Pre-purchase inspection checklist — 2004 Toyota Sequoia
The 2004 Toyota Sequoia has moderate recall and complaint activity, with issues mainly focused on the suspension, brakes, and airbag system. Known problems include lower ball joint failures and braking system concerns. Additional issues may exist due to the age of the vehicle, but evidence is somewhat limited. Thorough inspection is advised.
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Toyota Sequoia has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns and 380 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #22E002000 Inadequate Hardness of Ball Joint Housing NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V741000 Frontal Air Bag Inflators May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #18V883000 Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V286000 Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V285000 Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07E023000 MASTER CYLINDER LEAK NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #07V013000 FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E049000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #05V225000 BALL JOINT FAILURE NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 98 complaints
- Structure 77 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 53 complaints
- Service Brakes 50 complaints
- Suspension 47 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 39 complaints
Of the 380 complaints on file, 17 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 380 complaints, owners report 19 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Known issues to inspect
Lower ball joint failure
How to check: Inspect for wear or looseness in front suspension ball joints.
Brake fluid leakage
How to check: Check for signs of leaking brake fluid near the master cylinder.
Airbag inflator fault
How to check: Ensure all airbag recalls have been addressed.
Test-drive walkthrough
- 01
Cold start
What to check: Listen for abnormal engine noises or vibrations.
Red flag: Persistent knocking or ticking noise
- 02
First minute idling
What to check: Check for consistent idle without fluctuations.
Red flag: Erratic idling
- 03
Taking a turn
What to check: Pay attention to any steering wheel resistance.
Red flag: Stiff or unresponsive steering
- 04
Moderate acceleration
What to check: Ensure smooth gear shifts without jerking.
Red flag: Hesitation or hard shifts
- 05
Braking
What to check: Test for firm pedal and responsive braking.
Red flag: Spongy feel or delayed stopping
- 06
Cruising at highway speeds
What to check: Listen for odd noises or vibrations from suspension.
Red flag: Clunking or vibrating noise
- 07
Parking maneuver
What to check: Assess ease of turning and brake response.
Red flag: Excessive effort or brake squeal
Questions for the seller
Use this exact phrasing.
- Has the airbag recall been addressed?
- Are there any issues with the braking system?
- Any recent work done on suspension components?
- Is the electronic stability control system fault-free?
- Has the vehicle ever been in an accident?
Documents to request
Don't sign anything until you have these.
- Vehicle service history
- Title and registration
- Recall repair records
- Accident history report
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Toyota Sequoia at the time. AI output can be wrong; confirm anything you find with a mechanic.
Next step
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