MYRModel Year Report

2003 Toyota Sequoia

■ Significantly worse — known issue year
2003 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
565
Recalls
7

Campaigns on file for 2003

Investigations
5

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Electronic stability control (esc)

28% of complaints

Complaints per year

2001: 531 complaints 2002: 666 complaints 2003: 565 complaints 2003 565 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 2001 2002: 666 complaints 2003: 565 complaints 2003 565 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 2003: 565 complaints 2003 565 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

2003: 565 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.

Electronic stability control (esc)

28% · 158 reports
CRASH

Service brakes

28% · 158 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic and electric.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Unintended acceleration, increased acceleration despite stepping on brake, , brakes did not stop car and crashed total loss.

NHTSA ODI report, 2013-03-12

Also filed under Vehicle speed control

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, 2023-09-30

Structure

17% · 98 reports

Most commonly citing body and frame and members.

Show complaint excerpts

My 2003 Sequoia was in the garage for a check on the brakes. I also asked them to check the frame for any rust issues, because I had previously been concerned about it earlier.

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-08-17

Also filed under Suspension

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, 2023-09-25

Vehicle speed control

16% · 91 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal.

CRASHINJURY

Electrical system

12% · 67 reports

Most commonly citing instrument cluster/panel and fuses and circuit breakers.

CRASHINJURY

Safety timeline

7 recalls · 5 investigations · oldest first

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

  1. ▮
    2003Complaint volume 565 complaints filed for this model year.
  2. 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 →

  3. 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 →

  4. I
    2008-12-16Preliminary evaluationClosed 2009-04-15 Electronic stability control and/or trac
  5. I
    2009-04-08Engineering analysisClosed 2010-05-12 Electronic stability control
  6. R
    2010-06-11Electronic stability control (esc), traction control system10V176000 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…

    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…

    Check if this car was fixed →

  7. I
    2014-06-11Preliminary evaluationClosed 2015-03-02 Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  8. I
    2015-02-24Engineering analysisOpen Air Bag Inflator Rupture
  9. 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 →

  10. 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 →

  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

2003 Toyota Sequoia — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Electronic stability control (esc): 158 reports on file for this year.
  • Service brakes: 158 reports on file for this year.
  • Structure: 98 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 05V225000 · Suspension
  • Recall 06E049000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 10V176000 · Electronic stability control (esc), traction control system
  • 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 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 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.