There are 29 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 2001 Toyota Sequoiain NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Rear axle is rusted to the point where differential fluid is leaking out of the body. There is extreme rust in general which has led to the failure of multiple components such as the oil pressure sending unit. Check engine light is on. This hasn't been verified by a shop or agency, only by me. These issues were discovered shortly after purchase this year.
WHEN OPERATING AT SPEED, THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY SHUTTER BRIEFLY, AND PULL TO RIGHT. SEEMINGLY A WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONTROL OF STEERING IS LOST. VSC LIGHT COMES ON, AND CANNOT BE REST UNTIL RESTATING THE ENGINE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRACTION WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND A CHIME SOUNDED AS THE SKID CONTROL SYSTEM ENGAGED WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THERE WAS ALSO AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE AS THE STEERING WHEEL VEERED TO THE RIGHT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SLOW DOWN UNTIL THE VEHICLE'S SKID CONTROL SYSTEM DISENGAGED WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC STOP AND WHEN THE ACCELERATOR WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE AND VEHICLE STALLED WITH THE BATTERY WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE WAS SPORADICALLY RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
ON FREEWAY CRUISING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS WITH NO WARNING AT ALL, LOSS OF POWER AND UNABLE TO ENGAGE GEARS. IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP MECHANIC SAYS IT IS THE PLANETARY GEARS IN TRANSMISSION AND WILL REQUIRE A REBUILD. COST $3500. *TR
I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. I GOT MY SEQUOIA BRAND NEW AND NOW HAS OVER 88,000 MILES. MY SEQUOIA BEGAN TO GIVE ME TROUBLE ABOUT THREE MONTHS AGO EVERYTIME I TRIED TO PUT IT INTO GEAR. THE GEAR FELT TIGHT ALMOST DIFFICULT TO PUT INTO GEAR. ON A RECENT TRIP TO SAN FRANCISCO, I BEGAN TO ALSO NOTICE A "BUZZING" SOUND ON THE GAS PEDAL. AS I WAS DRIVING UP THE GRAPEVINE ON INTERSTATE 5, MY TRANSMISSION "POPPED" AND I HAD NO POWER. IT TURNS OUT THAT THE DRIVE PIN BROKE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION AND CAUSED MAJOR DAMAGED TO THE TRANSMISSION. AT THE TIME THIS HAPPENED MY WIFE AND TWO YOUNG KIDS WERE WITH ME. WE WERE EXTREMELY LUCKY WE DID NOT GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS MAJOR BREAKDOWN. I HAVE COME TO RELY ON MY VEHICLE AND HAVE BEEN REALLY GOOD AT KEEPING IT TUNED AND GETTING THE REQUIRED SERVICES TO KEEP MY CAR IN SHAPE. MY CONCERN IS, HAS THIS HAPPENED TO ANYONE ELSE WHO OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA? IF NOT, CAN IT HAPPEN AGAIN? THANKS NHTSA.
2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM REGARDING TOYOTA PROBLEMS *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT COMPLETELY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *JB
S10 APPROPRIATE HANDLING- LETTER FROM REGARDING TOYOTA PROBLEMS *TGW 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE, THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY AND COMPLETELY FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. *JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE AT A STOP SIGN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. HE PLACED THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THERE WAS TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE ESTIMATED COST FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION WAS $6,000. THE VEHICLE WILL BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 206,816.
2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA- 48K MILES..VEHICLES TRACTION CONTROL AND VSC LIGHTS COME ON SHORTLY AFTER DRIVING THE CAR. JUST BEFORE THE LIGHTS COME ON, THE CAR SHAKES AND MAKES A GRINDING NOISE, PULLS TO THE RIGHT, AND LOSES POWER. THIS OCCURS EVERY TIME YOU DRIVE THE CAR. ANYWHERE FROM 1MIN TO 15MIN FROM THE START OF DRIVING. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS ONCE THE VEHICLE IS UP TO SPEED, WE HAVE ALMOST GOTTEN IN TO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE CAR PULLED SO VIOLENTLY AND DIDN'T HAVE POWER. THE CAR WILL SHAKE AND PULL AND THE ONLY WAY WE'VE GOTTEN IT TO STOP IS BY STEPPING ON THE BRAKE AND REDUCING SPEED (LESS THAN 30 MPH). AFTER WE REDUCE THE SPEED, THE TRAC AND VSC LIGHTS COME ON AND THE CAR IS DRIVABLE UNTIL YOU CYCLE THE IGNITION. IT'S PRETTY SCARY. MY FATHER-IN-LAW TOOK THE CAR TO A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEIR DIAGNOSIS IS SKID CONTROL ECU FAULTY, MUST REPLACE. DTC CODES C1363 AND C1234. THE COST THEY QUOTED HIM WAS $2415.99 + $200 LABOR. WE HAVEN'T DECIDED TO PURCHASE THE NEW ECU BECAUSE WE FEEL ITS SOMETHING THAT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY OR SHOULD BE A TSB. I'VE SINCE SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT OTHER SEQUOIA OWNERS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND TOYOTA'S RESPONSE IS TO JUST REPLACE THE ECU. SOME OF THEM EVEN GOT INTO ACCIDENTS DUE TO THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER AND SHAKING. *TR
2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA TRANSMISSION FAILURE, OVERDRIVE DISINTEGRATED. *TR
DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD STARTING HEARING WEIRD NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE ARE. I MADE IT HOME AND NEXT DAY I WAS DRIVING TRIED TO ACELERATE AND IT WOULDN'T . ENGINE KEPT RUNNING BUT IT WOULD NOT MOVE HAD TRUCK TOWED HOME(62 MILES) CAR IS A 2001 WITH 118000 MILES NEVER WOULD THINK THIS WOULD HAPPEN TO TOYOTA..PLS HELP. *TR
WHILE DRIVING 40MPH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION OVERDRIVE DID NOT ENGAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY THE TOYOTA DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHO DETERMINED THE OVERDRIVE WAS DEFECTIVE AND THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT. I SHOULD OF LOOKED IN THIS WEBSITE BEFORE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE PLEASE HAVE TOYOTA RECALL THIS DEFECT AND REPAIR OUR VEHICLES. I LOVE THE CAR, I HATE THIS COSTLY PROBLEM. TOYOTA SHOULD MAINTAIN US FAITHFUL IN THEIR QUALITY AND HONESTY BY REPAIRING OUR VEHICLE BEING IT WAS FIRST GENERATION. *TR
TRANSMISSION FAILING AND HAVE NOTICED NUMEROUS OTHER COMPLAINTS ON SAME MODEL VEHICLE. MANUFACTURER APPARENTLY HAS DONE NOTHING TO ASSIST THE CONSUMER WITH THE COST TO REPLACE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE REAR AXLE SEAL WAS LEAKING. HE WAS CONCERNED THAT IT COULD LEAK ON THE BRAKE ROTORS. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPAIR THE FAILURE FOR FREE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE SAME FAILURE IN 2004. HOWEVER, SINCE THERE IS AN UPDATED SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THE FAILURE, HE FEELS HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR AGAIN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 84,000.
IN 2007, I WAS DRIVING MY TOYOTA SEQUOIA TO WORK AND IT STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY. I TOOK IT TO A SHOP THEY TOLD ME THAT MY TRANSMISSION FAIL AND IT COST ME $3500.00. I CALLED TOYOTA FOR SOME ASSISTANCE THEY DID NOT EVEN CARE ABOUT. *TR
OWNER OF 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WHO'S TRANSMIISION HAS FAILED AND REQUIRES NEW TRANSMISSION. MANY POSTINGS ON INTERENT WITH THE SAME ISSSUE OF FAILURE DUE TO SO CALLED OVERDRIVE PLANETARY GEAR DEFECT. SHOULD BE A NATIONAL RECALL.
THE THROTTLE BODY SENSOR FAILED NUMEROUS TIMES CAUSING MY FAMILY TO LOSE ALL ACCELERATION ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY. I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY AND GET A TOW TO THE TOYOTA DEALER (DAVID MAUS) AND THEY THOUGHT INITIALLY THAT THE WHOLE THROTTLE BODY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ($2000+) BUT AFTER THE MECHANIC CLEANED THE SENSOR IT RESOLVED THE ISSUE THUS FAR, ITS BEEN THREE MONTHS WITHOUT RECURRENCE. I WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THIS IS A CHEAP FIX AS I BELIEVE OTHERS NOTED HERE THAT THE DEALERSHIP ONLY OFFERED REPLACEMENT AS A SOLUTION. I DID HAVE A SECOND QUOTE DONE ELSEWHERE JUST TO BE SURE AND THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE WHOLE THROTTLE BODY AS WELL WITHOUT TRYING AN ALTERNATIVE. BE CAREFUL OUT THERE AND GET A SECOND OPINION. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING 25-70 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARS A NOISE COMING FROM THE VSE AND THE TRACK OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DECELERATES AS A RESULT OF THIS INTERMITTENT FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE COULD POSSIBLY BE THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR, BUT THERE WAS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE FAILURE WOULD GO AWAY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 84,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 65,000.
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED WAS DRIVING AT 60 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WITH 110000 MILES ON VEHICLE WHEN HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. AT WHICH POINT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CHANGE GEARS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE CONTACT THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHERE THEY TOLD HIM ALL OF THE GEARS WERE DAMAGED*AK THE TECHNICIAN FOUND METAL SHAVING IN THE TRANSMISSION PAN. THE TRANSMISSION HAD SEVER INTERNAL FAILURE. UPDATED 01/19/07. *JB
Showing 1–20 of 29 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026