Most Toyota Sequoia VINs open with 5TD (the United States, 2001–2022). Position 11, the plant, shows 5 codes, most often S (98%); a 2026 Sequoia carries T in position 10. Decoding one also brings up 30 recall campaigns and 2,599 owner complaints from NHTSA.
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How to read a Toyota Sequoia VIN
Here is a real 2026 Toyota Sequoia VIN from our database, split into its parts:
VIN 7SVAAABAXTX100203 — decoded free on its own report page.
| Position | Section | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| 1–3 | WMI | World Manufacturer Identifier — country, manufacturer and vehicle type. |
| 4–8 | VDS | Vehicle Descriptor Section — body style, engine, restraint system, series. |
| 9 | Check digit | A calculated digit that validates the whole VIN. Wrong digit = wrong VIN. |
| 10 | Model year | One character for the model year. Letters skip I, O, Q, U and Z. |
| 11 | Plant | The assembly plant that built the car. |
| 12–17 | Serial | Sequential production number of this exact vehicle. |
Toyota Sequoia VIN prefixes, and when each one was used
Every Toyota Sequoia we have on record, from 2001 to 2022, opens with the same three characters, 5TD:
| VIN starts with | Years seen | Built in | Vehicle type | VINs on record |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5TD | 2001–2022 | United States | Multipurpose Passenger Vehicle (MPV) |
Position 11 names the plant. On the Toyota Sequoia it is not one number either — assembly moved between 5 of them over the years:
| Plant code | Years active | VINs on record | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | 2001–2022 | 2,538 | |
| 5 | 2001–2006 | 23 | |
| 0 | 2001–2012 | 9 | |
| 1 | 2001–2013 | 7 | |
| 2 | 2001–2006 | 5 |
Counted from 2,576 dated Toyota Sequoia VINs attached to NHTSA complaints, each code checked against the NHTSA manufacturer registry.
Model-year codes for the Toyota Sequoia
Position 10 carries the model year, skipping I, O, Q, U and Z. The alphabet comes round every 30 years, which the Toyota Sequoia has not yet outlived: its 27 years still map one-to-one. All 27 model years of the Toyota Sequoia, 2000 to 2026, with the character each one carries:
| Model year | VIN character (position 10) | Same character as |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | T | — |
| 2025 | S | — |
| 2024 | R | — |
| 2023 | P | — |
| 2022 | N | — |
| 2021 | M | — |
| 2020 | L | — |
| 2019 | K | — |
| 2018 | J | — |
| 2017 | H | — |
| 2016 | G | — |
| 2015 | F | — |
| 2014 | E | — |
| 2013 | D | — |
| 2012 | C | — |
| 2011 | B | — |
| 2010 | A | — |
| 2009 | 9 | — |
| 2008 | 8 | — |
| 2007 | 7 | — |
| 2006 | 6 | — |
| 2005 | 5 | — |
| 2004 | 4 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | — |
| 2002 | 2 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | Y | — |
Body and engine characters we see on Toyota Sequoia VINs
Positions 4–8 are the maker's own build code. Across 130 VINs the Toyota Sequoia uses 12 different characters in positions 4, 5 and 8:
| Position | Characters seen on real VINs | Variety |
|---|---|---|
| 4 — body | A (37%) · B (25%) · Z (21%) · D (6%) · J (5%) · Y (2%) | 6 distinct |
| 5 — series | A (35%) · T (32%) · Y (29%) · W (4%) | 4 distinct |
| 8 — engine | A (71%) · 1 (29%) | 2 distinct |
What a decoded Toyota Sequoia VIN gets you
Behind a Toyota Sequoia VIN: 2,599 owner complaints and every recall campaign NHTSA has on record:
| Data | For this model | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Recall campaigns | 30 campaigns | NHTSA |
| Owner complaints | 2,599 filed | NHTSA |
| Fuel economy | 16 mpg combined (avg) | EPA |
| Model years covered | 27 years | ForCar catalog |
Where to find the VIN on a Toyota Sequoia
A Toyota Sequoia VIN normally opens with 5TD; the full number sits in four places, and all four must match.
| Where | How to see it | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Dashboard, driver side | Through the windshield, bottom corner | Easiest to check before you touch anything |
| Driver door jamb | Open the door, sticker on the pillar | Also lists tire pressures and build date |
| Under the hood | Firewall or strut tower plate | Survives a windshield replacement |
| Title and insurance | Paper documents | Must match the car — a mismatch means fraud or a swapped panel |
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Frequently asked questions
Is this Toyota Sequoia VIN decoder free?
Yes, with no account. Besides the year, plant and build characters it shows 30 recall campaigns and 2,599 owner complaints NHTSA holds on the Toyota Sequoia.
What year is my Sequoia by its VIN?
Read position 10: a 2026 Sequoia carries T, a 2025 Sequoia carries S, a 2024 Sequoia carries R.
Where was my Sequoia built?
Position 11 names the plant. Across 2,588 dated Toyota Sequoia VINs it reads S 98%, 5 1%, 0 0%, 1 0% and 1 rarer codes.
What does position 4 mean on a Toyota Sequoia VIN?
It is part of the maker's own build code, so read it against this model, not a generic chart. On 130 Toyota Sequoia VINs here, A is the most common character in position 4, on 37% of them.
What if the VIN on the dashboard doesn't match the door jamb?
On a Toyota Sequoia check the prefix first: most genuine ones open with 5TD. A plate that starts with anything else, or disagrees with the other copies of the number, needs documents checked before any money changes hands.
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