2004 Toyota Sequoia: problems, recalls and reliability
9 recalls and 379 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is structure (19% of complaints); the 2006 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · 1 new complaint in the last 90 days · latest recall Jan 2022
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 379 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2004 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that while completing an inspection and emissions test on the vehicle, the mechanic informed the contact that there was severe rust on the rear subframe of the vehicle, near the control arm, and several other areas on the subframe. The contact stated that there were several holes on the subframe caused by the extreme rust. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 203,000.”Owner report · Structure · Jul 2025
“TOYOTA frame is falling apart due to the use of faulty metal to manufacture those frames they ran a limited service campaign to replace some of the frames and they denied many other owners that right please help by telling TOYOTA North America to take care of this very hazardous issue thank you”Owner report · Structure · Mar 2024
“Frame has rust issues throughout. Frame not properly treated at the factory and now I am suffering because it has virtually rusted through in front of the drivers side rear wheel which was pointed out to me at Toyota when my car was in for service.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2022
Show 7 more owner reports
“The tail gate will not open. I had the vehicle since 2018 and it was working and now it's not working. I taken it to toyota dealership and the cost is to much for at this point. I was wondering is there anything that can be done?”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2021
“Left front (drivers side) wheel ball joint(s) failed catastrophically causing wheel to fall off and wedge under car while pulling into a parking space. No prior warning, no prior noise, no prior steering issues, no strange tire wear (tires just replaced 6 months ago). Just instant and catastrophic failure!”Owner report · Suspension · Mar 2021
“Rear hatch door would not open dealer has replaced lock sub assy and handle assy 3 times in the past 10 years. This is the fourth failure latch has, 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2021. The first three failures occurred about every 4 years the current failure was 2 years and 3 months. Owned. Car 6 years before first failure.”Owner report · Structure · Feb 2021
“Trac off light and vac trac lights on all the time! Grinding noise when brakes applied at random times. Cause for concern! Have had everything replaced that could cause this over the past 2 years and still having the same issue!”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Oct 2020
“When turning left or right, and at low speeds, vts is turning on and causing the vehicle to lose power. This happens when pulling out in front of traffic and I cannot speed up until the vehicle is straight. *tr”Owner report · Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · Mar 2020
“I've been dealing for several years having air-bags being replaced. When an appointment is given, I go to dealership and am told no one has placed an order for the parts.ms dept. Of transportation contacted me and said they have made the request for repair and estabrrook toyota of pascagoula has said there is no record of any correspondence.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jan 2020
“Fuel gauge not measuring fuel properly. After a full tank, gauge indicates empty tank after few days. Speedometer not working and engine loses power for a while while the gauge goes to 100 miles on the highway and goes back to zero and restores power to the engine. The vehicle has only 145,000 miles on it. Also rust on the body frame .”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Nov 2019
When filing, owners marked a crash in 17 of these complaints and injuries in 19 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 9 campaigns
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. 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.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015 that they are recalling certain model year 2004 Sequoia vehicles manufactured August 18, 2003, to August 19, 2004, and 2003-2004 Tundra vehicles manufactured March 18, 2003, to August 25, 2004. On June 16, 2015, Toyota expanded the recall to include an additional 1,270,468 vehicles, including model year 2002-2003 and 2005-2007 Sequoia, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2003-2007 Corolla, 2003-2007 Corolla Matrix, 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe and 2002-2007 Lexus SC vehicles. 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. This recall addresses both the passenger side frontal air bags that were originally installed in the vehicles, as well as replacement air bags that may have been installed as replacement service parts. A replacement air bag may have been installed, as one example, if a vehicle had been in a crash necessitating the replacement of the passenger side frontal air bag.
Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-285 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag. The recall began on July 13, 2015. Toyota owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Pontiac owners may call 1-800-762-2737. NOTE: This recall supersedes recall 14V-312 in its entirety.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) notified the agency on May 13, 2015, that they are recalling 2005-2007 Lexus SC, Toyota Corolla, Corolla Matrix, Sequoia, and Pontiac Vibe, and 2005-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles that were originally sold, or ever registered, in Florida, along the Gulf Coast, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, Saipan and American Samoa. On June 16, 2015 Toyota expanded the recall to cover an additional 769,055 vehicles, including certain model year 2002-2004 Lexus SC, Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2004 Toyota Corolla Matrix, Toyota Corolla, Pontiac Vibe, and Toyota Tundra vehicles, as well the vehicles covered by the May 13, 2015 notification in the portions of Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas that were not previously included. 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.
Remedy: 2003-2004 Corolla and Corolla Matrix vehicles that are recalled under both 15V-043 and 15V-286 are under a Do Not Drive advisory. Owners of these vehicles are advised not to drive their vehicles until the recall remedy has been completed. Toyota will notify their owners. Pontiac Vibe owners will be notified by GM. Dealers will replace the passenger side front air bag, free of charge. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota began the recall on July 13, 2015. Pontiac Vibe owners may contact GM at 1-800-762-2737. GM began the recall on June 29, 2015. NOTE: This recacll supersedes recall 14V-655 in its entirety. For vehicles located in the U.S. states not listed above, please see Toyota recall 15V-285 which covers all other U.S. states.
CERTAIN CK MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION HEADLIGHTS, CLEAR CORNER, BUMPER, AND SIDE MARKER LIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy: CK MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CK MOTORSPORT AT 1-909-610-7211.
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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 5, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
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. THE SEAL ON MASTER CYLINDER CAN FAIL AND LEAK BRAKE FLUID.
Remedy: CARDONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE ANY DEFECTIVE MASTER CYLINDERS. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING APRIL 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT CARDONE AT 1-800-777-4780.
Tenneco Automotive (DRiV) is recalling certain aftermarket ball joints for 2004-2007 Toyota Sequoia and 2004-2006 Toyota Tundra vehicles, MOOG part number K80521, K80522, NAPA part number NCP2601633, NCP2601634, ACDelco part number 45D2344, and 45D2345. The ball joint housing may have inadequate hardness, causing premature failure.
Remedy: DRiV will work with distributors to return unsold parts. Dealers will inspect and replace the ball joint as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 17, 2022. Owners may contact DRiV customer service at 1-877-489-6659 or at RECALL.SUPPORT@DRIV.COM.
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. THIS MAY CAUSE THE BALL JOINT TO WEAR AND LOOSEN PREMATURELY, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INCREASED STEERING EFFORT, REDUCED VEHICLE SELF-CENTERING, AND NOISE IN THE FRONT SUSPENSION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 28, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TOYOTA AT 1-800-331-4331.
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. 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.
Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, or replace the air bag assembly that includes an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for these recalls are J0A (Zone A Toyota), J0B (Zone B Toyota), J0C (Zone C Toyota), JLI (Zone A Lexus), JLJ (Zone B Lexus), and JLK (Zone C Lexus). Note: This recall includes vehicles that have had their air bag previously replaced under an earlier air bag campaign.
How other years compare
Check your exact Sequoia by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Toyota Sequoia reliable?
NHTSA has 379 owner complaints and 9 recall campaigns on record for the 2004 Toyota Sequoia. The most complained-about area is structure (19% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2004 Toyota Sequoia problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 96,393 miles or less.
Does the 2004 Toyota Sequoia have open recalls?
9 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.