Toyota Sequoia harsh shifting problems

Filed Sep 6, 2026 · Suspension, Transmission · MN

I own a 2004 Toyota Sequoia and have owned it since it was built by Toyota. In 2013 Toyota had a safety recall on the frame for that vehicle because in certain Northern states they are having issues with the frame rotting and braking. I brought my vehicle in May of 2013 and Carlson Toyota in Minnesota inspected. It said that it passed and they installed a corrosion kit. This vehicle has been meticulously cared for over the years and it still looks that way on the exterior and interior. I have always had this vehicle enrolled in a car wash club so it gets washed almost daily in the winter and has for its entire life. But the frame of this vehicle is to the point now where it shouldn't be driven. It is so dangerously, rotted and breaking apart. I had the vehicle in Florida for spring break and while I was driving it there it was making some weird clunking noises. So I took it to a repair shop and the frame repair shop said that the frame was beyond repair and probably should not be driven. But it was my only vehicle and I had no choice but to drive it back to Minnesota. Since then I've had several issues when taking off and stopping with loud clunking noises, but it is my daily vehicle and I believe that Toyota should do something to fix it or replace it.

Filed Jun 25, 2021 · Suspension · WI

Recently I took the vehicle in to investigate a clunking noise. I was informed by the shop that the frame had completely rusted through, causing the rear stabilizer arm to become detached. I also had a front stabilizer link fail twice in a year, presumably from the frame excessively flexing. Upon further investigation, I came to learn that Toyota is quite aware of this very issue, they’ve issued recalls where insufficient measures may have been taken to temporarily stop the rusting, and that many many other Sequoia owners have the same exact problems that I’m having, and Toyota refuses to take responsibility for this premature failure and provide some sort of relief. Given the frequency and number of complaints, I’m kind of shocked that the federal safety agency hasn’t banned these vehicles from the roadways. Seems like a serious accident waiting to happen. It’s not like the facts are in question in this case. There must be hundreds or thousands of examples. If you do a web search for “2001-2004 toyota sequoia rust corrosion on frame” you’ll find a bunch of examples, as well as accounts of Toyota’s numerous refusals to stand behind their mistakes. I still have the vehicle, and would gladly help you with any investigation. I did have part of the frame welded just so I could limp it back home to WI. I towed it on a trailer. It runs great, and is in very good condition, which is why this is all such a shame.

Filed Oct 29, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 95,000 miles · CA

Grinding noise, beeping, warning lights flashing, difficulty steering, difficulty braking, clunking when braking, vsc and ABS lights on. Very scary. I was driving approximately 50 MPH. It also happened when my daughter was driving it. Very intermittent. I was going straight, no turning, no bumps in the road. So random. I have researched the much on youtube and the internet and there are many others who have experienced this scary situation. I am afraid to drive the vehicle and it is a major safety hazard and must be fixed! I heard they recalled the 2003's but not the 2002's but they have the same parts. I will send pictures of others who have similar complaints. If you go to the website I sent you will find many others who have experienced the same thing. I am sending only a sample. Please do something. Serious safety hazard, whatever the problem is! I have not driven it much since it happened. I have been very distracted since my boyfriend passed away. I did call the local toyota dealer after it first happened and also the national number for toyota and was told there is no recall. Yet! Go to carproblemzoo.com and input "brake grinding noise of toyota sequoia ABS and vsc. I tried to upload docs but they were the wrong format.

Filed Feb 17, 2018 · Suspension · 1 miles · VA

Every time the vehicle is started and upon initially moving forward the first 50 feet, a loud clunk is heard and it can also be felt in the foot pedals and the steering wheel. This issue happens every time the car is started and the vehicle moves forward the first 50 feet or so. It does not occur any other time during the drive. I feels as if it's a front suspension issue.

Filed Sep 12, 2016 · Driver assistance, Suspension · 151 miles · NY

My 2001 sequoia (151,000 mi) which has been garaged and maintained meticulously is suddenly showing the vsc lights and brake lights at the same time! There is a very rough feeling when I'm driving the car like something in the undercarriage is very wrong. There is a "clunking" noise as slow as 5 MPH at all times and all speeds. At high speeds, the car will suddenly pull to the left momentarily and then release itself but the lights never go out unless car is off. I have read the 138 complaints at the dot.gov site about this exact problem and thus far, toyota corp is ignoring the complaints.where is the recall for this problem. I know alot of owners who haven't even investigated why it's happening in thier truck too. How can they do business like this ??? This is a life threatening problem for toyota !!! I will stop at nothing to have toyota repair their problem on their product. Just fix your problem toyota and I will call off the dogs... Simple stuff.

Filed Nov 15, 2014 · Body, Steering · 178,960 miles · NY

After hearing a clunking noise while driving, I took the sequoia to the toyota repair center where they inspected it and told me that the entire frame underneath the car was rusted through and had actually cracked in half towards the front end of the vehicle making it dangerous to drive. They informed me that toyota had issued an extended warranty several months prior, but which had expired 1 month before I brought the vehicle in. Upon calling toyota customer service, they told me that the extended warranty was only issued for sequoia's to receive an under-coating to prevent freeze rust during the colder months and that if they noticed the frame was already broken down, only then would they replace it. Since I had already gotten an under-coating done by my mechanic prior to toyota sending us the notice, I did not bring our vehicle to toyota's repair center. For this reason, toyota said they could do nothing about our broken frame since we never came in for our under-coating. I cannot understand how my sequoia, at only 10 years old, can have such extensive damage if it was supposed to be properly created and installed in the first place. To have the frame completely rusted through and actually crack in half, all while my wife was using the car to drive my children to and from school, practice, etc., is especially disconcerting after hearing how dangerous it was to be driving it by the toyota mechanic. I believe that it is toyota's duty to fix this issue with my vehicle since it was their negligence that created this poorly constructed vehicle/frame and I am issuing this complaint in order to pursue toyota in this endeavor.

Filed Sep 7, 2014 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 125,000 miles · CA

All of sudden my car starts to make beeping sound, clunking and thumping. Grinding noise. Braking is hard and seems unstable. Skid control light came on and vsc track light came on as well. This happens on a flat, normal road condition on a sunny day. It feels very dangerous and toyota needs to recall and fix it asap. This happens regularly and I am afraid it may lead to an accident.

Filed Aug 20, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 161,980 miles · TX

The vsc, and trac, and brake lights all lit up while coming into an intersection, where I heard a grinding clunking noise in the drive train, as I tried to stop the vehicle, coasted through the intersection, made others braking to avoid me as I steered away from them. This has happened intermittently over the years but this was the scariest, as it happened going into an intersection. It has happened backing out of our driveway several times, on the highway several times. Toyota doesn't want to tie this issue to the recall regarding the vsc ecu trac light recall from several years ago. I've tried unsuccessfully to escalate this issue with toyota motor co.

Filed Jul 3, 2014 · Acceleration, Brakes · 180,000 miles · CA

First incident: on the freeway car all of a sudden made a beeping sound (similar to no seat belt sound) vehicle lost power almost like it downshifted. Vsc, trac off lights all came on and the car wouldn't brake! I had to consistently pump on the brake and pull the emergency brake to slow it down. Brakes were grinding and it felt as if it was trying to lock but yet skipping (clunk, clunk, cluck). Pulled off to the side, turned off engine, and then resumed. I had to pull over 5 separate times due to the same issue. Luckily I allowed myself a huge space in between myself and other cars. If not, there would had been a for sure accident. Car continues with the same problems. I've done a whole lot of researching in regards to this vehicle and it seems that it's a ecu issue. I am aware that toyota has recalled all 2003 model sequoia's on up but not 2002 on under. This is a huge safety concern of mine and even if I purchased a new ecu there is not guarantee that it's been addressed or fixed for this model. According to the toyota rep. I just got off the phone with 30 minutes ago. Please help! And thank you in advance.

Filed May 31, 2014 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 89,000 miles · FL

Car stalls when put in drive and will not drive safely. There is a loud clunk when backing up. Car does not have power getting up hills. Toyota mechanic says there is a bad computer that has been recalled in 2004 models. I