Is the 2003 Toyota Sequoia a bad year?
565 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sequoia years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2003 Toyota Sequoia are in line with other Sequoia years. Stability control, brakes, body structure and 2 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 2003 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 89,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 165 (29%) | 57k–114k miles · around this mileage | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 152 (27%) | 50k–108k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Body structureSTANDS OUT | 98 (17%) | 89k–153k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 91 (16%) | 60k–118k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Traction controlSTANDS OUT | 51 (9%) | 68k–103k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 41 (7%) | 60k–165k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 40 (7%) | 33k–196k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Engine | 22 (4%) | 84k–173k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Equipment | 13 (2%) | 26k–90k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Latches and locks | 13 (2%) | 49k–98k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 13 (2%) | 71k–134k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Steering | 23 (4%) | 98k–178k miles · ahead | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Wheels | 5 (1%) | 94k–170k miles · ahead | Wheel bearing / hub assembly replacement (one wheel) $230–$750 |
| Electrical system | 66 (12%) | 40k–82k 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 89,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 565 complaints: 16 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 11 report an injury · 4 say the car was towed.
2 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Sep 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2003 Toyota Sequoia: 7
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.
The center position of the steering angle sensor (Sas) may not be stored correctly due to improper logic of the skid control ECU programming. The vehicle stability control (VSC) system could activate at low speed for a few seconds during acceleration from a stopped position. Should this occur, the vehicle may not accelerate as quickly as the driver expects, increasing the risk of a 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.
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: 89
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2003 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: 5
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Electronic stability control
Electronic stability control and/or trac
Neighbouring years
2002 Sequoia: 666 complaints, keep it · 2004 Sequoia: 380 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 2003 Toyota Sequoia a bad year?
565 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Sequoia years. At 89,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Toyota Sequoia?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: stability control (165), brakes (152), body structure (98), speed control (91), traction control (51).
How many recalls does the 2003 Toyota Sequoia have?
7 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.