2003 Toyota Sequoia Transmission Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP OR PARKED POSITION, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ACCELERATE. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE BRAKES. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE ON ITS OWN. IN ADDITION, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE SAME ABNORMAL NOISE OCCURRED AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED. THIS WAS A RECURRING FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT MORE INFORMATION WAS NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.

I HAVE MY A/C ON AND THE BRAKE LIGHT TURNS ON AND TRAC AND VSC LIGHTS COME ON. THIS HAS BEEN HEAPING SINCE 60000 MILES AND THERE WAS A RECALL ON IT BUT NOT ON MINE. THEY DO TEST AND CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. WHEN I TRUN THE CAR OFF THEY COME OFF.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO JERK WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE VSC, VSC TRAC AND ENGINE WARNING INDICATORS. THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY AND UNTIL BECOMING PERMANENTLY ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,342.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN A FAMILIAR ROAD LEAVING A CAR WASH GOING NO FASTER THEN 45 MPH, THE REAR END STARTED MAKING A GRINDING NOISE WHEN WE WOULD TAKE OFF. WE TOOK IT TOO OUR MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WAS THE REAR END DIFFERENTIAL, HE CHANGED THE FLUID IN IT TO SEE IF THAT WOULD HELP BUT IT DID NOTHING, IF ANYTHING IT MADE IT WORSE. BUT HE DID SAY THAT THERE WERE METAL SHAVINGS ON THE PLUG WHICH WOULD INDICATE A GEAR GOING OUT. HE TOLD US NOT TO DRIVE IT TILL WE GET IT FIX BECAUSE IF IT WERE TO COMPLETELY GO OUT IT WOULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *TR

MY WIFE WAS ON FREEWAY, DRIVING OUR 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA LIMITED 2WD, WHEN VSC LIGHT LIT UP AND A BUZZER SOUNDED. AT THE SAME TIME, HER VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE ON ITS OWN, CAUSING VEHICLES BEHIND HER TO HAVE TO BRAKE TO KEEP FROM REAR-ENDING HER VEHICLE. THIS WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A HORRIFIC GRINDING AND BANGING SOUND. MY WIFE FOUND A SAFER PLACE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY AND STOP THE VEHICLE. A TOW TRUCK WAS CALLED AND VEHICLE WAS "FLAT-BED" TOWED TO REPAIR GARAGE. *TR

REAR DIFFERENTIAL ROTTED TO THE POINT OF LEAKING. I HAVE SEEN MANY REPORTS OF THIS ONLINE, TOYOTA TUNDRAS AS WELL, WHICH HAVE THE SAME DIFFERENTIAL AND FRAME, ARE UNDER RECALL. *TR

IT WAS RAINING, I WAS GOING AROUND A TURN ,10 - 15 MPH THE BACK TIRE STARTED TO SPIN, THE VSC TRAC,VSC OFF,AND ABS LIGHTS CAME ON, THIS IS AFTER THE TRK. WENT TO THE DEALER TO CHECK OUT A RECALL ON THE VSC. THEY SAID IT WASN'T UNDER A RECALL, WE PARKED THE SEQUOIA AND WONT DRIVE IT UNTIL IT'S REPAIRED, SAFETY REASONS, I MOVED IT , TRIED TO GO OVER A CURB ON AN ANGLE AND THE RIGHT REAR TIRE JUST WAS SPINNING ON THE ASPHALT ROAD. THIS CANT BE GOOD FOR THE SEQUOIA ,ITS 4 WHEEL DRIVE, AND ITS MAKING A NOISE, IN THE DRIVE TRAIN ,CLUNKING?? IT SLIDES IN THE RAIN (BAD ) AND WONT STOP ON WET ROADS VERY WELL , IT SLIDES TO A STOP. I DON'T HAVE ALOT OF TIME TO RESEARCH THE VSC PROBLEM ,BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE ALL THE SEQUOIA'S 03-05 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM, FOR THE COST OF THIS TRK. I HOPE TOYOTA WILL FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

IN DECEMBER 2010 WE TOOK OUR TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2003 TO FIX THE DEFECTS MENTIONED IN THE EA09006 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER VICKSBURG TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN VICKSBURG, MS. AT THE MOMENT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED US THAT THE ECU COULD NOT REFLASH. HOWEVER, THE ECU WAS NOT REPLACED AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL. A WEEK AGO, ONCE AGAIN, THE VSC ECU LIGHTS TURNED ON. AGAIN WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ECU IS COMPLETELY DAMAGED AND I HAVE TO INCUR AN EXPENSE OF $ 650 TO REPLACE THE UNIT. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TALK WITH TOYOTA, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE INDICATED TO ME THAT THE NEW PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL 1. TOYOTA EVADED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO CHANGE THE UNIT SO THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER CORRECTED RECALL 2. IF THE RECALL REQUIRED THE UNIT WAS REPLACED BY A NEW ONE COULD NOT REFLASH THE UNIT. TOYOTA IS PUTTING THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND THOSE CLOSE TO OUR VEHICLE DRIVERS WHEN DRIVEN 3. WE HOPE THAT THE NHTSA CAN PROTECT OUR LIVES AND THOSE WHO FACE THESE PROBLEMS OF LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY OF TOYOTA AND ITS DEALERS. *TR

IN DECEMBER 2010 WE TOOK OUR TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2003 TO FIX THE DEFECTS MENTIONED IN THE EA09006 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER VICKSBURG TOYOTA DEALERSHIP IN VICKSBURG, MS. AT THE MOMENT THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED US THAT THE ECU COULD NOT REFLASH. HOWEVER, THE ECU WAS NOT REPLACED AS SPECIFIED IN THE RECALL. A WEEK AGO, ONCE AGAIN, THE VSC ECU LIGHTS TURNED ON. AGAIN WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT THE ECU IS COMPLETELY DAMAGED AND I HAVE TO INCUR AN EXPENSE OF $ 650 TO REPLACE THE UNIT. I'VE BEEN TRYING TO TALK WITH TOYOTA, HOWEVER, THEY HAVE INDICATED TO ME THAT THE NEW PROBLEM HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE RECALL 1. TOYOTA EVADED THEIR RESPONSIBILITY TO CHANGE THE UNIT SO THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NEVER CORRECTED RECALL 2. IF THE RECALL REQUIRED THE UNIT WAS REPLACED BY A NEW ONE COULD NOT REFLASH THE UNIT. TOYOTA IS PUTTING THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND THOSE CLOSE TO OUR VEHICLE DRIVERS WHEN DRIVEN 3. WE HOPE THAT THE NHTSA CAN PROTECT OUR LIVES AND THOSE WHO FACE THESE PROBLEMS OF LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY OF TOYOTA AND ITS DEALERS. *TR

TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY $1,500 REPAIR PER DEALER. THE TRANSMISSION DIFFERENTIAL LIGHT FLASHES ON THE DASH, WE FOUND OUT THE SEAL, RELAY AND ACTUATOR ARE ALL BAD $1,500 REPAIR I FOUND NUMEROUS CASES OF THIS ON THE INTERNET. TOYOTA REFUSES TO HELP STATING THE MILEAGE. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM AND THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE FAILURE OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY AND WITHOUT WARNINGS. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE MILEAGES WERE 84,000. UPDATED 12/9/09 *CN UPDATED 12/10/09.*JB

I HAVE A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA AND MY VSC TRAC,VSC OFF LIGHTS STAY ON. I HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS THE TRANSMISSION HOWEVER IT IS A DEFECT FROM TOYOTA. THE ABS LIGHT AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AS A RESULT. I HAVE SEEN LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL AND THINK THAT TOYOTA SHOULD DO A RECALL TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *TR

REAR MAIN SEAL LEAK, LARGE AMOUNT. *TR

I HAVE A 2003 4RUNNER THAT HAS A HORRIBLE CLUNKING SOUND THAT HAPPENS AT RANDOM. THE TOYOTA DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED TO FIX IT 3 TIMES. IT WILL HAPPEN WHEN COMING TO A STOP OR STARTING FROM A STOP. IT'S VERY ANNOYING AND NOT VERY COMFORTING. IF THE DRIVESHAFT IS SLAMMING AND MAKING THIS NOISE, I CAN'T IMAGING ANYONE THINKING THAT IS VERY SAFE. THE THING COULD BREAK AT ANY MOMENT. WHO KNOWS WHAT DAMAGE THE SLAMMING DOES TO IT! TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIX THIS BEFORE SOME GETS HURT FROM IT. *TR

WHEN SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION IN TO DRIVE ALL THE LIGHTS WORK EFFECTIVELY, BUT THE LIGHT THAT INDICATES THE VEHICLE IS IN THE D POSITION (DRIVE) BURNS OUT. THIS IS A SAFETY PROBLEM THAT MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM THAT THE DEALER IS AWARE OF AS A CONSISTENT DEFECT. *JB

PUT MY SEQUOIA IN PARK AND SHUT OFF .I GOT OUT TO GO INTO GAS STATION, AS I SHUT THE DOOR TO THE VEHICLE, THE CAR JERKED AND BEGAN MAKING A GRINDING NOISE AND PROCEEDED TO GO IN REVERSE BACK. I WENT TO GET INTO THE VEHICLE TO MAKE SURE I HAD GOTTEN IT INTO THE PARK POSITION AND IT WAS. I COULDN'T STOP IT AND BY THAT TIME IT WAS TOO LATE FOR ME TO GET AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. IT ENDED UP PINNING MY LEGS BETWEEN A CONCRETE BARRIER THAT PROTECTS THE GAS PUMPS AND THE DOOR OF MY VEHICLE. EVENTUALLY, IT FOLDED THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR BACKWARDS MAKING IT PARALLEL TO THE FRONT BUMPER AND RELEASED ME TO FALL TO THE GROUND. IT THEN CONTINUED IN REVERSE UNTIL IT FINALLY HIT A PARKED CAR AND STOPPED. ALL OF THE WITNESSES, INCLUDING THE ACTUAL POLICE OFFICER NOTED IN THEIR STATEMENTS THAT THEY FOUND THE CAR IN PARK. AT THIS POINT, TOYOTA IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS AND A NEUTRAL PARTY WHO QUICKLY CHECKED THE SEQUOIA SAID THEY FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE CAR STAYING IN PARK SO THERE WOULD PROBABLY BE NOTHING FURTHER DONE. *AK

2003 TOYOTA LIMITED 4-RUNNER V8- AWDFRONT-END VIBRATION PROBLEM. I FIRST PRESENTED THE VIBRATION PROBLEM TO MY DEALER THE LAST WEEK OF AUGUST! THEY TRIED BALANCING THE WHEELS WITH NO IMPROVEMENT. THEY AGREED THE PROBLEM WAS THERE AND NOTIFIED CORPORATE. THEIR TECHNICAL STAFF HAD THEM REMOVE THE FRONT AXELS AND RETEST THE VIBRATION WHICH STARTED AT 22 MPH, WENT TO 32MPH 42, 55, AND 62MPH NOW DISAPPEARED! A WEEK LATER A TECHNICAL REPRESENTATIVE MET WITH ME AND MENTIONED THAT SEVERAL VEHICLES IN PHOENIX HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SUGGESTED IT PROBABLY WOULD TAKE ABOUT TWO MONTHS TO GET A FIX. TWO MONTHS LATER I TALKED TO THE TECH. REP. AGAIN AND HE MENTIONED THAT THE ENGINEERING GROUP HAD DETERMINED THE PROBLEM TO BE INTERFERENCES IN THE SPIDER GEAR ASSEMBLY IN THE FRONT DIFFERENTIAL, THEY WERE TRYING TO CORRECT THE CONDITION WITH THRUST WASHER SHIMS AND OTHER THINGS. I HAVE PRESENTED MY CLAIM TO THE CUSTOMER SUPPORT GROUP. I HAVE CALLED THEM REGULARLY ONCE A MONTH AND HAVE HAD NO SUCCESS AT FINDING WHAT THEIR SCHEDULE IS FOR THE FIX,--ONLY TO SAY WE ARE WORKING ON IT AND YOUR DEALER WILL NOTIFY YOU. IVE SINCE HEARD FROM MY DEALER STAFF THAT THEY HAVE A NUMBER OF LEXUS GX470'S AS WELL AS 4-RUNNERS INVOLVED. IM BEGINNING TO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE SO MANY VEHICLES WITH DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLIES INVOLVED, THAT IT MAY REQUIRE SOME KIND OF MAJOR REDESIGN AND BUILD. IT MIGHT BE A LONG TIME BEFORE WE SEE A FIX! I HAUL A POP-UP TRAILER AND DOES IT MAGNIFY THE PROBLEM!*AK

A 2003 TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2WD/LIMITED WAS PLACED IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING ON A DOWN SLOPE DRIVEWAY. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE, OPENED UP THE BACK TO GET SOMETHING TO DELIVER. THE PERSON BEGAN WALKING UP THE SIDEWALK TO THE FRONT DOOR WHEN AN EYE WITNESS NOTICED THAT THE CAR WAS IN FOWARD MOTION AND YELLED A WARNING. THE VEHICLE STRUCK A CLOSED GARAGE DOOR AND KNOCKED IT OUT OF PLACE AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER RAN TO THE CAR AND THE GEAR LEVER WAS IN PARK. THE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP.*JB

CAR STALLS (GAS PEDAL DOES NOT RESPOND) WHEN TURNING INTO TRAFFIC. ALSO WHEN SLOWING TO A LOW SPEED AND THEN ACCELERATING. THIS HAS CAUSED US TO ALMOST BE HIT SEVERAL TIMES IN THE SIDE AND IN THE REAR. MOST OF THE TIME WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR WITH TIRE MARKS LIGHT ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COMES ON AND FLASHES. THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT WHEN THIS SUDDEN LOSS OF THE ACCELERATOR WILL HAPPEN. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS. THIS HAPPENS AT LEAST ONCE ALMOST EVERY TIME WE DRIVE. ALSO SOMETIMES WHEN YOU START THE CAR AND BEGIN TO GO YOU HEAR DINGING SOUNDS AND FEEL AND HEAR BUMPS AND GRINDING NOISES. 2 LIGHTS COME ON IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHEN THIS HAPPENS. 1 READS VSC TRAC AND THE OTHER READS TRAC OFF. IF YOU STOP AND RESTART THE ENGINE IT WILL EVENTUALLY STOP DOING IT. SOMETIMES THIS IS AFTER 1 RESTART AND SOMETIMES IT HAS TAKEN 5 AND 6. ON DAY IT WOULD NOT STOP NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES YOU RESTARTED AND WE HAD TO DRIVE WITH LIGHTS ON. THIS HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 10 DIFFERENT TIMES.