Toyota Sequoia Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Every Toyota Sequoia model year (20012026) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

26
Years Tracked
95
Total Recalls
2416
Total Complaints
88
Reported Injuries
2
Reported Deaths

Toyota Sequoia Years to Avoid

#1 WORST
2002

5 recalls · 597 complaints

44 reported injuries

Top issue: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

Problem score: 700

#2 WORST
2001

2 recalls · 448 complaints

9 reported injuries

Top issue: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

Problem score: 472

#3 WORST
2003

5 recalls · 425 complaints

4 reported injuries

Top issue: ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

Problem score: 448

Best Toyota Sequoia Years to Buy

#1 BEST
2022

2 recalls · 0 complaints

Main area: No significant complaints

Problem score: 6

#2 BEST
2020

2 recalls · 2 complaints

Main area: POWER TRAIN

Problem score: 8

#3 BEST
2021

2 recalls · 3 complaints

Main area: FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Problem score: 9

Found the right year? Verify that specific Sequoia with a free VIN report.

Toyota Sequoia — Year-by-Year Problem Report

YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsProblem ScoreVerdict
202600
0
Excellent
202500
0
Excellent
202400
0
Excellent
202300
0
Excellent
202220
6
Excellent
202123
9
Excellent
202022
8
Excellent
201963
21
Excellent
2018417
29
Excellent
201731
10
Excellent
2016310
19
Excellent
201538
17
Excellent
2014218
24
Excellent
201335
14
Excellent
201247
19
Excellent
2011610
28
Excellent
2010724
45
Excellent
200971
22
Excellent
20086512
73
Good
20075961
113
Good
200661393
163
Good
200562512
279
Caution
2004630025
368
Caution
200354254
448
Caution
2002559744
700
Avoid
200124489
472
Avoid

All 26 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.

Toyota Sequoia Shopping Guide by Era

2018–Present

Best: 2026

Recent Sequoia models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. The 2026 stands out with just 0 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.

2013–2017

Best: 2017

Mid-decade Sequoia units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2017 shows the lowest problem count for this era.

Pre-2013

Proceed with Caution

Older Sequoia models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year Sequoia should I avoid?+

Avoid the 2002 Toyota Sequoia if possible. It has 5 recalls, 597 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 700 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year Sequoia to buy?+

The 2022 Toyota Sequoia is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 6. It has only 2 recalls and 0 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which Sequoia has the fewest problems?+

The 2022, 2020, 2021 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Toyota Sequoia Research

Check a Specific Toyota Sequoia VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

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