Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2002 Toyota Sequoia owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Received a recall notice for the airbag. Went to vasser Toyota in napa, ca. Told they don't have the part at the time. Asked vasser Toyota call me for an appointment when the part was available. Called me for an approx 2 weeks later. Upon completion of the appt was told: 1) they didn't have the recall part so did not perform the recall work. 2) I needed new shocks - I had them replaced 3K miles previously and as a licensed mechanical engineer, knew they didn't need to be replaced.. 3) I needed new windshield wipers - replaced 1 month previously. 4) I needed new tires - replaced with new 40K mile Michelin's 10K miles prior. …
A Hyundai tucson ran a red light at a high rate of speed (approx 50 MPH) hitting us hard enough to flip us 360 degrees causing us to roll over another Hyundai tucson and Land on the opposite side of a four lane highway. We were hit on the passenger side whereby the door jam between the front and back doors took most of the hit. Due to the way we rolled and bounced off the hood of the stationary car, I, on the passenger side took most of the hit. My head hit the window and the right side of my back and right arm were bruised. My husband, who was driving, injured his shoulder. I think if we were in any other vehicle we would have been killed or far more severely injured. Our seatbelts held us in place, but the driver and passenger curtain and side airbags (that I paid extra for) did not deploy, which I think in a side impact accident and roll over, they should have. …
Dt: on dry pavement there was an accident on front end and no air bag deployed. Vehicle was stopped at the time of impact, owner thought the other vehicle was going about 45. MPH vehicle was equipped with the side curtain air bags and front driver and passenger air bags. The occupants were wearing seat belts. There was no air bag warning lights on. There has never before been an accident with this vehicle, and air bags never deployed. Vehicle was bought new. Driver sustained injuries, broken an ankle a tibia, left wrist, and sustained multiple contusions. Driver's daughter has suffered from labor contractions after accident. Occupants were treated immediately after. There was an investigation by insurance company. Vehicle was totaled, frame was bent. Owner called Toyota, and they referred her to NHTSA.
First of all I live on a island in hawaii called molokai. Took car into a repair shop and they told me they can't do the repairs cause of liability so I called Toyota, and they said I needed to ship the car to honolulu or maui for repairs. Just to ship my car off the island is going to cost me about $500.00 round trip. Why can't they send a technician to the island to do the job!!!! It's there responsibility to keep my car as safe as possible. I also talked to other people that owns Toyota's and they are having the same trouble! I also talked to the technician at the shop and they said Honda has a similar problem and Honda sends there technician to the island to do the job why can't Toyota do the same?
Left rear tire tread separation on dunlop grand trek at 21265/70/r16 on Toyota Sequoia 2002, while traveling at 65 MPH. I don't know exactly yet if the vehicle is total loss or if can be repaired because as consequence of tread separation the vehicle lost control and crashed into the concrete wall and is badly damage. My daughter and I were injured, but not too bad but. In addition the air bags did not come out after the impact. I am looking for some legal advise to see if dunlop company will honor my loss and Toyota company. I bought this SUV as "certified use vehicle" and the expiration date will be on 2008.
Consumer was driving 15-25 MPH across an intersection when another vehicle made a left turn into the intersection. The consumer's vehicle broad sided the other vehicle on the passenger side. The consumer sustained head and neck injuries along with another passenger in the vehicle. Seat belts were worn, but the air bags did not deploy. The manufacturer and the dealer were notified.
I have not had an "incident". The passenger airbag will be replaced on 7/21/2015. My question is: are all the other airbags (drivers side main airbag, all the side airbags) in this vehicle safe? If they are safe why are they safe in comparison to the passenger airbag? Or are there potential problems?
While driving at 45 MPH a very strong vibration, suddenly the front driver side wheel came off the vehicle. The vehicle crashed, serious injuries to the driver. The air bags systems never activated. The computer have an impact code, but the air bags didn't deploy.
On August 13, 2011 while traveling on I-75 south of atlanta a vehicle left the road & attempted to return and over corrected, he struck our Sequoia with such force in the rear driver side passenger door that the rear of the our Sequoia immediately turned sideways and we begin to flip. After flipping we landed on the passenger side and slid approx 1/4 of a mile before coming to resting place in the median on the passengers side. My wife &13 year old son were severely injured, myself and my other 2 sons sustained injuries but none were life threatening. Neither my wife's nor my sons seat belt locked and once the windows blew out my son was dragged down the interstate causing severe injuries to his head, back, arm and leg. My wife sustained worse injuries, her arm 6 inches & 6 inches below her elbow was cut off. …
Takata recall we have owned our sequioa since 12/13/2001, we bought it brand new. When we 1st bought it the airbag light came on immediately and bill dube of dover nh replaced something and fixed it. I have had many complaints with my vehicle and returned to the dealership many times thru out the years. I have had multiple issues with vsc traction control starting in 2002 lights would come on and go out, air bag light comes on when there is high humidity and when using air conditioning, my alloy wheels have been disgusting since 2004. I have a extensive repair history with bill dube dealership they never addressed issues as once lights on dash turn off there is no history. In 2006 my lights on dash came on I brought it to Toyota of portsmouth nh as I was almost at 100000. Miles. They could not look at vehicle due to warranty. …
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
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, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430,…
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator,…
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 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004.
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.
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 sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii,…
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.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-016 in June 2014 based on six inflator rupture incidents involving consumer owned vehicles produced by five vehicle manufacturers.All six vehicles were operated in Florida or Puerto Rico at the time of the rupture and for the majority of their service life, and were equipped with inflators produced by Takata, a tier-one supplier of automotive air bag…
Airbag complaints in other Sequoia years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2002 Toyota Sequoia?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the air bags of the 2002 Toyota Sequoia, 5% of the model year's 666 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Toyota Sequoia airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-741 (inflator module, Oct 17, 2019); NHTSA recall 18V-883 (inflator module, Dec 12, 2018); NHTSA recall 15V-285 (air bags, May 13, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2002 Toyota Sequoia airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 125,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 14 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.