sequoia's frame has developed severe rust with a visible hole that a mechanic has confirmed. This structural damage creates a safety hazard that makes the vehicle unsafe to drive. Fixing this will require professional frame repair or replacement, which is a major structural service.
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Your car's frame is showing advanced rust. This is a structural concern that should be inspected by a mechanic to determine if it affects the vehicle's safety and integrity. Addressing rust typically involves professional assessment and may require rust treatment or structural repairs.
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Your vehicle's frame has developed cracks that make it unsafe to drive and will prevent it from passing inspection. You're also experiencing cracked weather stripping around all sides of the doors and windows. Fixing this will likely require frame repair or replacement at a professional shop, along with new weather stripping seals.
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Unknown Or Other →3 issues
Your vehicle's frame is rusting, but Toyota says it's not covered under recall because you missed the deadline for service notifications. Toyota is refusing to pay for rust treatment and wants you to pay over $2000 for undercoating to prevent further damage. The owner reports not being the only customer who didn't receive recall notifications about this issue.
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Your vehicle's frame is developing rust in critical areas that need to be addressed. The owner is concerned this could become a structural issue and recommends Toyota address this problem in future models.
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The vehicle owner believes their car should not have been towed. No crash or fire was involved in this incident.
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Suspension,structure →2 issues
While driving at 50-55 mph on the parkway, your driver's side ball joint suddenly broke without any warning signs, which could have caused your truck to flip or hit another vehicle. The broken ball joint damaged your driver's side fender, and you've noticed rust on the frame, raising concerns about frame integrity and safety. You're worried the frame could break at any time, and Toyota has refused to inspect or replace these components. This repair will likely involve replacing the ball joint and addressing any frame rust or damage through inspection and potential welding or replacement.
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Your Sequoia's chassis has developed rust damage with holes in it, which was discovered during an initial inspection after you purchased the vehicle. Rust damage to the frame can compromise structural integrity and safety over time. Addressing this will likely require rust removal, repair or patching of affected areas, and rust treatment to prevent further deterioration.
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Steering,electrical System,unknown Or Other →1 issue
While driving on the freeway at 65 mph, your Sequoia suddenly beeped and the VSC and TRAC warning lights came on, causing the vehicle to lose control and abruptly slow down without warning. This dangerous loss of control nearly caused the vehicle to flip, and it has now happened three times despite visits to multiple repair shops. The underlying electrical or steering system fault causing these warning lights and sudden deceleration episodes needs to be diagnosed and repaired by a qualified technician.
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Wheels,service Brakes,forward Collision Avoidance →1 issue
Your vehicle randomly flashes VBS, ABS, and traction control warning lights. When turning or braking, you may hear beeping and grinding sounds with a pulsing sensation in the brake pedal that makes it harder to brake effectively. In one instance at low speed, your steering wheel drifted and your tires felt like they were floating when you applied the brakes. The issue likely involves inspection and possible replacement of ABS sensors, brake components, or wheel bearings that may be affecting your braking and stability systems.
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Steering,wheels,service Brakes →1 issue
While driving on a curved road, your vehicle made a grinding sound and suddenly pulled hard to the right, nearly causing you to leave the road. The VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) and Trac Off warning lights flashed during this incident. An OBD2 scan revealed a fault with the Yaw Rate Sensor, which helps your vehicle maintain control during turns. This sensor may need to be replaced or the wiring and connections inspected.
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Steering,vehicle Speed Control,service Brakes →1 issue
While driving at highway speed, your Sequoia made a loud grinding noise, the steering became very difficult to control, and both the VSC TRAC and TRAC OFF warning lights turned on. The problem happened again on local roads after restarting the vehicle. You should have the steering system, brakes, and vehicle stability control system inspected by a Toyota dealer to identify what's causing the grinding noise and loss of steering control.
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Power Train,unknown Or Other →1 issue
While driving at 50 mph, your traction control and VSC (Vehicle Stability Control) warning lights came on, and your brakes locked up, causing the front wheels to seize and the vehicle to jerk violently in the middle of the highway. You had to pull over and get help, then restart the vehicle to drive it home. The problem happened again as you were exiting onto your street.
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Steering,suspension →1 issue
Your car's left rear frame broke away from the rear sway bar, causing the back end to shift side-to-side when you accelerated or decelerated, which pushed the front end in the opposite direction toward oncoming traffic. This loss of rear suspension control created dangerous steering responses that could have caused a serious crash at highway speeds. The fix will require replacing or reattaching the rear sway bar and inspecting the frame for damage.
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Structure,unknown Or Other →1 issue
Your Sequoia's frame and structural components are developing rust at an accelerated rate, with surface rust quickly penetrating deep enough to create holes in the frame rails. The rocker panels (the area below your doors) and wheel arches are also showing significant rust damage, and pieces of corroded metal have been falling off underneath the vehicle. Addressing this will likely require professional rust treatment, replacement of severely damaged frame sections, and protective coating to prevent further deterioration.
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Service Brakes, Hydraulic →1 issue
Your brakes are making an abnormal grinding sound and not responding right away when you press the pedal, though they do eventually stop the vehicle. Your ABS warning light is on. This problem keeps happening when you brake at various speeds. The issue hasn't been diagnosed or repaired yet. A brake system inspection and likely brake pad replacement or rotor resurfacing may be needed to fix this.
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Tires →1 issue
Your 2002 Toyota Sequoia failed a state inspection because large cracks developed in the tread of all four Michelin Latitude Tour tires (P265/70/R16) at around 33,000 miles. Your mechanic linked this to a known NHTSA tire defect, but the manufacturer refused coverage because your specific tire size wasn't included in the recall. The tires will need to be replaced with new ones.
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Steering,suspension,fuel/propulsion System →1 issue
Your Sequoia's steering rack rusted severely and cracked while driving on the highway, forcing you to limp to safety. The frame has extensive rust and corrosion throughout, and your vehicle won't pass inspection due to a faulty oxygen sensor and rust damage. Fixing these issues will require replacing the steering rack, exhaust system with a new oxygen sensor, and potentially extensive frame rust treatment or replacement.
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Power Train,traction Control System →1 issue
Your traction control system is activating on its own when you come to a complete stop, causing your vehicle to suddenly brake when you try to accelerate. The traction control warning light flickers on and off during these incidents. Your dealer said there are no recalls available for this issue. This could be dangerous in traffic situations where unexpected braking occurs.
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Steering,suspension,unknown Or Other →1 issue
Your vehicle's frame has developed severe rust with holes forming through the metal, creating a safety hazard. Despite careful maintenance and normal on-road use only, the frame has deteriorated significantly. This structural damage could affect the vehicle's integrity and safety. Addressing this would require professional frame inspection and rust repair or replacement sections.
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Other Toyota Sequoia years: