Everything NHTSA's vPIC database knows about this exact vehicle:
Decoding from NHTSA…
Vehicle history — accidents, title & owners
The decode above is what this vehicle is. For what it's been through — accidents, title brands, odometer, theft/total-loss and previous owners — pull a full history report.
NHTSA publishes the first 11 characters of the VIN with every complaint — that identifies the plant, model year, body and engine. So these are reports from cars built exactly like this one, not an average across the whole model.
5TDBT48A53S••••••2003 Toyota SEQUOIA
This build draws 2.1× more complaints than the average 2003 Toyota SEQUOIA build (17 vs 8).
17on this build
477on the model
58builds in total
Most reportedStructure 7Electronic Stability Control (esc) 6Vehicle Speed Control 4Service Brakes 3
What owners of this build wrote
StructureOct 2017
The vehicle was sent into toyota when we received a letter to have the frame sprayed ,due to living in cold climate where salt was used to treat roads. Now frame is totally rotted and rusted making it unsafe to drive. Toyota is only replacing their tacomas and not the sequoia…
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Jul 2016
My vsc off and vsc trac lights popped on simultaneously with my check engine light, while traveling on straight, paved highway at about 55 mph, for no apparent reason. I was not braking when all lights suddenly appeared. I was cruising comfortably at highway speeds on straight,…
SuspensionSep 2014
Going around a turn in the mountains at a slow speed, my traction control kicks in and there is a grinding noise, I loose the use of the brakes completely until the traction control turns off. I took it to the dealer and they told me my springs and shocks were bad. I replaced…
Air BagsJul 2014
We were notified effective july 2014 to not have passengers in the front seat due to faulty air bags. Due to the size and makeup of our family, this makes our vehicle unusable for the purpose for which it was purchased. It has been 7 months since we first became aware of the…
SteeringJul 2012
I took the sequoia to a mechanic to repair a clunking noise in the front and squeaking noise in the back. Upon examination, the mechanic noticed unusually advanced rust and corrosion for a vehicle of its age. For safety reasons, the mechanic warned against driving the vehicle…
Read all 17 complaints on this exact buildFull text, search by keyword, and the systems that fail most on cars built like yours.Unlock with Pro →
Owner complaints…
Now the whole model — all 58 builds of it, not just this build. Same NHTSA reports, wider net:
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Exact value for this VIN, adjusted for mileage
The original window sticker and factory options
Full research report as a PDF you can hand to a mechanic
Decoded via NHTSA vPIC. Recalls, complaints and safety from NHTSA; MPG from EPA fueleconomy.gov. Full history reports from our partner. VIN 5TDBT48A53S145234 · decoded Aug 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.