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Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

2004 Toyota Sequoia — Known Issues & Recalls

9 Recalls377 Owner Complaints7 Categories Affected
377
Total Complaints
9
Open Recalls
17
Crashes
1
Fires
19
Injuries

Complaints from Jan 2013 to Dec 2011

The most reported issue is structure problems (56 complaints). 17 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fire.

Open Safety Recalls (9)

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Invalid Date

NHTSA Campaign: 19V741000

Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: 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.

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Dec 2018

NHTSA Campaign: 18V883000

Component: AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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.

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: 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.

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Invalid Date

NHTSA Campaign: 22E002000

Component: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

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.

Risk: A ball joint failure may cause a loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Invalid Date

NHTSA Campaign: 15V286000

Component: AIR BAGS

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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Invalid Date

NHTSA Campaign: 15V285000

Component: AIR BAGS

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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Invalid Date

NHTSA Campaign: 06E049000

Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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.

Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Fix: 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.

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Invalid Date

NHTSA Campaign: 07V013000

Component: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

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.

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Invalid Date

NHTSA Campaign: 07E023000

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

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.

Risk: LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Fix: 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.

Safety RecallFREE FIX AT DEALER
Invalid Date

NHTSA Campaign: 05V225000

Component: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

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.

Risk: THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Fix: 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.

Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 377)

Structure10 issues
highSTRUCTURE
Filed: Jul 2025

Your vehicle's frame has developed extensive rust despite having rust protection (CRC) applied in 2013. This is a structural integrity concern that should be inspected by a professional to determine if it affects the safety or reliability of your vehicle.

NHTSA #: 11676855
highSTRUCTURE
Filed: Jul 2025

Your mechanic discovered severe rust on your vehicle's rear subframe, particularly near the control arm, with several holes eaten through by corrosion. This rust is affecting the structural integrity of your Sequoia at 203,000 miles. Fixing this will likely require professional welding or subframe replacement to restore structural strength and safety.

NHTSA #: 11674182
highSTRUCTURE
Filed: Feb 2022

Your vehicle's frame is experiencing rust and corrosion due to the metal quality used in its construction. This can weaken the structural integrity of your vehicle over time. Frame rust repair typically involves treating affected areas, applying protective coatings, or in severe cases, welding or replacing corroded sections.

NHTSA #: 11451641
highSTRUCTURE
Filed: May 2021

Your Sequoia has developed significant rust on the frame in the rear left and right areas. Frame rust can compromise structural integrity over time and may affect the vehicle's safety in a collision. You'll want to have the rust inspected by a professional and treated or repaired to prevent further deterioration.

NHTSA #: 11414721
highSTRUCTURE
Filed: Mar 2021

Your car's frame has developed rust that has eaten completely through the metal in some areas. This is a structural integrity issue that could affect the safety and durability of your vehicle. The frame may need to be professionally inspected to determine the extent of the damage and whether sections need to be repaired or reinforced.

NHTSA #: 11404776
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Oct 2024

No specific complaint details were provided in the submission. To help translate this issue, please provide the actual complaint text describing the structural problem you're experiencing with your 2004 Toyota Sequoia.

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NHTSA #: 11617958
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Feb 2021

Your rear hatch door won't close properly. The handle has failed, and this is the second time this has happened in 4 years. The dealer will need to replace the lock assembly and handle assembly to fix the problem.

NHTSA #: 11396707
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Feb 2021

Your rear hatch door won't close properly because the handle has failed. The dealer replaced both the lock assembly and the handle assembly to fix the issue.

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NHTSA #: 11396706
mediumSTRUCTURE
Filed: Feb 2021

Your rear hatch door handle has failed multiple times over 8 years, with the lock assembly and handle requiring dealer replacement in 2010, 2014, and 2018. The parts seem to fail approximately every 4 years. Fixing this typically involves replacing the rear hatch lock assembly and handle assembly.

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NHTSA #: 11396709
lowSTRUCTURE
Filed: Aug 2024

No complaint text was provided in this submission — only a reference to an attached document that isn't included here. Without the specific details about the structural issue, I cannot translate the complaint into plain language.

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NHTSA #: 11611616
Unknown Or Other4 issues
highUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Aug 2022

Your Sequoia's frame has developed rust throughout, and Toyota dealers have identified a spot near the driver's side rear wheel where rust has eaten almost completely through the metal. The frame wasn't properly rust-treated at the factory, leaving you to deal with the consequences. This will likely require professional frame repair or replacement of the affected section.

NHTSA #: 11477258
highUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Jan 2022

Your Sequoia's frame is rotting, which can compromise the structural integrity of your vehicle. This is a serious issue that affects the safety and durability of your car. A mechanic will need to inspect the frame damage and may recommend rust treatment, frame repair, or welding to address affected areas.

NHTSA #: 11449428
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Oct 2023

The owner reported a concern with the vehicle's frame. No crash or fire was involved in this report.

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NHTSA #: 11552901
mediumUNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Sep 2021

Your tailgate won't open, even though it was working when you bought the vehicle in 2018. The Toyota dealership quoted a repair cost that seemed too high for you to proceed. A mechanic can diagnose whether the issue is a broken latch mechanism, damaged cables, or an electrical actuator problem.

NHTSA #: 11434634
Suspension2 issues
criticalSUSPENSION
Filed: Apr 2021

Your front left wheel fell completely off while you were parking, with no warning signs beforehand. The ball joint that connects the wheel to your suspension catastrophically failed without any noticeable symptoms like unusual tire wear or steering problems. Even though Toyota had issued a recall and repaired the ball joints on your vehicle in 2007, the same component failed again years later. The fix will require replacement of the failed ball joint and any related suspension components that were damaged when the wheel detached.

NHTSA #: 11414630
criticalSUSPENSION
Filed: Mar 2021

Your car's left front ball joint failed suddenly without any warning signs, causing the wheel to fall off and become wedged under the vehicle while you were pulling into a parking space. There were no prior noises, steering problems, or unusual tire wear before this happened. The ball joint will need to be replaced, and the suspension system should be inspected for any other damage.

NHTSA #: 11403018
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,traction Control System1 issue
criticalSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM
Filed: May 2024

Your brake pedal sank to the floor when you pressed it while driving at 35 mph, and your check brakes and traction control warning lights came on. This problem started intermittently but became a recurring issue. You discovered Toyota had issued a recall for this problem, but you weren't notified automatically—you only found out after calling them and researching online.

NHTSA #: 11588514
Structure,unknown Or Other1 issue
criticalSTRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Mar 2024

Your Sequoia's frame may be deteriorating due to defective metal used in manufacturing. Toyota conducted a limited recall to replace some frames but denied coverage to many owners. This is a serious structural issue that affects your vehicle's safety and integrity.

NHTSA #: 11579668
Suspension,unknown Or Other1 issue
highSUSPENSION,UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Filed: Apr 2024

Your vehicle's frame is experiencing rust and corrosion. This is a structural integrity issue that could affect the safety and longevity of your vehicle. A professional inspection is needed to assess the extent of the damage and determine if repair or replacement of affected frame sections is necessary.

NHTSA #: 11582378
Structure,unknown Or Other,service Brakes1 issue
highSTRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Oct 2022

Your vehicle's undercarriage has significant rust and rot damage. This type of corrosion can affect structural integrity and brake system components. The vehicle may need inspection by a mechanic to assess the extent of the damage and determine what repairs are necessary.

NHTSA #: 11491571

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