general problems of the 2002 Toyota Sequoia - part 1

I was driving my 2002 Toyota Sequoia on the freeway at approximately 65 mph on the [xxx] when suddenly the vehicle made a beeping noise and the vsc light and trac light came on. The vehicle suddenly lost control in the wheels and tires and suddenly decelerated out-of-nowhere. Due to the sudden, abrupt movement and loss of control, the vehicle nearly flipped over. It was an extremely dangerous, possibly life-threatening situation. Thankfully, I was attentive and alert and had both hands on the wheel and was able to get the vehicle in control. This happened before two times and this would be the third time. I have taken the vehicle to several different auto repair shops and they have been unable to pin point and fix the problem. Because this issue continues to happen and puts me into dangerous situations repeatedly, I firmly believe that this is a bigger malfunctioning/defect problem that Toyota needs to address and fix. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

While driving on a curved road, the vehicle made a grinding sound with flashing vsc off and trac off lights, as it pulled violently to the right and almost ran off the road with my two children in the back seat. This was an extremely scary incident. I 1. While driving on a curved road, the vehicle made a grinding sound with flashing vsc off and trac off lights, as it pulled violently to the right and almost ran off the road with my two children in the back seat. This was an extremely scary incident. I do understand that many first generation Sequoia owners have reported similar incidents and that there were no recalls, however, I think this is a serious enough issue that will cost innocent people their lives. I was able to pull a reading from the obd2 and it says there is a fault with the yaw rate sensor. Please help before this causes someone's death. Thank you!do understand that many first generation Sequoia owners have reported similar incidents and that there were no recalls, however, I think this is a serious enough issue that will cost innocent people their lives. I was able to pull a reading from the obd2 and it says there is a fault with the yaw rate sensor. Please help before this causes someone's death. Thank you!.

While driving on a highway at about 60 mph, my vehicle made a loud grinding noise while the steering felt very difficult to control and then the vsc trac and trac off lights both came on. I got off the highway and pulled over to a parking lot to inspect the vehicle, but I did not see anything that would cause the vehicle to do that. After a few minutes, I restarted the vehicle and while driving on local roads to get home, the same thing happened again. I was extremely worried for the safety of my wife and children in the vehicle. After reading a few Toyota owners threads online, this seems to be a very familiar pattern with these Toyota Sequoias, and I strongly believe that this will result in very serious injuries or possible deaths if Toyota does not issue a recall to fix the problem causing such dangers for drivers. Please investigate the matter to save lives. Thank you!.

Rack and pinion rusted out and had to be replaced. It cracked in the middle of the highway and left me inching to safety. Never fully recovered 186k, frame is fully rusted and will not pass inspection due to faulty oxygen sensors and excessive rust and corrosion. Will need to replace exhaust to input a new sensor at 4k vechicle is fully operable and functional but cannot pass inspection without the safety of rust treatment or replacement it’s a great vechicle but unfortunate that the 2002 series is left out of the recall . There are a lot of early generations that have these issues and although the trucks are reliable and have a long life , are undriveable because they can’t pass inspection. Please consider extended the rust recall to 2001-2003 Sequoias. This was my grandfathers truck and really would like to keep his memory in the family and drive my grandfathers truck as it still runs perfectly but has on going issues with rust and frame issues . There was an extended warranty for 2002 Sequoias that expired in 2014. This is a point where most sequioas weren’t experiencing this issue. Dealership or recall will not honor and denied any claim for rust it is unfortunate because I am now disabled and love my Sequoia so much and was hoping to drive to appointments and gain my health back. It has become more than I am able to afford to fix an entire frame of the vehicle. It’s evident that early generations all that his issue but has not been honored for repair. I’ve repaired things over the years with hopes to pass inspection and now have insight as to what the real issue is. The excessive rust and damage to the frame.

The frame of the vehicle has severe rust and now has holes in the frame, making it unsafe to drive and possibly causing an accident. Meticulous care has been taken of this vehicle and it is never taken off road or abused. I’ve had several other vehicles and have never had this frame rust safety issue.

The left rear frame broke away from rear sway bar. I was just leaving my house when I heard a thunk. I noticed the problem when I turned onto the faster road as I accelerated the whole backend moved right, pushing the front end left (into oncoming traffic). Letting up on the accelerator cased the reverse to happen, the back end swung left and the front turned right. So, glad it happened slower streets and not the highway. There was a limited service recall on this model to coat with a rust proofing paint and we had the service done in 2012. This failure would have probably killed someone if it had happened on the freeway or cloverleaf. These vehicles should be either repaired by Toyota or off the road.

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.

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.

The first indication that something was wrong was the first week of September 2019. I was driving down a county road when the lights indicator lights for the trac and vsc started flashing and beeping when I drove over some bumps. The lights would not go off even when pressing trac off. I turned off the car and restarted it and the lights were off but only for about 15 minutes into my drive. I took it to the Toyota dealership and the agent said he did not know anything about the system and I would have to bring it back for diagnostics. That night I was getting ready to go over a rather large bridge when all of the sudden the car jerked twice to the right with the second event pulling me off the road. It was extremely frightening and terrified us all. Thank god it did not happen on the bridge or under other circumstances. The vsc and trac lights came on at approximately the same time as they had been off. I contacted Toyota corporate and essentially they said that the vehicle was not under warranty. This is an extremely dangerous situation. Thankfully I am a experienced driver but if it would have been one of my kids, I don't know if the outcome would have been the same. The local Toyota dealership has been of no help. The car is sitting in my drive. I implore you to further investigate this failure of the system before someone gets killed.

When driving at 70mph or higher a light comes on at the dash board vsc trac off the car loses speed and veers right to left almost loosing control of the steering wheel a diagnostic gave me a code c1234 wich is related with the stability control system yaw rate sensor / computer recalibration. This sensor is supposed to last the life of the car.

At 247,000 plus miles the abs system would suddenly engage going around sharper curves on the highway at 65+ mph. Recently the abs system engaged at 32 mph around a sharper curve on a mountain road. I brought it into the dealer in August 2019. As of February 2020 it is still not fixed, despite spending a lot of money. Besides being nerve wracking, it is a potentially hazardous problem, especially in snow and ice, that should qualify for a recall.

I didn't realize what the lights meant being on when I bought it until I was attempting to drive 4hrs away and suddenly the steering started veering off to the other lane and swerving. I could not drive past 40mph on the interstate the rest of the way and almost crashed into other vehicles and off the side of the road. When you switch lanes the vehicle pulls you too far and it is very unsafe to drive especially with kids. I had to break the abs fuse to get back home and even then it still veers off when trying to switch lanes and I can't go past 60 or so. I don't see how there are this many complaints and many accidents and almost accidents to not have everything associated with this malfunction to be considered not dangerous enough for a recall. I'm thankful my kids were not with me during that trip.

Just driving along, and feels like brakes grab and jerk the wheel and vsc trac lights go on. Problem has been occurring intermittently. Can be at highway speeds, but also happens at any speed. Very dangerous and scary. Vsc-trac and trac-off lights randomly illuminated on dry, level pavement when brakes were applied, causing a loud grinding noise (much louder than normal application of anti-lock brakes).

Tamara recall: I was going 60 mph when my traction control lights started blinking. It started making a grinding noise and front end shaking and loss of power steering it has 190,000 miles on it.

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!!!.

Frame rust. My mechanics will not lift the truck because of extensive frame rust.

My vehicle's vehicle stability control is engaging for no apparent reason while driving straight on a clear, clean, dry road. This has happened multiple times per month. Both on highway and city street. (25mph-70mph) controlling the car can become hard to do. Pretty loud grinding sound is heard when it is engaged. Fear an accident may happen because the vehicle may pull due to the brakes engaging unexpectedly.

About a month ago I was driving on the highway at about 60mph and all of a sudden my vehicle began to jerk erraticly, became hard to control steering and braking, seemed to be braking on its on, it made a very loud grinding noise and some sort of alarm starting beeping and my vsc lights and traction control lught starting flashing. This lasted about 3 minutes and continues to happen sporadically every 2 to 3 days. There is no cause and no rhythm or reason for this to happen. I am always on a seemingly flat smooth surface moving straight ahead at a moderately high rate of speed between 50 and 70mph. .

Takata recall. Vehicle stability control system my 2002 Sequoia began beeping, making a loud grinding noise and the traction light came on. I had little to no control of the vehicle. I am scared because it have happen on the freeway going 60-65ph. I literly do not have any control of my car everytime this happens.

I purchased my Sequoia in 2003 and the trac off/vsc trac lights started turning on a few months after purchase. I have told the dealer every time I bring the car for service and have always been told that they cannot find a problem. Once I turn off car the lights go off. Well, on July 2015 while traveling on a windy road at 35 mph, we heard an warning alarm sound for the first time and the steering locked for about two seconds and the car felt like we had a flat tire or dragging something underneath. After about 10 seconds the car resumed back to normal as if nothing had happened. About two weeks later, I was backing out of a parking stall and it did the exact thing, including steering wheel locking. I thought I had raned over something, but the car went back to normal. Now every two weeks after I get on the freeway this seems to happen, one time it sounded like my engine fell off. Sometimes is worse than others and it doesn't matter if I'm going 25 or 65 mph. A few months ago I was traveling at 65 and the alarm came on, the grinding and dragging noise and my car started slowing down and swirved to the right. I just barely missed a motorcyclist. Lucky no one was behind me or I would have been rear ended. I purchased Toyota for their safety and quality reputation. I take good care of my car and safety of my family is my priority. As I stated before, I have been complaining about this issue to my Toyota dealer for years and they tell me there is no problem with my car. Now my problem is much bigger than just a light turning on. This should be a major concern and we should not wait for a loss of life to happen. Any car that loses power in the middle of a freeway without warning should be of grave concern to all. I love my car but cannot afford to trade it in.

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.

When driving 70 mph on the interstate, the vehicle periodically yanks hard to the right, it sounds like I have a flat tire, front right tire feels and sounds like it stopped turning. Car slows, vsc system idiot lights flash and beep. After I have successfully though unintentionally run another car off the road it returns to normal. The idiot lights stay on until the car is turned off. Has been taken to mechanics numerous times in last few weeks, cannot find a problem. But keeps happening. Mechanic is aware of 2003 and newer recall for the same reason, tried recalibrating yaw sensor successfully. 3 days later it happened again mechanics says the sensor may be periodically malfunctioning, over correcting for a nonexistent problem. It has happened going 30 mph once, as well as today the lights and beeping went off at a dead stop in my driveway. Went straight to mechanics, turned off car to go inside, nothing found when he pulled it in.

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.

Vse/trac light and trac off light comes on, beeping sound. Traveling at 70 mph or 65 mph vehicle veers left and steering becomes difficult. Just this happened three times within 24 hours on interstate driving. This is the same problem discussed in a recall of the 2003 through 2005 models. Many problems of the same nature are reported on internet forums for the 2000 t-model. This is very dangerous. It happens when the road conditions are dry and no hazardous conditions.

I have a 2002 Sequoia and the dealership has been doing the repairs since I purchased it in 2003. I took in the recall for the ball joints and even before I received it I had an issue. When turning right, mostly in curves there is a loud grinding in the frontend and has been doing this since I purchased the car . They told me that here was not a problem but I am still having this problem and now the trac has to stabilize my car, this has happen while traveling no turns. The trac light is on and off constantly for whatever reason they can not explain it to me. This is getting dangerous for me I have spent money on this car lately but this is a very large repair and need to know what can be done to get this fixed I was also told that there is not an issue with my airbag as well that my car was not affected. I need help with this, this is my only transportation and this is getting dangerous.

The brakes of the car ,and we I drive I can't drive more than 80 miles pr hour because it checks. I fixed the brakes and the light stay on for ever now every time I have to remember to take the foot brake.

Identical problem as described by many others. Vsc-trac and trac-off lights randomly illuminated on dry, level pavement when brakes were applied, causing a loud grinding noise (much louder than normal application of anti-lock brakes), and car pulled and would not stop no matter how hard the brake pedal was pressed. First couple times, brakes were applied to slow the vehicle in traffic, so the failure to fully stop wasn't noticed. This now happens consistently whenever I drive and does not matter how fast or slow I am going. These failures clearly put vehicles at risk of accidents, and it is difficult to understand why the 2003 Sequoias were recalled for vsc issues, but not the 2002, when the parts being replaced fit both years. I have only had the vehicle for 2 years with 140,000 miles.

This has happened about 10 times when the skid light will come on and the vehicle will go left to right and the brakes do not stop the vehicle. Then the vsc off & vsc trac off lights will come on. This has happened at speeds from 15 - 60 mph at times you loose control of the vehicle at the higher speeds for a few seconds. If this ever happens in heavy traffic it will cause an accident. Vehicle has been taken to a Toyota specialist mechanic and they are still replacing parts. I understand that Toyota recalled all 2003 Sequoia's for this problem. My wife now refuses to drive the vehicle until it is fixed properly.

The vehicle was being driven on a dry paved road. The vsc and traction warning lights illuminated on the instrument panel as the vehicle pulled hard to the right, nearly causing an accident. The steering wheel becomes difficult to steer, the vehicle loses power, and the brakes inadvertently engage, making a terrible grinding noise. The problem happens at least once, each time the vehicle is restarted. There was a recall under NHTSA campaign id number: 10v176000 (traction control system) for the 2003 Toyota Sequoia - this failure is most likely related.

The contact owns a 2002 Toyota Sequoia. While driving 70 mph, the vhc track warning indicators illuminated. The contact stated that there was a loud grinding noise under the vehicle. The contact also stated that the vehicle started grinding and shook when braking. The vehicle was driven to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 81,069.

This has occurred several times: grinding noise, car pulls to the right and vsc and trac lights come on indicating vsc and trac are disengaged. Can drive ok after this occurs. However, when car is turned off and started again the warning lights go out and it's impossible to predict when it will occur again. There was a recall issued in 2010 for the 2003 model Sequoia with this same issue, however this recall for some reason did not cover the 2002 which is having the same problem! please have Toyota expand the recall to include other years as this is a common problem in Sequoias!!!.

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.

Last month, while traveling home from summer vacation on flat ground, at approximately 60 mph, the vsc, trac lights came on in the dash. There was a terrible grinding noise from under the car and beeping inside the car. The car pulled hard to the right and decelerated abruptly in the middle of a busy highway. Thank goodness I was able to pull into the turn lane and limp into a gas station. This occurred three more times over the next 500 miles until I got home. I took it to the dealer, they replaced the yaw sensor. Only 3 days after that, it happened again. Took it to the dealer, they replaced two brake sensors and a master cylinder. Today, five days after that, it happened again. This time, thankfully at only 25 mph with no traffic. This is a very scary, dangerous problem that Toyota should not be ignoring. It has been recalled in the 2003 model, and should be in the 2002 model as well!.

Driving on paved public road, dry road conditions in summertime at low speed,10-20 mph, the vsc and trac off warning lights on instrument panel light up with and audible bell type alarm at the same time the right front wheel makes a loud thump causing the vehicle to pull hard to the right and with very hard front end vibration. At which time there is no brake control, steering control or acceleration control for approximately 20 seconds that has caused a few near miss vehicle collisions with other vehicles or off the road towards an embankment. The Sequoia was taken to a Toyota dealership service center where the technician stated they can only clear the fault code in the vehicle's computer. Since the fault code has been cleared, 5 more episodes of the same identical senerios with both wet and dry road conditions but not standing water on the roadway, and also a couple of times during speeds between 60-70 mph. This is an intermittent anomaly, but happens 3-4 days in a row between instances.

While traveling down the interstate at 65 mph on a flat, even surface under good weather conditions, the vehicle stability control unexpectedly engaged, the vsc trac and trac off lights illuminated. The vehicle's brakes engaged, the steering began to pull to the right, a grinding noise occurred, and the vehicle became very difficult to control. This is not the first time this has happened. The last time was approximately 3 weeks ago (also highway travel at 65+mph). Before that, it had been a while. This seems to be a completely random occurrence. However, this poses a serious problem and with two small children, it is extremely concerning. Based on what I've read, this is common in this model year vehicle. Not sure why a recall has not been made.