Is the 2005 Toyota Sequoia a bad year?
352 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 51, 5.1× a quiet Sequoia year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 62k–121k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2005 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 95,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 93 (26%) | 62k–118k miles · around this mileage | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 87 (25%) | 60k–120k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 85 (24%) | 65k–118k miles · around this mileage | — |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 50 (14%) | 63k–121k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Air bagsSTANDS OUT | 40 (11%) | 64k–167k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 34 (10%) | 62k–119k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Suspension | 27 (8%) | 52k–154k miles · around this mileage | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Body structure | 26 (7%) | 74k–195k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Traction control | 25 (7%) | 62k–96k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 14 (4%) | 36k–90k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Fuel system | 13 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Tires | 10 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 7 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 6 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
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 95,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 352 complaints: 7 mention a crash · 1 mentions a fire · 2 report an injury · 3 say the car was towed.
No complaints in the last 12 months; the newest was filed in Aug 2024.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Vehicle when on a stop and making a turn doesn't accelerate for a few seconds it goes blank then after gets speed.
The brake light constantly goes on and off. Trac off, VSC trac and check engine lights all come on.
2005 Toyota sequoia trac off, VSC trac, and check engine lights all came on suddenly on vehicle with 62k miles.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 95,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2005 Toyota Sequoia: 11
The ball joint housing may have inadequate hardness, causing premature failure. A ball joint failure may cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed. If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently. If the side curtain-shield-air bags deploy unexpectedly, it can increase the risk of occupant injury.
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 affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring. Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
These vehicles were sold without the requisite load carrying capacity modification labels. A driver may overload a vehicle which may increase the risk of a crash.
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.
On certain trucks and Mini vans, due to possible improper finishing of the front suspension lower ball joint, some ball joints may experience an incidental deterioration of the internal lubrication. In extreme cases, if the vehicle is continuously operated in this condition, the lower ball joint may separate from the knuckle and could cause a loss of vehicle control.
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: 112
Repair instructions Toyota sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2005 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 information regarding transmission and/or park neutral position switch installation
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Lower ball joint failure
Neighbouring years
2004 Sequoia: 380 complaints, keep it · 2006 Sequoia: 202 complaints, keep it.
Every Toyota Sequoia year
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Questions
Is the 2005 Toyota Sequoia a bad year?
352 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 51, 5.1× a quiet Sequoia year. At 95,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 62k–121k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 Toyota Sequoia?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: stability control (93), brakes (87), speed control (85), engine (50), air bags (40). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 62k–121k miles.
How many recalls does the 2005 Toyota Sequoia have?
11 recall campaigns list this model year: Suspension (NHTSA 22E002000), Air bags (NHTSA 19V-741), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-883), Seats (NHTSA 16V-396) 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.