Engine complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 | 14% | 52,000 miles |
| 2014 | 1 | 6% | 0 miles |
| 2013 | 3 | 25% | 50,000 miles |
| 2012 | 3 | 15% | 10,000 miles |
| 2011 | 4 | 24% | 137,000 miles |
| 2010 | 12 | 39% | 93,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 17% | 150,000 miles |
| 2008 | 9 | 13% | 15,000 miles |
| 2007 | 22 | 16% | 118,000 miles |
| 2006 | 16 | 8% | 113,000 miles |
| 2005 | 55 | 16% | 95,000 miles |
| 2004 | 7 | 2% | 122,000 miles |
| 2003 | 30 | 5% | 125,000 miles |
| 2002 | 21 | 3% | 124,000 miles |
| 2001 | 21 | 4% | 80,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I began having trouble with the dashboard safety lights ( airbag assy ) I took my vehicle back to the dealer for repairs on: 1st attempt.- 2/18/15 diagnostic starter cranks for an extended period of time and then sputters after it does start. Excessive fuel smell. 2nd attempt.- 6/29/16 safety light for air gag. Diagnostic short in driver's side knee airbag assy. 3rd attempt.- 6/29/16 safety light for air gag. Diagnostic short in driver's side knee airbag assy. 4th attempt.- 6/1/16 safety light for air gag. Diagnostics sop ordered part light is on gest to return for repair 7/2 5th attempt.- 7/12-16 safety light for air gag. Diagnostic sop air bag center censor assy per code 1836. 6th attempt.- 7/16/16 safety light for air gag. Diagnostic loose fin fit causing code 7th attempt.- 7/29/16 safety light for air bag. …
Flex fuel models of the Toyota Sequoia with 5.7 engines have an issue where the engine's computer thinks there is e85 fuel (or an alcohol concentration that is much higher than actual) in the system when there is normal 10% or less gasoline actually present. This can cause rough cold starts/idle, power loss, sudden RPM/power dropout, missing, and lessened fuel economy, etc. (different symptoms for different trucks). My Sequoia has now been in the shop twice for the same issue related to the engine needing re-calibration and there is no assurance it won't happen again. ,my Sequoia will not start, when it does it runs very rough and sends out a blue cloud of exhaust. Ii consistently use regular gas purchased from shell or conoco and have never put in the e85 fuel. Just went in again for the same problem again on November 12,2014 - 9 months after the first issue.
Toyota has developed what is becoming an infamous oil leak on their 5.7 v8 engines that is coming from the camshaft tower (camshaft housing sub assembly). Apparently in production they use a silicone where this attaches to the head and in many cases they did not get enough silicone. Research has shown me that many, many of these have this issue and that when the vehicle is fairly new that Toyota will stand behind it in limited cases. My vehicle has 150,000 miles on it so they will not do anything to stand behind it and claimed to not be aware of the problem. I have contacted several dealerships and all of them stated they were well aware of the problem. I believe this to be a safety issue as mine has started to leak, it does so on to the exhaust manifold and has a strong burning smell each time I drive even if only a short distance. This could easily cause a fire. …
I purchased a brand new 2012 Toyota Sequoia. Since I bought the vehicle, the vehicle has had idle/accelerator problems, erratic problems with excessive transmission downshifting, racing, surging, and fluctuation of engine RPM's, making the vehicle difficult to stop safely. When I first purchased the vehicle, the service department explained to me that it was a new vehicle and it needed time,??one thousand miles,?? For the engine to break in. Their initial solution to my vehicle'??s problem did not rectify itself. I have had to return it to the dealership 2 times for repair. They stated that they have confirmed my concerns with the vehicle but it could not be repaired. That it is a design characteristic of the vehicle, that's the way they act, and that it had something to do with fuel-cutting or transmission shifting. …
Toyota has a faulty design on 5.7 liter sequoias and tundras where the engine camshaft tower sealant leaks oil towards the cabin. Since the engine is tilted back, the engine oil is directed to a heat shield and then directly to the exhaust pipe. Upon reaching the exhaust it causes smoke. The smoke will enter into the cabin causing engine fumes which occur when driving or parked until the engine cools. The engine could have caught fire, based on the amount of smoke that came out. Upon further research, this issue has caused fires. Evidence of this problem is readily available searching "Toyota tundra cam leak fire", furthermore, change.org petition has over 5,178 signatures requesting the recall. This issue has occurred in vehicles from 1,000 miles and up. Toyota now uses a different sealant to prevent this leaking, so they must have recognized the issue but have remained silent. …
On [redacted] while driving our 2011 Toyota Sequoia 4x4 Limited (5.7 iforce non flex fuel) my wife was preparing to stop at a traffic light. Completely unexpected and with no warning, the vehicle started bucking, the engine began making a knocking noise and numerous dashboard lights started flashing. It immediately stalled while attempting to stop, thus, causing a very dangerous situation, losing total control of the brakes and steering, nearly causing a collision with the vehicle in front of her. The vehicle had to be towed from the middle of the road, while in heavy traffic. Eventually it was diagnosed (at my mechanics shop) and determined to be a broken valve spring in cylinder #7. …
The contact owns a 2010 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that there was moisture and condensation in the air injection pump and the air switching valve. The contact stated that there was a manufacturer's warranty pertaining to the failure causing the check engine warning light to become illuminated however, the warranty was for 150,000 miles or 10 years, whichever came first. The vehicle was no longer covered under the warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 103,000. "The contact was informed that there was moisture and condensation in the air injection pump and the air switching valve." since this is not correct. …
I bought the vehicle under the assumption that it only had 138,000 miles on it. Upon trying to register it with Carfax I was informed that the odometer had been tampered with and the actual mileage is 345,000
Frequently asked questions
Which Toyota Sequoia years have engine problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2005 (55), 2003 (30), 2007 (22), 2001 (21) and 2002 (21) model years. Engine complaints make up 16% of all complaints for the 2005.
Is there a recall for Toyota Sequoia engine problems?
No. NHTSA lists no engine & cooling recall for any Toyota Sequoia model year. A widespread problem may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin, so ask a dealer.
At what mileage do Toyota Sequoia engine problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 99,000 miles; 29% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the exhaust system (18 mentions), followed by the engine (16).
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.