2003 Toyota Sequoia Other Problems

When your check engine light comes on, your traction control and skid control automatically shut off, which nearly caused you to lose control in rainy conditions with your family in the car. This seems like a dangerous design flaw since a minor sensor issue shouldn't disable critical safety features. The fix would likely involve diagnosing the sensor or electrical issue triggering the check engine light and repairing or replacing the faulty component.

Your rear hatch latch system has failed and won't open, leaving you unable to access your spare tire or reach other components like the charcoal canister that need repair. This is preventing you from performing necessary maintenance on your vehicle. The fix will likely involve replacing the latch mechanism or related hardware on the rear hatch.

Your 2003 Toyota Sequoia's factory undercoating, applied in 2013, has deteriorated and allowed water to penetrate underneath the vehicle. This has caused significant rust to develop on the frame, which you consider a safety hazard. Addressing this would likely involve removing the damaged undercoating, treating the rusted frame, and applying a new protective coating.

Your door lock actuators are failing and need to be replaced — this is a common issue on Sequoias. You're also experiencing problems with multiple window motors: your sunroof and rear tailgate window don't work, and you've had to replace window motors before. The fix will involve replacing the faulty door lock actuators and window motor assemblies.

My gas gauge sensor consistently drops below the “E” marker when the truck has gas in it and especially when it is filled up. After driving about 50 miles or so, the gauge will move up some ; however, I have been relying on my DTE monitor to let me know about gas. I have taken it to the dealer twice and both said “the gas tank needs to be dropped in order for repair” I was About to pay for the service but was told I had to make an appointment. However the service advise ask had I had it replaced before because there was a recall on that particular part several years ago. Please note I have never received any notice about a recall regarding the issue. Please advise.

ON 12/21/2020, AFTER RUNNING ERRANDS, I PUT MY VEHICLE INSIDE MY LOCKED GARAGE AT 10:30 A.M. AND ALL WAS FINE. AT AROUND 9:00 P.M. THAT SAME NIGHT, I OPENED MY GARAGE TO FIND IT FULL OF SMOKE. AFTER INSPECTING EVERYTHING, I SAW NOTHING WAS STILL ON FIRE AND WAITED UNTIL THE MORNING TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM. I FIRST TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE AND IT HAD BATTERY POWER BUT WOULD NOT TURN OVER. I THEN PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND BACKED THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM THE FRONT OF THE GARAGE TO OPEN THE HOOD. I SAW THE ENGINE HAD BURNED UP FROM SOMEWHERE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BUT HAD PUT ITSELF OUT. THE FIRE CRACKED THE EXTERIOR HOOD, BURNED HOSES, ELECTRICAL AND OTHER AREAS OF THE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE. BLACK SOOT HAD ALSO DROPPED ON THE FLOOR OF THE GARAGE UNDERNEATH WHERE THE FIRE WAS. THE WOOD BEAMS INSIDE MY GARAGED WERE ALSO SCORCHED BLACK FROM THE INTENSE HEAT FROM THE FIRE/SMOKE BUT LUCKILY HAD NOT CAUGHT FIRE. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC WHO SAID I SHOULD HAVE MY CAR INSURANCE TAKE OVER. MERCURY HAS NOT DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE BUT I AM PUSHING FOR THE EXACT CAUSE SINCE IF IT'S RELATED TO A RECALL ISSUE, THEN TOYOTA SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AND I SHOULD BE COMPENSATED. MY VEHICLE HAS 37,200 MILES LESS THAN THE AVERAGE AND I HAVE A SPREADSHEET OF ALL SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE, SMOG CHECKS AND RECALLS COMPLETED. THERE WAS NO REASON THIS VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE SPONTANEOUSLY COMBUSTED INSIDE MY GARAGE. LUCKILY, I WASN'T DRIVING, WASN'T HURT, AND NO OTHER PROPERTY WAS DAMAGED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.

THE HANDLE ON THE TRUNK IS BROKEN AND I AM NOT ABLE TO OPEN THE TRUNK. IT WON'T OPEN WITH THE KEY OR THE REMOTE FOR THE VEHICLE. 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED

MY VSC/VTC LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON SINCE I HAVE OWNED MY VEHICLE. I ALSO HAVE A BRAKE LIGHT THAT COMES ON CONSTANTLY. I AM ONLY ABLE TO RESET THE BRAKE LIGHT BY TURNING OFF MY VEHICLE AND RESTARTING. I HAVE REPLACED ALL 4 ROTORS, CALIPERS AND FUEL LINES MORE THAN 3 TIMES SINCE BUYING THE TRUCK NEW. BRAKE PADS ARE CHANGED IN THE FRONT TIRES CONTINUOUSLY! THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM IN THIS TRUCK! I WAS TOLD BY MANY MECHANICS THAT THE ONLY WAY TO GET THE SKID CONTROL / TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS TO TURN OFF IS TO HAVE TOYOTA FIGURE OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM IN THE SEQUOIA'S. ALSO, I BELIEVE THERE SHOULD BE ANOTHER WAY TO OPEN THE BACK HATCH TO THIS VEHICLE OTHER THAN THE PLASTIC HANDLE ON THE OUTSIDE WHICH BREAKS REPEATEDLY!! IF THERE WERE AN EMERGENCY ON THE INSIDE OF THE TRUCK AND THE ONLY EXIT WERE THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE, THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE REAR TAIL GATE FROM INSIDE!!! ONCE THAT STUPID PLASTIC HANDLE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE VEHICLE BREAKS, YOU CANNOT OPEN THE REAR HATCH ON THE SEQUOIA!! IT BECOMES A DEATH TRAP IN THE THIRD ROW SEATING AREA!!

WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL, DRY CONDITIONS ON PUBLIC ROADWAY, THE FRAME OF THIS 2003 SEQUOIA BROKE. THE AFFECTED AREA IS WHERE THE LOWER REAR CONTROL ARM FROM THE BACK AXLE JOINS THE MAIN VEHICLE FRAME. THE VEHICLES ROCKED VIOLENTLY FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND VERGED ON BEING UNCONTROLLABLE. NO INJURIES OCCURRED DURING THE EVENT BUT THERE WAS A POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE INJURY OR DEATH. UPON CLOSER INSPECTION AND RESEARCH THE MAIN FRAME OF THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST COMPLETELY COMPROMISED FROM CORROSION. AFTER TOYOTA WAS CONTACTED, OWNER WAS TOLD VEHICLE HAD "RUST TREATMENT" IN 2013, NO FURTHER CUSTOMER SUPPORT OFFERED. THESE VEHICLES ARE DEFINITELY UNSAFE AND THE CORROSION TREATMENT HAS ONLY GIVEN OWNERS A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY. OPERATION OF THESE "RUST PROTECTED" VEHICLES LEAVES OWNERS FACING UNSEEN RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH FROM FRAME FAILURE. THESE VEHICLES SHOULD BE REPAIRED OR REMOVED FROM SERVICE TO PROTECT THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

MY 2003 SEQUOIA FAILED INSPECTION IN STATE OF PENN FOR SEVER FRAME RUST AND TOYOTA CUSTOMER SERVICE SAYS RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM EXPIREED IN 2014 AND THEY ARE NO LONGER DOING ANYTHING TO SERVICE THIS PROBLEM. I AM CURRENTLY AT 180K MILES AND VEHICLES LIKE TO SHOULD LAST LOT LONGER.

TOYOTA INITIALLY INSPECTED THE FRAME FOR RUST AND ONLY SPRAYED RUSTPROOFING WHICH CAME OFF AFTER A SINGLE SEASON. THE FRAME IS NOW COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT AND UNSAFE

TAILGATE DOOR WILL NOT OPEN PREVENTING ME FROM GETTING ITEMS OUT OFF THE CARGO AREA.

RECENTLY MY 2003 SEQUOIA STARTED TO SHAKE ON THE LEFT FRONT TIRE, SO I HAD IT TOWED TO A REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THEY COULD NOT REPAIR MY CAR BECAUSE THE PROBLEM THAT I WAS HAVING WAS NOT DUE TO THE STRUTS OR SHOCKS, BUT THAT THE FRAME WAS SO RUSTED AND THAT WAS THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. ADVISED ME NOT TO DRIVE THE CAR, BUT THAT I WOULD EITHER HAVE TO TAKE IT TO A WELDING SHOP FOR REPAIR, OR LOOK FOR ANOTHER CAR. THEY CONCLUDED THAT THE CAR WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE ANY LONGER. THE FRAME IS SO RUSTED, THAT I WOULD BE AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. I SPOKE WITH A WELDING SHOP AND HE ADVISED ME TO CONTACT TOYOTA.

SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING MY TOYOTA SEQUOIA IN 2003, THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE STABILITY (VSC) SYSTEM AND THE TRAC SYSTEM. I HAD THE RECALL REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. IN 2010, THERE WAS A RECALL AGAIN ON THE SAME SYSTEM AND I AGAIN HAD IT REPAIRED IN 2011. SHORTLY AFTER THAT, THE INCIDENT OCCURRED AGAIN. I AGAIN BROUGHT MY VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER BUT WAS TOLD THE SEQUOIA DID NOT HAVE ANY OPEN RECALLS ON IT AND THE REPAIRS WERE FOR ME TO HANDLE. AT THAT TIME, I DID NOT GET THE REPAIR FIXED BECAUSE OF THE COST TOYOTA WAS CHARGING FOR THE REPAIR. I EXPLAINED TO THE DEALER IT WAS THE VERY SAME DEFECT THAT KEPT REOCCURRING AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. I WAS ESENTIALLY SENT AWAY. I RECENTLY (8/31/15) PAID FOR A DIAGNOSTIC TO BE PREFORMED ON MY SEQUOIA AND THE CODES FOR THE ISSUE CAME UP AGAIN. NHTSA CAMPAIGN #10V176000 THE TOYOTA CODES THAT CAME UP ARE C1203,C1223,C1244,C1247. I SPOKE WITH TOYOTA AND THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL AND THAT MY SEQUOIA IS INCLUDED BUT INSIST, THAT BECAUSE OF THE YEAR OF MY VEHICLE, I AM NO LONGER ELIGIBLE TO BE REIMBERSED FOR THIS RECALL. THE THEN OFFERED ME MONEY OFF PURCHASING A NEW TOYOTA INSTEAD OF HONORING AND STANDING BY THEIR PRODUCT. I AM NOT IN THE MARKET TO BY A NEW VEHICLE AT THIS TIME AND AM SEEKING THAT TOYOTA ABSORB THE COST OF THE RECALL TO REPAIR THE SAFETY ISSUES.

I WENT TO TOYOTA ON 2013 TO HAVE MY CAR REFLASH (THE VSC OFF, VSC TRAC AND ABS LITGHTS FOR RECALL 10V176000) TO REMEDY THE SITUATION, AFTER DOING SO WHEN I WENT TO PICK UP MY CAR THE LIGHTS WHERE STILL ON AND THE SERVICE ADVISOR TOLD ME I NEED TO PAY TO HAVE THE CAR CHECKED AT THE COMPUTER AND SINCE I DIDNT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR IT MY CAR WASNT CHECKED. THE LIGTHS ARE STILL ON, CALL TOYOTA BUT THEY SAY THERE US NOTHING THEY CAN DO. SINCE THIS WAS A PROBLEM ORIGINATED BY A FAULTY PART I DONT SEE WHY THEY DONT WANT TO TAKE CARE OF IT. BESIDES THE PRICE TAG FOR THAT REPAIR IS 2,000.00 JUST FOR THE PART. PLEASE HELP.

THE VSC CONTROL SYSTEM HAS NEVER WORKED CORRECTLY...ITS BEEN NOTHING BUT A PROBLEM FROM THE TIME WE BOUGHT IT

2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED FRAME RECALL ISSUES. BOUGHT NEW FROM DEL TOYOTA IN PENNSYLVANIA (DEALER # 9001) HAVE HAD SEVERAL UNRELATED/POSSIBLE RELATED RECALLS SINCE PURCHASE. JULY: RECEIVED MAILING FROM TOYOTA IN REFERENCE TO POSSIBLE FRAME RECALL. SET UP DEALERSHIP APPT. 7/24/14: DROPPED OFF CAR @ DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL REVIEW, PROVIDED WITH RENTAL FOR 2 DAYS, AFTER THEY FORGOT ABOUT US IN THE WAITING AREA. IN 24H DEALERSHIP NOTIFIED US: NO RUST & WILL APPLY RUST PROTECTANT COATING. 24H LATER: NOTIFIED BY DEALERSHIP: FOUND A HOLE ON CROSS MEMBER THAT HOLDS THE TRANS ON LEFT SIDE. SPOKE WITH HEAD OF MAINTENANCE REGARDING ISSUE & RESOLUTION. OUTCOME: FRAME REPLACED @ NO COST BUT, IF CERTAIN PARTS ARE BROKEN DURNING THE REMOVALS OR INSTALLATION THE COST IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY. THE FRAME WILL TAKE 1-2 MONTH TO ORDER. TOLD THAT THEY WILL NOT OFFER A RENTAL DURING THAT TIME & THE VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE "I WOULDN'T LET YOU LEAVE IF IT WASN'T SAFE." INITIATED A TOYOTA CLAIM NUMBER, SHOULD BE CONTACTED BY CASE MANAGER WITHIN 24 BUSINESS HOURS. NO CONTACT YET. UPON RESEARCHING LIKE ISSUES WITH THE SAME MAKE/MODEL/YEAR. A LARGE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ARE HANDED A VERY LARGE BILL AFTER THE FRAME INSTALLATION & ARE CONTINUING TO HAVE ISSUES STEMMING FROM THE FRAME REPLACEMENT. THE COSTS ARE NOT BEING COVERED BY TOYOTA. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY VEHICLE IN FEAR THAT I WILL CRASH/BE INJURED OR CAUSE SOMEONE ELSE TO CRASH/BE INJURED. VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT TOYOTA IS NOT STANDING BEHIND THEIR RECALL/SERVICE. *JS

VCS OFF LIGHT, VCS TRAC LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AND WILL NOT GO OFF. UNDERSTAND THERE IS A DANGER OF CRASH DUE TO THIS CONDITION. *JS

SRS

THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF WHILE TRYING TO PARK IN FRONT OF MY RESIDENCE HITTING A PARK VEHICLE CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND THE PARK ONE THE ACCELERATOR JUST ENGAGED ITSELF THE ABS,TRACTION AND VSC LIGHTS CAR MAKING STRANGE NOISES ON THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL SLIGHT VIBRATION ON STEERING WHEEL LEFT. *TR

I PROVIDED THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION TO CONSUMER REPORTS AND THEY SUGGESTED I FORWARD THE INFORMATION TO YOU: I SUBSCRIBE TO MYCARSTATS CAR REPORT ADVISORY SERVICE. THEY PROVIDE INFO AND MAINTENANCE REPORTS ON VEHICLES LIKE MINE, 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THERE ARE REPEATED REPORTS OF FAILURES TO THE VSC/ABS/ESC SYSTEM. IN SOME CASES THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT CREATING A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THESE INCIDENTS SEEM TO BE MORE PREVALENT WHEN THE VEHICLES HAVE HIGHER MILEAGE. IT ALSO SEEMS THE DEALERS ARE MILKING THE CAR OWNERS BY DOING BAND-AID FIXES TO THE SYSTEM UNTIL THE WARRANTY GOES OUT. IN SOME CASES THE REPAIR COST EXCEEDS $2500. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT TOYOTA HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE AND OWNERS HAVE BEEN CRYING FOR A RECALL BUT OBVIOUSLY THEY HAVE BEEN CRYING TO THE WRONG PEOPLE - TOYOTA. CAN YOU GET INVOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT OR KILLED? MAYBE THAT HAS ALREADY HAPPENED AND TOYOTA IS KEEPING IT QUITE. I ALSO NOTICED THAT YOU HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED HE HAS NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE, BUT HE JUST WANTED IT TO BE KNOWN THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. UPDATED 04/07/10.*JB

TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2003 ECU COMPUTER FAILURE (VSC/ABS LIGHT ON) AFTER JUST 40K MILES. THIS IS INTEGRATED INTO THE POWERTRAIN AND SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY WHICH IS 60 MONTHS/60,000 MILES. THEY WANT ME TO PAY 2500 DOLLARS. *JB

CONSUMER BEGAN TO SMELL A SULFUR/ROTTEN EGG ODOR. THE SMELL SEEMED ENHANCED BY SUDDEN ACCELERATION OF THE VEHICLE AND BY OPERATION OF THE SUNROOF. *PH *MR