2003 Toyota Sequoia Electrical System Problems

The contact owns a 2003 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated while parking the vehicle, the contact noticed smoke coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact stated while depressing the brake pedal, he felt the vehicle made a sudden stop. The contact checked under the hood and noticed that the VSC box was melting. The contact disconnected the battery to the vehicle and the smoke stopped. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 200,000.

TWO MONTHS AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS BECAME ILLUMINATED, NO OTHER SYMPTOMS. STAYED ON FOR 2 DAYS THEN DISAPPEARED AGAIN. TWO MONTHS LATER THE BRAKE LIGHT HAD BECOME ILLUMINATED, PUT IT IN PARK TO LOAD PASSENGERS, AND WHEN RETURNED TO DRIVE, THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS WERE ILLUMINATED AND A GRINDING SOUND WAS HEARD WHEN APPLYING BRAKES - ALONG WITH THE VEHICLE PULLING TO THE RIGHT. TURNED THE CAR OFF, CHECKED FLUIDS AND FUSES, WHEN RESTARTED ONLY BRAKE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND CAR APPEARED TO BE DRIVING NORMALLY. TOOK IT IN TO TOYOTA TODAY TO HAVE THE PROBLEM CHECKED OUT AS THE BRAKE LIGHT IS STILL ON, AND THE GRINDING NOISE WAS A CONCERN - AND AM TOLD THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. IN ALL MY RESEARCH ON THIS, I'M VERY CONCERNED AS IT APPEARS TO BE QUITE A COMMON PROBLEM, AND ON A SEARCH OF MY VIN IT SAYS THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED BY THE RECALL (ALTHOUGH I WAS TOLD AT THE DEALER THAT MY ECU WAS 'FLASHED TO THE UPDATED PROGRAMMING') CURRENT COST QUOTED IS $1,508 - BUT WAS ALSO TOLD THAT ONCE THE BOOSTER IS INSTALLED THEY HAVE TO RE-RUN THEIR CHECK AND IT MAY NOT BE THE ONLY PROBLEM. THIS IS VERY DISAPPOINTING AS WE OWN 2 OTHER TOYOTAS, AND PURCHASED THIS CAR AS A DAILY DRIVER TO TAKE OUR CHILDREN TO SCHOOL, EVERYTHING I'VE SEEN REGARDING THESE ISSUES LEAVES ME VERY CONCERNED FOR THEIR SAFETY.

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 55 MPH, THE ABS,TRACK CONTROL SENSOR LIGHTS CAME ON AND SUDDENLY THE ACCELERATION STOPS I PRESS THE PEDAL TO ACCELERATE AND THERE WAS NO RESPONSE I COULD NOT ACCELERATE SO I TURN MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON, AND ACCELERATE AGAIN AND THIS TIME IT WORKED. BUT IT'S BEEN DOING THAT ON EVERYDAY BASIS THE MECHANIC SAID IS THE VEHICLES COMPUTER, IS THERE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM? CAN SOMEONE HELP? *TR

I AM EXPERIENCING THE SAME VSC PROBLEMS AS I READ IN THE OTHER COMPLAINTS, ALONG WITH OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES. RANDOMLY (OR SO IT SEEMS) THE VSC, BRAKE LIGHTS, DRIVE LIGHT AND OTHERS WILL GO ON AND OFF. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW AND EVERY TIME I GO TO TAKE IT IN FOR SERVICE, THEY AREN'T ON AND THEY "CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG." *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE ALARM HORN FAILED TO ACTIVATE WHEN DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 147,000.

UPON NORMAL DRIVING THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE ACCURATELY AND QUICKLY ENOUGH AFTER MAKING A LEFT TURN. THE VEHICLE WOULD ALSO RANDOMLY ILLUMINATE 3 INDICATOR LIGHTS WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL IS DEPRESSED. THE 3 INDICATORS ARE BRAKE, TRAC OFF, VSC OFF. BEFORE THESE LIGHTS ILLUMINATE THE VEHICLE'S BRAKE PEDAL WOULD BECOME VERY HARD TO PRESS CAUSING THE BRAKE PEDAL TO REQUIRE MUCH MORE FORCE APPLIED TO IT THUS CAUSING A DECREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH IS A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *TR

WIRE THAT GOES INTO WIRING CONNECTION TO A/C FAN MOTOR IS ON SIDE NEAR BOTTOM OF MOTOR AND IS EXPOSED TO EXCESS WEAR WHEN FEET ARE PLACED IN FOOT WELL AS TOE-END OF SHOES CAN CONTACT/WEAR AGAINST THE WIRES. THE WIRING ALSO HAS TO GO THROUGH A SHARP 180 DEGREE TURN TO ENTER CONNECTION. INSULATION ON WIRING FAILED AND CONDUCTORS SHORTED, PARTIALLY MELTING THE CONNECTOR AND PRODUCE AN ACRID SMELL. FUSE DID NOT OPEN. WIRING AND/OR CONNECTOR MUST BE REPLACED. *TR

THE REAR WINDOW MOTOR AND WINDOW TRACKS HAVE RUSTED COMPLETELY. THE MOTOR HAS FAILED AND THE WINDOW TRACKS ARE COMPLETLY RUSTED AWAY. THE WINDOW IS NOT UNOPERABLE. THERE IS A SHORT IN THE O2 SENSOR WIRING UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THERE IS CURRENTLY A RECALL ON THE ABOVE VEHICLE REGARDING FRAME RUST. I BELIEVE THAT THE ABOVE COMPLAINTS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE RUST ISSUES THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS.

HI I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA SR5, AND THE VSC TRAC, VSC OFF AND CHECK ENGINE CAME ON ALL AT ONCE, TOOK IT TO AUTO PARTS STORE AND THEY RAN THE SCANNER IT SAID TO CHANGE THE O2 SENSOR, WHICH I DID AND NOTHING CHANGED, I HAVE READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN COMING UP QUIET A LOT IN THIS MODEL, CAN YOU TELL ME IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM, I WENT TO THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOT ANY RECALL RELATED TO THIS ISSUE. *TR

Can not get BSC, TRC engine lights off traction control kicks in and locks steering and brakes . Unsafe can not smog after spending thousands replacing parts

2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. (CEL) LIGHT ON. ALSO (TRAC OFF) LIGHT ON AS WELL AS (VSC TRAC) LIGHT ON. SOMETIMES BRAKE LIGHT AND ABS LIGHT STAY ON FOR DAYS . I HAD TRUCK IN SHOP 3 WKS AGO WITH THIS PROBLEM THEY SAID IT WAS OXYGEN SENSOR 2 (I BELIEVE) HAD IS REPLACED AND LIGHT WENT OFF. LIGHT IS BACK ON AGAIN 2 WEEKS LATER. CAR SPUTTERS WHEN ACCELERATING. DOESN'T FEEL SAFE TO DRIVE. ALSO 2 MONTHS PRIOR I HAD THE CAR IN FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. FLUIDS, FILTERS, TIRES ROTATED, ECT AS USUAL. *TR

THE VSC TRAC LIGHT HAS BEEN ON (SHOWING IT IS OFF), ALONG WITH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. OCCASIONALLY THE BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON TOO WHILE DRIVING. TODAY THE ABS LIGHT CAME ON. THE ONLY CODE THAT IS COMING UP IS FOR A WEAK O2 SENSOR. *TR

VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, BRAKE, ABS LIGHTS... ALL ON, ALL AT ONCE. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A QUALITY CONTROL ISSUE WITH THESE THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT WANT TO BE ON THE HOOK FOR. MANY OTHERS WENT TO THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY PROGRAM AND FILED A COMPLAINT. IF THEY GET ENOUGH OF THESE THEY WILL GO TO THE MANUFACTURER AND ISSUE A RECALL. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE SPEED CONTROL, VCS, TRACTION CONTROL, AND SAS WARNING INDICATORS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SEVERAL DEALERS, BUT NO FAILURE COULD BE FOUND. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A MALFUNCTION OF THE ECU TRACKING DEVICE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 10V176000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 224,000.

WE HAD INTERMITTENT OFF/ON OF INTERIOR LIGHTS WHILE DRIVING, BUT ONLY DURING LEFT TURNS. THERE WAS NO (IMPORTANT) "DOOR AJAR" ALERT WHICH NORMALLY WOULD PRESENT AS A RED ICON WARNING ON THE DASH, THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT. I WORKED AS A MECH. ENGINEER AND TESTED ALL DOORS FOR "PLAY", HOW TIGHT THE DOOR CLOSED. THE RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER DOOR WAS LOOSE. I OPENED THE DOOR, CHECKED IF THE SEATBELT WAS SHUT-IN WITH THE DOOR BUT ALL WAS NORMAL. I WIGGLED THE LATCH WHICH IS SCREWED IN BY 2 LARGE STAR/ALLEN SCREWS. THAT WAS IT, IT WAS VERY LOOSE, IT TOOK 5 TURNS TO TIGHTEN EACH ONE. I CHECKED THE OTHER DOORS, ALL WERE JUST FINE. THE DOOR WOULD HAVE OPENED IF THIS LATCH CAME ALL THE WAY OUT, EVEN BELTED IN, A PERSON COULD BE INJURED. *TR

I JUST BOUGHT THIS USED 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA ON MAY 25, 2012. I NOTICED THE WARNING LIGHTS INDICATING A DEFECTIVE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM AND ABS SYSTEM ON MY WAY HOME FROM THE DEALERSHIP. THEY ASSURED ME THE SYSTEM WORKS FINE AND THAT IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE COMPUTER MODULE. ALL THE FOLLOWING WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON AT THE SAME TIME: TRAC, VSC OFF, AND ABS LIGHTS. I ALSO CHECKED THE VEHICLE HISTORY ON THE TOYOTA WEBSITE AND IT IS RECORDED THAT THE TOYOTA DEALER WORKED ON THIS PROBLEM ON 07/23/2009 WHEN THE CAR HAD 97,187 MILES. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH ON THIS AND IT SEEMS 50,000 SEQUOIA'S WERE RECALLED FOR THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER, MY SEQUOIA'S VIN WAS NOT ON THE LIST. PLEASE HELP. IN ADDITION THE LIGHTING ON THE DASHBOARD DOES NOT WORK. *TR

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 LONG FAMILY TRIP IN A FEW WEEKS. PLEASE HELP. *TR

ONE DAY THE VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, BRAKE, ABS LIGHTS ALL CAME ON THE DASH, SHORTLY AFTER THIS HAPPENED WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE IN THE MAIL STATING THIS EXACT PROBLEM. SO I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO LOOK AT IT AND FIX. THE FIRST TIME I DROPPED IT OFF FOR THE DAY THEY CALLED AFTER AND SAID THE MACHINE TO TEST THE VEHICLE WAS DOWN, AND THAT IT WOULD BE A DAY OR TWO BEFORE IT WAS REPAIRED, WELL I NEEDED MY VEHICLE SO I WENT A PICKED IT UP. ABOUT A MONTH LATER I MADE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT AND RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY FINALLY TESTED MY VEHICLE AND PROCEEDED TO TELL ME THAT MY VEHICLE DID NOT FIT THE CRITERIA FOR VIN IDENTIFICATION. I REALLY DO NOT KNOW HOW THIS IS POSSIBLE CONSIDERING ALL THE INFORMATION STATED ON THE RECALL IS EXACTLY WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE. AFTER DAYS OF RESEARCH I HAVE LEARNED THAT MULTIPLE SENSORS AND ECU NEEDS TO BE REPLACED COSTING IN THE RANGE OF $2000.00 PLUS DOLLARS. ALSO I HAVE READ MULTIPLE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS JUST LIKE THIS ONE. THESE LIGHTS ARE ON THE VEHICLE FOR A REASON AND TOYOTA PUT THE RECALL OUT FOR A REASON SO FIX THE PROBLEMS!!!! *TR

VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC), TRACTION CONTROL (TRAC), AND ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) DASH LIGHTS CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT ALL SYSTEMS ARE OFF OR MALFUNCTIONING. CAN CONFIRM THAT THE TRAC, VSC, AND ABS ARE INACTIVE ALL OR MOST OF THE TIME. THE ABS INTERVENES AT RANDOM UNDER NORMAL BRAKING CONDITIONS WITHOUT CAUSE AT LOW SPEED (LESS THAN 20MPH) AND MAKES BRAKING DIFFICULT AND INCONSISTENT IN CONDITIONS WHERE ABS IS NOT NORMALLY NEEDED. IN THAT SITUATION THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES HARD TO DEPRESS AND BRAKING FORCE IS INCONSISTENTLY APPLIED WITH LITTLE CONTROL GIVEN TO THE OPERATOR IN TURN EXTENDING THE BRAKING DISTANCE WITHOUT DUE CAUSE OR WARNING. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH ONLINE I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS REPORTS STATING IDENTICAL AND/OR SIMILAR OBSERVATIONS AND EXPERIENCES. IT IS MY OPINION THAT THE PROBLEM LIES IN THE VSC CONTROL MODULE, A KNOWN PROBLEMATIC COMPONENT ON THIS GENERATION OF SEQUOIA AND MORE SPECIFICALLY MODEL YEAR 2003 VEHICLES. A RECALL FOR THE VSC SYSTEM WAS ISSUED IN APRIL/MAY 2010 UPGRADING THE CONTROL LOGIC OF THE VSC SYSTEM IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 VEHICLES. LET IT BE KNOWN THAT THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION HAD THE RECALL WORK DONE IN JUNE OF 2011 WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE ISSUE AS IT HAS BEEN EITHER INTERMITTENT OR CONSTANT SINCE THEN.

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 THE VEHICLE INTO THE SHOT TO HAVE THE ISSUE DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRS COMPLETED. REPAIR REQUIRED THE INSTALLATION OF A NEW YAW SENSOR TO BE INSTALLED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE OLD PARTS HAVE BEEN REQUESTED FROM THE DEALER FOR US TO RETAIN. *TR