Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2003 Toyota Sequoia
NHTSA data on file today
The 2003 Toyota Sequoia has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 565 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- 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 #10V176000 VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM 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) 158 complaints
- Structure 98 complaints
- Vehicle Speed Control 91 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 83 complaints
- Electrical System 66 complaints
- Service Brakes 55 complaints
Of the 565 complaints on file, 16 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 565 complaints, owners report 21 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$8,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2003 Toyota Sequoia exhibits a mix of performance and reliability. Common issues involve electronic stability control and service brakes. However, serious airbag recalls and frequent stability control complaints temper its rating. Overall, it demands slightly more upkeep than some Toyota models, but it remains a generally reliable choice considering its age.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electronic stability control | 70,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | very common |
| Service brakes | 80,000–120,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| Suspension components | 90,000–130,000 miles | $400–$1,200 | occasional |
| Airbags | varies | $500–$2,000 | occasional |
| Electrical system | 75,000–110,000 miles | $200–$700 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter change every 5,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 2 years
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Replace timing belt at 90,000 miles
- Rotate tires every 10,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- VSC warning light
- Loud brake noises
- Unusual tire wear
- Airbag warning light
- Electrical system failures
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2003 Toyota Sequoia at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.