Most common 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5 problems
Share of the 107 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Toyota Sequoia SR5 complaints by model year
What 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5 owners say
Stability & traction control all 64 →
Two months after purchasing the vehicle, vsc and trac off lights became illuminated, no other symptoms. Stayed on for 2 days then disappeared again. Two months later the brake light had become illuminated, put it in park to load passengers, and when returned to drive, the vsc and trac off lights were illuminated and a grinding sound was heard when applying brakes - along with the vehicle pulling to the right. Turned the car off, checked fluids and fuses, when restarted only brake light was illuminated and car appeared to be driving normally. Took it in to Toyota today to have the problem checked out as the brake light is still on, and the grinding noise was a concern - and am told the brake booster needs to be replaced. …
Starting in December of 2014 my 2003 Toyota Sequoia has had the brake light coming on and when applying the breaks having shaking in the front end. I took my vehicle into Toyota and they said it was the wheel speed sensor, ECU. They replaced the skid control ECU and the right rear speed sensor. Costing me 1196.90. Then in March the brake light started coming on and off again periodically. It is now October 2015 and on the way home from church the brake lights and vsc and traction control , and engine lights keep coming on. I was turning and the engine stalled and nearly died in one of the busiest intersections. I have since parked it in the driveway and will have to get someone over here to look at it because I do not feel safe or comfortable driving this vehicle.
Speed control & acceleration all 29 →
The ABS actuator on my 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5 caught fire as I was driving home. The first sign of trouble was when I pulled out of a parking spot and switched from reverse to drive and was temporarily unable to accelerate. The brake pedal also shuddered before I regained acceleration. One mile down the road, at a speed of approx. 30 MPH, 3 warning lights on the dash illuminated (vsc light, ABS light, brake light) followed by the brake pedal going all the way to the floor by itself. Luckily, I wasn't rear-ended, but by this time, smoke was coming from under the hood. Upon further inspection, I could see flames coming from the actuator assembly. The fire department responded and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was deemed a total loss due to the damage to the actuator assembly, wire harness, wiper motor and hood.
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. …
Brakes all 28 →
Two months after purchasing the vehicle, vsc and trac off lights became illuminated, no other symptoms. Stayed on for 2 days then disappeared again. Two months later the brake light had become illuminated, put it in park to load passengers, and when returned to drive, the vsc and trac off lights were illuminated and a grinding sound was heard when applying brakes - along with the vehicle pulling to the right. Turned the car off, checked fluids and fuses, when restarted only brake light was illuminated and car appeared to be driving normally. Took it in to Toyota today to have the problem checked out as the brake light is still on, and the grinding noise was a concern - and am told the brake booster needs to be replaced. …
The ABS actuator on my 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5 caught fire as I was driving home. The first sign of trouble was when I pulled out of a parking spot and switched from reverse to drive and was temporarily unable to accelerate. The brake pedal also shuddered before I regained acceleration. One mile down the road, at a speed of approx. 30 MPH, 3 warning lights on the dash illuminated (vsc light, ABS light, brake light) followed by the brake pedal going all the way to the floor by itself. Luckily, I wasn't rear-ended, but by this time, smoke was coming from under the hood. Upon further inspection, I could see flames coming from the actuator assembly. The fire department responded and extinguished the fire. The vehicle was deemed a total loss due to the damage to the actuator assembly, wire harness, wiper motor and hood.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5 a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the Sequoia SR5 to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 107 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5?
The stability & traction control — 64 complaints, 60% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic (asc). Next are the speed control & acceleration (29) and brakes (28).
How many recalls does the 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5 have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
At what mileage do 2003 Toyota Sequoia SR5 problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 96,000 miles; 10% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.