2002 Toyota Sequoia Complaint Log

I HAVE OWNED MY SEQUOIA FOR YEARS AND THE APPROXIMATE MILEAGE IS AROUND 122,000 MILES. I PURCHASED IT BRAND NEW AND THE FIRST TIME I HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL WAS AROUND 2005. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED TO THEM WHAT HAPPENED. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND MY SPEED WAS AROUND 40 MILES PER HOUR. THE WEATHER WAS SUNNY AND THE ROADS WERE DRY. I RAN ACROSS A ROUGH PATCH IN THE ROAD AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WHEELS LOCKED UP, THERE WAS THIS AWFUL SCREECHING SOUND, AND THE STEERING BECAME HARD. IT WAS LIKE I HAD NO CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE. NEXT THING I KNEW, THE SKID TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS WERE ON. AFTER I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTED IT, IT LOOKS LIKE IT HAD RESET ITSELF. OF COURSE, THE DEALERSHIP COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. THIS HAS OCCURRED AGAIN THROUGH THE YEARS AND EACH TIME I TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE, I COMPLAIN ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. TODAY I HAVE IT IN FOR SERVICE AGAIN AND MENTIONED IT YET AGAIN. I ASKED IF THEY COULD JUST DISCONNECT THE SKID TRACTION CONTROL BECAUSE I HAVE COME CLOSE SEVERAL TIMES TO LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE MANAGER EXPLAINED TO ME THEY COULD NOT DISCONNECT IT. WELL, THE WAY I FIGURE IT, TOYOTA WILL WAIT UNTIL AFTER SOMEONE IS KILLED OR BADLY INJURED AND THEY ARE SUED BEFORE THEY WILL DO ANYTHING. I HAVE CONTACTED TOYOTA AMERICA TO NO AVAIL AS WELL AS THE NTSB. *TR

WE HAVE A 2002 SEQUOIA, NOT LONG AFTER WE BOUGHT IT THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHT STARTED COMING ON, AND THE BOOSTER ASSY WAS REPLACED BY OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER. WE HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE BRAKES OR PARTS OF THE BRAKES THREE TIMES, 8/21/02, 3/11/03, AND 5/3/03, COSTING SOME WHERE CLOSE TO $1000.00. ON JUNE 6TH, I TOOK THE SEQUOIA INTO TOYOTA FOR A SERVICE CHECK AND WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. 3 WEEKS LATER WE FELT THAT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE BRAKES AGAIN, AND CALLED TOYOTA MOTOR CORP. THEY NOTIFIED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP, AND THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED FOR FREE. NOW TODAY MY VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHT STARTED COMING ON AGAIN.*AK

I OWN A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA AND HAVE HAD THREE INSTANCES OF THE BACK HATCH LATCH ASSEMBLY BREAKING AND BECOMING UNLATCHED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. THE LATCH ASSEMBLY BECAME UNLATCHED AFTER THE REAR WINDOW WAS ROLLED DOWN. IN EACH CASE THE REAR HATCH WOULD NOT RELATCH AND TO BE TIED SHUT. THE LATCH ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED BY A DEALER IN ORDER TO RESTORE THE HATCH TO OPERATION IN EACH CASE. DURING THE THIRD REPLACEMENT OF THE REAR HATCH LATCH ASSEMBLY THE DEALER TECHNICIAN NOTICED THAT THE LATCH OPERATING CABLE HARNESS WAS ROUTED INCORRECTLY INSIDE THE REAR HATCH WHICH IS WHY THE REAR WINDOW WAS PUTTING STRESS ON IT AND DAMAGING THE LATCH ASSEMBLY. THE LATCH BROKE TWICE IN 08/2002, AND AGAIN IN 06/2005. *NM

WHEN DRIVING AT 35 TO 40 MPH OR MORE AND BRAKES ARE APPLIED A VERY STRONG VIBRATION WILL SHAKE THE HOLE VEHICLE EVEN AT CURVES. THIS REPRESENTS A STRONG SAFETY HAZARD. THIS VIBRATION IS NOT NORMAL, DEALER REPLACED FRONT DISK PADS AND REPAIRED THE DISKS BUT CONSIDERING THE LOW MILLAGE ITS HARD TO BELIVE PADS WHERE WORN OUT. I THINK SOMETHING IS NOT WRIGHT. I MADE SOME RESEARCH IN THIS SITES AND FOUND OTHER CUSTOMERS WITH SAME OR SIMILAR SITUATION WITH THE TOYOTA PICK UP V8 (TUNDRA) -.*AK

SEVERE REAR CAVITATION WHEN REAR WINDOWS OPEN.TOYOTA IS AWARE.CAN'T BE REPAIRED. *AK

1) I PURCHASED A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA IN NOV 2001. THE SUMMER OF 2002, THE AC HAD MALFUNCTIONED AND I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. SUMMER OF 2003, THE AC HAD MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN AND I BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE SUBSEQUENT SUMMERS 2004, 2005 AND 2006, I HAVE BEEN WITHOUT A PROPERLY FUNCTIONING AC SYSTEM BECAUSE I REFUSE TO PAY $2300-$3000 FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BREAK EVERY YEAR! 2) THE AC SYSTEM WORKS MARGINALLY IF THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS BELOW 80 DEGREES AND NOT HUMID. I CANNOT DEFOG MY WINDOW WHEN IT IS RAINING DURING HOT MONTHS. THIS POSES A SAFETY THREAT TO ME AND OTHERS ON THE ROAD. I CANNOT TRANSPORT KIDS OR ELDERLY IN MY VEHICLE DURING HOT MONTHS FOR FEAR OF HEAT EXHAUSTION (OR WORSE) OF MY PASSENGERS. 3) THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR TWO YEARS (DURING WARRANTY PERIOD) FOR AC REPAIR. I REFUSE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BREAK EVERY YEAR. I HAVE A 1995 CAMRY THAT HAS AN AC SYSTEM THAT STILL WORKS. *JB

DRIVESHAFT WAS DEFECTIVE. AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP IF FELT AS IF CONSUMER HAD BEEN REAR ENDED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED SEVENTEEN TIMES, AND THE DEALER STATED IT WAS NORMAL.*AK THERE IS ALSO A THUMPING NOISE AND VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD ASSOCIATED WITH A HARD START CONDITION. BRAKES GRAB AT TIMES. REAR SPEAKERS INOPERATIVE 3RD ROW. SUNROOF RATTLE. WATER INSIDE MARKER LIGHT COVERS WHEN RAINING. RUBBNG NOISE FROM REAR WHEELS. CENTER WHEEL CAP WAS TIGHTENED. *TT *TC

VEHICLE DRIFTS SUDDENLY TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. STEERING WHEEL DOES NOT PULL TO EITHER SIDE BUT REQUIRES CORRECTIVE MOVEMENT TO STRAIGHTEN VEHICLE'S PATH. THIS CONDITION IS MORE SEVERE ON A WINDY DAY OR WHEN PASSING A TRUCK OR BUS OR LARGER VEHICLE. POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS CONDITION. TWO NEW SEQUOIA SUV'S WERE PURCHASED AT THE SAME TIME. THE SEQUOIA WITH THE STEERING AND HANDLING PROBLEM CAME WITH MICHELIN TIRES. THE OTHER SEQUOIA CAME WITH BRIDGESTONE TIRES AND DOES NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM.*AK

I NOTED TODAY THE RECALL OF 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA'S DUE TO ISSUES WITH THE VSC SYSTEM. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE 2002 MODELS AS I HAVE HAD RECURRING ISSUES WITH THE VSC SINCE DAY 1. AT LOW SPEED, PARTICULARLY ON GRADES OR WHILE MAKING SHARP TURNS, THE VSC WILL CAUSE MY VEHICLE TO TEMPORARILY LOSE POWER. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ON SEVERAL OCCASION BOTH TO TOYOTA AND VIA TELEPHONE. IT IS SO BAD THAT I NOW KNOW LOCATIONS ON MY REGULAR DRIVES DURING WHICH THIS WILL OCCUR. SO, I EITHER GO A LITTLE FASTER THAN I MIGHT OTHERWISE ON GRADES OR I SWERVE OUT BEFORE MAKING TURNS TO MAKE THE ANGLE LESS ACUTE. OBVIOUSLY, NOT THE SAFETY WE'D EXPECT IN A $40K VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE ALSO OCCURS GOING OVER SLIGHTLY JARRING BUMPS SUCH AS STEEP SPEEDBUMPS OR POTHOLES. THE VEHICLE TEMPORARILY LOSES POWER, WHICH IN THIS CASE CAN BE POSSIBLY EVEN MORE DANGEROUS BECAUSE WE ARE OFTEN BEING FOLLOWED BY OTHER VEHICLES TRAVELING AT NORMAL SPEED. *TR

TRANSMISSION FAILURE AT 108,000 MILES. FROM WHAT I AM READING, THERE ARE A LOT OF TRANSMISSION FAILURES ON THE 2002 SEQUOIA AROUND THIS MILEAGE. IS THIS ACCEPTABLE? *TR

CONSUMER STATES THAT VEHICLE IS BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VSC SINCE THE PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE.DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. NLM

WE OWN A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA IN WHICH THE VSC TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS HAVE COME ON THE DASH ALONG WITH THE BRAKE LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE TRACTION CONTROL HAS BEEN UNPREDICTABLE SEEMINGLY COMING ON AND OFF IN CONDITIONS WHEN NOT NECESSARILY NEEDED. THIS HAS ONLY BEEN A PROBLEM WITHIN THE LAST TWO/THREE MONTHS. HAVE TAKEN IT IN TO THE DEALERSHIP THREE TIMES NOW AND THE CODE FROM THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SAYS THAT ITS AN 02 SENSOR. I HAVE BEEN REASSURED BY THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT THAT REPLACING THE 02 SENSOR WILL ALSO RESET AND EXTINGUISH THE VSC TRAC AND BRAKE LIGHTS THAT COME ON. THIS HAS NOT BEEN THE CASE. THE LIGHTS STAY OFF UNTIL I GET THE VEHICLE ALMOST HOME THEN ALL THE LIGHTS COME BACK ON AGAIN, THE TRACTION CONTROL REMAINS UNPREDICTABLE. I HAVE LISTENED TO THE DEALERSHIP LONG ENOUGH AND HAVE SPENT APPROXIMATELY $800.00 AND STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. I HAVE EXPRESSED MY DISBELIEF ON HOW REPLACING 02 SENSOR ( TWICE NOW) CAN FIX A PROBLEM WITH THE VSC TRACTION CONTROL BUT THEY HAVE INFORMED ME THAT IT TAKES CARE OF IT. IT OBVIOUSLY HASN'T. THEY NOW WANT ME TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK IN. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS PROBLEM WITH THE 2002-2004 SEQUOIA'S. THE PROBLEM BEING WITH THE VSC TRACTION CONTROL. I AM SURE THAT IF I BRING IT BACK NOW THEY WILL TELL ME THAT IT NEEDS A NEW TRACTION CONTROL COMPUTER TO THE TUNE OF $1700-$2400 AND FROM READING WHAT OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. NO ONE HAS BEEN ABLE TO REALLY FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM AND HOW TO FIX IT. I AM NORMALLY NOT A COMPLAINER AS I REALIZE ALL MECHANICAL PARTS WEAR OUT. HOWEVER WHEN RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I WAS SHOCKED TO FIND THE NUMBER OF SEQUOIA OWNERS WHO WERE ABLE TO DESCRIBE IN DETAIL THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM I AM HAVING. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A BIG ENOUGH DEFECT TO REQUIRE A RECALL. *TR

2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. CONSUMER STATES FAILED VEHICLE SKID CONTROL AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED A RECALL WAS ISSUED FOR THE 2003 MODEL MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 1, 2002 THROUGH APRIL 17, 2003. THE CONSUMER STATED HIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED IN JULY 2002 AND IT ALSO HAS THE SAME PART NUMBER AS THE 2003 MODEL. THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE INTO TRAFFIC FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE WOULD START TO MOVE, THEN IT WOULD SUDDENLY STOP ACCELERATING WHICH LEFT HIM IN TRAFFIC AT 10-15 MPH, THEN A SERIES OF LOUD NOISES EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE VEHICLE WOULD ACCELERATE AGAIN. THE CONSUMER STATED IT WOULD HAPPEN EVERY TIME HE CAME TO A STOP AND SUBSEQUENT ATTEMPT TO ACCELERATE AGAIN. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE VSC AND ABS LIGHTS ON THE DASH INDICATED THE SYSTEMS WERE OFF. IN TURN, THE VEHICLE WOULD JUST HAVE TRADITIONAL BRAKES WITHOUT THE SAFETY OF THE ABS AND VSC. WHICH WAS VERY EVIDENT DURING A RAINY DAY WHILE BRAKING, BECAUSE THE REAR END OF THE TRUCK WENT INTO A SKID SIDE WAYS. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL LIGHTS ACTIVATE AND MOST OF THE ENGINE POWER IS INSTANTANEOUSLY CUT, USUALLY ENGINE POWER IS NOT RESTORED UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED MOVING, WHEN THIS MALFUNCTION OCCURS ON THE FREEWAY, IT CAUSES THE DRIVER TO LOSE THE ABILITY TO MAINTAIN A SPEED CONSISTENT WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC AND A VERY HAZARDOUS SPEED DIFFERENTIAL OCCURS.*JB

A ROTTEN EGG SMELL COMES THROUGH THE A/C VENTS WHEN ACCELERATING TO MERGE OR WHEN GOING UP A STEEL HILL THAT REQUIRES ACCELERATING. WHEN DRIVING ON LONG TRIP THIS PROBLEM HAS CAUSED THE CONSUMER TO SUFFER FROM SEVERE HEADACHES. *NLM