2003 Toyota Sequoia Steering Problems

Traction control warning lights, VSC warning lights. These lights have been on for 2 years, resulting in check engine light on. I have replaced every sensor possible, fuses, gas cap, and reset the system multiple times but can not get these lights to stay off. Since lights have been on, when driving on a muddy, wet, icy or slippery road way, my steering locks up, the brakes stop working and there is complete loss of vehicle control. All without warning. This is an extreme hazard and very dangerous. This has been on going since 2017 and is still a major problem . It started at around 200,000 miles.

Front end in rolled shacking. Tires wearing extremely fast and uneven image. Unable to drive

Unknown

AS I CAME RO STOP AUTO THEN PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR THE AUTO ACTED AS IF IT DIDNT WANT TO MOVE BUT STARTED OUT SLOW . THIS OCCURED EVERYTIME I STOPPED AND PRESSED TO ACCELL THE AUTO. THE AUTO WAS IN MOTION , DURING TURNING.

"BALL JOINT FAILURE" WHILE TRAVELLING DOWN FREEWAY AT 35-40 MPH THE PASSENGER FRONT TIRE HAD COME OFF AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DROP. LOST STEERING, BRAKES AND ANY CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AT THIS TIME. THE VEHICLE SKID INTO THE GUARD RAIL SPINNING IT AROUND AND SLIDING UNTIL IT CAME TO A STOP. THE ARM CAME DIRECTLY OFF THE VEHICLE AND IS STILL ATTACHED TO THE WHEEL.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH OVER A BUMP IN THE ROAD, A RATTLING NOISE WAS HEARD UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO WORK. UPON EXITING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT CHECKED UNDERNEATH AND FOUND THAT THE RACK AND PINION BRACKET WAS FRACTURED AND DETACHED FROM THE FRAME. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER (BAY RIDGE TOYOTA IN BAY RIDGE, NEW YORK, 718-439-3737) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PART OF THE VEHICLE'S FRAME WAS SEVERELY RUSTED AND THE RACK AND PINION BRACKET WAS DETACHED FROM THE ACTUAL FRAME. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRAME WAS REPLACED IN MARCH OF 2013 BY THE SAME DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED FOR THE RECENT FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 194,000.

Abnormal rust all over underside of vehicle including frame, structural components, brake lines, steering components … etc. FRAME and steering/suspension components rusting out. Rear differential rusting out. Cab mounts rusting out. Spare tire hardware rusting out. Transmission cooler lines about to burst from corrosion. Rear tow assembly rusting out. Entire underside is rotting out. Known issue which has plagued hundreds of owners, but Toyota has not recalled this model year. Extremely dangerous; one brake line has already gone out resulting in a loss of braking. Toyota applied an undercoating circa 2013 but they just sprayed over an already rusted frame and other components without proper preparation which actually accelerated the corrosion and rot. Deceptive and unethical business practices. Vehicle cost over $50,000 new in 2003 and only has just over 120,000 miles on it. This should NOT be happening. Please help. Please investigate.

I NOTICE ON JUNE 2, 2015 WHEN I TURN LEFT OR RIGHT THAT ITS HARD AND I TOOK IT INTO TOYOTA ON JUNE 20, 2015 AND THEY TOLD ME IT WAS THE STEERING EXTENSION SHAFT. I ALSO TOOK THE SEQUOIA IN BECAUSE EVEN THOU MY GAS TANK WAS FULL THE GAUGE SAID IT WAS EMPTY, AND WHEN I TOOK IT INTO TOYOTA THEY SAID IT WAS FINE . BUT IT KEEPS DOING IT AND NOW I PUT GAS IN IT BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO RUN OUT ON THE FWY. IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.

WE HAD A STEERING LEAK, SO WE BROUGHT OUR VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS. THE MECHANICS DISCOVERED THAT OUR FRAME HAD ADVANCED AND UNSAFE LEVELS OF EROSION AND BREAKDOWN, FAR BEYOND THE AGE AND CONSIDERED CARE OF THE VEHICLE. WE FOUND THERE WAS A FRAME RECALL ON OUR MAKE AND MODEL, BUT TOYOTA IS SAYING IT EXPIRED TWO WEEKS BEFORE (JULY 31ST). WE WERE NEVER NOTIFIED ONCE ABOUT THIS OR ANY OTHER RECALL FOR THE SEQUOIA, BUT RECEIVE OTHER NOTICES FOR OUR OTHER TOYOTA REGULARLY. TOYOTA IS DOING NOTHING TO ASSIST IN REPAIR OR TRADE IN (WE PURCHASED AS A CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED TOYOTA FROM A TOYOTA DEALERSHIP, MCGEE IN HANOVER MA THREE YEARS AGO) AND WE ARE LEFT WITH A FAMILY VEHICLE THAT WE OWE $6K ON, YET HAS NO SALE OR TRADE IN VALUE DUE TO IT'S COMPROMISED STATE, AND ONE WE CAN'T DRIVE OUR CHILDREN IN. WE INVESTED NUMEROUS REPAIRS DUE TO THE VEHICLES AGE RECENTLY ($2K THIS WINTER, ALONG WITH NEW TIRES, ETC), ANTICIPATING THIS, LIKE OTHER TOYOTAS WE HAVE OWNED, WOULD GET US A COUPLE MORE YEARS. AFTER OPENING A CASE WITH TOYOTA AND REACHING OUT TO THE DEALERSHIP, WE ARE LEFT FRUSTRATED AND WITH NO OPTIONS, AND STRESS AND COST ARE ACCUMULATING AS WE DEAL WITH CAR RENTALS, ETC.DUE TO THE FACT THAT WE DON'T HAVE A CAR AND CANNOT AFFORD TOTAL REPLACEMENT AT THIS TIME. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

WE BOUGHT THIS 2003 SEQUOIA LIMITED 2 WHEEL DRIVE NEW, AND IT HAS BEEN A GOOD CAR OVER ALL. BUT THE VSC TRACS, BRAKE LIGHTS HAVE FLASHED ON AND OFF SPORADICALLY AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS, WHEN DRIVING AND OR WHEN BRAKING. THEY USUALLY DON'T EFFECT THE CAR, BUT RECENTLY WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THEM ALL COMING ON WHEN BRAKING, AND WE SEEM TO LOOSE POWER AND THE POWER STEERING IS LOST MOMENTARILY UNTIL WE COME TO A STOP, AND SHUT IT OFF FOR A FEW MINUTES. THIS HAPPENED MOST RECENTLY LAST WEEK WHEN COMING INTO AN INTERSECTION DRIVING ABOUT 30MPH, AND ALL OF THE VSC, TRAC, AND BRAKE LIGHTS ABRUPTLY CAME ON, THERE WAS A GRINDING NOISE, AND IT SEEMED TO HAVE LOST ELECTRICAL POWER, TRYING TO COME TO A STOP, I COULD NOT STOP IN TIME FOR THE INTERSECTION, BUT WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO AVOID BEING HIT BY CROSS TRAFFIC, IT COULD HAVE BEEN A LOT WORSE. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING FELL APART UNDERNEATH. I INSPECTED IT AND SAW NOTHING, BUT KNOW THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT TOYOTA SHOULD ADDRESS AND PAY FOR BEING A RECALL ITEM. I CALLED THE TOYOTA HOTLINE AND WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER FOR THIS ISSUE, WHICH WAS A RECALL IN 2010. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, AND THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE. STATED IT WAS A BAD COMPUTER, AND SOME VSC MODULE SENSOR? DIDN'T STATE TOYOTA WOULD COVER THE COST OR HELP WITH THE COST. EVEN THOUGH THIS HAS BEEN A KNOWN ISSUE WITH TOYOTA SEQUOIA'S FOR YEARS, AND WAS A RECALL ITEM. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT COULD RESULT IN A MAJOR ACCIDENT. WHY WOULD TOYOTA NOT COVER THE COST TO FIX THIS IF IT IS A RECALL ITEM? I WANT IT FIXED BUT WITH THE MILES I HAVE ON IT, DON'T WANT TO SPEND MUCH MONEY ON IT, ESPECIALLY AN ITEM THAT IS A RECALL PROBLEM WITH MANY LIKE MINE. WHAT SHOULD I DO? WAIT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT, HIRE A LAWYER, AND SUE? FRUSTRATED TOYOTA OWNER IN TEXAS. *TR

THE VSC, AND TRAC, AND BRAKE LIGHTS ALL LIT UP WHILE COMING INTO AN INTERSECTION, WHERE I HEARD A GRINDING CLUNKING NOISE IN THE DRIVE TRAIN, AS I TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, COASTED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION, MADE OTHERS BRAKING TO AVOID ME AS I STEERED AWAY FROM THEM. THIS HAS HAPPENED INTERMITTENTLY OVER THE YEARS BUT THIS WAS THE SCARIEST, AS IT HAPPENED GOING INTO AN INTERSECTION. IT HAS HAPPENED BACKING OUT OF OUR DRIVEWAY SEVERAL TIMES, ON THE HIGHWAY SEVERAL TIMES. TOYOTA DOESN'T WANT TO TIE THIS ISSUE TO THE RECALL REGARDING THE VSC ECU TRAC LIGHT RECALL FROM SEVERAL YEARS AGO. I'VE TRIED UNSUCCESSFULLY TO ESCALATE THIS ISSUE WITH TOYOTA MOTOR CO. *TR

RECEIVED A LETTER FROM TOYOTA FOR A LIMITED SERVICE CAMPAIGN, FOR RUSTING OF THE FRAME. I TOOK MY TOYOTA TO KOONS TOYOTA IN ANNAPOLIS, MD. THEY CALLED ME THE NEXT DAY AND SAID IT FAILED FOR RUST. THERE WAS A HOLE IN MY FRAME AND TOYOTA WOULD REPLACE THE FRAME AT NO COST TO ME. THEN THEY CALLED ME TO TELL ME IT WOULD COST $6,400.00 TO REPLACE EVERYTHING UNDER THE VEHICLE, BECAUSE IT WAS SO RUSTED OUT THAT WHEN THEY TOOK THE PARTS OFF THEY WOULD CRUMBLE. TWO DAYS LATER THEY CALLED AND TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $6,900.00 TO REPLACE PARTS. THEY CALLED LAST NIGHT AND SAID IT WOULD COST ME $7,845.00 AND THEY COULD NOT GUARANTEE THE PRICE WOULD NOT BE HIGHER.THEY SENT ME PICTURES OF MY FRAME AND THERE IS A LARGE HOLE IN THE FRAME. MY QUESTION IS SHOULDN'T I GET MY TRUCK BACK IN WORKING CONDITION WITHOUT ME PAYING FOR ANYTHING? I CONTACTED TOYOTA IN CA. AND TALKED TO THE RUST SPECIALIST, AND HE SAID THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR MY PARTS. MY HUSBAND AND I ARE RETIRED AND LIVE ON A FIXED INCOME. WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR THE PARTS. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN PAID FOR ONCE, WHY SHOULD I TAKE OUT A LOAN FOR A TRUCK THAT HAS BEEN PAID FOR. THE DEALER ALSO ASKED US TO COME PICK UP MY TRUCK IF I WOULD NOT AUTHORIZE TO PAY FOR THE PARTS. WHEN I PICKED UP MY TRUCK TODAY, THEY SAID IF ANYTHING HAPPENED TO THE TRUCK WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT HOME, THEY WOULD NOT BE RESPONSIBLE, BECAUSE I DIDN'T GET IT FIXED. PLEASE MAKE TOYOTA RECALL THESE RUSTED TRUCKS BACK. THE RUSTED FRAME ALSO INCLUDES TUNDRAS, BECAUSE THEY USE THE SAME FRAME. THANK YOU. *TR

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A FAMILIAR TWO LANE ROAD WITH MANY CURVES AND NOT REACHING A SPEED ABOVE 45 MPH, I CAME UPON A CURVE, BRAKED, AND STEERED MY SEQUOIA APPROPRIATELY. I WAS DRIVING ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE CURVE, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO TURN WITH THE CURVE, MY SEQUOIA HEADED TOWARD THE ONCOMING LANE OF TRAFFIC. AS IT VEERED TOWARD THE FENCE POSTS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD, I COULD NOT SLOW IT DOWN OR STEER IT BACK TO MY LANE. NO MATTER HOW I PRESSED THE BRAKES, IT WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN BUT INSTEAD SPED UP. THE LAST I REMEMBER IS THE REALIZATION THAT I COULD DO NOTHING TO STOP OR STEER MY SEQUOIA. I ROLLED IT 3 1/2 TIMES (THROUGH THE FENCE AND THEN BACK THROUGH IT AGAIN IN ANOTHER SPOT). MANY THANKS TO GOD, MY 3 YEAR OLD MADE IT OUT WITH BUT ONE SMALL SCRATCH ON HIS ARM AND A HUGE FEAR. HOWEVER, IT TOOK THEM 1 1/2 HOURS TO GET ME OUT AND THEN I HAD TO BE CARE-FLIGHTED DUE TO FACIAL INJURIES, HEAD TRAUMA, AND DISFIGURED LEFT ARM. ALTHOUGH MY SEQUOIA WAS SUPPOSED TO BE EQUIPPED WITH SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS ALONG WITH FRONT AIRBAGS NOT A SINGLE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. I KNOW CERTAIN SENSORS HAVE TO BE ACTIVATED TO INFLATE AN AIRBAG SO I FEEL I NEED TO MENTION THAT THIS VEHICLE NO LONGER RESEMBLED A SEQUOIA. NO HEADLIGHTS REMAINED, ALL WINDOWS WERE GONE, THE DASH, HOOD AND ROOF COLLAPSED IN ON ME. IT TOOK ME FIVE WEEKS TO GET BEHIND THE WHEEL AGAIN AFTER FEELING SUCH HELPLESSNESS. LAST WEEK I RECEIVED A POST CARD ABOUT TOYOTA RECALLS THAT INVOLVED MY SEQUOIA SO I DECIDED TO LOOK IT UP. I GOT VERY SICK READING THE RECALLS AND INVESTIGATIONS THAT ARE RELATED TO WHAT I EXPERIENCED. IT IS VERY UPSETTING THAT I TRUSTED TOYOTA FOR MY FAMILY AND THAT THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. *TR

FRAME IS COMPLETELY RUSTED AND CRACKED IN VARIOUS AREAS. *TR

I TOOK THE SEQUOIA TO A MECHANIC TO REPAIR A CLUNKING NOISE IN THE FRONT AND SQUEAKING NOISE IN THE BACK. UPON EXAMINATION, THE MECHANIC NOTICED UNUSUALLY ADVANCED RUST AND CORROSION FOR A VEHICLE OF ITS AGE. FOR SAFETY REASONS, THE MECHANIC WARNED AGAINST DRIVING THE VEHICLE UNTIL REPAIRS WERE MADE. MECHANIC HAD TO CUT OUT FRONT PASSENGER CONTROL ARM BOLTS, REAR SHOCK MOUNTS, AND OTHER HARDWARE DUE TO THE CORROSION. MECHANIC NOTED THAT FUTURE REPAIRS WILL REQUIRE THE SAME CUTTING AND REPLACEMENT OF NEW HARDWARE. THIS CORROSION ISSUE MAY BE RELATED TO THE 2000-2003 TOYOTA TUNDRA RECALL OF 2009, SINCE THE SEQUOIA SHARES THE CHASSIS AND MANUFACTURING FACILITY WITH THE TUNDRA. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO A WALL AT HIS RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY REPAIR SHOP. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT PREVIOUSLY EXPERIENCED A FAILURE WITH THE REAR AXLE DETACHING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE REAR AXLE WAS REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

I OWN A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WITH A SEVERLY RUSTED FRAME. IT HAS APROX. 16" LONG RUST HOLE IN IT APROX 1-2" WIDE,JUST UNDER DRIVERS FLOOR AT BOTTOM OF FRAME,RIGHT WHERE THE REAR TRANSMISSION CROSSMEMBER ATTACHES TO FRAME. I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE SINCE BRAND NEW (PURCHASED IN SEPT. OF 2002) AND VEHICLE HAS JUST OVER 63,000 MILES. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT. I MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER WHERE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED AND SERVICED AND THE TOYOTA "FTS" INSPECTED IT AND TOOK SEVERAL PICTURES AND DOCUMENTED IT ON 5/5/2011 AND REPORTED FINDINGS TO FACTORY AND DEEMED MY VEHICLE "UNSAFE TO DRIVE DUE TO PERFORATION IN FRAME". I WAS INSTRUCTED BY TOYOTA FTS TO CONTACT TOYOTA CORPORATE HEADQUATERS AND SEE WHAT CAN/WILL BE DONE BY TOYOTA. AFTER 3 CALLS OVER A 2 WEEK PERIOD TOYOTA TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD DO NOTHING TO CORRECT THIS CONCERN ALTHOUGH THE TUNDRA HAS THE SAME ISSUE WITH RUSTING FRAMES AND TOYOTA IS REPLACING THEM UNDER AN EXTENSION OF THE WARRANTY AND BOTH VEHICLES USE THE SAME CHASSIS TYPE AND ARE MADE IN SAME PLANT. UPON RESEARCH OF THIS ISSUE (VIA THE INTERNET) I FIND THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS ISSUE AND TOYOTA SEEMS TO BE TREATING ALL OF IT'S SEQUOIA OWNERS IN THE SAME FASHION.PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE BEFORE SOMEONE WHO DOES NOT KNOW THEIR FRAME HAS RUSTED AND POSSIBLY BREAKS CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL POSSIBLY INJURING OR KILLING IT'S DRIVER AND OR PASSENGERS. TOYOTA KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND THEIR FAILURE TO PROPERLY PROTECT THEIR FRAME FROM RUSTING THROUGH DUE TO ENVIROMENTAL CONDITIONS THAT ARE SEEN IN CERTAIN PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES (AS STATED BY ONE OF THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP'S THAT I HAD SPOKEN TO) WHEN REFERING TO THE TUNDRA AND I FEEL THAT TOYOTA IS ONCE AGAIN TRYING TO EXCLUDE ITSELF FROM ANY PROBLEMS TO THE SEQUOIA. THIS ISSUE NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AS IT WAS ON THE TUNDRA AND INCLUDE THE SEQUOIA.

THE TRAC/VSC LIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE ILLUMINATED AND MY CAR'S BRAKES AND STEERING FAILED FOR ABOUT 30 SECONDS, AT THIS TIME MY VEHICLE SKIDDED A FEW FEET TO THE RIGHT AND I HIT THE CURB. THIS WAS IS A SCHOOL ZONE AND LUCKILY NO CHILDREN WERE HIT. INTERNET SEARCHES SAY THAT IT IS A FAULTY SKID CONTROL ECU THAT WILL COST $1500 TO $2000 TO REPLACE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO REPLACE THIS AND WILL BE FORCED TO UNSAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS/DSC WARNING LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE DEALER ASSURED THE CONTACT THAT THE ISSUE WAS NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT AND WAS NOT A BIG DEAL. THE ISSUE WAS LATER DISCOVERED TO BE A COMMUNICATION ERROR BETWEEN THE SKID CONTROL AND THE ECM. THE SERVICE DEALER STATED THAT THE ECM SHOULD BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE STEERING ANGLE ON THE VEHICLE WAS ALSO OFF AND A RE-CALIBRATION WAS PERFORMED. AFTERWARDS, WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 30-40 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HEARD A LOUD THUMPING NOISE. SHE FELT VIBRATIONS COMING FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL. WHILE SLOWING DOWN AND SWITCHING FROM BRAKING TO ACCELERATION, THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AND COASTED MOMENTARILY UNTIL REACHING FULL ACCELERATION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 83,106 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 99,000.

'2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VSC/TRAC/ABS INDICATORS BASED ON EDMUNDS.COM FORUMS AN INCREASING NUMBER OF PROBLEMS MAY CONTRIBUTE TO UNCONTROLABLE ACCIDENTS IF THIS ELECTRONIC COMPUTER IS NOT FIXED. TOYOTA DEALERS INIDICATE IF AN ISSUE, CAR WILL RESORT BACK TO CONVENTIONAL BRAKES & STEERING BUT EXAMPLES ON THIS WERE SHOWING FALSELY. THIS APPEARED TO NEED A FIX IMMEDIATELY AS THE ITEM WAS. BALL JOINT) RECALLED ABOUT 1-2 YRS AGO, AND NOW THE PROBLEM WAS SURFACING AGAIN.*AK