MYRModel Year Report

2003 Toyota Sequoia

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2003 Toyota Sequoia
BUILT 2026-08-02

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 PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Toyota Sequoia Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2003 highlighted. 2001: 530 complaints 2001 2002: 666 complaints 2003: 563 complaints 2003 2004: 379 complaints 2004 2005: 352 complaints 2006: 202 complaints 2007: 136 complaints 2007 2008: 65 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 complaints 2022
2003: 563 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
2001530
2002666
2003563
2004379
2005352
2006202
2007136
200865
20096
201031
201117
201220
201312
201417
20159
201610
20177
201820
20197
20204
20214
20221

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 28%

28% of complaints: electronic stability control (esc) — 158 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 15%

15% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 86 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, INCREASED ACCELERATION DESPITE STEPPING ON BRAKE, , BRAKES DID NOT STOP CAR AND CRASHED TOTAL LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ODI report, 20130312

STRUCTURE 10%

10% of complaints: structure — 57 distinct reports on file.

Show complaint excerpts

I want to bring attention to the a fatal flaw designed into Toyota truck frames. I understand Toyota denied my claim and I am out of luck with the repairs on my truck. However it is morally responsible for me to bring awareness to this deadly issue.

NHTSA ODI report, 20230925

SERVICE BRAKES 10%

10% of complaints: service brakes — 55 distinct reports on file.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, INCREASED ACCELERATION DESPITE STEPPING ON BRAKE, , BRAKES DID NOT STOP CAR AND CRASHED TOTAL LOSS. *TR

NHTSA ODI report, 20130312

UNKNOWN I'm unsure of what is causing it but it is a very common issue with the 03-04 sequoia. The brake light will come on like on mine and apparently it's a failure in one of the brake components.

NHTSA ODI report, 20230930

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%

10% of complaints: electrical system — 54 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY

SAFETY TIMELINE

▮ 2003 — complaint volume: 563
R 20050705 — suspension

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. THE

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.

Campaign 05V225000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20060701 — exterior lighting

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 N

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.

Campaign 06E049000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20081216 — PE (closed 20090415)

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL AND/OR TRAC

I 20090408 — EA (closed 20100512)

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

R 20100611 — electronic stability control (esc), traction control system

TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 SEQUOIA PASSENGER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 1, 2002 THROUGH APRIL 17, 2003. THE CENTER POSITION OF THE STEERING ANGLE SENSOR (SAS) MAY NOT BE STORED

Remedy: TOYOTA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REFLASH THE ECU. IF THE REFLASH CANNOT BE COMPLETED ON A PARTICULAR VEHICLE, THE ECU WILL BE REPLACED WITH A NEW ONE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE O

Campaign 10V176000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20140611 — PE (closed 20150302)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

I 20150224 — EA (open)

Air Bag Inflator Rupture

R 20150713 — air bags

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.

Campaign 15V285000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20150713 — air bags

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.

Campaign 15V286000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20190123 — air bags

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.

Campaign 18V883000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20191120 — air bags

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.

Campaign 19V741000 — check if this car was fixed

I 20210917 — EA (open)

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2003 Toyota Sequoia — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for electronic stability control (esc) issues (158 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for vehicle speed control issues (86 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for structure issues (57 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 05V225000 (suspension) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 06E049000 (exterior lighting) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 10V176000 (electronic stability control (esc), traction control system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V285000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 15V286000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 18V883000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 19V741000 (air bags) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2010 ▲ 2008 ▲ 2007

WORST YEARS

■ 2002 ◆ 2001 ◆ 2004

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2003 Toyota Sequoia reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2003 Toyota Sequoia is rated "significantly worse".

What are the most common problems with the 2003 Toyota Sequoia?

The most-reported component is electronic stability control (esc), accounting for 28% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2003 Toyota Sequoia have?

7 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.