NHTSA vehicle safety data
2002 Toyota Sequoia Recalls, Ratings & Complaints
The 2002 Toyota Sequoia has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns and 666 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Toyota dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2002 Toyota Sequoia, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2002 Toyota Sequoia owner complaints
Owners have filed 666 complaints with NHTSA about the 2002 Toyota Sequoia, describing incidents dated December 20, 2001 to June 10, 2026.
Most-cited components
- Electronic Stability Control (ESC) 204 complaints
- Service Brakes 191 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 135 complaints
- Structure 95 complaints
- Steering 78 complaints
- Traction Control System 69 complaints
Of the 666 complaints on file, 22 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 666 complaints, owners report 29 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Newest complaints
ODI #11743876 · Filed
I am submitting a safety complaint regarding a set of Lionhart Lionclaw ATX2 tires purchased through Walmart and installed by a professional tire shop. After installation, the vehicle developed a persistent vibration at driving speeds. The vehicle was inspected by Discount Tire, which performed…
ODI #11711639 · Filed
They should not have towed my car
ODI #11684034 · Filed
I was driving my 2002 Toyota Sequoia on the freeway at approximately 65 mph on the [XXX] when suddenly the vehicle made a beeping noise and the VSC Light and TRAC Light came on. The vehicle suddenly lost control in the wheels and tires and suddenly decelerated out-of-nowhere. Due to the sudden…
Owner-reported
2002 Toyota Sequoia mileage at failure
524 of the 666 complaints on file for the 2002 Toyota Sequoia give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.
| Component | Median | Middle half | Based on |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic Stability Control (ESC) | Median 125,000 miles | Middle half 90,000–170,000 miles | Based on 182 complaints |
| Service Brakes | Median 110,000 miles | Middle half 65,000–150,000 miles | Based on 152 complaints |
| Vehicle Speed Control | Median 125,000 miles | Middle half 100,000–160,000 miles | Based on 120 complaints |
| Structure | Median 115,000 miles | Middle half 95,000–165,000 miles | Based on 70 complaints |
| Steering | Median 140,000 miles | Middle half 110,000–185,000 miles | Based on 61 complaints |
| Traction Control System | Median 115,000 miles | Middle half 90,000–145,000 miles | Based on 63 complaints |
A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.
Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.
These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.
Complaints received before December 15, 2002 rarely give a mileage, so they aren't counted here.
Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out
NHTSA defect investigations
NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2002 Toyota Sequoia in 4 investigations. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.
- Engineering Analysis EA21-002: Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since September 17, 2021
- Engineering Analysis EA15-001: Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Open since February 24, 2015
- Recall 14V-668
- Recall 15V-284
- Recall 15V-285
- Recall 15V-286
- Recall 15V-287
- Recall 15V-312
- and 188 more on the investigation page
- Preliminary Evaluation PE16-006: Yaw rate sensor malfunction
Closed December 20, 2016
- Preliminary Evaluation PE14-016: Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Closed March 2, 2015
- Recall 13V-172
- Recall 14V-428
- Recall 14V-700
- Recall 14V-763
- Recall 14V-770
- Recall 14V-787
- and 3 more on the investigation page
Frontal Air Bag Inflators May Explode
NHTSA #19V741000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice
Reported October 17, 2019 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Potentially affected: 928,220 vehicles
Repair completion: 72.6% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Toyota campaign J0A, J0B, J0C, JLI · Owners notified November 20, 2019 · Vehicles built April 2, 2002 – November 8, 2007 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Recall group: Takata airbag inflators
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode
NHTSA #18V883000 · Air Bags — Frontal — Passenger Side — Inflator Module · NHTSA notice
Reported December 12, 2018 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Potentially affected: 168,993 vehicles
Repair completion: 74.53% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Owners notified January 23, 2019 · Vehicles built April 2, 2002 – December 21, 2004 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Recall group: Takata airbag inflators
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture
NHTSA #15V285000 · Air Bags · NHTSA notice
Reported May 13, 2015 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Potentially affected: 1,973,468 vehicles
Repair completion: 89% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Owners notified July 13, 2015 · Vehicles built April 2, 2002 – November 8, 2007 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Recall group: Takata airbag inflators
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
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.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Passenger Side Front Air Bag Inflator may Rupture
NHTSA #15V286000 · Air Bags · NHTSA notice
Reported May 13, 2015 · Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing
Potentially affected: 1,069,055 vehicles
Repair completion: 86.72% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Toyota campaign 14491 · Owners notified July 13, 2015 · Vehicles built April 2, 2002 – November 8, 2007 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Recall group: Takata airbag inflators
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
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.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
MASTER CYLINDER LEAK
NHTSA #07E023000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic — Foundation Components — Master Cylinder · NHTSA notice
Reported March 29, 2007 · CARDONE INDUSTRIES, INC.
Potentially affected: 13,128 vehicles
Owners notified April 2, 2007
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN RESULT IN POOR BRAKING PERFORMANCE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS
NHTSA #06E049000 · Exterior Lighting · NHTSA notice
Reported May 24, 2006 · CK MOTORSPORT, INC.
Potentially affected: 27,176 vehicles
Owners notified July 1, 2006
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS.FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE LAMP MODEL NUMBERS, CLICK ON DOCUMENT SEARCH AND VIEW DOCUMENT TITLED "LAMP MODEL NUMBERS."CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
BALL JOINT FAILURE
NHTSA #05V225000 · Suspension — Front — Control Arm — Lower Ball Joint · NHTSA notice
Reported May 17, 2005 · TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC.
Potentially affected: 768,379 vehicles
Toyota campaign 50J · Owners notified July 5, 2005 · Vehicles built August 1, 2001 – September 26, 2003 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Defect description
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.
Safety consequence
THE LOWER BALL JOINT MAY SEPARATE FROM THE KNUCKLE CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Manufacturer 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.
Notes
TOYOTA RECALL NO. 50J.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA/ALLOY WHEEL UPGRADE
NHTSA #02V129000 · Wheels · NHTSA notice
Reported May 1, 2002 · SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS
Potentially affected: 3,041 vehicles
Owners notified July 15, 2002 · Vehicles built through May 20, 2002 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
ON CERTAIN 4X2 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AN ALLOY WHEEL TIRE UPGRADE (OPTIONS WM4, WM8, ZL1-ZL4, DH4, OR DH5) INSTALLED BY THE PROCESSING CENTERS IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA OR COMMERCE, GEORGIA, A LABEL IDENTIFYING THE SPARE TIRE AS A TEMPORARY USE SPARE TIRE WAS NOT INSTALLED. THE UPGRADE INCLUDES 4 LARGER SIZE TIRES WITH ALLOY WHEELS. THE ORIGINAL SPARE TIRE/STEEL WHEEL IS NOT PART OF THE UPGRADE AND WAS NOT CHANGED.
Safety consequence
DIFFERENT OPERATING CHARACTERISTICS CAN BE EXPERIENCED WHEN THE SPARE TIRE IS INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE.
Manufacturer remedy
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A CAUTION LABEL AND AN INSERT FOR THEIR OWNER'S MANUAL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 15, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHEAST TOYOTA AT 1-800-301-6859.
Notes
CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Other Toyota Sequoia model years
Check your 2002 Toyota Sequoia VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Toyota Sequoia at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Check a Toyota VIN