Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Toyota Sequoia owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I tried to make apointments to local dealers they set up appointments and than don't do nothing about it they said the don't have any certified tech to do the job so I left with this mess not knowing when my ride is going to give. Out on me I got about 319000 miles Toyota should be proud and thank me for keeping my ride up to date I do my part to have it running good but they not doing there part to help me with these recalls please help me out.
After several years of fighting problems with, after braking to a brief stop, the loss of power/abs grinding when accelerating and turning right, now the ABS is completely dysfunctional. Both TRC lights will turn on and usually the parking brake, and when braking at speeds less than 10mph the abs will activate and prevent bring the truck to a stop without pumping them, on dry pavement. When the ABS light turns on, then braking is possible, but all pressure is gone from brake booster and brakes sound like they're grinding, not like the sound of abs engaging. Very dangerous to drive in snow as front brakes work but drive axle doesn't disengage when the brake pedal is depressed. Regular mechanic won't engage with diagnosing issues as he feels the problem is partly computer malfunction and Toyota won't allow for used part mismatching. ABS/ECU is failed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that when the brakes were engaged at an unknown speed, the pedal went to the floor as the ABS and traction control warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was able to be pulled over and stopped. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it diagnosed that the ABS hydraulic assembly, wheel speed sensor, stroke sensor, and engine control system had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however; the brake failure continued to recur. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicles actuator had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Toyota Sequoia. While driving approximately 60-65 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. The brakes failed to slow down the vehicle. The contact was able to use the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake booster failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the part was no longer being manufactured. Hutchinson Toyota of albany (located at 2865 ledo rd, albany, ga 31707, [phone]) was contacted by phone and informed of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 242,000.
I bought a Toyota Sequoia 2005 back in 2005 at rice Toyota dealer in greensboro . Today , when I was driving on the street and turned on the left light signal with less than 15 MPH while using the brake, I heard a very loud grinding noise and that instantly I saw all 3 signs ( trac off, vsc trac, brake ) on at the same time. I am almost out of breath and scared to death. The signs (trac off, vsc trac, brake ) once in a while appeared in the past and disappeared by themselve and I did not have any serious problems in the past , but today the car just acted like a dead car at that momentarily. I was so scared and scared.
Without warning, the brake, vsc, and traction control lights will all illuminate. After this happens and the brakes are applied, the ABS makes a screeching sound , the brakes lock up and then are lost completely. Usually requires a rapid response of downshifting and/ or using the parking brake to avoid collisions. This problem happens every 6-10 times it is driven. Many times there are no warnings at all, the dash lights happens instantaneously with the brake failure. Sometimes restarting the vehicle will make a stop but it is no guarantee. This has been happening for over five years with no explainable cause from my mechanic.
Tonight when backing out of my driveway I heard a loud grinding noise and my brake pedal was very hard to push. The brake light, trac off and vsc trac lights all were on. I parked the vehicle and cycled the engine and as soon as I drove away it happened again. I have had problems with just the brake light coming on then going off after turning off the key but this is the first time all 3 have come on and I have had no brakes at all. I have researched and noticed this is a common problem and yet Toyota has failed to issue a recall on this problem. I was very lucky my wife was not driving the car with my daughter in the vehicle.
The vsc trac, vsc off, brake, and ABS lights all come on all at once. This has happened numerous times since I first bought the used SUV in May 2013. It worries me as I am on the freeway not knowing what will happen. Not sure how this will affect my vehicle in the long run. It normally comes on when I drive the vehicle for more than one hour at a crawling speed. For example, there have been times the freeway hits a rush hour moment and everyone will start rolling/crawling with their vehicles. As this happens, the lights will come on at least two times in a 30 minutes to one hour time frame.
Brakes became "soft" with vibration in pedal and complete loss of acceleration power. Upon review-saw this is a common complaint that is not being resolved by Toyota. They recalled their 2003 product with the same problem. Folks go to Toyota to have problem fixed - only to have same problem within months and some folks have paid upwards of $3000.00 and the problem is not resolved. There are thousand of complaints with this problem if you will monitor toyotas complaint data base and many other forums.will a family have to be gravely injured before action is taken?
I experienced a problem with engine warning and vsc trac off lights going on. The check engine light also came on. My family and I were on a trip and our Sequoia all of a sudden lost power. It slowed down dramatically even though the engine was fine. It was a very dangerous situation because we were on an interstate where the speed is 70 MPH. I also experienced all the brakes making a massive grinding noise while going slow into a restaurant. (the brakes have less than 3000 miles on them.) the parking brake light also comes on periodically.
Brake complaints in other Sequoia years
Frequently asked questions
How common are brake problems on the 2005 Toyota Sequoia?
NHTSA has 91 complaints about the brakes of the 2005 Toyota Sequoia, 26% of the model year's 352 complaints. The component named most often is antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Toyota Sequoia brake problems?
No. NHTSA lists no brakes recall for the 2005 Toyota Sequoia, though it has 9 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 2005 Toyota Sequoia brake problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 97,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to brakes 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.