2001 Toyota Sequoia: jerking or lurching

Filed Jun 14, 2024 · Engine · 181,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2001 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, he became aware of a cranking sound and the vehicle suddenly started jerking and shaking. An unknown warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired, and the front wheel speed sensor was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated the failure had gotten worse over time. The contact also stated that while searching online, he became aware that the failure was a common failure with similar vehicles. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or local dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 181,000.

Filed Jul 12, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 146,000 miles · CA

While I was traveling on the highway at 70 MPH, the right front brake locked up momentarily and lurched the vehicle, the vsc and traction control light started flashing and a warning buzzer went off. After looking into things, there are known issues with the 2001 and 2002 toyota sequoia that cause this exact thing to happen to plenty of other people. I understand that there has already been an evaluation done on this matter and it was ruled that the severity of the issue does not warrant a recall. Why there is no recall being issued on the multiple failure points in the vehicle's system and people are required to spend thousands of dollars in repairs for parts and labor when the manufacturer's design didn't last? I purchased this vehicle for my father to feel more safe in, and that is the last thing that he feels while driving it. I am now required to drive our affected vehicle and have to be constantly paying attention so that the ABS system doesn't shoot me into another vehicle.

Filed Mar 13, 2019 · Driver assistance · 294,000 miles · TX

Driving down the road trac, vsc trac lights come on and the vehicle breaks hard and jerks the steering wheel to the right.

Filed Mar 13, 2017 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 154,075 miles · CA

While driving on flat, dry, level pavement at freeway speeds the vsc has been activating causing the steering wheel to jerk to the right. As the steering wheel pulls the vehicle to the right there is a chime, then the vsc and trac system shuts its self off and the "off" light stays illuminated until the engine is shut off. Upon restart, the vsc is on again and the cycle repeats. The check engine light is not on. There is no way to predict when the wheel will be jerked again. Seems very dangerous.

Filed Nov 18, 2016 · 177,000 miles · PA

Just driving along, and feels like the brakes grab - - jerk the wheel truck rocks and vsc trac lights go on. Problem has been occurring intermittently for months. Can be at highway speeds, but also happens at any speed. Very dangerous and scary. I recalled having a problem with my pistons in my calipers seezing up so I replaced them. But shortly after on the highway I had to come to a immediate stop not slamming on the brakes but just pressing the brake all the way down the vsc track off light comes on. If I shut the truck off the light goes off but even if not moving now if I press the brake all the way down the light will come on. Doing my research online I notice the 2003 version had a recall for the same or similar issue but this year has yet to be on that list.

Filed Jul 30, 2016 · Brakes · 90,000 miles · TX

Driving on the freeway at 60 MPH the vehicle jerked violently to the right. I was charged nearly $1,000.00 to change the faulty ABS sensor. I want my money refunded.

Filed Jun 24, 2016 · Driver assistance · 142,996 miles · CA

While driving down the road about 30-45 MPH the vehicle suddenly jerked to the left as if someone else turned the steering wheel. If I hadn't moved fast it would have been a major accident in the neighboring lane. There was a beep at the same time and the trac light and vsc trac light went on. Upon further testing the yaw rate sensor had a fail code of c1234 and the code c1363 booster pedal force switch vault was also affected. Our yaw rate sensor needed replacing. I hear a recall is in the works for this. If ao I want a refund please. It was very scary and dangerous.

Filed Nov 12, 2015 · Driver assistance, Wheels · 188,000 miles · TX

Tuesday, november 10, 2015, I was driving down interstate 37 toward corpus christi, tx, and out of the blue my well maintained vehicle had a hard shake/shimmy in the rear end. It rocked my rearend left to right. Very scary. Luckily I had both hands on the wheel. The traction control sensor went off. I braked, thinking maybe I had had a tire go flat quickly. Very scary at 75 MPH. Also very lucky that not semi's or vehicles were near me. I turned the sequoia off and got out to check the tires. There was no problem. I got back in and restarted the vehicle, the traction control lights had gone off, so I started to accelerate back into traffic...and the sequoia went crazy again, rear end shaking, traction control lights going off. It was 8 pm, dark. I was too scared to try driving again, so I called for a tow. I have done some research on similar problems and found there were many. Some people say it is an electronic control sensor. Each wheel has one and maybe one went out causing that wheel to rotate differently from the others, jerking the car around. This is very dangerous! I had been in san antonio, tx rush hour traffic just 3 hours before and had this jerking that caused swerving happened on the downtown highways, someone could have been killed. People should be warned and toyota should recall vehicles affected, because from my research, there are a lot of affected sequoias.

Filed Jul 2, 2015 · Acceleration · 297,000 miles · NC

My 2001 sequoia was in an accident in november 2014. It was totaled but I decided to have it repaired as it was in great running condition prior to accident. It had been running fine to around may when the vsc went off while I was driving around a curve making me almost lose control of the car. The same thing would happen intermittently with a slight jerk of the car to the left. On june 25th there was a very violent jerk to the left while I was driving with my boys. Took it to a dealership on 6/27/15 and was told it was the yaw rate sensor. Dealership re-calibrated and it ran fine for 2 days. On 6/29/15 there was another violent jerk of the truck with the vsc lights coming on. I called the dealership and they instructed me to bring it back in. Took truck in on 6/30/15 and was told I would need to repair the yaw rate sensor since the recalibration did not work. I was given an estimate of $746.29 for replacement and this was taking into account the $108 I spent on 6/27/15. Told the repairman I would investigate further and would get back with him. As I was pulling out of the dealership going less than 5 MPH, the truck jerked violently again almost slamming me into the car in the left lane. With the high mileage of the truck I do not want to spend an absorbent amount of money for repairs. As these sensors have reportedly had reports of multiple malfunctions in the past based on my research, I am not even sure that having it replaced would even fix the problem and if it did, would I be faced with the same problem a few months down the road when the new sensor goes bad. I can not believe that toyota or the government would allow this type of malfunction which is life-threatening to go on unresolved. Is it really going to take the loss of lives as in the case of the airbags before something is done? Help!

Filed Jun 29, 2015 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 179,000 miles · TX

My 2001 toyota sequoia violently experienced a vsc trac error when driving next to a semi on the freeway. It almost pulled my car into the semi, and then off the road as the wheel jerked, brakes and engine response cut significantly. This highway issue happened last month, and just this week, the problem has become more frequent, occurring on neighborhood streets with absolutely no triggers. The steering wheel sometime shakes, and sometime pulls suddenly. It occurs sometimes during a slow turn, but is also happening just driving at 25 miles an hour down a straight road.....updated 11/13/15 *bf updated 12/28/2015

Filed Jan 30, 2015 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 93,400 miles · FL

On multiple occasions, my 2001 toyota sequoia has shown random activation of the vehicle stability control system at highway speeds on dry, smooth pavement. Each incident the same thing happens: the activation of a brief audible warning beep, the vsc indicator light flashes along with the slippery surface light (two squiggly lines) and the vehicle suddenly begins randomly applying hard ABS braking to the right front wheel, accompanied with a loud grinding noise that sounds like it coming from the braking system. The brakes feel as if they are pulsating during each of these incidents, it is almost impossible to control the vehicle. It jerks and swerves from side to side and shakes violently. The only way to regain control is to reduce the speed and pull to the side of the road as quickly and safely as possible. The lights stay on until the vehicle is cut off. Once the car is turned off the lights will go out. After the car sits for about 30 minutes or more or over night the lights will no longer be lgo out. I have had the truck diagnosed with the yaw rate censor code by one repair shop and one autoparts store. Over the past year, this serious problem has recurred at least four times without warning and there is not a predictable set of circumstances that seems to cause an occurrence. My wife now refuses to drive this vehicle and I have dramatically reduced the usage this SUV for fear that another incident may result in a serious accident!!! It is a very frightening experience for me and my family. I have 98,200 mile on the vehicle.

Filed Oct 23, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 112,500 miles · CA

On multiple occasions, the vehicle has exhibited random activation of the vehicle stability control system at highway speeds on dry, smooth pavement. Each incident is characterized by: the activation of a brief audible warning beep, the vsc indicator light flashes along with the slippery surface light (two squiggly lines) and the vehicle suddenly begins randomly applying hard ABS braking to the wheels intermittently shifting from side to side, back to front, accompanied with a loud grinding noise that appears to emanate from the braking system. During these incidents, it is almost impossible to control the vehicle as it jerks from side to side and shakes violently. The only viable response is to reduce speed and pull to the side of the road as quickly as possible. To recover control, the vehicle ignition must be turned off and the vehicle restarted. Over the past year, this serious problem has recurred at least four times without warning and there is not predictable set of circumstances that seems to initiate an occurrence. My wife now refuses to drive this vehicle and I have dramatically reduced the usage this SUV for fear that another incident may result in a serious accident!