2011 TOYOTA Sequoia Problems

Complaints Reported

Complaints by Component

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

2 complaints

While returning home from a vacation, the glass over our sunroof suddenly exploded. We were traveling about 50 MPH and just heard a sudden bang. We pulled over to investigate and it looked like it had exploded outward. We had a luggage carrier on top of the car that covered most of the sunroof, so I am confident that it was not struck by any objects.

Jan 28, 2022

REAR WINDOW RANDOMLY SHATTERED WHILE DRIVING IN TOWN- 10 MPH. NO CHIPS, NO ISSUES WITH WINDOW PRIOR, JUST BLEW. IT WAS WINTER HERE, AND THE REAR DEFROST WAS ON. MY FRIEND RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR HIS RAV 4, FOR THIS EXACT SAME ISSUE. I'VE SEEN OTHERS COMPLAINING ONLINE ABOUT THE EXACT SAME THING AS WELL

Apr 22, 2017

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 complaints

THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR ON EACH OF THE DOORS ON THE SUV HAVE FAILED. THE DOORS WILL NOT LOCK/UNLOCK WITHOUT USING THE KEY, AND THE ONLY DOOR WITH KEY ACCESS IS THE DRIVER'S DOOR. THE DOORS CAN BE LOCKED/UNLOCKED FROM INSIDE. THE REPLACEMENT PARTS SEEM EXCESSIVELY HIGH, AND IT APPEARS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON TOYOTA VEHICLES. SINCE THE ACTUATOR IS PART OF THE DOOR LATCH, I AM CONCERNED THAT THE ACTUATOR FAILURE MAY LEAD TO A LATCH PROBLEM. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS AT REST.

Dec 11, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DIGITAL SPEED READER WAS PROVIDING A DIFFERENT READING FROM THE SPEEDOMETER READING. THE DIFFERENCE WAS APPROXIMATELY 3 MPH GREATER ON THE SPEEDOMETER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS ACCORDING TO THEIR SERVICE MANUAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SENT AN ENGINEER TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE ENGINEER DETERMINED THAT THE SPEEDOMETER WAS WORKING AS DESIGNED AND A DEFECT WAS NOT FOUND WITHIN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

Dec 27, 2011

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

2 complaints

2011 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE AIR PUMP REPAIR PROBLEMS. *SMD THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONSUMER, THE VEHICLE NEEDED A NEW AIR PUMP AND A NEW AIR PUMP DRIVER AT A COST OF $ 2643 BEFORE TAXES. THE DEALER NOTED THE PROBLEM WAS CAUSE BY POSSIBLY WATER INTRUSION. *JB MA 10/21/15 UPDATED 10/12/2017*CN

Jul 20, 2015

MY TOYOTA SEQUOIA 2011 HAS A SLOW LEAK AT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE JUST ON TOP OF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD,TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY SAID THE CAM SHAFT OIL SEAL IS LEAKING. THEY ARE WILLING TO FIX IT,BUT MY CONCERN IS IF MY CAR WILL BE THE SAME AGAIN SINCE ITS JUST 6 WEEKS OLD,AND I MIGHT ENCOUNTER MORE PROBLEM IN THE FUTURE CONSIDERING THEY TOOK THE ENGINE APART. *TR

May 27, 2011

SEATS

2 complaints

MY CHILDREN (5 AND 6 YEARS OLD) WERE IN THE THIRD ROW SEAT IN BACKLESS BOOSTER SEATS WITH SEATBELTS ON. AFTER PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO THE MAIN ROAD, I HEARD MY 5 YEAR OLD SCREAMING FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. MY 6 YEAR OLD (WHO REMAINED IN HIS BOOSTER WITH THE SEATBELT FASTENED), MANAGED TO PUSH THE BUTTON NEAR THE SIDE DOOR TO RAISE/LOWER THE SEAT IN THE THIRD ROW. AS HE DID THIS, MY 5 YEAR OLD'S HEAD BECAME WEDGED BETWEEN THE THIRD ROW SEATS. I PULLED OVER AND GAINED ACCESS TO HIM FROM THE REAR HATCH. THE SEAT WOULD NOT MOVE BACK ANYMORE FOR ME TO GET HIS HEAD OUT. I HAD TO FORCE HIS HEAD OUT WITH MY HANDS. HE HAS SOME SERIOUS BRUISING ON THE SIDE OF HIS FACE. AFTER THE INCIDENT, I COULD NOT FIND ANY WAY TO DISABLE THEIR SEAT CONTROLS (LIKE I CAN FOR THE WINDOWS) TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. IT WAS VERY SCARY AND I CAN ONLY HOPE THAT TOYOTA WILL BE ABLE TO ADDRESS THIS SAFETY ISSUE IN THE FUTURE. *TR

Feb 22, 2014

MY 2011 TOYOTA SEQUOIA ONLY HAS TWO HEIGHTS ON THE THIRD ROW HEADRESTS. THE LOWEST SETTING LAYS THE HEADREST RIGHT ON THE SEAT AND IS TOO LOW TO SUPPORT ANYONE'S HEAD. THE OTHER SETTING ON THE TWO OUTSIDE SEATS RAISES THE HEADREST ALL OF THE WAY UP WHICH IS TOO HIGH TO SUPPORT A CHILD'S HEAD. IN THAT SETTING MY CHILDREN'S HEADS HIT UNDER THE HEADREST AND ON THE METAL BARS OF THE HEADREST. THE MIDDLE SEAT'S HEADREST ONLY RAISES HALFWAY UP WHICH IS TOO SHORT TO SUPPORT THE HEAD OF AN OLDER CHILD OR AN ADULT. SINCE IT IS USUALLY CHILDREN WHO ARE SITTING IN THE THIRD ROW OF AN SUV I WOULD EXPECT THE HEADRESTS TO HAVE MANY ADJUSTABLE HEIGHTS TO THEM LIKE THE HEADRESTS IN THE OTHER TWO ROWS. I HAD A 2006 TOYOTA SEQUOIA PRIOR TO BUYING THIS CAR AND THE HEADRESTS IN THE THIRD ROW OF THAT CAR HAD NUMEROUS SETTINGS FOR THE THIRD ROW HEADRESTS. THE TOYOTA MANUAL TALKS ABOUT ADJUSTING THE HEADRESTS SO THAT THE MIDDLE OF THE HEADREST HITS THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD NEAR YOUR EARS BUT THIS IS NOT POSSIBLE TO DO WITH THE HEADRESTS ON THE THIRD ROW. THIS WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IN A CRASH BECAUSE THE HEAD AND NECK WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY SUPPORTED. I CONTACTED THE DEALER A WEEK AGO, TWO DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT THE CAR, ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. HE CONTACTED TOYOTA BUT AS OF TODAY THEY HAVE NOT GIVEN AN ANSWER AS TO WHY THE HEADRESTS WERE MADE THIS WAY OR WHAT, IF ANYTHING, THEY ARE GOING TO DO TO CORRECT THIS. *TR

Sep 02, 2011

STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE

1 complaint

On [XXX] while driving our 2011 Toyota Sequoia 4x4 Limited (5.7 iforce non flex fuel) my wife was preparing to stop at a traffic light. Completely unexpected and with no warning, the vehicle started bucking, the engine began making a knocking noise and numerous dashboard lights started flashing. It immediately stalled while attempting to stop, thus, causing a very dangerous situation, losing total control of the brakes and steering, nearly causing a collision with the vehicle in front of her. The vehicle had to be towed from the middle of the road, while in heavy traffic. Eventually it was diagnosed (at my mechanics shop) and determined to be a broken valve spring in cylinder #7. This caused the valve to drop into the cylinder bore, making contact with the piston, known as "catastrophic failure on an 'interference' engine"..I later learned that these DEFECTIVE ($5) valve springs, are used in my meticulously maintained 5.7 Toyota motor,...THE SAME PART NUMBER UNDER RECALL IN SEVERAL LEXUS VEHICLES!! Being that I constantly maintained this vehicle and it being in overall excellent condition, I determined it was less expensive to have the engine replaced over repaired. I spent over $4600 in a used motor with 88k miles, and $5400 in labor for the replacement.. total cost of over $10,000 for a $5 defective part that was only recalled on the Lexus vehicles. I kept the original engine in case I can (eventually) have Toyota Corp do an inspection on it and get some kind of compensation on this dangerous, avoidable, selective vehicle recall. No luck thus far but have pictures, invoices and all documents on this situation that I can provide when requested. I am having difficulty downloading these documents to this site. Thank you very much. [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mar 22, 2024

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

1 complaint

The contact owns a 2011 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the rear liftgate opened unintendedly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the liftgate latch assembly was rusted and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 178,000.

May 02, 2023

STRUCTURE

1 complaint

THE REAR HATCH HAS A RUST SPOT NEXT TO THE LATCH THAT IS RUSTED THRU AND BREAKING CHUNKS OF METAL FROM AROUND IT. THE LATCH MECHANISM MAY SPLIT FROM THE REAR DOOR ASEEMBLY AND FAIL TO REMAIN CLOSED AND OPEN UNEXPECTEDLY ON THE HIGHWAY ALLOWING ALL CONTENTS TO FLY OUT OF THE VEHICLE. SOURCE OF PROBLEM MAY BE IMPROPER WELDS ALLOWING WATER TO GET INSIDE THE TAILGATE FRAME.

Sep 21, 2020

ENGINE

1 complaint

TOYOTA HAS A FAULTY DESIGN ON 5.7 LITER SEQUOIAS AND TUNDRAS WHERE THE ENGINE CAMSHAFT TOWER SEALANT LEAKS OIL TOWARDS THE CABIN. SINCE THE ENGINE IS TILTED BACK, THE ENGINE OIL IS DIRECTED TO A HEAT SHIELD AND THEN DIRECTLY TO THE EXHAUST PIPE. UPON REACHING THE EXHAUST IT CAUSES SMOKE. THE SMOKE WILL ENTER INTO THE CABIN CAUSING ENGINE FUMES WHICH OCCUR WHEN DRIVING OR PARKED UNTIL THE ENGINE COOLS. THE ENGINE COULD HAVE CAUGHT FIRE, BASED ON THE AMOUNT OF SMOKE THAT CAME OUT. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, THIS ISSUE HAS CAUSED FIRES. EVIDENCE OF THIS PROBLEM IS READILY AVAILABLE SEARCHING "TOYOTA TUNDRA CAM LEAK FIRE", FURTHERMORE, CHANGE.ORG PETITION HAS OVER 5,178 SIGNATURES REQUESTING THE RECALL. THIS ISSUE HAS OCCURRED IN VEHICLES FROM 1,000 MILES AND UP. TOYOTA NOW USES A DIFFERENT SEALANT TO PREVENT THIS LEAKING, SO THEY MUST HAVE RECOGNIZED THE ISSUE BUT HAVE REMAINED SILENT. UPON CONTACTING TOYOTA, THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE STATED THAT HE "HAD NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM". THE DEALERSHIP THAT IS FIXING THIS HAS A NUMBER OF EXPERIENCED MECHANICS THAT DO SEE THIS OFTEN. IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE WITH THIS CONDITION AND THE COST TO REPAIR IS OVER $3,000!

Mar 23, 2020

SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint

PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW. BRAKE ROTORS SEVERELY WARPED AT12,572 MILES CREATING SEVERE VIBRATION/SHAKING THROUGHOUT THE VEHICLE WHEN BRAKES APPLIED. PROBLEM IS PARTICULARLY SEVERE WHEN UTILIZING BREAKS ON A DOWNHILL GRADE. THE SEVERE VIBRATION CREATED A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY HAZARD AS IT IMPAIRS BREAK PERFORMANCE PARTICULARLY WHEN ROADS ARE WET OR ICY. CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY. TOYOTA'S SOLUTION WAS TO RESURFACE/GRIND THE ROTORS BACK TO SMOOTH. UNFORTUNATELY THIS PROCESS REMOVES METAL, AND MASS, FROM THE BRAKE ROTORS WHICH EXACERBATES THE PROBLEM. LESS MASS, LESS ABILITY TO DISSIPATE HEAT. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED AGAIN AT 22,391 MILES. DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE VIBRATION. RETURNED TO DEALERSHIP AT 24,564 MILES. DEALERSHIP NOW ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM AS IT WAS SO SEVERE IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE TO IGNORE. ONCE THE PROBLEM WAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE ROTORS RESURFACED AS THE CAR WAS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. INFORMED THEM I BELIEVE THIS IS A WARRANTY ISSUE AS IT STARTED DURING THE WARRANTY, BUT WAS INFORMED THEY LOOK AT THE ROTOR ISSUES AS INDIVIDUAL OCCURRENCES. ROTORS ONCE AGAIN TURNED, FURTHER REDUCING MASS AND FURTHER EXACERBATING PROBLEM. NOW A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL ISSUE RETURNS. BRAKE ROTORS ARE CLEARLY MADE OF MATERIALS INSUFFICIENT TO HANDLE THE WEIGHT OF THE VEHICLE. THIS ISSUE ALSO CAUSES SEVERE TIRE WEAR, FURTHER IMPAIRING STOPPING PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE. TOYOTA REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE TIRE WEAR CAUSED BY ROTOR ISSUE.

Jan 19, 2016

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 complaint

WHILE APPROACHING A RED LIGHT I APPLIED BRAKE MY TRUCK BUT INSTEAD MY SEQUOIA THRUST FORWARD CAUSING ME TO HIT THE CAR STOPPED AT THE LIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, CAUSING DAMAGE TO BOTH VEHICLES. *TR

Apr 22, 2015

Crash: 1

PARKING BRAKE

1 complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE PARKED ON AN INCLINE, THE CONTACT UTILIZED THE PARKING BRAKE BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING AS DESIGNED AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

Mar 29, 2012

AIR BAGS

1 complaint

AS EVIDENCED IN THE 11-9-11 NEW TOYOTA COMMERCIAL, THIS IS EXACTLY WHY TOYOTA WENT TO CONGRESS TO REMOVE 8 TO 10 LEAKING CYLINDERS OF TOXIC, FLAMMABLE INFLATORS VOLUNTARILY FROM THEIR VEHICLES. AS WE ALL KNOW ALL INFLATORS IN THE AIRBAG ARE MADE THE SAME, YOU SHOULD NEVER SEE A FOREIGN RECALL WITHOUT ITS AMERICAN MODEL. WITH THE NEW "UPPER CUT" DESIGN DISPLAYED IN THE COMMERCIAL, ALL THE PREVIOUS DEFECTS HAVE BEEN RECREATED IN THIS MODEL. THIS WILL MAKE "INSERT & DEPLOY" AND "BLOW IT OUT OF THE WOMB" WORSE. THIS MODEL WILL HIT THE SOFT TISSUE JUST UNDER THE PROTECTIVE RIB CAGE AND DEPLOY THE EXPLOSIVE UP INTO THE SPLEEN AND DIAPHRAM. IT IS STILL A "SOFT TISSUE ISSUE". THEY DESIGNED THIS FROM THE MODEL WITH CHAMBER BREACH WHILE A SOLID ROCKET GENERANT, NOW IT IS FILLED WITH GAS MIX UNIDENTIFIED. EVERY YEAR WE HAZ THIS PROBLEM, FROM OCTOBER TO JANUARY THEY DECIDE WHAT HAZ WHOOPING GAS THEY WILL FILL WITH IN THE NEW MODEL RELEASED IN JANUARY. NEXT THEY WILL DECIDE THE SOLID ROCKET GENERANT FROM JANUARY TO MARCH. AUTOLIV HAS INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE LEAKING CYLINDER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. AS TRENDED PREVIOUSLY, SIDE CURTAIN GUILLOTINES TRAP THE HEAD IN THE FORCE AND DIRECTION OF THE CRASH AND REPEATEDLY WHIP CUSTOMERS WHEN DOOR STRUCTURE HAZ BEEN COMPROMISED. THEY DO NOT TEST OR FILE MSDS FOR THE PROPRIETARY MIX. IN PREVIOUS YEARS IT HAZ BEEN ARGON, HELIUM, XEON, AND NEON. ALL TOXIC AND FLAMMABLE AS HELL AND MIXED TOGETHER WITHOUT REACTIVE TESTS PERFORMED OR TEMPERATURE TESTS PERFORMED. THESE MODELS HAVE RELEASED FROM THE PLANT YEAR AFTER YEAR WITH A 100% FAILURE RATE ON THE INFLATOR COMPONENT. THE CYLINDERS LEAK IN EXTREME TEMPERATURES IN WINTER AND SUMMER, AND THE INFLATOR CASINGS HAVE NEVER BEEN ABLE TO CONTAIN THE SOLID LOAD. SPONTANEOUS DEPLOYMENT IS POSSIBLE 100% OF THE TIME IN BOTH SOLID AND GAS MODELS. THE INTERIM I LEFT WILL NOT WORK. INERT. *TR

Nov 23, 2011

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4.5/5.0

48 reviews

Frequently Asked Questions

How many problems does the 2011 TOYOTA Sequoia have?

The 2011 TOYOTA Sequoia currently has 16 owner-reported complaints according to NHTSA database. These complaints are organized by component to help identify common issues.

What are the most common problems with 2011 TOYOTA Sequoia?

The most common problems reported for the 2011 TOYOTA Sequoia are organized by component above. Each component section shows owner-reported issues, crash reports, and fire incidents to help identify patterns and problem areas.

Where does this 2011 TOYOTA Sequoia problem data come from?

All problem and complaint data for the 2011 TOYOTA Sequoia comes directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) database. These are real complaints submitted by actual vehicle owners.