Electrical complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 7 | 35% | 0 miles |
| 2017 | 1 | 14% | 6,000 miles |
| 2016 | 3 | 27% | 258,000 miles |
| 2015 | 2 | 22% | 11,000 miles |
| 2014 | 2 | 12% | 6,000 miles |
| 2013 | 1 | 8% | 50,000 miles |
| 2012 | 5 | 25% | 40,000 miles |
| 2011 | 2 | 12% | 130,000 miles |
| 2010 | 4 | 13% | 78,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 17% | 72,000 miles |
| 2008 | 5 | 7% | 140,000 miles |
| 2007 | 12 | 9% | 99,000 miles |
| 2006 | 17 | 8% | 80,000 miles |
| 2005 | 34 | 10% | 86,000 miles |
| 2004 | 34 | 9% | 74,000 miles |
| 2003 | 66 | 12% | 60,000 miles |
| 2002 | 42 | 6% | 119,000 miles |
| 2001 | 31 | 6% | 110,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated while driving at 55 mph, the lane departure and rear cross passing warning light illuminated and the vehicle failed to turn off. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer to inspect the vehicle however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. Several months later, the failure recurred. The contact took the vehicle back to the same local dealer to be inspected. The contact was informed that the rear bumper sensor was not properly aligned to the brackets on the bumper, causing the failure. The vehicle was repaired however, the contact was concerned that at some point the failure might recur. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 45,000.
I purchased this vehicle new from mark miller Toyota on fri dec 29th, left the dealership at 12:10 pm with 39 miles on it. Ran a few errands and showed my friends, we went to leave after eating some food and at 45 miles in my odo I got 2 error messages. "blind spot monitor malfunction, visit your dealer" and "rear cross traffic alert malfunction, visit your dealer". I had only put 6 miles on this and I contacted the dealership right away at 6:47 pm and was told that the service dept wouldn't hang around for me to get there in 10 mins or less and that I could bring it in another day or to any dealership. Light has come on 2 more times since, the 3rd time total, I drove it to a different dealership(that's closer to me) but they had no one available to look at it. The service lady did see it but all she did was make an appt for me for wed jan 3rd to have it look at. …
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2016 Toyota Sequoia. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 158,343, and at the time of vehicle registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 258,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Toyota Sequoia. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the driver adjusted the driver's seat with the electronic control functions. Suddenly, the vehicle lunged forward and backwards with an unintended acceleration. The driver was uncertain how the failure occured. The vehicle was to be taken to a dealer for further inspection and diagnosis. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and provided no remedy other than advising the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 965.
Electric door locks failed on all 4 doors. Two were replaced by Toyota under warranty. They made me pay to replace one and they refused to replace the other. Now the drivers door lock has failed again. The drivers door will not lock or unlock when using the fob. The rear drivers side door will not lock or unlock using the fob or any other lock / unlock switch in the car. This means the car cannot be opened using the fob at all. It's a safety hazard and Toyota will not take responsibility to replace them.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that the wiring on the vehicle was chewed due to rodents. The side air bags were also chewed out. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the wiring contained soy products and needed to be replaced the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000. The VIN was not available. Updated 03/01/17
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2010 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that while attempting to register the vehicle, it was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 90,586, and at the time of checking the Carfax, it was discovered that the mileage was 260,000.
Vehicle was started and put into reverse. The vehicle immediately began to accelerate. Brake was stepped on and depressed with both feet, but the vehicle continued to spin tires trying to accelerate to a maximum speed. Vehicle was then thrown into "drive" and the vehicle attempted to accelerate to a maximum speed forward spinning all four tires (when not in four wheel drive). The vehicle was then thrown into park and shut down. Later that night (while the car was parked and unoccupied) the vehicle attempted to start itself. The headlights and interior lights turned on and off while the vehicle attempted to spin the starter. The vehicle did not start as it also appeared to drain the battery. This continued for approximately 5-7 minutes. Additionally, the interior equipment such as the radio and speakers turned on and off while this electrical issued was going on. …
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system › Software
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles. The air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may erroneously detect a fault during the vehicle start-up self check.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the air bag ECU, free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371.
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Sequoia years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2003 (66), 2002 (42), 2004 (34), 2005 (34) and 2001 (31) model years. Electrical complaints make up 12% of all complaints for the 2003.
Is there a recall for Toyota Sequoia electrical problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 18V-685 (software, Oct 4, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Toyota Sequoia electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles; 30% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the instrument cluster/panel (18 mentions), followed by the wiring › fuses and circuit breakers (4).
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.