2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA Power Train Problems

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that upon coming to a complete stop, the traction control system would independently activate, causing the vehicle to suddenly stop upon acceleration. The contact stated that the traction control light would intermittently illuminate during the failure. The dealer was notified of the failure and they informed him that there were no recalls on the vehicle. The contact was referred to NHTSA for assistance. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 270,535.

While driving around 50 mph, the traction control and vsc warning lights illuminated and the brakes started locking up, which made me seem like the traction control kicked in. The front wheels started seizing and the vehicle started jerking in middle of the highway. I had to pull over and have a cousin pick up my parents that were riding in the car and had to restart the vehicle. I was able to drive it home with the problem happening again right as I was taking my exit to my home.

WELL I TOOK THAT TO A SHOP TO GET THE STEREO WORKING WHICH THE OWNER TOLD ME AFTER TWO HOURS IT WON'T BE READY UNTIL TOMORROW SO I LEFT IT THERE WITH THE DEPOSIT WENT BACK THE NEXT DAY AFTER WORK JUST TO PICK IT UP UNTIL I GOT HOME START OBSERVING THAT MY ANTI SECURITY ALARM WASN'T WORKING WELL WHILE OBSERVING I NOTICED THAT THE DOORS WEREN'T THE SAME COLOR AS THE TRUCK THEN I NOTICED MY SUNROOF WAS IN IT THEN STARTED NOTICING THAT THE VIN NUMBER WAS IN PLACES I'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND NOW I WENT TO THE DMV LOGGED IN CHECK MY VIN NUMBER AND PLATES IT SEES THAT IT'S BEEN PUT UP FOR SALE

FRAME RUST ON THE MAIN AREAS WHERE APPOINTED FROM TOYOTA REASON FOR NOT TAKING THE TRUCK TO THE DEALER IS BECAUSE THERE WER NO RECALLS FOR THE VINTAGE BUT OVERALL THE THE FRAME IS MY MAJOR CONCERN.HEAVY SPOTS ON THE FRME

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION THE VSC TRAC LIGHTS COME ON AND THE BRAKES ACTIVE ON THEIR OWN CAUSING THE CRACKING NOISE AND A ROUGH JERK MOTION TO THE CAR. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES BOTH ON THE HIGHWAY AND CITY STREETS EVEN WHEN DRIVING 10 MILES PER HOUR

AN INDIVIDUAL IN OKLAHOMA IS TRYING TO SELL THIS VEHICLE WITH A ROLLED BACK ODOMETER. I'M NOT SURE IF THEY ARE KNOWINGLY DOING IT BUT THEY ARE SELLING IT AS HAVING 130000 MILES WHEN THE LAST REPORTED WAS 283000

SUDDEN TRANSMISSION FAILURE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY, CAUSED AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION FOR THE DRIVER AND OCCUPANTS OF THIS VEHICLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP, THE STABILITY LIGHT FLASHED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE YAW-RATE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 191,000.

2002 SEQUOIA PURCHASED USED, VSC TRAC DESENGAGES WITHOUT WARNING AT ANY TIME, SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE AND MAKING GRINDING NOICE IN THE SUSPENSION OR BREAKS, IT WILL RESET AGAIN AFTER PARK AND SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF, THIS PROBLEM HAD HAPPEN AT LEAST 10 TIMES IN ABOUT ONE YEAR THAT I AM DRIVING IT, DUE TO THE UNEXPECTED DESENGAGE OF THE VSC TRAC AT ANY TIME SLOWING DOWN THE VEHICLE WITH OUT WARNING AND NO BREAK LIGHT IT IS A SAFETY CONCERN, I HAVE LOOK IN THE INTERNET AND THIS PROBLEM IS VERY COMMON WITH THIS VEHICLES EQUIPED WITH THE VSC TRAC, I HAVE CALLED TOYOTA AND THERE IS NO RECALLS FOR THE ISSUE, I BELIEVE IT IT IS A MALFUNCTION OF THE SYSTEM IT SHOULD BE TAKE CARE UNLESS THEY ARE WAITING FOR SOMETHING DRASTIC TO HAPPEN, HOPE I CAN GET SOME WHERE WITH THIS COMPLAINT, THIS IS A SECOND...

2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA VSC TRAC SENSOR LIGHTS TURNING ON AND OFF AND HEARING GRINDING NOISE WHEN IT AUTO-ENGAGE AND DISENGAGE IN MOTION.

NOTICED PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE TRACTION WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEED IN WET OR SNOWY WEATHER. PROBLEM WITH ACCELERATION AND TRACTION WHEN ACCELERATING. HEARD A RATCHETING SOUND AND NO TRACTION WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOPPED POSITION ON A WET ROAD. AFTER SOME RESEARCH IT SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR TO EARLIER RECALL WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID: 10V17600 FOR TOYOTA SEQUOIA VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 1, 2002 THROUGH APRIL 17, 2003. CALLED TOYOTA SERVICE LINE ON 11/9/2010 AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THIS RECALL DOESN'T APPLY TO OUR VEHICLE SINCE OUR VEHICLE WAS APPARENTLY MANUFACTURED ON 3/8/2002 (A FEW WEEKS EARLIER THAN THE RECALL COVERS). WE LIVE IN A VERY DRY CLIMATE WITH VERY LITTLE TO NO PRECIPITATION BUT NOTICED IT AGAIN AFTER RAINFALL. FILED A CASE# [XXX]ON 12/10/13 WITH TOYOTA WITH NO RESPONSE. PLEASE HELP! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED UNKNOWN FLUIDS WERE LEAKING FROM THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE CONTACT DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFT LEVER BRACKET AND THE STEERING COLUMN HOUSING WERE FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAME TO A COMPLETE HALT WITHOUT THE CONTACT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE BEGAN MOVING AND SHAKING VIOLENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

I HAD THIS VEHICLE SERVICED AT TOM SCOTT TOYOTA IN NAMPA, IDAHO. THE STANDARD 120K. PRIOR TO THIS I HAD THEM DO SOME BASIC SERVICES, AND THEY SEEMED TO ALWAYS MAKE MISTAKES. ONCE THEIR MECHANICS SENT ME OUT ON THE ROAD WITHOUT REPLACING THE CORRECT AMOUNT OF MOTOR OIL. IN THIS INSTANCE THEY HAD SERVICED MY TRANSMISSION FLUIDS, AND ALL OTHER 120K REQUIREMENTS. I DROVE AWAY AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IMMEDIATELY. I RETURNED THEY SAID IT WAS A TRANSMISSION SOLENOID. THEY RESET IT, IT WAS RUNNING FINE. THEN THE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. THEY CLAIMED IT NEEDED THE SOLENOID REPLACED. AFTER A WEEK THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND DID NOT RETURN. 2 DAYS AGO, THE VSC OFF, VSC TRAC, AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS ALL CAME ON. THERE IS A CRINKLY NOISE, LIKE FOIL CRINKLING WHEN I ACCELERATE. THIS IS INTERMITTENT. I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC THEY SAID...

I HAVE A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FRAME RUST ON MY 2002 SEQUOIA. I HAVE BEEN ISSUED A SERVICE CAMPAIGN FROM TOYOTA AND HAVE BEEN PROACTIVELY CALLED UPON BY A LOCAL DEALER TO PROVIDE THE SERVICE. AFTER READING ON THE NHTSA WEB SITE AND OTHER FORUMS ABOUT STRUCTURAL ISSUES AND THE WAY TOYOTA IS HANDLING THIS ISSUE I WANT TO BE PROACTIVE IN MY COMPLAINT. SPRAYING OR FRAME REPLACEMENT IS THE ONLY OPTION I HAVE BEEN PROVIDED TO DATE. THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE WIDESPREAD AND CAUSED BY TOYOTA'S MANUFACTURING PROCESSES. THAT BEING THE CASE, IT APPEARS THAT TOYOTA IS NOT STEPPING UP TO BUY BACK THOSE VEHICLES THAT REQUIRE THIS DRASTIC MEASURE. THEY SHOULD BUY BACK THE EFFECTED SEQUOIAS MUCH LIKE THEY DID REGARDING THE EXACT ISSUE WITH THEIR TUNDRA TRUCKS A FEW YEARS AGO. THE SEQUOIA AND THE TUNDRA SHARE THE SAME FRAME, SO WHY WOULDN'T THE BUY BACK...

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A STRAIGHT AWAY, DRY CONDITIONS, THE TRAC CONTROL LIGHT AND ALARM SOUNDED, A GRINDING NOISE STARTED, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND PULL TO THE RIGHT. AFTER SLOWING THE CAR DOWN TO APPX 25 MPH THE LIGHT, ALARM, AND GRINDING NOISE WENT AWAY. THIS SAME ISSUE HAS RE-OCCURRED ON ANOTHER OCCASION UNDER THE SAME TYPE OF CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. *JS

I WAS A STOP LIGHT WITH THE BRAKES FIRMLY PRESSED DOWN WHEN THE VEHICLE LURCHED FORWARD. IT FELT AS IF SOMEONE HAD REAR-ENDED ME, HOWEVER, THERE WAS NO ONE BEHIND ME. NOW THE VSC LIGHTS ARE LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD DISPLAY AND IT IS LURCHING AND POWER SURGING AT RANDOM. *TR

OUR 2002 TOYOTA SEQUOIA HAS A COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT FRAME, REAR DIFFERENTIAL AND OTHER PARTS SUCH AS BRAKE LINES ETC. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL EXPLODED AND THE CAR WOULD NOT DRIVE ANY FURTHER. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK, TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THE CAR KEPT ROLLING DESPITE BEING IN PARK. I APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL HOUSING WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH AND LEAKING FLUID. WE THEN DISCOVERED THAT IN ADDITION THE FRAME OF THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THE CAR IS NO LONGER SAFE TO DRIVE BECAUSE OF THE RUSTED FRAME AND UNDER CARRIAGE. OUR DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN WONDERFUL AND RENTED ME A CAR AND WILL REPLACE THE FRAME BUT TOYOTA IS SAYING THAT I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DIFFERENTIAL REPLACEMENT. *TR

WE HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING AN ISSUE W/ THE VEHICLE SKID CONTROL LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON AND OFF. AT ONE POINT, WE LOST POWER TO CAR, WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE. TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IS UNSURE WHAT THE ISSUE IS. THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER A YEAR. I FOUND A RECALL RELATED TO VSC FOR 2003 SEQUOIAS BUT TOYOTA SAYS OUR SEQUOIA IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL EVEN THOUGH THE SYMPTOMS ARE VERY IDENTICAL!! INSTEAD THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WANTS TO TRY TO REPLACE SOME COMPUTER CHIP (THAT WOULD COST US THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS) BUT THEY ARE NOT GUARANTEEING THAT THIS IS EVEN THE CAUSE OR WILL RESOLVE THE ISSUE!!! THEY ARE SAYING IT CAN BE THIS COMPUTER OR IT CAN BE THAT COMPUTER .. AND REPLACING EACH IS WORTH A FEW 1000S BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHICH IS CAUSING THE VSC LIGHT TO GO ON AND OFF!! *TR

MY 2002 SEQUOIA HAS BEEN MAINTAINED BY THE BOOK YET THE RUST OF THE FRAME AND THE DIFFERENTIAL HAVE LEFT THIS VEHICLE AS POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. I AM TOLD THAT THE LEAK OF TRANSMISSION FLUID IS BECAUSE THE DIFFERENTIAL IS ALMOST RUSTED THROUGH. I KNOW TOYOTA HAS HAD RUST ISSUES AND MY PREVIOUS TOYOTA LANDCRUISER HAD RUST ISSUES AS WELL. NOW THAT IT HAS HAPPENED A SECOND TIME I DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE. PLEASE UPDATE ME. *TR

REAR DIFFERENTIAL RUSTED OUT. LUBRICANT LEAKAGE CAN LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL. *TR

VSC, SEAT BELT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RANDOMLY STARTED COMING ON ABOUT 130,000 MI. TANSKY TOYOTA SERVICE DID BRAKE WORK, THE LIGHTS WERE OFF FOR SEVERAL WEEKS BUT THEN WOULD COME OFF AND ON. WE IGNORED IT BECAUSE WE HAD JUST HAD IT IN TO THE DEALER, IT SEEMED TO BE A NUISANCE IN AN OLDER VEHICLE BUT NOT DANGEROUS. ABOUT 165,000 MILES THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER IN TRAFFIC. WE SPECULATED IT WAS THE LEVER THAT SHIFTS FROM 4WD TO 2WD. THE DEALER REPLACED THAT FOR $400, THE LIGHTS WERE OFF FOR 3 DAYS, THEN BACK ON. NOW, WE HAVE HAD MAYBE FIVE INSTANCES OF SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER. THIS TOTAL LOSS OF POWER USUALLY OCCURS AFTER DRIVING 10 MINUTES LOCALLY, AND AFTER STOPPING AT A LIGHT. TURNING THE IGNITION OFF, AND RESTARTING FIXES THE ISSUE. TANSKY TOYOTA ACTS LIKE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF SUCH...

WHILE TRAVELING ANY WHERE I WOULD LOSE POWER AND MY VSC TRAC WARNING LIGHTS AND SKID TRAC LIGHTS WILL COME ON AND I WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE LIGHTS TO GO OFF IN ORDER TO GET MY POWER BACK. AND ALSO I HAD TO REPLACE TWO OF MY DOOR HANDLES. AND BEFORE MY SUV WAS 3YRS I HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION. *TR

THE VSC SYSTEM ENGAGED AND DOES NOT TAKE POWER FROM THE DRIVE TRAIN. AS A RESULT, A VERY LOUD METAL SHEARING NOISES FROM UNDERCARRIAGE. TOYOTA IS SAYING THIS IS NORMAL VEHICLE IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED BY THE MANUFACTURER. *LA