2002 Toyota Sequoia: pulls to one side

Filed Jul 21, 2019 · Acceleration, Suspension · 175,000 miles · TX

After driving roughly 40 minutes on a straight dry highway at a constant 70 MPH, my vsc off and trac off lights suddenly came on for no reason, accompanied by a loud high-pitched alarm. The steering felt like it was dragging, was grinding, and pulled to the right. Felt like something was breaking apart. Very scary since I was in the left lane with no shoulder. I decreased my speed to about 60 and moved to the right hand lane. After several seconds, the alarm and grinding/dragging stopped just as mysteriously as it started before I'd even gotten to an exit. The lights stayed lit. Before I used the vehicle again, I inflated the tires from 32.5 to 35 psia, just in case that might have contributed. The next day, I drove on the highway for 40 minutes with no problem, but on the way back home, the same thing recurred after about 20 minutes, again at highway speeds on a straight section of dry road. This time the dragging and grinding was worse and the alarm lasted much longer. Again, it mysteriously stopped as I was preparing to exit the highway. Searching similar anecdotes seems to imply a known failure of the yaw sensor. That sensor has triggered the lights to come on from time to time ever since 2002, but it never caused the loud alarm or struggle to steer the vehicle before. This should definitely be a recall item. I think I'm going to have to disable the variable speed control and traction control features of the vehicle by removing the fuse just so I can keep driving it.

Filed Apr 14, 2019 · Driver assistance · 220,000 miles · CO

While driving on the highway at 75mph we made a slight turn with the road and vsc-trac and trac-off lights randomly illuminated without warning on dry, level pavement causing the steering wheel to pull to the right. It was very hard to control, as well as to brake. We were in the middle of heavy traffic. We finally pulled over shut off the SUV and turned it back on. The lights went off so we tried again. About 30min it did the same exact thing. Very frightening. Is there a recall out on this??

Filed Oct 14, 2018 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 259,400 miles · SC

Driving the vehicle at about 60mph, grinding sound, loss of power steering control, pulls to the right side, deceleration, loud noise like a tire blowout, vsc lights on dash come on. This has happened 4 times while driving the vehicle, no warning and you must pull over and turn the engine off and it will reset so you are able to start the vehicle to continue. Very scary incidents!!!

Filed Oct 23, 2017 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 98,700 miles · FL

The car makes a loud sound as if something was stuck underneath. At the same time it pulls to the right while severely vibrating. Also at the same time the lights for tracking control and stability control turn on. After a few seconds the car seems to be in normal driving mode again except for the warning lights for the vsc off-light. The warning lights reset sometimes but that only leads to the same problem starting again.

Filed Oct 2, 2017 · Driver assistance · 164,458 miles · CA

My 2002 sequoia has a saftey issue that needs to be addressed. While driving in a freeway 65mph my SUV violently pulls to the right almost causing a crash, the "vsc" and "trac off" lights turn on in dash cluster

Filed Aug 13, 2017 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 169,000 miles · NV

While driving at any speeds 65mph on freeway to around town at 30-40 MPH the vsc trac and also vsc off light comes on and the car pulls to the right and acts like it is braking. This has happened multiple times at any speed. We have just missed cars from the pull to the right. Very scary because it just happens no warning.

Filed Nov 1, 2016 · Acceleration, Brakes · 295,000 miles · FL

Complaint - electronic stability control, steering, vehicle speed control while driving my 2002 toyota sequoia while turning on city street & highway I encountered two significant safety issues the traction control system comes on while driving at various speeds, the vsc and traction warning lights ABS & engine lights are illuminated as the vehicle pulled to the left/right. When the issue occurred, the vehicle makes a grinding sound and pulls very hard to the left/right. The vehicle loses acceleration and feels like the anti-lock braking mechanism is being engaged. The jerking pull resulted in crossing multiple lanes of the highway before control of the vehicle was regained. This is going to cause deaths known issues with other sequoias.

Filed Oct 10, 2016 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 190,000 miles · VA

While driving my 2002 toyota sequoia, I encountered two significant safety issues that were recalled as part of a prior nhsta campaign (10v‑176). While my toyota is manufactured within the same window of a recall, my VIN was not included. Nhsta has opened an active investigation (pe16006) in response to other owners with the same issues. Issue #1: traction control system on several occasions, the vehicle would not accelerate properly from a stopped position. The code based on the vcs warning light indicated an issue with the center position of the steering angle sensor (sas). The sensor was replaced and the ecu programming was updated to resolve the safety issue. Issue #2: electronic stability control on multiple occasions, the vehicle lost control while driving due to an issue with a faulty yaw rate sensor. While driving at various speeds, the vsc and traction warning lights illuminated as the vehicle pulled to the right. When the issue occurred, the vehicle makes a grinding sound and pulls very hard to the right. The vehicle loses acceleration and feels like the anti-lock braking mechanism is being engaged. The jerking pull resulted in crossing multiple lanes of the highway before control of the vehicle was regained. The mechanic experienced the same issue, and had to pull over to regain composure after almost getting into an accident. The faulty yaw sensor was replaced to repair the defect. After experiencing the issues with the toyota sensors that almost caused an accident, I had the faulty sensors replaced. I have requested reimbursement from toyota but was denied. The repair was for the safety issues which are under recall for the same model year (april 2002 ' april 2003), as my vehicle is manufactured in may 2002. The repairs included the defective steering sensor and the yaw stability sensor required to safely drive the vehicle.

Filed Sep 23, 2016 · Acceleration, Brakes · 322,000 miles · CA

When I entered the freeway, my vsc trak and vsc off lights came on, and the vehicle pulled to the right suddenly. I exited the freeway, and inspected my vehicle, to find nothing visible. I re-entered the freeway, traveled approx 100 miles, with no issue. Then, the same evening, I exited the toll road near my home, when the vsc trak and vsc off lights flashed and beeped, and brakes locked up on and off violently, as if the vehicle was possessed. I managed to get it home, as I was only about a mile from there, where I parked it, and had it towed to a shop. The mechanic was able to pull a code...the yaw sensor. But, the mechanic said that he could not guarantee that this would fix the problem. This happens while driving straight, after turning left or right, at any speed, and with no warning or visible reason for doing so. This poses a huge safety issue, especially while driving on the freeways at higher speeds. This issue could cause a deadly disaster at high speeds, and with many other vehicles on the road. This is definitely not an issue to ignore or take lightly.

Filed Aug 27, 2016 · Driver assistance · 181,000 miles · GA

Trac off-road lights, trac vsc light, beeping, pulled right and decelerate on interstate. Fornunately, in the right lane otherwise do would have caused a major accident. Speed approximately 70 MPH

Filed Jul 12, 2016 · Driver assistance · 112,000 miles · KY

The ABS for the passenger front tire kicks in while driving. You can feel the ABS pump the brake & the vehicle pulls to the right for a few seconds. Then the vsc & traction control lights come on. Twice I've had it diagnosed as a faulty yaw control sensor. It seems to happen more often while towing a trailer. This normally happens while on the highway at a steady speed.

Filed Jun 17, 2016 · Driver assistance · 106,291 miles · CA

No matter what speed, the vsc alarm goes off, the car brakes violently and pulls to the right, and makes a horrible grinding sound. Then the vsc light stays on until the car is turned off and reset. Under warranty, I went to gilroytoyota in 2014 to get this fixed. They told me it was the yaw rate sensor, however that isn't covered in the warranty. It would cost around $800-$1000 to replace. They did replace the brake booster assembly, and that worked for about 6 months until the vsc light came back on and the car pulled and braked again. Very very dangerous when driving on the freeway when this happens, and the alarm goes off and the car brakes and pulls, could result in accident. Makes a horrible grinding noise as well that I can feel in the brake pedal when this happens. The car is always in motion when this happens, always on asphalt, not on dirt or in 4 wheel drive. (I don't use the 4 wheel drive) happens at any speed, either turning or going straight.