Description of the Safety Crash/Informed Incident: Vehicle Information: 2004 Toyota Sequoia (VIN: [XXX]) Incident Date: [XXX] Location: [XXX] Police Agency: California Highway Patrol (Report #:[XXX]) Speed at Incident: Highway speeds (~65 MPH) Description of Defect/Failure: Structural mechanical failure leading to sudden, catastrophic wheel separation at highway speeds. Nine days prior to the incident, on [XXX], the vehicle underwent a comprehensive brake, rotor, and tire rotation service at a certified Toyota dealership (Toyota of Chula Vista, Work Order #[XXX]). While traveling on the interstate, the right rear passenger wheel assembly completely detached from the moving vehicle. As a result, the wheel flew off crossing several traffic lanes, traveling over a jersey wall on the freeway shoulder, landing into a nearby drainage ditch. The vehicle dropped onto the remaining brake/rotor assembly, generating extreme sparks, causing an immediate loss of braking pressure, and creating an imminent threat of a rollover or multi-vehicle fatal collision. Subsequent post-incident inspection on a maintenance lift revealed that all wheel studs on the right rear hub were completely sheared or stripped off. This indicates a severe technician failure to properly torque the wheel lug nuts to factory specifications during reassembly, or an un-diagnosed structural failure of the wheel mounting components following certified dealer service. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Toyota Sequoia brake failure problems
38 of the 3,065 owner complaints about the Toyota Sequoia describe brake failure, most of them for the 2003 model year.
- owner complaints
- 38
- worst model year
- 2003
- typical repair cost reported
- $1,200
- typical mileage
- 120,000
By model year
Often reported together
Grinding brakes 7Check engine light 5ABS 4Ball joint 3Warning lights 1Tire blowout 1Pulling 1Premature wear 1
What owners say
Undercarriage frame found to be badly rusted, by a AAA Driver who came to my roadside assistance following a brake failure due to rusted and leaky brake lines.
Abnormal rust all over underside of vehicle including frame, structural components, brake lines, steering components … etc. FRAME and steering/suspension components rusting out. Rear differential rusting out. Cab mounts rusting out. Spare tire hardware rusting out. Transmission cooler lines about to burst from corrosion. Rear tow assembly rusting out. Entire underside is rotting out. Known issue which has plagued hundreds of owners, but Toyota has not recalled this model year. Extremely dangerous; one brake line has already gone out resulting in a loss of braking. Toyota applied an undercoating circa 2013 but they just sprayed over an already rusted frame and other components without proper preparation which actually accelerated the corrosion and rot. Deceptive and unethical business practices. Vehicle cost over $50,000 new in 2003 and only has just over 120,000 miles on it. This should NOT be happening. Please help. Please investigate.
I had my brakes checked out at a shop in mountain home arkansas, mountain motors hwy 5 n.. Asking that they bleed and inspect as necessary ,and check torques. After an hour and twenty minutes I was told that the bleeder on one caliper broke off! They did not replace the bleeder, they said it would be ok! The brakes failed completely less than 1000 later! We were lucky, the pedal went to the floor in a small town in wisconsin. We were moving slow and I coasted into a parking lot! The vehicle had to be towed and $750.00 later we continued our trip. There is no regulatory agency in arkansas,and the repair shop is ignoring me! Can you help? I have reciepts.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota sequoia. While driving approximately 60-65 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and traveled to the floorboard. The brakes failed to slow down the vehicle. The contact was able to use the parking brake to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake booster failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the part was no longer being manufactured. Hutchinson toyota of albany (located at 2865 ledo rd, albany, ga 31707, (229) 436-7751) was contacted by phone and informed of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 242,000.
Vsc, check engine, brake lights keep coming on. No traction control when button pushed. Driving highway speed traction control beeps when not even appropriate. Have had several times trying to brake, no brakes light comes on almost crashed due to no brakes! I have researched recall my VIN# not listed. This is ridiculous! Unsafe! Toyota needs to recall more vehicles. Not a happy toyota consumer!
Without warning, the brake, vsc, and traction control lights will all illuminate. After this happens and the brakes are applied, the ABS makes a screeching sound , the brakes lock up and then are lost completely. Usually requires a rapid response of downshifting and/ or using the parking brake to avoid collisions. This problem happens every 6-10 times it is driven. Many times there are no warnings at all, the dash lights happens instantaneously with the brake failure. Sometimes restarting the vehicle will make a stop but it is no guarantee. This has been happening for over five years with no explainable cause from my mechanic.
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 toyota sequoia. The contact stated that when the brakes were engaged at an unknown speed, the pedal went to the floor as the ABS and traction control warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was able to be pulled over and stopped. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it diagnosed that the ABS hydraulic assembly, wheel speed sensor, stroke sensor, and engine control system had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however; the brake failure continued to recur. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicles actuator had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.
The vsc trac light, the vsc off light and the brake lights all come on....it caused my brakes to actually fail. I can turn the the vehicle off and restart and this seems to reset it. This happens without warning and at various times. This has happened more than once. I took vehicle to dealer, they replaced a $200 part and it did not help. It's happened again. I've read many many reports of this online. Why no recall. It's a miracle nobody has died. Brake failure???? Seriously.
Tl* the contact owns a 2002 toyota sequoia. While driving 60 MPH, the lower ball joint detached from the knuckle lower control arm. As a result, the contact lost steering control and the brakes failed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the lower ball joint failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The VIN was included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 05v225000 (suspension). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 131,000. Updated 09/28/16*lj the consumer stated the suspension and steering components were replaced at a cost of $1,000. Updated 03/13/17.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the Toyota Sequoia brake failure
Which Toyota Sequoia years have brake failure problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2003 (12 complaints), 2004 (7 complaints) and 2005 (7 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix brake failure on the Toyota Sequoia?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $1,200 (median of 6 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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