2001 Toyota Sequoia Limited Edition from North America - Comments

I have a 2001 Sequoia that now has 120k miles, and have had the following problems:

* 2 times each - broken rear door handle and window motor mechanism

* Broken electric antenna motor

* Have had several full brake jobs, and still have a lot of vibration from warped rotors when applying the brakes

* The tires wear unevenly and need to be replaced every couple years

* The O2 sensor is shot, it is in the manifold which has been leaking from day one, resulting in that ticking noise

* The engine light is always on because of the O2 sensor, which we haven't replaced since you have to do the manifold job also - and it is too expensive.

* The rear differential and bottom of the car was so rusty, the fluid was leaking out

* Now the VSC/VSC off and brake lights are coming on - and the brakes are acting like the ABS is engaged every time they are applied even on dry roads, yielding a long braking distance and extreme rumbling.

All of these problems were symptomatic, so I don't think our mechanic was making up any of this stuff.

Amazingly familiar stories... wish I would have found this site earlier. We purchased our 2001 Sequoia in 12/00 and still own it with 137K miles today. One of the first delivered to Dallas. Like everyone, brakes are a problem. Rotors warp and we replace the FRONT pads every 30k. Front rotors replaced at 127K miles. Never knew about brake (rotor/caliper) recall?

Back hatch latch broke once. Rear window motor broke 5 yrs ago. The "D" dash light to represent Drive burned out 5 yrs ago and was not worth replacing.

Car is in independent shop right now to replace interior driver's door opener/mechanism as cable broke and we can't get out without rolling down window and opening from outside. $390 estimate.

Car started stalling while driving (at 131K) and DSC, etc dash lights lit up - dealer diagnosed as bad "throttle body". Replaced for $1400 (ouch) and no more issues (yet).

Never even had AC charged and still ice cold... zero AC problems in 8.5 yrs (and we live in Dallas). Tires wear perfectly (never have aligned) and we get 40-45K out of our Michelin Cross Terrains. We maintain the car perfectly - have proactively replaced the serpentine belt twice and timing belt/water pump once. Oil changed every 3.5K. No problems with antenna. 2WD transmission still smooth and perfect.

So overall it's been good for our family and we plan to keep it longer. Have taken several vacations where we've driven 3500 miles in 2 weeks. Overall a great, reliable & very comfortable vehicle (other than brakes!). Glad we never invested in the extended warranty as we would have lost money.

I have had my 2001 Sequoia since 02, and have not had any major problems until 2006.

The brakes are terrible; they rumble when braking. Replaced all rotors and pads plus calipers, and I still have a problem with the brakes.

THE MAJOR PROBLEM IS THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE DROPS TO ZERO, and the rear hatch will not open. NEVER WILL I BUY A 40,000 vehicle again.

JUNK VEHICLE (does not hold its value like most Toyotas)

Our 2001 Sequoia SR5 now has 126K on it. The "D" indicator for Drive on the dash was burned out when we got the vehicle 5 years ago when it had 54K on it. I've performed all the regular maintenance on the vehicle, including brakes, oil changes, plugs, radiator flush, differential fluid etc...

Only issues we have had are the rear hatch and window giving us some trouble. Bumped the window button on the remote a few times and the window goes down but not back up. The rubber grommet for the wiper on the rear hatch leaked water into the mechanisms in the door when it rained and made the tracks rusty that the window rides in. The rear latch unhooked one time as well, and we couldn't open the door. Disconnected the wire to the window so it will not come down anymore.

Otherwise it has been a very dependable vehicle for us, getting between 16 and 17 mpg, and the 4WD working nicely here in the hills and mountains of Pa.

I own a 2001 Toyota Sequoia that now has 153 k miles. Overall, the car is still in great shape, although we have had similar problems to those mentioned in other comments. Brakes whistle, probably need new pads, have replaced O2 sensor twice - once the dealer claimed that he could not get it out of the exhaust manifold and therefore I would need a new manifold at a cost of $900. After learning that the O2 sensor really doesn't do much, I told him to just forget it - guess what, suddenly he was able to get the sensor out of the manifold and it was replaced for $100.

Recently, the VSC and VSC off lights have been coming on and off. Dealer says I need a $1300 throttle body - owner's manual says it's okay to drive, but VSC isn't working (so I guess I can "lay a scratch" in my driveway if I want).

2001 Limited bought in Dec 00. 133K.

No problems except High Beam indicator, Park and Drive lamps burned out.

AC running warm at idle, fine on highway in Dallas.

Will recharge this week.

Leather seat giving out. I weigh 175.

Hate rear window. Has a mind of its own, but found any pressure on rear door stops the window from functioning. Hate the ease with which the key fob activates in my pocket.

VSC Brake light on? Add Brake Fluid.

Check brakes as the caliper travel distance is tied to fluid level and the brakes travel.

Trim around window coming unglued.

Have maintained exceedingly well as the two 4 Runners (one at 360K)

We shall see...

I currently own a 2007 4 wheel Drive Limited Sequoia. I traded my 2006 for this one and it also suffered from the transmission bump, which is corrected by lubing the trans-axles which is a temporary fix. The 07 seems to be plagued with the same problem, but worse. Sometimes it does it a few seconds after I stop, and it is more consistent than with the other truck. I even had the dealer lube the transaxle, which normally resolves the issue. Not sure what to do about it. All I can think of sooner or later this will cause a transmission problem.

The driver side seat tends to lose its memory setting, even though the mirrors don't.

The front tires were wearing on the putter edge, and it was deemed an alignment was in order and it resolved the issue. There was a re recall on the 06 model, which required the ball joints to be replaces and once they completed the work the alignment was off. I knew this because the tires squeaked when I turned the corner in my parking structure.

The back window would not roll down when I picked it up from the dealer. It started working on its own, and now if it's not working the defroster and the read wiper doesn't work either. Since this is an intermittent problem, it has yet go be serviced.

My brake light just came on last week after my week vacation and lots of driving. The VCS and ABS lights are on as well, but I have not checked the fluids as one owner suggested. I will check all of the fluids today once I get home, and hopefully that's the reason for the transmission issue as well.

Now at about 30 thousand miles + I did not expect to have any issues. Since I have my oil changed at the dealership, I will have all off this investigated.

I have a '03 Sequoia.

I was having a problem with all my brake lights coming on (VSC, etc.) and just paid $800 to replace the sensor--just last month. Now my brake light is coming on randomly, and goes off when I start and re-start the car. I'm just going online to investigate this now, and I'm seeing that a lot of people have the same problem.

Does anybody have any suggestions? I was going to bring the car in tomorrow for yet another check, but am really not interested in dumping another several hundred dollars.

I recently bought a so called clean 2001 Sequoia Limited. I also experienced the same severe front brake vibration (FBV) problem as everyone else after a while. I found a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin BR005-2) regarding this issue with Sequoia. The front rotors, calipers, and bearings need to be replaced with larger size parts. Apparently the original design is under sized for this large vehicle, and in the newer models Toyota has changed the design using the larger size components. For this reason the original rotors warp and the brake pads wear unevenly severely -- hence the seveer vibration.

The reason for VSC light-on issue is low brake fluid. Because of warped front disks, the caliper may eventually get damaged and leak fluid. At least that was the case with my vehicle. The cost for this replacement was $1800 at a third party Toyota vehicle specialist. It would be probably higher if you take the vehicle to the dealer.

I called Toyota customer relation department, but they do not acknowledge the design issue (the defect) and do not take any responsibility. I took the car to a nearby dealer; the service manager indirectly acknowledges the issue, but told me that they cannot do anything about it. The owner has to pay for the repair.

Today was a hot day in San Francisco Bay area and I had a short drive to the nearby shopping center with the AC on. The vehicle overheated and the temperature gauge climbed up all the way to the red marker. I suspect a stock thermostat, and hope that it is not another costly repair job.

The engine has recently started an unpleasant ticking noise (sounds like bad valve lifters).

Apart from these problems, the vehicle has a pleasant ride, partly due to the new Michelin tiers. Overall I like this SUV, but will probably take a loss and replace it with a new full size American SUV soon. I can put up with any problem but a ticking V8 Toyota engine. American V8 engines are usually very smooth and have a pleasant feel.

I have a 2001 Sequoia Limited that I have 182,000 miles on. I am trading my sister for her 2006 Sequoia. She is upgrading to a Lexus. I have replaced the brakes only twice and my electric antennae had to be replaced. Otherwise, this has been an awesome traveling car for long trips which has taken my family of 5 from Oklahoma to the Colorado mountains and back several times. It's a workhorse of a vehicle that I have been extremely pleased with. I wouldn't be surprised if it goes another 100,000 miles for the next owner! Toyota rocks!

I own a 2003 Sequoia Limited I bought used in 2007. 138k miles. Great vehicle for the most part but...

The brakes are just undersized for the vehicle. Toyota admits it, but won't fix it for free. My dealership said for $2500 they would install a larger system, rotors, calipers, backing plates. I just ordered slotted and cross-drilled rotors with ceramic pads. Hope to fix it this way along with less aggressive braking.

My oil pressure would drop to zero when I first bought it. I replaced the oil pressure sending unit with a redesigned one from Toyota, haven't had a problem since. Another admitted problem.

My liftgate locking mechanism (electrical) didn't work when I bought it, replaced the module and it's been fine. However while putting it back together, the metal latch broke in my hand. Replaced it. So far so good.

My "D" bulb also burned out. Refused to pay $37 for a tiny bulb. Went to Radio Shack and bought (2) bulbs for under $5. Fixed it.

My fuel gauge all of a sudden goes to EMPTY. No rhyme or reason. I suspect the sending unit, but haven't attacked that yet.

My rear window stopped working. I looked at everything, tested everything, and if I'd been a pro, I would have replaced the motor. Luckily for me I quit being a pro 25 years ago. I actually took the motor apart, and found a stray wire at the end of a winding, that was pointing off to the side. I bent it back to where it resembled the others, lubed it, put it back together and it works fine. Probably saved myself $250.

Haven't had the VSC problem, or the tranny problem, or the 4WD problems.

I too was a prior 4-Runner owner. 1993. Best vehicle I've ever owned, but I needed something bigger as my kids got bigger. Loved the 4-Runner. It's still running around town with over 230k miles on it and no major work has ever been done. I put the first set of rear brake pads on it before I sold it with over 212k miles on them. I also have a 1998 Camry that's been great.

I will buy Toyotas in the future but will be a little more cautious.

I own a 2001 Sequoia with 164,000 miles on it. I've replaced the front passenger wheel bearing in it 3 times so far within the past 4 yrs and 1 time on the driver side. Just started grinding again on the passenger front bearing again and have to replace it yet one more time and no one can answer why this keeps happening!!! Does anyone have any answers??? Please write me at espo6@aol.com if anyone knows, thank you!!