2003 Toyota Sequoia reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2003 Toyota Sequoia — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 875
- 29 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
- 158 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 5
- see below
- Reported harm
- 27 reported crashes · 34 injuries · 3 deaths · 2 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesComplaint rank
#500
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Toyota median
+586
median 289 across 291 Toyota records
Vs 2001-2005
+623
median 252 complaints in 794 records
Top component share
18%
Electronic Stability Control (esc): 158 complaints
What owners report fails — 2003 Toyota Sequoia
- ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 158
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 86
- STRUCTURE:BODY 57
- SERVICE BRAKES 55
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 54
5 recalls on record for the 2003 Toyota Sequoia
- NHTSA 18V883000 · 2019 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- NHTSA 19V741000 · 2019 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious in
- NHTSA 15V285000 · 2015 · AIR BAGS In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with met
- NHTSA 15V286000 · 2015 · AIR BAGS In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with met
- NHTSA 10V176000 · 2010 · TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE VEHICLE MAY NOT ACCELERATE AS QUICKLY AS THE DRIVER EXPECTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2003 Toyota Sequoia
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2003 Toyota Sequoia units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2003 Toyota Sequoia reliable?
NHTSA has 875 consumer complaints on record for the 2003 Toyota Sequoia and 5 recalls. The most-reported problem area is electronic stability control (esc) (158 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2003 Toyota Sequoia units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2003 Toyota Sequoia?
Owners most often report problems with: electronic stability control (esc) (158), vehicle speed control (86), structure:body (57), service brakes (55). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2003 Toyota Sequoia?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.