What 9 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Toyota Sequoia

The vehicle is a 2015 Toyota Sequoia with the 5.7L V8 engine and approximately 192,632 miles. The vehicle developed an abnormal internal engine/timing noise, especially when warm. An authorized Toyota dealer inspected the vehicle and diagnosed an internal engine/timing-related condition involving timing chain tensioners, timing chains, chain guides, camshaft gears, lifters, gaskets/resealing, and related labor. The estimated repair cost is approximately $19,716. The concern is safety-related because if the timing chain, tensioners, or related internal engine components fail while the vehicle is being driven, especially at highway speeds, the engine could stall, lose motive power, or become unable to safely continue operating. A sudden loss of motive power in traffic could increase the risk of a crash and put the occupants and other motorists at risk. This is a family vehicle used to transport young children, so the risk is not theoretical or acceptable. The problem has been confirmed by an authorized Toyota dealer. The vehicle and affected components are available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has been consistently maintained per the manufacture's schedule. Separate wear items were already repaired as needed. The dealer’s diagnosis concerns internal engine/timing components consistent with manufacturer defects, not ordinary maintenance items. To my knowledge, the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or any agency other than the Toyota dealer. Warning lamps or messages are UNKNOWN. The primary symptom before repair was abnormal internal engine/timing noise. This complaint is being submitted to document a potentially serious internal engine/timing component condition that could affect the vehicle’s ability to safely propel itself if the failure progresses. Thank you for your time and attention to this matter.

NHTSA ODI 11744827

Rear latch not locking or latching correctly leading to liftgate opening while driving. Has happened repeatedly, will latch some days and not other dealer said no recalls available but seems to be common problem on online forums.

NHTSA ODI 11633181

My wife was driving Interstate 81 from Tennessee to West Virginia at 70 mph when her right front tire blew out. Two months prior to this we were driving approximately 40 mph on a back road and the left front tire blew out. These are Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season 275/55 R20, purchased approximately in August 2020, with approximately 40,000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11472009

WE PARKED OUR CAR IN OUR GARAGE AT ABOUT 11:30 AM. I WENT TO THE GARAGE AROUND 4PM TO GET MY WALLET AND THE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED. THERE WAS A SMALL AMOUNT OF GLASS IN THE CAR, AND MORE GLASS ON TOP. THE GLASS WAS CRACKED AND BOWED UPWARDS, LIKE IT HAD EXPLODED FROM THE INSIDE. THERE WERE NO CRACKS IN THE GLASS PRIOR TO THIS, NOR WAS THE TEMPERATURE BELOW FREEZING THAT DAY. NOTHING COULD HAVE FALLEN ON THE ROOF IN THE GARAGE. I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING THAT WOULD HAVE CAUSED THAT MUCH DAMAGE TO THAT TYPE OF TEMPERED GLASS AND US NOT REALIZE IT. IT'S LIKE IT JUST BLEW UP FROM THE INSIDE, IVE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT.

NHTSA ODI 11289557

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT INDICATOR FLASHED, WHICH INDICATED THAT THE SEAT BELT WAS NOT ENGAGED. CRYSTAL TOYOTA (220 US-22, GREENBROOK, NJ 08812, (732) 968-1000) DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANT SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE SENSOR WAS ATTACHED TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

NHTSA ODI 11256442

WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON A CLEAR AND SUNNY DAY ON A HIGHWAY WITH FEW SURROUNDING VEHICLES, WHAT SEEMED LIKE EXPLOSION WAS FELT AND HEARD. A QUICK ASSESSMENT WAS MADE TO DETERMINE THAT THERE WAS NO ROAD DEBRIS, THE TIRES DID NOT BLOW OUT, AND THERE WAS NO ISSUE WITH ANY SURROUNDING CARS. WHILE THE DRIVER SOUGHT A SAFE PLACE TO PULL OVER, THE PASSENGER LOOKED AROUND THE VEHICLE TO FIND ALL WINDOWS IN TACT AND SLIGHTLY OPENED THE MOON SHADE, TO DISCOVER THAT THE SUNROOF WAS CRACKED. AFTER PULLING OVER, THE SUNROOF WAS INSPECTED FROM THE EXTERIOR AND THE GLASS WAS NOTICEABLY BOWED OUTWARD, SUGGESTING AN EXPLOSION VS. AN ARTICLE HITTING THE GLASS TO CAUSE THE BREAK. NUMEROUS ACCOUNTS OF SUNROOF EXPLOSIONS HAVE BEEN FOUND ONLINE.

NHTSA ODI 11083080

TOYOTA COMPLAINT, DANGEROUS COMPUTER PROGRAM, CAN CAUSE DEATH. TOYOTA PROGRAMS THE CAR COMPUTER TO POST A "MAINTENANCE REQUIRED" SIGN TO POP UP ON THE DASH. IT HAS A "RED TRIANGLE" ALSO TO GET YOUR ATTENTION. THE SIGN STAYS ON CONSTANTLY UNTIL YOU TAKE YOUR VEHICLE INTO TOYOTA TO BE SERVICED. THIS SIGN IS VERY VERY DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT SEE YOUR SPEED THAT IS HIDDEN BY THE SIGN WHEN YOU TRY TO SET YOUR CRUISE CONTROL. I HAVE RUN OFF THE ROAD SEVERAL TIMES WHILE TRYING TO ADJUST MY CRUISE CONTROL AND COULD NOT SEE IT BECAUSE OF THE MAINTENANCE SIGN. IT IS A VERY DANGEROUS SIGN AND TOYOTA SHOULD REMOVE IT FROM THE COMPUTER PROGRAM. I HOPE SOMEONE FILES A CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT AGAINST TOYOTA TO FORCE TOYOTA TO REMOVE THE MAINTENANCE REMINDER SIGN FROM THE COMPUTER. [XXX], [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).'*JB

NHTSA ODI 11032556

WIRING HARNESS WAS CHEWED ON BY RODENT. TOYOTA WILL NOT PAY FOR FIXING BRAND NEW VEHICLE. FOUND SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ONLINE AFTER TOYOTA HAS MOVED TO "PLANT-BASED" MATERIALS FOR WIRING HARNESSES. HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH VEHICLE WITH ONLY 11K MILES.

NHTSA ODI 10855227

MY WIFE FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM WITH OUR BRAND NEW TOYOTA SEQUOIA WHILE DRIVING. THE SLIP INDICATOR ICON AND THE SRS WARNING LIGHT ICON STAYS ON. SHE CALLED ME AT WORK AND I TOLD HER THAT SHE MIGHT HAVE PRESSED THE VSC BUTTON THAT CAUSED THIS PROBLEM. THE NEXT DAY I USED THE CAR AND DROVE MY DAUGHTER TO SCHOOL FOR ABOUT 8 MILES AND DID NOT NOTICE ANY OF THE LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD. THE DAY AFTER WHEN I WAS DRIVING WITH MY WIFE WE NOTICED THE SAME ICONS SHE WAS TELLING ME IN ADDITION TO THE BLINKING PASSENGER SEATBELT ICON EVEN IF SHE WAS WEARING HER SEATBELT ON. ALSO IT SHOWS THAT HER PASSENGER AIRBAG IS OFF. THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS WOULD TURN OFF ONCE YOU RESTART THE CAR AND THEN IT WOULD GO BACK WHILE DRIVING. THERE ARE ALSO INSTANCES WHERE IT OCCUR THE MOMENT YOU START THE CAR. WE EVEN BROUGHT THE CAR TO TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TO HAVE IT CHECKED BUT I FORGOT NOT TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, AND WHEN I DID THE ICONS WASN'T LIT. WE TOLD THE SERVICE STAFF THAT'LL GO BACK THE NEXT DAY TO HAVE IT CHECK. WE THOUGHT IT WAS JUST A GLITCH AND WE DROVE IN THE HIGHWAY FOR 60MILES BACK AND FORTH AND SAW NO ICONS UNTIL WE'RE ABOUT TO REACH HOME THAT WE SAW THE FAMILIAR ICONS ONCE AGAIN. WE'RE BRINGING THE CAR TO TOYOTA SERVICE TOMORROW TO HAVE IT CHECKED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10705072