Is the 2002 Toyota Sequoia a bad year?
666 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sequoia years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2002 Toyota Sequoia are in line with other Sequoia years. Stability control, brakes, speed control and 3 more stand out for this year: see below.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2002 Sequoia owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 126,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 204 (31%) | 91k–168k miles · around this mileage | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 191 (29%) | 65k–150k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 135 (20%) | 100k–164k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 95 (14%) | 94k–164k miles · around this mileage | — |
| SteeringSTANDS OUT | 78 (12%) | 108k–183k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Traction controlSTANDS OUT | 69 (10%) | 90k–143k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 56 (8%) | 76k–143k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Suspension | 50 (8%) | 85k–174k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Electrical system | 42 (6%) | 52k–150k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Air bags | 34 (5%) | 60k–167k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Engine | 16 (2%) | 76k–168k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Wheels | 15 (2%) | 86k–170k miles · around this mileage | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Latches and locks | 30 (5%) | 51k–95k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Equipment | 20 (3%) | 32k–96k miles · mostly behind | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 126,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 666 complaints: 22 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 12 report an injury · 2 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Jun 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Sudden transmission failure while driving on highway, caused an extremely dangerous situation for the driver and occupants of this vehicle.
Transmission failure at 108,000 miles. From what I am reading, there are a lot of transmission failures on the 2002 sequoia around this mileage.
In 8/06 I noticed a roaring/grinding noise coming from my end. L. Bearing replaced X2. Problem remained. Then replaced the right front bearing.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 126,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2002 Toyota Sequoia: 8
These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
The inflators in the front passenger air bags are susceptible to rupture in the event of a crash necessitating the deployment of the front passenger air bag. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
This is to address a safety defect in the passenger side frontal air bag inflator which may produce excessive internal pressure causing the inflator to rupture upon deployment of the air bag. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
Certain cardone master cylinders with part numbers 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, and 11-3156, and with date codes lower than DCA7078 sold as replacement equipment for use on the vehicles listed above. Loss of brake fluid can result in poor braking performance, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
Certain ck motorsports combination headlights, clear corner, bumper, and side marker lights sold as replacement lamps for use on the passenger vehicles listed above. Without the amber reflectors, the vehicle will be poorly illuminated, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
On certain sport utility vehicles, due to a manufacturing issue in the front suspension lower ball joint, there is a possibility that the surface of the ball of the joint may have been scratched. The ball joint may eventually experience excessive wear and looseness, resulting in increased steering effort. The lower ball joint may separate from the knuckle causing loss of steering control and a crash could occur.
On certain 4X2 vehicles equipped with an alloy wheel tire upgrade (Options WM4, WM8, ZL1-ZL4, DH4, or DH5) installed by the processing centers in jacksonville, florida or commerce, georgia, a label identifying the spare tire as a temporary use spare tire was not installed. Different operating characteristics can be experienced when the spare tire is installed on the vehicle.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Toyota: 84
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2002 Toyota Sequoia. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power to the Engine ECM has been…
TechTip: Condition - The vehicle may be difficult to start or have an abnormally low or rough idle after the battery has been disconnected or power…
The purpose of this service bulletin is to provide information regarding the installation of the correct torque converter bolts during automatic…
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide precautions to follow when installing an automatic transmission/transaxle assembly to avoid MIL "ON" shifting issues…
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Yaw rate sensor malfunction
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2001 Sequoia: 531 complaints, keep it · 2003 Sequoia: 565 complaints, keep it.
Every Toyota Sequoia year
2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2024 · All Sequoia years side by side
Other Toyota models: Toyota 4Runner · Toyota Avalon · Toyota C-HR · Toyota Camry · Toyota Camry Hybrid · Toyota Camry Solara · Toyota Celica · Toyota Corolla · Toyota Corolla Cross · Toyota Corolla Matrix · Toyota Echo · Toyota FJ Cruiser · Toyota Grand Highlander · Toyota Highlander · Toyota Highlander Hybrid · Toyota Matrix · Toyota Prius · Toyota Prius c · Toyota Prius v · Toyota RAV4 · Toyota RAV4 Hybrid · Toyota RAV4 Prime · Toyota Sienna · Toyota Sienna Hybrid · Toyota Tacoma · Toyota Tundra · Toyota Venza · Toyota Venza Hybrid · Toyota Yaris. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2002 Toyota Sequoia a bad year?
666 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sequoia years. At 126,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 Toyota Sequoia?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: stability control (204), brakes (191), speed control (135), body structure (95), steering (78).
How many recalls does the 2002 Toyota Sequoia have?
8 recall campaigns list this model year: Air bags (NHTSA 19V-741), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-883), Air bags (NHTSA 15V-286), Air bags (NHTSA 15V-285) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.