Home › Toyota › Sequoia SR5 › 2003

2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5 Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 107 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5, most often about the traction Control System (35% of complaints, typically around 88,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Sequoia SR5 model year since 2000.

Complaints107
Recalls0
Crashes reported2
Fires reported1
Injuries reported2

Most common 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5 problems

  1. Traction Control System

    37 complaints · 35%

    Half of these problems showed up before 88,000 miles.

    Turning right into driveway my car began to shake with a loud grinding sound. Let off gas, noise ceased, applied gas gently and the vehicle proceeded as normal. This has happened several times since. It only seems to occur during a right turn at a very low speed. The vsc and trac lights each come on when this occurs.…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 88,125 miles
    The vsc trac and trac off lights come on sometimes with the brake light sometimes not. I was told it is a safety issue and it would be 2,800 dollars to replace the ebs system or something. I hear this is a very common occurrence in the 2003 Toyota sequoia's.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 89,000 miles

  2. Stability control

    35 complaints · 33%

    Half of these problems showed up before 96,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic (asc).

    2003 Toyota sequoia - the vsc, trac and brake light all illuminated with a grinding sound coming from under the car. The car shuddered to a stop during acceleration. Barely avoided an accident by quickly pulling the car over. Just checked with Toyota and my car is not included in the recall for this identical problem.…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 96,000 miles
    There were no particular events leading up to the failure of our Toyota sequoia 's 'yaw sensor'. The car was being driven in normal conditions when the vcs and ABS warning lights came on and the vehicle seemed to shake/shift when this happened. Fortunately, there was no injury or incident other than needing to take…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 94,000 miles

  3. Speed control

    29 complaints · 27%

    Half of these problems showed up before 98,500 miles.

    2003 Toyota sequoia - the vsc, trac and brake light all illuminated with a grinding sound coming from under the car. The car shuddered to a stop during acceleration. Barely avoided an accident by quickly pulling the car over. Just checked with Toyota and my car is not included in the recall for this identical problem.…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2010, at 96,000 miles
    The vsc and trac lights started coming after a clucking sound heard from underneath the car followed by a loss of power. After turning the car off and back on again it goes away. But it comes back intermittently. The problem needs to be fixed. I am concerned about the safety of my family as we will need to go on a…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 101,000 miles

  4. Brakes

    24 complaints · 22%

    Half of these problems showed up before 110,000 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.

    This occurred approximately april 2010, upon receiving a recall notice from Toyota on brakes, I took the vehicle into the Toyota dealership. They fixed the recall notice and I ended up having to pay for a test to find out what was causing the vsc light to come on. The dealership said that there was nothing that they…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 110,000 miles
    The vsc and trac lights started coming after a clucking sound heard from underneath the car followed by a loss of power. After turning the car off and back on again it goes away. But it comes back intermittently. The problem needs to be fixed. I am concerned about the safety of my family as we will need to go on a…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2014, at 101,000 miles

  5. Electrical

    9 complaints · 8%

    Half of these problems showed up before 110,000 miles.

    In december 2010 we took our Toyota sequoia 2003 to fix the defects mentioned in the ea09006 NHTSA action number vicksburg Toyota dealership in vicksburg, ms. At the moment the dealership informed US that the ecu could not reflash. However, the ecu was not replaced as specified in the recall. A week ago, once again…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 110,000 miles
    In december 2010 we took our Toyota sequoia 2003 to fix the defects mentioned in the ea09006 NHTSA action number vicksburg Toyota dealership in vicksburg, ms. At the moment the dealership informed US that the ecu could not reflash. However, the ecu was not replaced as specified in the recall. A week ago, once again…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 110,000 miles

  6. Body and structure

    9 complaints · 8%

    Half of these problems showed up before 130,000 miles. Parts named most often: frame and members, body.

    My 2003 Toyota sequoia is experiencing heavy frame rust, to the point of being a safety concern for the integrity of the frame and undercarriage. I am filing this complaint that it is my understanding the sequoia and tundra frames are identical and built by the same factory. The same model year Toyota tundra's have…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 140,000 miles
    I noticed oil leaking from rear axle housing. When I took the vehicle in for service I was told that the axle housing is leaking due to defective welds and must be replaced, it cannot be repaired. At the same time I was also told that the vehicle frame has rotted from the inside out due to defective or inadequate…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 114,499 miles

  7. Engine

    5 complaints · 5%

    Half of these problems showed up before 114,500 miles.

    I noticed oil leaking from rear axle housing. When I took the vehicle in for service I was told that the axle housing is leaking due to defective welds and must be replaced, it cannot be repaired. At the same time I was also told that the vehicle frame has rotted from the inside out due to defective or inadequate…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 114,499 miles
    Tl contact owns a 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5. The contact stated that when trying to accelerate, the vehicle would not go to higher speeds and would decelerate independently. The acceleration would re-engage after several minutes. The vehicle was later taken to a dealer where they advised him that the vehicle was…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 116,000 miles

  8. Transmission

    5 complaints · 5%

    Half of these problems showed up before 114,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.

    Rear differential rotted to the point of leaking. I have seen many reports of this online, Toyota tundras as well, which have the same differential and frame, are under recall.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2012, at 114,499 miles
    In december 2010 we took our Toyota sequoia 2003 to fix the defects mentioned in the ea09006 NHTSA action number vicksburg Toyota dealership in vicksburg, ms. At the moment the dealership informed US that the ecu could not reflash. However, the ecu was not replaced as specified in the recall. A week ago, once again…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2011, at 110,000 miles

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5 recalls

NHTSA lists no recalls for this model year.

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.

Questions about the 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5?
By NHTSA owner complaints: traction Control System (37 complaints, typically around 88,000 miles); stability control (35 complaints, typically around 96,000 miles); speed control (29 complaints, typically around 98,500 miles).
How many recalls does the 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls in case one is issued later.
Is the 2003 a bad year for the Toyota Sequoia SR5?
It is the most complained-about Sequoia SR5 model year since 2000, with 107 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.

Other Toyota Sequoia SR5 years

Toyota Sequoia SR5 problems by year