MYRModel Year Report

2002 Toyota Sequoia

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2002 Toyota Sequoia
BUILT 2026-10-10

This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
666
Recalls
8

Campaigns on file for 2002

Investigations
4

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Service brakes

30% of complaints

Complaints per year

2001: 531 complaints 2002: 666 complaints 2002 666 2003: 565 complaints 2004: 380 complaints 2005: 352 complaints 2006: 202 complaints 2007: 136 complaints 2007 2008: 67 complaints 2009: 6 complaints 2010: 31 complaints 2010 2011: 17 complaints 2012: 20 complaints 2013: 12 complaints 2013 2014: 17 complaints 2015: 9 complaints 2016: 10 complaints 2016 2017: 7 complaints 2018: 20 complaints 2019: 7 complaints 2019 2020: 4 complaints 2021: 4 complaints 2022: 1 complaint 2022
2001: 531 complaints 2002: 666 complaints 2002 666 2003: 565 complaints 2004: 380 complaints 2005: 352 complaints 2005 2006: 202 complaints 2007: 136 complaints 2007 2008: 67 complaints 2009: 6 complaints 2009 2010: 31 complaints 2011: 17 complaints 2011 2012: 20 complaints 2013: 12 complaints 2013 2014: 17 complaints 2015: 9 complaints 2015 2016: 10 complaints 2017: 7 complaints 2017 2018: 20 complaints 2019: 7 complaints 2019 2020: 4 complaints 2021: 4 complaints 2021 2022: 1 complaint
2001: 531 complaints 2001 2002: 666 complaints 2002 666 2003: 565 complaints 2003 2004: 380 complaints 2004 2005: 352 complaints 2005 2006: 202 complaints 2006 2007: 136 complaints 2007 2008: 67 complaints 2008 2009: 6 complaints 2009 2010: 31 complaints 2010 2011: 17 complaints 2011 2012: 20 complaints 2012 2013: 12 complaints 2013 2014: 17 complaints 2014 2015: 9 complaints 2015 2016: 10 complaints 2016 2017: 7 complaints 2017 2018: 20 complaints 2018 2019: 7 complaints 2019 2020: 4 complaints 2020 2021: 4 complaints 2021 2022: 1 complaint 2022

2002: 666 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
2001531
2002666
2003565
2004380
2005352
2006202
2007136
200867
20096
201031
201117
201220
201312
201417
20159
201610
20177
201820
20197
20204
20214
20221

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Service brakes

30% · 201 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and electric.

CRASHFIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

While driving on a curved road, the vehicle made a grinding sound with flashing VSC off and Trac off lights, as it pulled violently to the right and almost ran off the road with my two children in the back seat.

NHTSA ODI report, 2023-10-07

Electronic stability control (esc)

29% · 196 reports
CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Was driving on the interstate in the left hand lane. Tried to merge into the right hand lane and noticed a car in my blind spot so I went back into the left lane.

NHTSA ODI report, 2012-06-13

Also filed under Vehicle speed control and steering

Vehicle speed control

20% · 135 reports

Most commonly citing cruise control.

CRASHINJURY

Structure

15% · 99 reports

Most commonly citing body and underbody shields.

Show complaint excerpts

The frame and attached components of the 2002 Sequoia are rusting at alarming rates. Seemingly surface quickly turned into structurally penetrating rust (I.e. holes in the frame rails).

NHTSA ODI report, 2023-10-03

Steering

12% · 78 reports

Most commonly citing rack and pinion and tie rod assembly.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Frame rust. My mechanics will not lift the truck because of extensive frame rust

NHTSA ODI report, 2017-10-31

Also filed under Suspension

Safety timeline

8 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. ▮
    2002Complaint volume 666 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. R
    2002-07-15Wheels02V129000 On certain 4X2 vehicles equipped with an alloy wheel tire upgrade (Options WM4, WM8, ZL1-ZL4, DH4, or DH5) installed by the processing centers in jacksonville, Florida or commerce, Georgia, a label…

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with a caution label and an insert for their owner's manual. Owner notification began July 15, 2002. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  3. R
    2005-07-05Suspension05V225000 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.…

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. R
    2006-07-01Exterior lighting06E049000 Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Some combination lamps that are…

    Remedy: Ck motorsport will notify owners and replace the noncompliant lamps free of charge. The recall began on July 1, 2006. Owners may contact ck motorsport at 1-909-610-7211.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  5. R
    2007-04-02Service brakes, hydraulic07E023000 Certain cardone master cylinders with part numbers 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, and 11-3156, and with date codes lower than DCA7078…

    Remedy: Cardone will notify owners and offer to repurchase any defective master cylinders. The recall began during April 2007. Owners can contact cardone at 1-800-777-4780.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  6. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  7. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  8. R
    2015-07-13Air bags15V285000 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...

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  9. R
    2015-07-13Air bags15V286000 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...

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  10. I
    2016-06-14Preliminary evaluationClosed 2016-12-20 Yaw rate sensor malfunction
  11. R
    2019-01-23Air bags18V883000 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.

    Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  12. R
    2019-11-20Air bags19V741000 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,...

    Remedy: 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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  13. I
    2021-09-17Engineering analysisOpen Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Buy-smart checklist

2002 Toyota Sequoia — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Service brakes: 201 reports on file for this year.
  • Electronic stability control (esc): 196 reports on file for this year.
  • Vehicle speed control: 135 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 02V129000 · Wheels
  • Recall 05V225000 · Suspension
  • Recall 06E049000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 07E023000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
  • Recall 15V285000 · Air bags
  • Recall 15V286000 · Air bags
  • Recall 18V883000 · Air bags
  • Recall 19V741000 · Air bags
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2002 Toyota Sequoia reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2002 Toyota Sequoia is rated "significantly worse".
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Toyota Sequoia?
The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 30% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2002 Toyota Sequoia have?
8 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.