Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2004 Toyota Sequoia owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. There was an abnormal rattling sound detected in the front area. The vehicle was shaking. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who determined that the frame was completely rusty and unsafe to drive. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to have the frame checked, and it was determined there was minor rust detected. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Crestmont Toyota Parts Crestmont Toyota Service, 730 NJ-23 N, Pompton Plains, NJ 07444, who determined there was rust detected but was not repaired. The contact wrote a letter to the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 198,000.
The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that while completing an inspection and emissions test on the vehicle, the mechanic informed the contact that there was severe rust on the rear subframe of the vehicle, near the control arm, and several other areas on the subframe. The contact stated that there were several holes on the subframe caused by the extreme rust. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 203,000.
TOYOTA frame is falling apart due to the use of faulty metal to manufacture those frames they ran a limited service campaign to replace some of the frames and they denied many other owners that right please help by telling TOYOTA North America to take care of this very hazardous issue thank you
Took my 2004 Toyota Sequoia for service at ira Toyota of danvers massachusetts on 9/13/2012. Was notified that a recall regarding frame rust was also available and the frame needed to be inspected. Never received a letter in the mail and they informed me in person while at service that they will coat the frame in crc compound. Never even said if it was bad enough (which the photos show) that they will replace the frame. They did replace the spare tire carrier due to rust. A few years prior to 2012, payed 950$ at a local body shop to have the vehicle coated in an anti rust protection, still did not help. Have had a huge issue with rust development since buying the car brand new from ira Toyota of danvers in 2004. Since the crc was done, it has chipped away, rust is still very prevalent on frame/all over the vehicle. …
I bought this vehicle new and have maintained it in accordance with manufacturer specifications. Additionally, this particular vehicle is garage kept so it is not subject to weather routinely. The rear lift gate latching mechanism has failed on my vehicle 4 times. This is a very common problem with Toyota Sequoia vehicles. Both of my local dealers state it is a very common problem. This time the cable just "snapped". It failed while I was at a gas station and needed to open the hatch. It has been repaired/replaced twice in the last few years, but continues to fail. A simple search on google will show tens of thousands of these vehicles with the same problem. It is a safety problem because it fails without notice and when it does it eliminates a means of egress from the vehicle in the case of an accident. …
Took 2004 Sequoia to kings Toyota for the airbag recall as well as diagnostic eval of vsc ABS lights issue. Received a phone call that the tech could not determine the electrical problem unless we paid an additional $360 for more time to diagnose and that the frame was rusted through with large holes. Wondered if we wanted to pursue the electrical issue with the larger safety issue with the frame. Original issue occurred with lights coming on (had happened several times previously) followed by the power windows ceasing to work, several hours later the wipers and window seemed sluggish and the car lost all power. Had to jump the car several times to get off the road and then when jumping no longer worked, we had to push the vehicle into a church parking lot. After being told by mr. …
After getting off the highway and parking, I found it hard to move steering wheel and the car began making loud noise. When our mechanic looked at it, he said the entire frame had rusted, including the part that holds the power steering fluid, causing the power steering fluid to fall out, and creating the steering problems. He determined the vehicle was unsafe to drive and recommended I called Toyota dealerships to see if they would replace the frame as part of Toyota's frame replacement program. I tried calling 2 Toyota dealerships (including the one from which I purchased the vehicle) and both said they're not running that program anymore and there's nothing they can do. I then called Toyota customer service, filed my case and requesting that frame be replaced due to the extreme rust and the problems it was causing with under 75,000 mi on it. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the vehicle veered uncontrollably from left to right. The contact was able to move the vehicle off the roadway safely. The contact also stated that the rear trailing arm fractured due to excessive corrosion. The subframe was sprayed per an unknown service campaign, but it did not prevent the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the subframe was plate welded. Toyota of smithfield (located at 550 george washington hwy, smithfield, ri 02917, [phone]) was contacted and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The contact was informed that the service campaign had expired and no further assistance would be offered. The approximate failure mileage was 210,000. The VIN was not available.
Hello I purchased a 2004 Toyota Sequoia through a private sale on 4/1/15. We brought the car home and took it to our local mechanic to have a new exhaust system put in. At that time we where told that the vehicle has extensive frame rust and holes and we should take it to a Toyota dealer. After bringing the car to the dealer, we where told that the vehicle has frame rust and holes from front to rear and the vehicle will not pass state inspection. I call corporate Toyota and was told that they cannot do anything about this since the campaign to replace/fix the frames expired 7/31/2014. So basically we have a 2004 Toyota Sequoia that is a no good and Toyota is not going to take care of their faulty frame.
Rear hatch handle breaks probably due to faulty design of handle, cable and latch. Falure happens when opening rear hatch. Vehicle stationary. If handle breaks you are unable to access the spare tire due to where the crank mecanism that lowers spare tire is located. Closed door hatch blocks access to crank. No other access to crank. On this vehicle handle has broken 3 times. On our 2005 Sequoia it has broken 4 times. Toyota plastic handle is obviously week since it breaks in the same spot every time at a replacement cost at the dealer of $600.00 to $850.00 each occasion. I am unable to provide pictures as the broken parts were disposed of.
Body complaints in other Sequoia years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2004 Toyota Sequoia?
NHTSA has 77 complaints about the body & structure of the 2004 Toyota Sequoia, 20% of the model year's 380 complaints. The component named most often is body (57 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2004 Toyota Sequoia body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2004 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 2004 Toyota Sequoia body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 135,000 miles, and 2% before 25,000 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.