Toyota Sequoia Maintenance and Repair

redsox5

I think you bought the wrong vehicle if you need to drive 100MPH.

raddboy41

You are correct....HOWEVER, you can fool the computer completely by driving in excess of 100MPH..........in REVERSE!!

rtarabou

42K and now a cracked exhaust manifold, $1,400 to fix. ouch......

verolit

It is clear you guys are not from california and dont know what a freeway is. If you have ever been on I-5 going to LA you will know what i mean.
while this speed may seem excessive to you, around here its the norm to drive in excess of 70mph.

zman3

Yeah, and there's a 30 MPH difference between 70 and 100. Many people here in Minneapolis do more than 70MPH, including me. But I sure can't do 100 MPH safely.

As much as I tend to ignore the speed limit, the last I checked, no you shouldn't be able to drive as fast as you would like.

sequoiasoon

Talk to Service Manager/ Cust Service Rep many Sequoia and Tundra's have the same issue. I read a lot of posts on another website about people getting headers from JBA and other companies. Seems to be a common issue. I didn't see any TSB on it yet but maybe covered partially under powertrain warranty (or extended if you have it). If not the aftermarket headers are cheaper price, supposedly excellent quality, won't crack in same place in future, but your exhaust "note / sound" will probably change a little. Definitely complain to Service Rep and put a call into Toyota Corp 800#. maybe you can get some relief. The JBA's are about $500 plus install.

orwoody

A friend bought his 2001 Sequoia new and has driven it less than 25k miles. He has already replaced the tires and is now going in to have the front brake pads replaced. Although they still have 3000-5000 miles left according to the brake shop they make such a squeal he can't stand it. Both the tires and brakes seem like they have worn early/excessively. He's good about doing regular service and checks(including the alignment).
What are other owners experiencing on the wear of these?

sequoiasoon

Are you sure your friends brakes don't feel like their vibrating(hint). He should probably have the dealer check them(hint). There is a brake TSB #BR005-02 (might be good to get copy from whatever source) from Toyota describing brake vibration. It's covered under warranty(read FREE) new and larger calipers and pads. I think new rotors also.

orwoody

He says they work fine except they chirp and squeal incessantly... his dealer hasn't been all that helpful, but I'll pass the information along and maybe he'll try the TSB route first before paying to replace them.

gkatz1

They chirp and squeal alright, but that pulsating is really annoying. wink wink Tell your friend to get the TSB done before he runs out of warranty.

sequoiasoon

If possible try different dealer in area also. Many posts on other sites about "problem" dealers locally and extremely helpful, cooperative ones 20 minutes away. There are 3 dealers within 20 minutes of me, 1 of which I will never go to based on friends experience. Turns out 3 people I work with got shafted by same dealer (4 strikes and your out?) but had same problem fixed / covered by the one I currently use.

driver57

I own a 2001 Sequoia Limited with about 105,000 Kilometers 90% highway driving. Today it appears the transmission and or shifting system packed her in. While passing a car about 110 km per hour a loud sickening "crunching" sound was heard. A minute or so later when I was pulling off the road, the vehicle would not move in any gear. There was simply a low rattling noise no matter where the gear shift lever was.
 In the last few days there had been some roughness in the drivetrain at certain speeds (appeared to be when upshifting and when pushing gas pedal). Also "check engine light" was on and off a couple of times in last 2 weeks. Dealer checked it said it could be a solenoid valve issue (sic) re shifting and said to return if light came on again.
Has anybody else experienced this ? The vehicle was towed to dealer and I will be speaking with them tomorrow.

robynk

We have a 2001 Sequoia SR5. We love it, except...

We've had no end of problems with the rear hatch. The hatch will get sticky and difficult to open. Our dealer's service manager says this is because dirt from the back window gets down into the door mechanisms. He suggests spraying it down with a hose to wash the dirt through. Every time it gets dirty. Since we live on a long (often mucky) dirt road, this is every day. Since we have freezing weather in the winter, we can't keep an outdoor hose hooked up year-round. I find it absurd that an truck-based SUV supposedly intended for rugged conditions can't handle getting dirty!

He says he has never seen this problem in any other Sequoia.

We have had various parts replaced twice and going on the third time this week. Even though we are well out of warranty, the dealer is covering most of the cost of the repairs, so I can't complain too much about that, but this problem has really interfered with our enjoyment of the vehicle!

Does anyone else have experience with this issue? Is there a better solution than hosing the back window down every day? Has the design changed in later model years to reduce the incidence of this problem?

Thanks,
--Robyn

jrtannura

I'll try for ideas one more time. I have an 02 that has a ticking or clicking sound that seems to come from the left A pillar. There was a TSB for this, it had to do with the hood hinges, but my vehicle was made just after the noted numbers. It appears while driving over slightly rough pavement. The noise is very hard to isolate. Anyone have any ideas. Thanks.

sequoiasoon

Rob- Adding a rear spoiler helps A LOT with keeping the dirt off the back. I added one to my SR5 and am very pleased. Check the pictures thread for the one reboulder added from spoilerdepot.com. I got mine from a junk yard off a wrecked '02. You can install yourself if you want to drill or have body shop do it.

JR- talk to the service rep about the TSB, sometimes they edit the affected VIN's. I have seen/read other dealers also trying Tundra TSB's since it's basically the same platform. Try to give them as much info as possible (long or short drive? raining? first in AM gone after 20 miles? bumpy road only? above 90 mph only???) If they can't / won't find/ fix also try a different dealer in the area. The closest dealer to me has the worst sales/service I've ever seen while the one 15 minutes in opposite direction has Rave reviews all around. If it's a warranty issue it's covered by any dealer!

robynk

Thanks for the suggestion of adding a spoiler. The vehicle is leased, so I'm not sure that we would be allowed to do something permanent to the body like that though.

Thanks for your thoughts.

--Robyn

robynk

Where might a mere mortal get access to the TSB's relevant to the Sequoia and/or Tundra

Thanks,
--Robyn

Karen_S

Go to Edmunds Maintenance Guide for info on TSBs and recalls.

sequoiasoon

Maybe you could inquire with your dealer or a different dealer on the impact of adding it. Since your dealer said it is the dirt build up causing the problems maybe they can even install it for you. Let's see add spoiler for customer 1 hour labor, fix sticking lock every week (hint, hint) 1 hour every week? If you bought the SR5 from the dealer and said I wanted a spoiler would they have added it? Toyota makes an installation "template" that the distribution port uses when they add them before shipping to dealer for just this type of occasion. It shows the technician exactely where to drill holes to mount the factory spoiler.

robynk

I could probably have a Toyota spoiler installed, but not aftermarket. Would it really help though? My instinct is that most of the dirt comes up from the bottom (road) and the spoiler wouldn't really make much difference.

robynk

The dealer showed me my rear window controller, that he just replaced (mostly at Toyota's expense). It was rusted shut. Why aren't they using stainless or other rust-resistant materials in a location that is designed to be wet? According to our service manager, water is *supposed to* wash down the window, into the door frame and out holes in the bottom to wash out any dirt that comes in off the window (which never quite works out in our case -- the dirt cakes up the latch mechanisms and they stop working right).

robynk

Thanks for the pointers. Our dealer is very good so we don't worry too much about him. We did have the unintentional rear window opening thing happen one day (in a snowstorm, of course!). They fixed us up right away

--Robyn

sequoiasoon

The spoiler "redirects" some of the air flow down over the back of the truck. Currently there is a dead air zone behind the truck that actually creates a small vacuum and pulls dirt from sides and bottom of the truck. What you see (your instinct is correct) most of the dirt is coming from the bottom. The redirected airflow from above helps to eliminate this dead zone keeping the whole area cleaner.

nbtbq52

In reference to post #373.
Hmmm... Sounds similar... I too am a frequent highway traveller with my 2001 Sequoia.

I have experienced the exact same problem this weekend.
Has anyone experienced this problem too?
I now have 82,000 Miles (132,000 Kilometers)on my vehicle when the transmission started showing signs of intermittent slipping when accelerating to second gear.
Later, my "check engine" light came on, I quickly took it to my Toyota dealer. They connected it to a computer and came back with a code "P011" which means that a solenoid in the transmission may be going bad. I was told that it was nothing serious and they reset the light.

Then the unthinkable happened. I was driving 135 miles away from home yesterday when the transmission completely died. The "clutch" did not engage in any drive position.

When I called Toyota back they stated that they normally replace the entire transmission when that code appears. But since my extended warranty has expired, I would be looking to pay over $5000 for parts and labor.

I will see if Toyota will take this problem and replace my transmission free of charge! I see a class action suit coming on...

sequ5698

I have a 2002 SR5 Sequoia witk 15K miles on it. The problem I am having is with the steering, more specificaly the steering does not return to center - say the last 5 or 10 degrees. When going around a turn on the highway I can let go of the wheel and the truck will continue to make the turn. Becuase of this problem it is very hard to drive the truck in a straight line and you have to be careful when looking away from the road (ie checking your mirrors etc.) becuase you can drift into another lane. The service manager at toyota says this is the way all truck are - I dont buy this because my Chevy did not have this issue. Your help would be appreciated.

sequoiasoon

Get your alignment checked /redone. I have read many posts on a different website that covered many issues with alignment. One of the members works for Hunter (alignment systems) and posted different specs. They were all in the same "factory range" but at one one end and a lot tighter spec range. Sounds like the Caster is at the low end on your truck. Talk to the technician and explain what happens he can probably show you how it effects it.

raddboy41

Don't forget to check the obvious, tire inflation. BTW - it is NEVER normal for the vehicle to drift away from center given a reasonable amount of time and a flat road. It is TOTALLY NORMAL for a service writer to feed you a line of bull----.

gina14

We bought a 03 SR5 and have had many many problems. First problem... We have had 6 alignments on the vehicle. It has 18,000 miles and is still out of alignment. I have been told by my dealer that I have been "hitting potholes"! Was that a pothole I hit between the 2nd and 3rd alignments or between the 5th and 6th alignments??? Give me a break! Isn't it a truck? The only thing I've run my truck over is the curb up my driveway. Shouldn't flat lands in Louisiana be a safe environment for a 5500lb TRUCK? Anyway, We have been working with 1800-go-toyota. They have been very accomodating so far. Very professional too. No one has accused me of hitting potholes as of yet! Our vehicle is in arbitration right now. We have had new tires put on the truck (at toyota's expense and recommendation by service personnel who flew in to town to service it) and it is still drifting off the road. The drivers seat and passenger seat motors have both been replaced... the driver's side mirror has been fixed... the VSC/skid control went out on me as I pulled out in traffic (with my two young children) and proceeded to brake on me without my control. I managed to force it off the road, without accident and called my mechanic whom I know his name and number by heart! Nice huh? Was a scrambled computer chip!?? I believe that is all the problems we have had so far... Can't wait for more.... Has anyone had the same problems?????

Back to the arbitration case, we're looking for a full refund....going with Chevy or someone else next time.

ibmindless

Just thought I'd drop by with the epilogue of my saga:

I had an '02 SR5. Put about 17K miles on it in 19 months. Mostly short, around-town driving. I loved this SUV - it seemed so refined. Alas, it was no better than a broken-down Ford.

I replaced the A/C 3 times. Brakes (rotors & pads) 4 times. Alignment 3 times. Wheel balancing 2 times. The stereo had over-pronounced BOOMING bass. The rear speakers didn't have any volume when we faded the sound balance to the rear. The power windows started making crunching sounds, and we had 2 bald tires (Dunlops) at 14K miles.

We went without the SUV for more than 45 days - one episode was 30 straight days. I knew every mechanic by name. I tried Toyota Customer Service's 800 number, and they sent me papers to begin the arbitration process. I also called a Lemon Law attorney and decided to go that route rather than arbitration.

35 days after contacting the attorney, I gave up my beloved piece of junk and received all of my money back. All payments, down payment, taxes, etc. were refunded. Toyota paid my attorney. I am now the proud un-owner of a Toyota.

Good luck...

plogic

Have an 02 SR5 with 24K on it but have been noticing a drop in the oil level between changes. I change the oil every 3k with synthetic and this morning I was down over a quart before the change. Just wondering if anyone else was experiencing this.

raddboy41

You know...of the problems I've heard about with Sequoias, I've never heard this one, seriously. Down a full quart is serious for this engine. It's not known to consume oil. When you get on the accelerator hard, do you see blue smoke behind you? What about when you decelerate, smoke? The first would indicate a piston ring problem, while the latter would point to the valve stem seals. What about the garage floor, clean? No oil?

plogic

I never really noticed any smoke in either instance but haven't looked that closely either.
As for the oil stains there hadn't been any and my mechanic said there were no signs of any leaks anywhere. When I first bought this new I have noticed a tapping/ticking noise when I 1st start the engine cold and a friend pointed out that it could be the valves. I will definitely monitor this closely and post any updates. Thanks for your help.

damos516

All,

I have been aggressively looking into purchasing an '03 or '04 Sequoia 4x4 Ltd. However, this is my first time visiting this discussion for the vehicle and I'm not liking what I'm hearing from the large majority of you sequoia owners. This includes the many problems with your Sequoias and your interaction with the various people to get the issues addressed. I guess my question to everyone is SHOULD I BUY A SEQUOIA 4x4 LTD or should I SPEND MY 40K+ ON ANOTHER SUV. Right about now that ACURA 3.5 RL SEDAN is looking quite right and has much less problems. Originally, I was crossed between the SUV and a Luxury vehicle. Maybe I need to stick with Honda/Acura quality since I have a 245K miles on my '93 Accord and have not had any problems out of it. Please offer your insight. Be as candid as you can!

steve287

If your thinking about the Sequoia you should take the test ride on a very smooth and quiet road with the windows closed and no radio or a/c on. Between 35-60 mph you'll feel the floor vibrate,,, this is the Drone /Grinding everyone is talking about. Then take it on the parkway and feel the sway. I swithed from a full size pickup with a cap on it and NEVER felt this kind of roaming on the hwy. This is NOT Toyota quality at all. Be careful L.I. dealers.

raddboy41

As with any public forum, such as this, the majority of postings will be about "problems" with their vehicles. In spite of these problem vehicles, there are MANY times more satisfied owners of their Sequoia including me! The Sequoia is an SUV that ranks #1 in all of the Full Size SUV reviews that I've read including Edmunds and Consumer Reports. It is clearly the most reliable based upon data that is gathered yearly by several publications, but it IS A MECHANICAL DEVICE assembled by humans in Princeton, IN. There might be problems, but reported data suggest that it is less likely with this vehicle than other full size SUVs. Drive it, seriously. Take it for a LONG test drive especially if you're considering the 4x4 because of the reported vibrations. It may not be for you. It's certainly NOT a luxury car like the Acura, so you're comparing apples to oranges. I've got a 2002 2WD SR5 and LOVE IT! We use it to haul the kids around and pull a 24' travel trailer for camping. It simply does everything perfectly....for my needs.

petro33

I have a '02 limited and never felt/noticed the vibration you are talking about. My only suggestion is to test drive every vehicle you are considering, look and compare all the features. Every vehicle is a trade off. I don't believe there is any one that does EVERYTHING. Mine now has 53,000 miles and no mechanical problems. It has performed all of the jobs I purchased the vehicle for (people moving, trailer hauling, reliability, creature comforts, did I mention reliability). Now my '02 mr2 spyder does vibrate!!

sequoiasoon

Also spend time reading all the other SUV boards. Trailblazers needing new engines in first month, transmission issues in Fords, Tahoe steering, AC, tranny issues etc. As Raddboy said it's a mechanical item could have issues either way. Take all for a good long test drive (rent if possible for a weekend from Avis etc) Pack all your junk your thinking about possibly putting in. Sit in the third row if you think you need it. Where do you store it if you don't. I loved the third row seat in the expedition folding flat, felt clausterphobic with how roof/ AC is in second row and after numerous Ford tranny issues between self, friends, family won't buy another one (but checked anyway!)

Tahoe-loved the dual front AC and 350 power and towing, hated second row legroom, NO storage behind third row and couldn't get into or sit comfortably in third. quote from 30 second search on tahoe board "I had a 2001 Suburban-no problems. My 2003 Tahoe is full of them. The AC makes that annoying swirling noise. My swirl is there constantly. There is a vibration that radiates into the cab from underneath the truck when the AC is on. Between the swirling noise and the vibration, it is most annoying. It has been back to the dealer twice. No fix. The transmission grinds at low speeds when shifting from first to second and it slips once in a bluemoon in first gear. The ignition gets stuck in the on position at times. The dealer will not fix the AC or the Tranny problem. The truck has been at the dealer twice already. They have replaced some parts in the igniton. No fix. I hate the truck. I have already filed a complaint with GM. They are not standing by the truck they built and have closed the file.I am in the process of lemon lawing the truck {FL) and have to bring it back to the dealer two more times, twice for the ac, once for the tranny"

Sequoia- loved room second and third row and access to third, hate having to remove them for more space. lot's of headroom and at least decent storage behind third. Bought it knowing that the plastic scratches easily, potential brake issues and vibration. But the Pros and Cons for me favored Toyota SMOOTH engine and tranny plenty of power for 99% of my needs didn't have to get sunroof for three other options I wanted etc.

If towing is not a priority but all wheel drive and more space is, check Honda Pilot (also has issues if you read posts)

steve287

I UNDERSTAND that the Sequoia is a nice truck. Remember, I own one too! I am just stating that it is in NO WAY, shape or form up to previous Toyota QUALITY expect ions. As all of us in here know, $50,000 doesn't mean you get quality, I just thought the Sequioa would be alot better than it really is. I hope it isn't because it is assembeled in the USA. I'm taking the loss and trading it for a Land Crusier in the next few weeks.

blackdog4

My 2002 Ltd 4 WD is nearly two years old and has about 20,000 miles on it. Regarding the handling issue, I have been very pleased with it. This Spring we took a 600 mile trip most of which was in the rain which at times was torential. When it rained I put it into 4WD and it felt like I was riding on a rail. In the Winter we drive about 250 miles to a ski area and have encountered snow/ice on several occassions and have always felt secure. In good conditions I try not to go more than 10 mph over the speed limit (75mph). In all these conditions I have never experienced any "sway" or "roaming". I have been very pleased with the vehicle and when my old Explorer starts to wheeze, I will buy another Sequoia.

arslan

I've got 3,000 miles on my 03 Sequoia SR5 4WD and don't have any mechanical problems whatsoever. My only disappointment so far has been the speakers, which produce muffled sounding music. In spite of this minor nuisance, I'm very satisfied with the vehicle. In the Sequoia's class, I don't think there's a better SUV out there.

deviyiya

I have an 03 SR5 Sequoia. My initial problems were with dealer installed components like face applique and leather seats. I was amazed that there was no one checking the quality of the work.
My other disappointment is the sound system. When you seat in the third row, you hear very little of the sound unless the radio is blasting very loudly, which is uncomfortable for the people in front. Two other problems I had were the oil gauge and the interior plastic bolt covers, they just can't stay put. They have all been fixed. Recently my alarm will just go off for no reason. I haven't had it fixed yet.

In all I love my Sequoia. I was very proud when a lady walked to me the other day and said "this is a nice truck". What a complement from a stranger. By the way, if you want to know, I have the beautiful Salsa Red color.

petro33

I think the '04 may be the last year for the land cruser. The dealers here in Sacramento don't sell many of they. The people that used to buy them are buying sequoias. Check with the dealer on last production run of the cruser.

matryx

Has anyone here had alarm system problems with the Sequoia? I have a nightmare of a problem with my 2001 Seq Alarm system. If we use the key to unlock the vehicle, the alarm will occasionally go off and the method for getting it to turn off always varies. Of course the problem is intermittent and the dealer has been unable to duplicate. Please help! We have also noticed that our lock/unlock buttons inside the vehicle have been behaving strangely as well. Sometimes they unlock -- sometimes they do nothing. Can anyone help?

rpnuge

I have an 03 Sequoia SR5 I bought in June. I'm very happy with it. But, occasionally, I have trouble shifting from Park. The shifter just won't move. I shut off the engine, press the brake a couple of times, etc to see if there's some safety device preventing it. I can't figure out the pattern yet, but always seems to be after I've driven it and put in Park (to idle or fill up the gas). Does anyone know of any safety device that prevents shifting from Park? or should I bring it the the dealers attention when I bring it in for service?
Thanks,
Rich

raddboy41

Yes, there is a shift lock mechanism that prevents the vehicle from being shifted out of "Park" unless you press on the brake pedal. Sometimes I'll get in a hurry and pull down on the shifter lever a bit BEFORE depressing the brake. Evidently, preloading the lever keeps the shiftlock from moving when I depress the pedal so I have to slow down a bit and make sure I depress the brake first.

jpompeo

Contrary to the owners manual, my 03 Ltd interior lights do not "automatically" go out after 20 minutes. If the dome light or map lights get left on overnight, I wake up to a dead battery.
The Dealer says that that "Auto Off after 20min" feature does not apply to Sequoia's with Sunroof.

Does that make any sense? Do your interior lights automatically cycle off after 20 mins?

rpnuge

I have an 03 SR5 with a sunroof and my interior lights go off by themselves. The explanation you got doesn't make sense. Is there a setting/switch somewhere to activate the auto shut off?

rpnuge

For all the people complaining about the vibration at 35-40MPH, I have an 03 SR5 and have NO vibration. As a matter of fact, the shifting and acceleration is quite smooth.

jpompeo

Contrary to the owners manual, my 03 Ltd interior lights do not "automatically" go out after 20 minutes. If the dome light or map lights get left on overnight, I wake up to a dead battery.
The Dealer says that that "Auto Off after 20min" feature does not apply to Sequoia's with Sunroof.

Does that make any sense? Do your interior lights automatically cycle off after 20 mins?

redsox5

Doesn't the Sequoia have a low fuel warning light? I had 22 miles left on the tank, according to the trip computer and had no warning light on the dash. Am I missing something?