Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (electronic stability control and traction control).
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).
The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that upon coming to a complete stop, the traction control system would independently activate, causing the vehicle to suddenly stop upon acceleration. The contact stated that the traction control light would intermittently illuminate during the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and they informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact was referred to NHTSA for assistance. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 270,535.
When driving 70 MPH on the interstate, the vehicle periodically yanks hard to the right, it sounds like I have a flat tire, front right tire feels and sounds like it stopped turning. Car slows, vsc system idiot lights flash and beep. After I have successfully though unintentionally run another car off the road it returns to normal. The idiot lights stay on until the car is turned off. Has been taken to mechanics numerous times in last few weeks, cannot find a problem. But keeps happening. Mechanic is aware of 2003 and newer recall for the same reason, tried recalibrating yaw sensor successfully. 3 days later it happened again mechanics says the sensor May be periodically malfunctioning, over correcting for a nonexistent problem. It has happened going 30 MPH once, as well as today the lights and beeping went off at a dead stop in my driveway. …
Now, before we changed the axle a new issue popped up as the ABS module caused the vsc system to engage at low speed below 10 MPH. After 10 MPH the system worked fine. During that engagement of the system I could have been killed by oncoming traffic or injured very badly. So, the mechanic went back to change out the left axle and did a diagnostic test on the sensors, which the left front was not reading and the right was intermittent. That was baffling to the mechanic, so we talked and changed both sensors and the left axle. He checked the vehicle and the vsc system still engaged at the low speed below 10 MPH, most of the vibration was gone but some was still there at 70 MPH, which he agreed with me that it could be possibly the drive shaft that ties into the 4 wheel drive system. So he decides to do the diagnostic test in the 4x2 mode and 4x4 mode on all the sensors on each wheel. …
The first time my ABS/vcs trac lights came on was after I had to brake hard on a downward hill. I accelerated to climb the other side of the hill and it was after doing that which the vcs trac and trac off lights first came on at around 168,000 miles. There was a fast beeping sound lasting for maybe 10 sec then it regained power. Now it will do it within just a few miles of our home. We have had several more occasions since this initial incident where there was a jerking/pulling of the right front tire. Also the air conditioning would come on and off like it was trying to surge. Also idles very low, below 500 RPM and then finally shuts off. This vehicle has become very dangerous to drive. …
While driving my 2002 sequioa at any speed above 20mph, the vehicle makes a terrifying grinding noise, while the skid icon beeps and the trac & vsc lights come on. The steering & braking becomes difficult and the car veers to the right. Its happened several times over the years and I recently learned of this forum. If I start the truck and let it run while I finish getting dressed, the lights will sometimes be on before I start driving and the problem doesn't occur but that could take up to an hour to occur, so I've learned to only drive it when the lights are on on the dash. Been to dealership who only reminds me that there are no recalls on my truck. One dealerships concern was only to sell me another vehicle while reminding me how expensive the issue was to fix, quoting me a repair cost of approximately $3000. …
My father and I were leaving frys electronics on Friday May 19, 2017. As we turned from the fry's parking lot to head on the 60 fwy all of a sudden the vsc started beeping and just as we we picking up speed(50mph) the truck started to swerve while at the same time a grinding sound went off my father pushed the vsc off switch but did not have any effect on what was happening. When the beeping had stopped both vsc off and vsc lights had stayed on and the vehicle seemed to be running OK and ever since that day whenever we use the Sequoia the lights come on and stay on during the trip on occasions it doesn't turn on after about 5 mins the beeping goes on and vehicle engine immediately slows and grinding sound goes on and causes vehicle to swerve and my father is a bit elderly so as a son I am putting in this complaint in hopes of some assistance in repairs this malfunction. …
I have a 2002 Toyota Sequoia limited, with 111,000 miles on it. Twice July 13 and July 21 all of the dash lights for (vsc, traction control, anti-lock brakes, parking brake) lights come on and stay on. It has happen at low driving speeds (approx. 20-30 MPH), there was some slight braking or pushing feeling of the vehicles control. As I can see by many post regarding the problem with Toyota Sequoia's of the same year and model as mine in many of the complaints filed with nhsta. In researching the problem, it appears to be a driving safety issue if it occurs at higher speeds, luckily mine happened at low speeds. If Toyota is aware of this problem and has done recalls for the skid control ECU/yaw rate sensor on the 2003 Toyota Sequoia's, why not a recall on the 2002 sequoias which seem to have the same problem? Can my Sequoia still be driven? Is it safe for my family at higher speeds? …
The first indication that something was wrong was the first week of September 2019. I was driving down a county road when the lights indicator lights for the trac and vsc started flashing and beeping when I drove over some bumps. The lights would not go off even when pressing trac off. I turned off the car and restarted it and the lights were off but only for about 15 minutes into my drive. I took it to the Toyota dealership and the agent said he did not know anything about the system and I would have to bring it back for diagnostics. That night I was getting ready to go over a rather large bridge when all of the sudden the car jerked twice to the right with the second event pulling me off the road. It was extremely frightening and terrified us all. Thank god it did not happen on the bridge or under other circumstances. …
Grinding noise, beeping, warning lights flashing, difficulty steering, difficulty braking, clunking when braking, vsc and ABS lights on. Very scary. I was driving approximately 50 MPH. It also happened when my daughter was driving it. Very intermittent. I was going straight, no turning, no bumps in the road. So random. I have researched the much on youtube and the internet and there are many others who have experienced this scary situation. I am afraid to drive the vehicle and it is a major safety hazard and must be fixed! I heard they recalled the 2003's but not the 2002's but they have the same parts. I will send pictures of others who have similar complaints. If you go to the website I sent you will find many others who have experienced the same thing. I am sending only a sample. Please do something. Serious safety hazard, whatever the problem is! …
2002 Sequoia purchased used, vsc trac desengages without warning at any time, slowing down the vehicle and making grinding noice in the suspension or breaks, it will reset again after park and shutting the engine off, this problem had happen at least 10 times in about one year that I am driving it, due to the unexpected desengage of the vsc trac at any time slowing down the vehicle with out warning and no break light it is a safety concern, I have look in the internet and this problem is very common with this vehicles equiped with the vsc trac, I have called Toyota and there is no recalls for the issue, I believe it it is a malfunction of the system it should be take care unless they are waiting for something drastic to happen, hope I can get some where with this complaint, this is a second Toyota at home and I like to keep both cars for as long as I can. …
NHTSA investigations
Yaw rate sensor malfunction
On June 14, 2016, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE16-006 to investigate 135 complaints alleging incidents of yaw rate sensor malfunctions resulting in unexpected Vehicle Stability Control (VSC) activations and steering pull while driving in model year (MY) 2001-2002 Toyota Sequoia vehicles.ODI identified a total of 958 incidents in complaints provided by Toyota or submitted…
Traction Control complaints in other Sequoia years
Frequently asked questions
How common are traction control problems on the 2002 Toyota Sequoia?
NHTSA has 251 complaints about the stability & traction control of the 2002 Toyota Sequoia, 38% of the model year's 666 complaints. The component named most often is automatic (asc) (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2002 Toyota Sequoia traction control problems?
No. NHTSA lists no stability & traction control recall for the 2002 Toyota Sequoia, though it has 6 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2002 Toyota Sequoia traction control problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 123,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 5 crashes, 0 fires and 9 injuries to stability & traction control 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.