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2004 Toyota Sequoia Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 380 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Toyota Sequoia, most often about the stability control (27% of complaints, typically around 86,000 miles). It is 4th of 22 Sequoia model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2004 Toyota Sequoia problems
Stability control
101 complaints · 27%Half of these problems showed up before 86,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic (asc).
I have a 2004 Toyota Sequoia, the vsc off, vsc on, brake light goes on time after time. The brakes sometimes feel like they will not work. There are so many complaints on this issue, hopefully Toyota will do something about this. This problem can cause life injuries and even death. I have stayed dedicated to Toyota…
I was traversing a driveway covered with about 6 inches of snow. The drive slopped slightly to the right. My speed was less than 10mph. Suddenly the Sequoia started to slide sideways to the right. I stepped on the accelerator to regain control. The stability control activated and prevented any acceleration. I slid…
Brakes
93 complaints · 25%Half of these problems showed up before 84,500 miles. Parts named most often: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, power assist.
2004 Toyota Sequoia - 80,000 + miles I purchased the car new and have always maintained it well. Since new, the brake light would come on intermittently. Toyota could never find a problem. On 10/16/2009 the emergency brake exploded while I was driving. The car jerked but allowed me to continue. Once I parked the car…
We have 88,000 miles on our 2004 Toyota Sequoia and it is time to put on the 3rd set of front brakes on this car. If there a problem with the brake system?? Our sister in-law also has a Sequoia around the same mileage and has not replaced the brake ever.
Body and structure
77 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 135,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
The liftgate handle broke and was replaced with an original equipment plastic part. According to other's complaints, I expect it to happen again very soon. Then the handle stopped opening the liftgate altogether. I finally got the gate open and replaced the pull cable but it did no good. Once while driving, the gate…
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated while having the vehicle serviced at a dealer, the technician noticed excessive rust on the frame and suspension. The technician also stated that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The contact mentioned that the vehicle was included in a manufacturer's recall…
Speed control
53 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 92,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
Yes, we just purchased this used 04 Sequoia from a private party seller and everything was fine the first month we drove it then the vsc light and the trac off light came on. Now the check engine light is on and we had it tested at autozone for free. The testing showed a bad o2 sensor. The car still drives fine its…
Vsc/trac off lights illuminated on 2004 Toyota Sequoia. Problem occurred while driving in rainy conditions on I-10. Lights have remained illuminated despite 2 computer resets. According to multiple internet chat rooms, this is a common problem on the '03 and '04 Sequoia. The most common fixes have been to replace the…
Suspension
47 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 118,000 miles. Parts named most often: front, rear.
My 2003 Toyota Sequoia has 2 lights that come on when I drive (the vsc and trac off). Sometimes it comes on immediately after I start the car, other times it comes on after driving for about a minute. The Toyota dealership diagnosed it as needing a new skid control ecu. They told me that this computer controls the ABS…
I have a 2004 Toyota Sequoia that had the right rear wheel bearings replaced last week at my Toyota dealership. Now the engine light is staying on as well as the vhs trac and trac off indicator lights. The car jerks when accelerating. This problem has been intermittent for two months but is now all the time.
Electrical
34 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 73,500 miles. Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel, horn.
I have a 2004 Toyota Sequoia VIN number []. On 6/15/10 I experienced loss of vehicle control related to the vehicle stabilization and braking system computer. Three lights lit up on the dash (vsc, trac, and brake) and then upon braking there was a grab release sensation that I was unable to control. I was driving…
I have a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. The vsc, trac and emergency brake lights come on. If I turn the car off and then turn it back on then the lights will go off. This has been going on for one week now. I took it to the dealer and they want $2100 to fix the computer. Apparently, this is a widespread problem with the Toyota…
Traction Control System
31 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 78,500 miles.
2004 Toyota Sequoia occasionally the brake light and vsc (vehicle stability control) lights come on. When this happens the ABS system physically malfunctions and the vehicle becomes a hazard. When taken to the Toyota dealer the dealer said the issue is a skid control computer which is coupled with the engine control…
2004 Sequoia 77k miles / vsc off / vsc trac / ABS lights on all at once. Issue has been associated with a check engine light since new purchase in aug 2004, most of the time the issue was resolved after loosen the gas cap and filling up the gas tank which usually cured my issue. Each time I had the vsc off and vsc…
Other or unspecified
28 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 173,000 miles.
Upon exiting the freeway I was on a right-turning off-ramp when I heard beeping and a crunching noise coming from the front end. It sounded as if something was seriously wrong with the vehicle. Once I was off the freeway, I pulled over and the warning lights had gone off. It has happened a few times since then…
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. While driving at an unknown speed, the steering wheel began to shake violently. There were no warning indicators illuminated before the failure. The vehicle was driven to the contact's home where she noticed that the frame was rusted. The dealer (elgin Toyota, 1600 w lake st…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Toyota Sequoia recalls
Air bags: inflator module
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.
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags: inflator module
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
Full defect summary
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.
Air bags
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.
Full defect summary
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 ins
Air bags
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 recacl
Full defect summary
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 necessit
Suspension: lower ball joint
Risk: In extreme cases, if the vehicle is continuously operated in this condition, the lower ball joint may separate from the knuckle and could cause a loss of vehicle control.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints. The recall began on february 28, 2007. Owners may contact toyota at 1-800-331-4331.
Full defect summary
On certain trucks and mini vans, due to possible improper finishing of the front suspension lower ball joint, some ball joints may experience an incidental deterioration of the internal lubrication. This may cause the ball joint to wear and loosen prematurely, which could result in increased steering effort, reduced vehicle self-centering, and noise in the front suspension.
Suspension: lower ball joint
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.
Full defect summary
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.
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.
NHTSA defect investigations
Desiccated air bag inflator rupture
Summary
From 2000 through 2017, takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("psan") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004l. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 blomquist report at www.NHTSA.gov/sites/NHTSA.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substa
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe14-016 in june 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.all six vehicles were operated in florida or puerto rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.during the course of pe14-016, odi determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Air bag inflator rupture
Summary
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe14-016 in june 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.all six vehicles were operated in florida or puerto rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag systems.during the course of pe14-016, odi determined that five additional vehicle manufacturers used inflators of a similar design and vintage also supplied by takata. No evidence of field failures was found in vehicles produced by these five additional manufacturers.nonetheless, at odi's in
Lower ball joint failure
Summary
In a letter dated january 18, 2007, toyota notified NHTSA of a safety defect in model year (my) 2004 through 2006 toyota tundra and my 2004 through 2007 toyota sequoia vehicles produced between september 15, 2003 and november 17, 2006 (NHTSA recall no. 07v-013). According to toyota, ?in the front suspension lower ball joint on the subject vehicles, due to possible improper finishing of the ball joint, such as the aspect of the ball stud surface, some ball joints may experience an incidental deterioration of the internal lubrication. This may cause the ball joint to wear and loosen prematurely, which could result in increased steering effort, reduced vehicle self-centering, and noise in the f
Questions about the 2004 Toyota Sequoia
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Toyota Sequoia?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: stability control (101 complaints, typically around 86,000 miles); brakes (93 complaints, typically around 84,500 miles); body and structure (77 complaints, typically around 135,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Toyota Sequoia have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from October 17, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Toyota Sequoia?
- It is 4th of 22 Sequoia model years by number of complaints, with 380 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.