2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA Vehicle Speed Control Problems

While driving my 2001 Sequoia SR5 with only 74,750 miles on freeways at speeds between 55 and 65 mph, the SUV's braking system activates unexpectedly and without cause. The VSC check engine lighting and warning sound illuminate. My SUV veered to the right, the steering wheel vibrated, and it went into a skid when the brakes were abruptly engaged, causing it to skid. My SUV abruptly decelerated as if it had lost power. This situation was hazardous for other vehicles who could not tell if they were applying the brakes due to the absence of visible brake lights to prevent a collision. Fortunately, I responded defensively and avoided collisions with other vehicles and roadside obstacles. This issue is a safety concern; if it occurs at the wrong moment, a tragedy can be avoided. I've seen more than a hundred complaints from other proprietors and a completed NHTSA investigation. Sequoia models from...

DRIVING 45MPH ON STRAIGHT ROAD THE VEHICLE VSC ENGAGED PULLING HARD TO THE RIGHT AND DECELERATING QUICKLY. I PULLED OVER, CALLED DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT THE 2 MILES TO DEALERSHIP. WITHIN 100' OF DEALERSHIP I CROSSED INTERSECTION AND CAR SUDDENLY DECELERATED, ENGAGED THE ASSISTANCE AGAIN AND I WAS ALMOST STRUCK BY TRUCK THAT SWERVED AND ALMOST HIT PEDESTRIAN. DEALER SAID IT WAS A YAW STEERING SENSOR. PART WAS UNOBTAINABLE OR POSSIBLE WITHIN 8 WEEKS, AND NO AFTER MARKET PARTS AVAILABLE. MECHANIC RECOMMENDED VEHICLE NOT BE DRIVEN. TOYOTA DECLARED PART OBSOLETE. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND THIS WAS ALREADY AT THE NHTSA ATTENTION BUT THAT THEY CLOSED THE INVESTIGATION. HOW IS THIS ACCEPTABLE?

THE TRACTION CONTROL PULLS THE VEHICLE TO THE RIGHT AT ANY SPEED. I ALMOST CRASHED TODAY.

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES WHERE APPLYING THEMSELVES, VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING AND VIBRATING AND SLOWING DOWN AND THE VSC TRAC LIGHTS CAME ON. IT SCARED ME AND I ALMOST HAD A PANIC ATTACK. I PULLED OFF TAYLOR ROAD(CITY STREET) AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND CHECKED TO SEE IF I HAD A FLAT TIRE. I RESTARTED TO CAR AND THE LIGHTS REMAIN ON AND I TOOK THE CAR HOME. MY WIFE IS NOW SCARED TO DRIVE IT.

WHILE DRIVING OUR 01 SEQUOIA SR5 WITH ONLY 85,000 MILES ON SIDE STREETS AND HIGHWAYS AT SPEEDS RANGING FROM 5MPH TO 70 MPH, THE SUV'S BRAKING SYSTEM SUDDENLY ENGAGES FOR NO REASON WHILE THE VEH. IS IN MOTION. THE VSC, CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS COME ON ALONG WITH THE ALERTING SOUND. WHEN THE BRAKES ENGAGE, THE VEH. VEERS TO THE RIGHT, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AND THE VEH. GOES INTO A SKID DUE TO THE BRAKES BEING SUDDENLY ENGAGED. THE VEH. ALSO DECELERATES SUDDENLY AS IF IT HAS LOST POWER. THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR OTHER DRIVERS WHO CAN'T TELL IF YOU ARE BRAKING BECAUSE THERE ARE NO BRAKE LIGHTS TO BE SEEN TO PREVENT A COLLISION. THANKFULLY WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACT DEFENSIVELY AND AVOID COLLISIONS WITH OTHER VEH.'S. AND ROADSIDE OBJECTS. WE HAVE SEEN SEVERAL SUGGESTIONS AS TO THE FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM LIKE THE YAW RATE SENSOR BEING...

VSC TRAC LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING, ACTIVATES BRAKES AND CAR PULLS AND SWERVES WHILE DRIVING. *TR

MY 2001 SEQUOIA, 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 TWICE BEEP AND THE CAR, WILL SUDDENLY PULL TO THE LEFT MOMENTARILY AND THEN RELEASE ITSELF BUT THE LIGHTS NEVER GO OUT UNLESS CAR IS OFF. I CAN FEEL THE BRAKES LIKE SHAKING.I S SCARY AND THIS HAPPEN LIKE 4 TIMES.THE LAST IS IN THE HIGHWAY.IS MAKE A NOISE LIKE A SCRATCH METAL.I KNOW I'M NOT THE FIRST ONE .PLEASE TOYOTA FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

MY COMPLAINT STEMS FROM THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC) ISSUE THAT COMMONLY PLAGUES THE 2001-2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. AS MANY OTHERS HAVE FILED COMPLAINTS OVER THIS VSC ISSUE, MINE IS NO DIFFERENT. MY SEQUOIA, A 4X4 SR5 WITH 160K MILES, WORKS FLAWLESSLY OTHER THAN THE VSC LIGHTS BEING CONSTANTLY ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE RESULTS OF THE MALFUNCTION, POSSIBLY FROM THE YAW RATE SENSOR, PRESENT A MOMENTARILY LOSS OF POWER AND RANDOM UNEXPLAINED STEERING EVENTS. THE ONLY WAY TO TEMPORARY CLEAR THE VSC LIGHTS AND THE EFFECTS OF THE MALFUNCTION IS TO COMPLETELY STOP THE VEHICLE, TURN OFF THE IGNITION AND RESTART THE VEHICLE. I FEAR A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE MY WIFE AND KIDS ARE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE TOYOTA ISSUE A FORMAL RECALL OR PAY FOR A NEW YAW RATE SENSOR AND THE CONSUMER PAYS THE LABOR. OTHER THAN THE VSC ISSUE,...

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE TRACTION CONTROL AND VSC WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE YAW SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 188,000.

TRACTION CONTROL MALFUNCTION. WHEN IN MOTION THE CAR ENGAGES THE BRAKES FOR NO REASON, INTERMITTENTLY APPLYING THE BRAKES CAUSING THE CAR TO PULL & SWERVE, AND SHUDDER. THIS HAPPENS WHEN GOING STRAIGHT, TURNING, OR JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD.

WHEN OPERATING AT SPEED, THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY SHUTTER BRIEFLY, AND PULL TO RIGHT. SEEMINGLY A WHEEL LOCKED UP. CONTROL OF STEERING IS LOST. VSC LIGHT COMES ON, AND CANNOT BE REST UNTIL RESTATING THE ENGINE.

THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL RANDOMLY ENGAGES FOR NO REASON. IT CAUSES LOST OF POWER AND BRAKING, CAUSING STEERING TO BE VERY DIFFICULT.

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...

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*JS

A LOUD NOISE DRIVER SIDE, VSC LIGHT ON AND ABS. *TR

WHEN THE GAS PEDDLE IS DEPRESSED THE CAR WILL NOT GO! I'VE ALMOST BEEN IN 2 ACCIDENTS DUE TO IT! *TR

MY VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, BRAKE, & ABS LIGHTS WON'T TURN OFF. *TR

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...

AT HIGHWAY SPEED GOING DOWN HILL FULLY LOADED AT NIGHT IN SIERRA WITH TEMPS IN LOW 30S AND NO SNOW IN THE AREA WHERE THE INCIDENT HAPPENED, MY 01 TOY SEQUOIA PULLED TO THE LEFT WITHIN SECONDS BOTH TRAC OFF/VSC TRAC LIGHTS CAME ON. ALL OF MY MUD AND SNOW TIRES HAVE GOOD TREAD. LUCKILY, I HAD BOTH HANDS FIRMLY ON THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN IT HAPPENED. ABLE TO GET HOME SAFELY AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEED. THESE LIGHTS ARE STILL ON UNTIL TO DATE (1/17/16) BECAUSE I HAVE NOT TAKEN IN TO TOY DEALERSHIPS; GUESS MANY THIRD PARTIES DON'T WANT TO MESS AROUND WITH THIS ISSUE. MANY COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN POSTED IN REGARDS TO VSC ISSUE. TOY NEED TO RECALL THIS MODEL NOW. *TR

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...

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE VEHICLE PULLED SHARPLY TO THE RIGHT AND ITS TRAC/VCS CONTROL LIGHTS BEGAN TO BLINK AND THE WARNING SOUND CAME ON AS WELL. THE VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING SOUND AND I PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WAITED A FEW MINUTES. I TURNED ON THE VEHICLE AND THE INDICATOR LIGHTS WERE OFF AND IT DROVE NORMAL. THIS SAME INCIDENT CONTINUES TO HAPPEN EVEN AFTER I TOOK IT IN TO GET DIAGNOSED. I WAS TOLD BY A TOYOTA TECHNICIAN THAT HE COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. *TR

VSC TRAC, VSC OFF, TRAC, EMERGENCY BRAKE & ABS LIGHTS ARE ALL ILLUMINATED. SEEMS LIKE EVERY SEQUOIA 2001 - 2005 HAS THIS PROBLEM. AFTER LOTS OF RESEARCH IT SEEMS LIKE IT'S A FAULT WITH THE VSC COMPUTER AND ECU COMPUTER WHICH DEALERS WANT $2000 AND UP! THESE MALFUNCTIONS IN COMPUTERS AFFECT THE VEHICLES ABS BRAKES, AND STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH POSES A THREAT TO SAFETY OF DRIVER AND PASSENGERS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ALONG AT ~40MPH, CAR JEERED TO THE RIGHT AND MADE A NOISE AS IF THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WERE PUMPING ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VSC & TRAC LIGHTS CAME ON. VEHICLE THEN DROVE NORMALLY UNTIL THE IGNITION WAS TURNED OFF. ONCE THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE SAME INCIDENT OCCURRED REPEATEDLY MAKING IT UNSAFE TO OPERATE. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED A NEW YAW SENSOR - $558. *TR

VEHICLE'S TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED WHILE DRIVING ON DRY FLAT PAVEMENT. SKID LIGHT AND SOUND CAME ON FOLLOWED BY VSC AND TRAC CONTROL LIGHTS. VEHICLE PULLED HARD TO THE RIGHT, MADE LOUD GRINDING NOISE, AND WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO CONTROL STEERING AND BRAKING. THIS CONTINUED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE MINUTE, STOPPED, AND THEN DID IT AGAIN. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO FATAL ACCIDENT IF IT OCCURS AT HIGHER SPEEDS. IT HAPPENED FEW TIMES, TOOK IT TO DEALER CAN NOT FIND ISSUE BUT APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE/MODEL. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE A RECALL. *TR

APPEARS CARS STABILITY SYSTEM CAME ON WITH APPLICATION OF BRAKES, NOISE ON THE BRAKES. WEATHER WAS CLEAR. VSC, TRACK LIGHT CAME ON. HAPPENS EVERY FEW WEEKS. *TR

IT FEELS LIKE ITS SLIPPING AND THE WARNING SIREN GOES OFF, TRAC & VCS LIGHTS START FLASHING AND VEHICLE STARTS GRINDING SOUNDS LIKE METAL ON METAL AND LOOSE CONTROL OF CAR, CAN'T BRAKE, CAN'T STEER JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR IT TO PASS AS YOU ARE ROLLING AWAY. VERY VERY SCARY - WHAT IF I WAS ON A HIGHWAY??? NOT A HAPPY TOYOTA OWNER RIGHT NOW!!!!THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ON THIS, I SEE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS THAT SOUND JUST LIKE MINE ON THE INTERNET AND CAN'T BELIEVE THAT TOYOTA HASN'T DONE ANYTHING ABOUT IT - ARE THEY WAITING FOR SOME FATALITIES TO HAPPEN. THIS IS MY 1ST TOYOTA AND I'M THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND UP UNTIL NOW THIS HAS BEEN AN EXCELLENT VEHICLE TO DRIVE (14YEARS). NOW I'M AFRAID FOR MY LIFE... *TR

ALL OF A SUDDEN A GRINDING NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE, ANTI SKID BEEPING, VSC LIGHT POPPED ON. VERY HARD TO STEER AND BRAKES NOT WORKING WELL. HAPPENED REPEATEDLY. PULLED OVER, TURNED VEHICLE OFF. ENGINE ON, DROVE OFF, 5 MILES LATER, ALL OVER AGAIN, BUT MORE SEVERE. NOT SAFE AT HIGH SPEEDS, MORE THAN 25 MPH. THIS OCCURRED IN AUGUST, NO SNOW, NO RAIN, DRY CEMENT. *TR

DRIVING ON HWY APPROX 65 MPH. VSC AND TRAC LIGHTS CAME ONE. GRINDING NOISE WAS HEARD AS VEHICLE PULLED. I WAS BY MYSELF THANKFULLY. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND GLAD MY WIFE WAS NOT DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT THE TIME. TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND HAD THE STABILITY CONTROL ECU REPLACED - 945.00. WOULD HAVE BEEN 1,200.00 BUT THE DEALER WAIVED THREE OF THE FIVE HOURS OF LABOR. THIS SHOULD ABSOLUTELY BE A RECALL AND IS VERY UNSAFE. PURCHASED THE VEHICLE USED FROM TOYOTA DEALER AS A FAMILY VEHICLE BECAUSE MY WIFE AND I HAD OUR FIRST CHILD. VERY WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. WHY IS THIS NOT A SAFETY RECALL? I HAVE READ MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS THAT WERE EXACTLY LIKE MINE EXPERIENCE. *TR

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, ON MAY 24, 2014, I WAS TRAVELING WITH MY KIDS THROUGH INTERSTATE 15 SOUTH AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MILES PER HOUR. MY TRUCK PULLED ME TO THE RIGHT IN WHICH I HAD TO REACT FAST AND HOLD ON TO THE STEERING WHEEL WITH BOTH HANDS. VSC-TRAC OFF LIGHT TURNED ON WITH A BEEPING NOISE. I TRIED TO BREAK AND MY TRUCK LOST CONTROLLED AND BEGAN MAKING A GRINDING METAL NOISE. I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BREAK AND STEERED STRAIGHT. THIS LASTED ABOUT 10 SECONDS. I HAD MY KIDS WITH ME. IF I HADN'T REACTED FAST, WE WERE GOING TO BE THROWN OFF THE FREEWAY. I TOOK IT IN TO THE MECHANIC AND THE COMPUTER SCANNER SHOWED-NO ACTIVE FAULTS. VSC- IS THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL. THE VSC AUTO ENGAGES AND DISENGAGES. THERE'S A BUTTON THAT TURNS OFF AND OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DASHBOARD. I...

I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY ALL OF A SUDDEN THE VSC TRAC TURNS ON AND MY STEERING WHEEL JERKED TO THE RIGHT ALMOST HIDING THE VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT LANE.. I NOTICED A GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE TRACTION LIGHT ILLUMINATED.ITS VERY HARD TO SLOW DOWN. ITS IF I HIT A PUDDLE OF WATER BUT THIS WAS ON A SUNNY AND CLEAR DAY. THIS HAPPENED NUMEROUS OF TIMES. NOW THE TRUCK JUST SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY DUE TO THE SCARE OF DRIVING IT AND SOMEONE GETTING KILLED. *TR

1.ON DRY PAVEMENT CIRCULAR ENTRANCE/EXIT RAMPS THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL SYSTEM KICKS IN AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH WHICH IS NOT ONLY ALARMING BUT POSSIBLY DANGEROUS IF SOMEONE IS TAILGATING. I'M ASSUMING THIS IS SOMETHING RELATED TO PULLING G FORCES SINCE IT'S NEVER DONE THIS IN A STRAIGHT LINE. 2.I TESTED UNDER BOTH 2WD AND 4WD AND IT BEHAVED THE SAME. 3.WHEN I KICKED IN THE VSC OFF BUTTON UNDER 4WD BEFORE ENTERING THE RAMP, THE VSC DID NOT KICK IN, SO THAT SEEMS TO BE WORKING. SEE NUMEROUS OTHER IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS AT THIS LINK: HTTP://WWW.CARCOMPLAINTS.COM/TOYOTA/SEQUOIA/2001/BRAKES/ELECTRONIC_STABILITY_CONTROL.SHTML. *TR

VSC LIGHT ILLUMINATION/FAILURES INITIALLY APPEARED AT 42,000 MILES, VERY INTERMITTENT AND SEEMINGLY RANDOM. FREQUENCY INCREASED AFTER 75,000 MILES; ABS LIGHT APPEARED LATER. 1. VSC OFF LIGHT ILLUMINATED (VARIABLE SPEED CONTROL) INITIALLY AT INTERMITTENT TIME WHILE DRIVING, NOW ILLUMINATED FULL-TIME. 2. VSC TRAC LIGHT ILLUMINATED (VARIABLE SPEED CONTROL) INITIALLY AT INTERMITTENT TIME WHILE DRIVING, NOW ILLUMINATED FULL-TIME. 3. ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED (ANTI LOCK BRAKES) INITIALLY AT INTERMITTENT TIME WHILE DRIVING, NOW ILLUMINATED FULL-TIME. ABS NOW INOPERABLE. TESTED TO VALIDATE INOPERABLE STATUS - FULL BRAKE LOCKUP, NO ABS OPERATION. VARIABLE SPEED CONTROL NOW INOPERABLE. SPUN OUT TWICE RECENTLY IN SLOW SPEED RIGHT HAND OFF-CAMBER TURN ON WET PAVEMENT.

DRIVING AT 45 MPH + A GRINDING NOISE STARTS COMING FROM THE FRONT, NO BRAKE PEDAL, THEN A SHAKING SENSATION ON THE STEERING WHEEL, THE ABS/VCS LIGHTS START BLINKING. PULLED OVER AND THEN IT STOPPED. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR

VEHICLE HAD EXPERIENCED INTERMITTENT STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL TROUBLE LIGHTS IN COLD WEATHER. WHILE DRIVING IN SUB FREEZING WEATHER ON WET HEAVILY SALTED NEARLY CLEAR (POSSIBLE SLIGHT SLUSH FROM SNOW DUSTING) INTERSTATE ALONG A STRAIGHT SMOOTH SLIGHT UPGRADE STRETCH, THE VEHICLE WITHOUT DIVER ACTION (STEERING, BRAKING, OR ACCELERATION) EXPERIENCED A REAR END SWERVE TO THE RIGHT AND INABILITY TO CONTROL. RESULT WAS LEAVING THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ROADWAY DOWN A 25-30 FOOT EMBANKMENT (NO GUARDRAIL) AND A VEHICLE ROLL (ONE TIME, ENDING UP WHEELS DOWN, STILL RUNNING). TRAVEL WAS AT OR BELOW THAT OF TRAFFIC. NO OTHER VEHICLES EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY ON THE SAME STRETCH OF ROAD. IT IS BELIEVED THAT A SUDDEN RANDOM ACTUATION OF THE STABILITY/TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM INITIATED THE EVENT. THIS APPEARS TO BE A GENERIC ISSUE WITH THE TOYOTA SYSTEM SPANNING SEVERAL MODELS AND YEARS. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON A SMOOTH PAVEMENT THE VSC/TRAC SYSTEM ENGAGES FOR NO REASON. SOUNDING OFF THE INTERNAL CHIME AND TURNING THE VSC/TRAC LIGHTS ON THE DASH. THE ABS SYSTEM KICKS IN AND GRINDS ON THE BRAKES. LOSS OF STEERING IS PRESENT AS THE VEHICLE PULLS TO ONE SIDE. *TR

LAST YEAR MY CAR WHILE TRAVELING AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH JUST COLLAPSED. MY BALL JOINTS FELL COMPLETELY OFF. MY THE GRACE OF GOD I WASN'T KILLED BECAUSE I WAS ON THE INTERSTATE. I HAVE SINCE HAD IT REPAIRED BUT NOT BY A TOYOTA DEALER. AT THE TIME AS NOW, ALL MY LIGHTS WERE LIT VSC TRAC, ABS ETC. I HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM THROUGHOUT HAVING THIS TOYOTA AND IT HAS BEEN VERY COSTLY. NOW AS WE SPEAK MY CAR IS AT A DEALER AND I CAN ONLY IMAGINE THEY WILL TELL ME IT'S THE FAULTY COMPUTER CHIP. I WILL ALSO HAVE THEM CHECK FOR RUST SINCE I'M HEARING OF ALL THESE CASES OF RUST. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN TIP TOP SHAPE DUE TO MY HUSBANDS KNOWLEDGE OF CARS. HOWEVER, SOME OF THESE REPORTS APPEAR TO BE INCIDENTS BEYOND OUR CONTROL. I'M LUCKY TO BE ALIVE. I GUESS...

AFTER COMING BACK FROM TRIP, ME AND MY FAMILY WERE HEADING HOME (WE WERE ABOUT 2 MILES FROM HOME), AND UPON COMING TO A RED LIGHT, I STEPPED THE BRAKE PEDAL ON MY 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA, AND THE CAR CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP; BUT WHEN THE GREEN LIGHT TRAFFIC CAME ON, AND AS SOON AS I LET GO OF THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND ABOUT TO PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR JUST STALLED ( ALSO WITH BATTERY LIGHT ON INDICATION LIT, CHECK ENGINE ON, ABS LIT, VSC TRAC LIT, VSC OFF LIT, BRAKE LIGHT INDICATION LIT, ABS LIGHT). SO, FIRST THING I DID IS TURN OFF THE ENGINE , PUT THE CAR IN THE PARK GEAR ( AT THE SAME TIME MY FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL), BUT AS SOON AS I TURN ON THE ENGINE, PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND LET GO OF THE BRAKE PEDAL,...

DRIVING THE FAMILY FROM CO TO CA. ON THE LAST LEG BETWEEN LAS VEGAS AND LOS ANGELES. CRUISING ALONG AT 75 WHEN THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON. MY TRUCK IMMEDIATELY BRAKED AND PULLED TO THE LEFT WHILE DECELERATING. LONGEST 5 SECONDS OF MY LIFE. LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ONE TO MY IMMEDIATE LEFT. TAKING IT TO A DEALER SHORTLY FOR CONSULTATION. SOMEONE WILL GET HURT IF THIS IS NOT ADDRESSED! *TR

THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS CAME ON. THE SEQUOIA MADE A SCRUBBING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE SKIDDED LEFT AND RIGHT A FEW TIMES. SCARY! THE LIGHTS REMAINED ON. THEY WENT OFF LATER THAT NIGHT, BUT HAVE COME BACK ON AT LEAST THREE OTHER TIMES SINCE THEN. THE VEHICLE HAS SKIDDED ALL BUT ONE TIME. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THIS. I HAVE SEEN MANY COMPLAINTS BUT NO RECALLS OR HELP. THE SPEED DOES NOT MATTER AND THERE IS NO WARNING THAT THIS IS ABOUT TO HAPPEN. HELP! *TR

WHILE DRIVING FORWARD FROM A STOPPED POSITION ON A FLAT, LEVEL, PAVED ROAD WITH THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE AT 72, THE VSC (VEHICLE SKID CONTROL) ACTIVATED AND NEARLY PULLED ME INTO THE LANE NEXT TO ME. THERE WERE NO POT HOLES OR ANYTHING IN THE ROAD THAT WOULD'VE CAUSED IT. IT STOPPED AFTER A FEW SECONDS AND THEN AGAIN, ABOUT TWO MINUTES LATER AT A 25MPH SPEED , THE SYSTEM ACTIVATED AGAIN AND I HAD NO CONTROL OF THE BRAKES OR STEERING WHILE THE SYSTEM WAS ACTIVATING. THE CAR IS GREAT SHAPE, ONE-OWNER, WELL MAINTAINED AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A HISTORY WITH TOYOTA AND THE VSC SYSTEM. VERY DANGEROUS SITUATIONS THAT THE VSC PUT ME IN. *TR

WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VSC TRAC LIGHT CAME ON, THE VEHICLE STARTED GRINDING WHILE I WAS PRESSING THE GAS AND BRAKES. THE VEHICLE FELT AS IF IT WAS LOOSING POWER, I ALMOST LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING WHEEL BECAUSE CAR WAS LOSING POWER AND CONTROL. THE ABS LIGHT ALSO CAME ON AND VEHICLE STARTED SHAKING VERY BADLY. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIMES WHILE I'M DRIVING VEHICLE. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO BE SERVICED FROM THE DEALER BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I WILL TALK WITH AN ATTORNEY ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS BECAUSE I AM VERY AFRAID OF A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WHILE DRIVING MY WIFE AND KIDS. *TR

THE VSC TRAC LIGHTS HAVE CAME ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. *TR

TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY AT A SPEED OF 55 MILES THE VCS TRAC CONTROL LIGHT CAME ON AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED WITH OUT ME HITTING THE BREAKS, I LOST CONTROL OF THE STEERING FOR A SLIGHT SECOND, THE TRUCK SWERVED TO THE LEFT, IT ALMOST CAUSE ME TO HIT A CAR ON THE LEFT OF ME ON THE FREEWAY. ONCE I TURNED THE CAR OFF, THE VCS TRAC LIGHTS TURNED OFF, THEN IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON THE STREET AT A LOWER SPEED OF 45 MILE THE VCS TRAC LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AND THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND THE TRUCK SWERVED TO THE LEFT, THE LIGHTS STAYED ON AGAIN UNTIL I TURNED OFF THE TRUCK. *TR

I HAVE A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA WITH 120,000 MILES ON IT AND ON 3/3/13 I HAD A VERY BAD INCIDENT HAPPEN WITH THE VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL (VSC). THE PROBLEM HAPPENED TWICE WITHIN LESS THAN A MILE. I WAS DRIVING ON SUNNY DAY ON A STRAIGHTAWAY ABOUT 35 MPH BOTH TIMES WHEN OUT OF NOWHERE THE VSC LIGHT CAME ON AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY, THE BRAKES PEDAL FELT LIKE SOMETHING HAD BROKEN WITH IT, AND IT WOULD NOT ALLOWING ME TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CAR FOR LACK OF A BETTER WAY TO WORD IT WAS ACTING LIKE IT WAS POSSESSED. AT THIS POINT I HAVE VERY LITTLE CONTROL OVER THE VEHICLE AND I HAD TO DO SOMETHING ASAP. I WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD ON A VERY STEEP DOWNWARD BANK. I WAS LOSING CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND I WAS...

THIS WAS THE FIRST INCIDENT: AS I WAS DRIVING THEN SUDDENLY THE TRUCK STARTED TO BEEP AND MOVES BACK AND FORTH AND MADE A BRAKING SOUND. AND I WENT INTO THE SIDE AND HIT A SMALL POST AND THE SEAT BELT TIGHTEN. NOW MY BACK HAS BEEN HURTING ME SINCE. AND SOME LIGHTS WERE ON. THE VSC TRAC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS WERE ON. THEN AFTER THAT ONE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING VERY CAREFUL BUT IT WILL STILL DO THE SAME THING. THE BEEP STARTS AND THE SWIRLING BACK AND FORTH. BUT I HAVE BEEN DRIVING SLOWER TOO SO I DON'T GET OUT OF CONTROL. THIS IS VERY SCARY. AFTER THE I TURN OFF THE TRUCK THE LIGHTS ARE NOT ON. BUT THE THING IS THAT IT JUST HAPPENS. I HAVE NO I IDEA WHEN OR WHAT TIME. I HOPE I CAN GET HELP ON FIXING THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU...

I OWN A 2001 TOYOTA SEQUOIA AND EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A SHOPPING MALL PARKING LOT AT 5 MPH. OUR VEHICLE SHUDDERED AND SWERVED TO THE RIGHT WHILE A BUZZER WENT OFF & THEN THE VSC AND TRAC OFF LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE NEXT TWO INCIDENTS OCCURRED OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY BETWEEN 20-25 MPH. ON BOTH OCCASIONS OUR VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND VEERED TO THE RIGHT BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS IS A SERIOUS LIFE SAFETY DEFECT THAT HAS BEEN ACKNOWLEDGED BY TOYOTA FOR THE 2003 SEQUOIA'S AND BY THE VAST AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS SHOULD EXTEND TO EARLIER MODELS AS WELL. I RECENTLY TOOK OUR SEQUOIA INTO A MECHANIC AND THEIR TROUBLE SHOOTING REVEALED THAT THE SKID CONTROL ECU WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, COSTING OVER...

WAS DRIVING DOWN MAJOR INTERSTATE WHEN THE VSC WARNING CAME ON WITH BUZZER. BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY WERE BEING GROUND DOWN, ENGINE DECELERATED, AND COULD FEEL BUMPING AND GRINDING ON BRAKE PEDAL. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED UNDER CAR, FOUND NOTHING. GOT BACK ON INTERSTATE AND SAME THING HAPPENED ONLY THIS TIME THE SYSTEM TURNED ITSELF OFF. CAN NOT TURN THE VSC OFF WITH THE BUTTON PROVIDED. RESEARCH ON INTERNET REVEALS NOT AN UNIQUE ISSUE WITH SEQUOIA. HAS ALSO HAPPENED WITH TUNDRA AND OTHER TOYOTAS WITH VSC SYSTEM. NO FIX AVAILABLE AS OF 09/30/2012 THAT CAN BE FOUND. *TR

WIFE WAS PULLING OFF FROM A STOPLIGHT WHEN THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT (SKIDDING CAR ICON) AND WARNING BUZZER CAME ON AND THE VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A LOUD GRINDING SOUND, VIBRATING, AND PULLING TO THE RIGHT. SHE PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER, TURNED IT OFF, AND CALLED ME TO COME SWAP VEHICLES WITH HER. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, OF COURSE, THE SYMPTOMS HAD GONE AWAY. SEVERAL DAYS LATER ON A FAMILY TRIP, I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65-70 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE DID THE SAME THING SHE HAD DESCRIBED. WE PULLED OVER, THE NOISE STOPPED, AND THEN THE VSC/TRAC AND TRAC OFF CAME ON. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FIX. TOO MANY VEHICLES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM, OVER SEVERAL PRODUCTION YEARS (2003'S ACTUALLY HAVE A RECALL FOR A SIMILAR ISSUE). HOWEVER, READING VARIOUS FORUMS HAS MADE ME THINK TOYOTA DOESN'T EVEN KNOW THE ROOT CAUSE OF...

TODAY DRIVING AT 40MPH MY 2001 SEQUOIA SUDDENLY JOLTED AND BRAKE WITH A TERRIBLE GRINDING NOISE, THIS WHILE I WAS USING THE GAS PEDAL! IT WAS VERY SCARY AND SHOCKING THAT IT COULD POSSIBLY DO SUCH AN UNSAFE MANEUVER. MY CHILDREN & I WERE TERRIFIED AS THE BEEPING STARTED AND THEN A STEADY NOISE WHILE THE GRINDING PERSISTED. I AM SO GLAD THE CAR BEHIND US DID NOT PLOW INTO US, AND STILL DO NOT KNOW HOW THEY DID NOT. TO EVERYONE THAT HAS STATED THIS: "PEOPLE WILL BE KILLED BECAUSE OF THIS", YOU ARE VERY CORRECT. IT IS DANGEROUS TO HAVE SUCH A FAULTY SYSTEM IN A CAR ON THE ROAD. WE HAD IS TOWED AWAY, AND FRANKLY I KNOW NOT WHAT TO DO SINCE READING ALL OF THESE OTHER INCIDENTS. EVEN IF WE HAVE IT FIXED, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL NOT CEASE. I HAD THIS HAPPEN TWICE...

WAS DRIVING DOWN MAJOR INTERSTATE WHEN THE VSC WARNING CAME ON WITH BUZZER. BRAKES FELT LIKE THEY WERE BEING GROUND DOWN, ENGINE DECELERATED, AND COULD FEEL BUMPING AND GRINDING ON BRAKE PEDAL. PULLED OVER AND CHECKED UNDER CAR, FOUND NOTHING. GOT BACK ON INTERSTATE AND SAME THING HAPPENED ONLY THIS TIME THE SYSTEM TURNED ITSELF OFF. CAN NOT TURN THE VSC OFF WITH THE BUTTON PROVIDED. RESEARCH ON INTERNET REVEALS NOT AN UNIQUE ISSUE WITH SEQUOIA. HAS ALSO HAPPENED WITH TUNDRA AND OTHER TOYOTAS WITH VSC SYSTEM. NO FIX AVAILABLE AS OF 07/30/2012 THAT CAN BE FOUND. *TR