Problems with 2003 Toyota Sequoia ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL

the "vsc trac" and "trac off" lights both illuminated a week ago and remain on. the car will periodically decelerate and swerve slightly when i initially begin acceleration. i cannot accelerate during this time. i hear a grinding noise and beeping. the skid control light (the car with the skidmarks) lights up at this time. this happens daily, sometimes 2-3 times a day. i am afraid to pull out in heavy traffic, not knowing if my car will go or not! my heart always stops when this happens! i went to the dealership that day and was told that the diagnostics indicated that my brake booster and steering angle sensor needed to be replaced. i was told that the brake booster problem was a known problem and confirmed that after further research online. i was also told that another computer system usually fails when this system fails, but my car had not indicated a failure of that computer yet...so i am expecting that in the near future. we ordered a brake booster, gaskets, and a steering angle sensor, which will be installed when the parts arrive. *tr

I own a 2003 toyota sequoia sr5 with 95000 miles. vsc, trac, and abs lights came on. dealership said that the codes are faulty ecu. cost of repair was $1700. the following week lights came back on. this time they tell me it is a faulty speed sensor on the front right. they recalibrated the vehicle and said if it comes back the cost of the repair is $400. following week, the lights come on, same code for the speed sensor, so i have it replaced. two days later, the lights are back on. not certain what will code this time. after reading several posts online, it looks like this is a recurring issue with this vehicle. so, i'm filing a complaint sense there hasn't been a recall.*tr

Abs skid control (ecu) and booster assembly malfunction. dealer reports this as a safety concern that should not be happening and seems to be a pattern and concern yet toyota refuses to address the issue. *tr

One day while driving the warning lights for the vsc off and traction control went on, along with the check engine light. at this point we realized that our abs may have failed and our family was in danger. the brakes now lock and there is a grinding and swaying of the car. we'll be taking it in to be checked, obviously, but are concerned with the imminent safety issues along with the large number of similar complaints by other 2003 sequoia owners. *tr

Toyota sequoia vsc trac lights on. vehicle shudders when starting from a stop initially. worried this could be a potential safety risk. tundrasolutions.com has many other owners of 2003 sequoia complaints about exact problem. *tr

I have had an issue with my 2003 toyota sequoia. the abs and vsc trac lights came on. i have searched online to find out about this problem and have found it to be a habitual problem. on the morning of may 24 i had a collision with a deer. all four brakes locked up and i went into a skid and hit the deer. the things that i have read is its a electrical problem but it is not. toyota has an issue here that puts its owners in an unsafe situation. this needs to be fixed. if there were habitual seat belt issues or airbag issues this would be taken care of. this is a major safety issue because i though i had working abs brakes and due to some kind of design failure i did not. *tr

Driving home and all of the sudden the vsc/trac/ and abs light go on. toyota says it is not dangerous but the manual says to take it in asap. spent ~$1000 to replace the control unit. *tr

My 2003 toyota sequoia has an issue with the vehicle stability control (traction control system). the vsc computer continues to break leaving the car with no traction control. on snowy and icy roads the car will spin out of control due to the size of the vehicle and no assistance from the vsc to slow the car down. i have to keep the car in 4wd all the time to keep it from sliding on snowy or wet streets. this is a known problem with the toyota sequoia and toyota refuses to take responsibility for the issue. there are pages upon pages of complaints all over the internet describing the same issue. toyota refuses to warranty the problem or conduct a recall. the part itself is approximately $1600. i have already had the vsc computer replaced once on the vehicle and now the new computer is broken again. it was first replaced on 1/24/07 when the vehicle had 25,253 miles on it. it broke again on 5/19/09 with 38,995 miles on it. the vehicle now has 43,000 miles on it and the vsc is still inoperable. i don't trust driving the car with my wife or child. but unfortunately i have to spend $2k to fix a vehicle just to trade it in. i have filed a complaint with toyota north america. they refuse to acknowledge there is a problem and have told me i have to accept responsibility for the vehicle no longer being on warranty. even though it only has 43,000 miles and they vsc has broken twice. i have grown increasing concerned about safety especially since i live in the midwest. nothing has been done to resolve the problem. that is my issue. *tr

Electronic stability control traction control system. *tr

Vehicle skid control computer is faulty and cause random braking or throttle reduction. known problem by toyota. requires new computer with updated software that "fixes" a problem that toyota claims doesn't exist. over $2000. *tr

2003 toyota sequoia trac light date sept-2006 issue with track vsc, and check engine light, senor changed, cost us $550, july 2007, ecu for skid control changed, we paid $1437 for this service dec 2008, check engine light and vcs light on again, adjusted sensor $80, jan 2009, check engine light, vcs, light again, at first, they quoted $2300 for repair claiming the computer need changing, after i complained about the charges, the called me back and continued to work on the issue, and later they said it was calibration. they decided not to charge us. now, feb 2009, lights on again, check engine light and vsc lights on again. *tr

While driving along at city street speeds, during dry weather, on paved roads, my vsc trac and trac off lights come on. no other warning lights come on. then a buzzer sounds for about 3 seconds. then at the same time, a strange grinding sound comes from underneath the car, and the brakes seem to start working for no reason. i quickly pull over, turn off the car. i check the outside of the car and see no indication of running over anything. i then start the car and all the lights are back to normal (off). this happens about 2-3 times a month, for about a month or 2 now. i have not been able to determine any problems. *tr

I have a 2003 toyota sequoia sr5 4wd. it has been giving me the same problem since i bought it in 2003 brand new. the vsc off light and engine check lights are on almost all the time. i brought it to the dealer several times and they told me that it was due to the sensors on the brakes or that i needed a new brake pad and rotor. i have been doing the replacement deals for the past three times already and it is still giving me the same problem. i found out that there are many car owners who have reported the same problem and that it is due to a computer malfunction. it becomes a greater problem because the computer disables the vehicle control mechanism resulting in loss of skid control. the brakes fail to engage and there is no traction during a skid. it is a potentially hazardous situation when driving during the winter or when it is raining and the roads are wet and slippery. i was told to unplug the battery and plug it back it to restart the computer but it does not keep the vsc off and engine light from coming on. i am bringing it to the dealer again and hope to get them to really fix the problem. since this problem has been reported by many car owners, there should be a recall and the highway safety commission should require toyota to fix this problem for all owners for free. *tr

Vsc/trac/abs lights have been a nagging problem with my 2003 toyota sequoia the entire time i have owned it. i have had the sequoia to the dealer multiple times. the dealer has replaced both a sensor during one visit and the computer during another visit. still, intermittently one or two times a month, the lights come on while driving even on straight dry clear roads. pulling over and turning the engine off and re-starting the vehicle will sometimes turn the lights off but not always. i was told by the dealer that when my lights are on i do not have use of the vsc/trac or abs systems. unfortunately, when i take the vehicle to the dealer the lights have turned back off so there is no way to diagnose the problem. this in itself is a safety concern. you can bet that i will hold toyota accountable if there is ever an accident when these lights are on. this has absolutely made me upset to the point that i will never purchase another toyota ever again unless toyota issues a recall and replaces all of the sensors and related computer components so that the lights go off and stay off. i do want to mention that when the car was just a few days old the battery failed on me. upon taking it to the dealer i found out that internally some of the battery cells came loose from the connectors which did not give me enough voltage or amps to crank the engine over. this was replaced free of charge but i still wonder if this caused some sort of damage to the vsc/trac/abs electrical system components. *tr

Similar complaint as many. i have a 2003 toyota sequoia the vsc/trac light is on. dealership says skid control computer needs to be repaired. but computer scanner shows no codes that verify any defects. *tr

Vsc, abs and trac light coming on. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2003 toyota sequoia. the brake and vehicle skid control warning lights illuminated on the instrument control panel, and then the vehicle began to skid. the dealer repaired the vehicle; however, one year later the failure resurfaced. an authorized technician replaced the entire computer system at an expense of $2500.00. the failure mileage was 55,000 and the current mileage was 100,000. update 12/14/09 *cn updated 12/16/09*jb

I bought 2003 toyota sequoia. i am getting the vsc traction control and abs light on. checked with other sequoia owner and they have similar problem. i went to checked the car and was told that the ecu computer is faulty. the faulty ecu needs to be replaced. since this is wide spread problem with 03 sequoia it should be recalled. this is a safety issue. here are the codes: c1203, c1223,c1244. *tr

Vsc off, abs, brake and tcs lights came on at the same time only at full stop (engine running). as soon as taking off (driving) with over 5 km/hr, all light went off. stopping the vehicle, all light will came on again. this cycle repeating with each and every stop. dealer determined than one of the vacuum hose cracked and reduced pressure at idle would cause light to come on. once hose have been replaced, problem was resolved. strongly advise sequoia owners before replacing any commuter components or expensive module, to talk to their dealers and have the vacuum system checked prior to any other steps. it is the less costly repair before any major ones. *tr

Purchased new in 07/2003, on 9/21/08, our sequoia with only 39,000 miles had its vsc trac, vsc off, & abs lights come on for no apparent reason. there was a bad sensor and a bad ecu. we located tsb.br006-06 for this problem where the recommended fix is replacement of the skid control computer because of a change in the software to correct the problem. this is a very expensive part. toyota customer service would not help. my dealer wanted $1,300 for the ecu and $330 for the sensor, but i got them down to $940 for the ecu and $240 for the sensor. after tax it was about $1300, plus $255 for three hours of labor. this is clearly, in my opinion a software bug, since the new ecu has a new program as stated in the tsb. i'm pretty upset that a software bug isn't a manufacturing defect, but the responsibility of the vehicle owner. i'm going to approach an attorney to start a class action on this matter. hopefully, it will be worth their contingency. *tr

Vsc/trac and engine light came on. dealer said problem was o2 sensor. they replaced 02 sensor and all lights cleared. after one week the vsc0/trac lights came back on and they go on and off every time we drive the truck. dealer said we need to replace skid control ecu. we decided not to replace the unit because of 1800.00 cost. *tr

On 4 occasions dash light indicating vsc and brake problem appeared. each time the braking of the 2003 toyota sequoia was compromised. each time the truck was brought to toyota service center for repair. each toyota said they could not replicate the problem but replaced skid computer anyway. 8/20/08 problem recurred with dash brake indicator light coming on. braking again compromised, heard loud "clunking sound" coming from car while driving. immediately brought to scottsdale toyota service center. again, said they could not replicate problem and returned car with no repair. called toyota customer service and filed a complaint. toyota indicated complaint is now on record. problem with dash brake light coming on and braking diminished recurred again 8/27/08. after shutting engine off, indicator no longer lit and braking back to normal. i fear for both my safety and my families. simple google search indicates a large number of sequoia owners are having the same problem. *tr

Vsc,tcs lights go on after a noise coming from right anterior wheel / engine. lights stay on. *tr

03 toyota sequoia. vsc, abs, parking brake light came on. at 52,000 miles while driving. yaw sensor defective. *tr

The abs and skid control lights are on in my 2003 toyota sequoia. the dealer states that the skid control computer needs to be replaced. so right now, there is no skid control or abs available on my car because of this computer is bad. toyota will not do anything about it and i have filed a complaint case 200810010613. this is a safety issue. *tr

The vehicle stabilization control compute failed for the second time and has taken out my abs brakes. the computer that controls is has failed both times. *tr

Brake light comes on intermittently. dealer says the skip control computer which includes vsc/abs brake system on vehicle, this is an expensive fix. my last service on this vehicle was a complete brake replacement after which the brake light started to come on at random. the brake light has to be on in order to check the vehicle, which is an inconvenience in itself. i finally managed to catch the brake light on and this is what i was confronted with. no injuries or death so far it that what it's going to take to have this problem corrected. *tr

2003 toyota skid control computer, i am writing to request that a formal complaint be filed to toyota. i recently took my car into my local toyota dealership because of a few lights that we on in my dash. the specific lights were the vsc, vsc off and the abs lights. after doing some research i see that this is a fairly common problem with toyota and their skid control computers. the problem is that it is not covered under the powertrain warranty and is a very expensive part to have replaced. my quote was for $1800 excluding tax. i purchased the vehicle with 47,000 miles and was offered an extended warranty up to 60,000, but it was a very expensive extended warranty so i decided to pass. the manufactures warranty for my car was 55,000 miles i believe and the lights came on at 55,500 miles....of course. i sincerely hope that there can be some sort of resolve for this such as a recall of the skid control computer or changing this issue to be covered under the power train section of the warranty as it is unfair for there to be so many people to be having the same problem around the same mileage and some of those people have serious consequences to the computers malfunction such as accidents and possible death. please take whatever action necessary to solve this unnecessary issue. *tr

Tl* the contact owns a 2003 toyota sequoia. the contact stated that the vsc skid control warning light, abs warning light, and service stability traction control warning light randomly kept illuminating. the vehicle was taken to the dealer who reflashed the ecu, but the failure recurred. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer several times and they did not address the recall repair since mid 2008 to 2015. the vehicle was taken back to the dealer for further inspection and diagnostic testing. the vehicle was also included in nhtsa campaign number: 15v286000 (air bags) and was waiting for the part from the dealer to receive the recall repair appointment. the manufacturer was notified of the failure. the approximate failure mileage was 89,000.

Toyota sequoia 2003, bought new my complaint echoes what a lot of others are experiencing regarding the skid control computer which apparently affects the vsc/abc/ebrake. problem was identified over a year ago with the ebrake light randomly coming on during normal driving (restarting the car usually resolves), but eventually got to a point where the car thinks it's in a vehicle skid control situation and abs triggers and apply pressure to the gas pedal is inoperable. extremely dangerous situation as we were driving through our neighborhood filled with kids (and have 2 of our own) seems to be a pretty significant issue out there someone needs to look into it. *tr

I bought a used 2003 toyota sequoia in 2004. it currently has 30130 miles on it. i am the second owner. the problem: sporadic vsc/atrac malfunction. 1. i had been advised to go in for toyota campaign ssc 50j for ball joint safety recall. this was done at fremont toyota on may 30, 2008. 2. on june 12, 2008, the vehicle skid control and traction control starts disengaging on its own, while i was driving the vehicle on us 101 north freeway on my way home from a trip to monterrey bay aquarium. 3. description of the problem: the vsc/atrac indicator lights changes state to on and the system will inadvertently engage and disengage without any warning. to reset,i had to pull over to the side of the freeway and restart the vehicle. the problem repeated a dozen times, until i reached home. so i took the vehicle in to fremont toyota on june 14, 2008 and was told there is error code c1231 and c1203 and the reason is faulty engine and traction control computers. 4. i was not convinced with the answer and decided to do my own research on the nhtsa site and discussion forums on the net and found out that to solve this issue, toyota modified its skid control logic and the vsc communication between skid control computer and the engine control module to rectify this problem (please refer nhtsa# 00303 & br00203, diagnostics codes c1231 & c1203). 5. i called up fremont toyota in california about what i found out and was told by the service advisor that i had to replace the existing vsc & ecu computers, with updated/redesigned modules at my expense (costs of $2700) i think this is unreasonable since, i consider this a manufacturing defect since the fix calls for a computer upgrade. i am writing to let your office know that toyota dealer and toyota north america will not acknowledge this problem. i can be reached at (510) 471-6937 if you have further questions. sincerely, shaji ravindranathan *tr

Toyota sequoia 2003, vtrac and abs lights came up on the dash during a very wet interstate trek to michigan from california. had no cruise control before this, the cruise control failed the year before during the same wet trek across country! the toyota dealer in saginaw michigan told us that the computer controlling the vtrac and abs was displaying fault codes and needed to be replaced, cost $1200. this is a 5 year old vehicle with 70k miles on it now (the fault happened around 66k miles) which is now much harder to handle under heavy braking, which we need more and more with the low quality drivers out there. if the gas prices weren't so high, this truck would be out of here here, but we can't afford to sell it for the current value, and buy another vehicle, so this suv will now be limited to trips where we need the storage/towing capacity. so, even though we have 2 cars, we only really have 1 1/2 now. *tr

2003 4x4 toyota sequoia / 30k miles. one more complaint about the vsc/trac-abs lights coming on due to faulty vsc computer. my vehicle only has 30,055 miles and is still under the manufacturer's 60 month/60,000 powertrain warranty yet this is not covered. very expensive repair in excess of $2,000. this complaint has been filed by thousands and really should be a recall as to its impending danger it puts the drivers in. *tr

Vehicle stability control lights came on. the dealer says that the engine control computer must be replaced. the part alone is $2,100.00, then labor to install. i have read numerous other reports of failure of this component which seems integral to the vehicle's steering and handling. toyota published a technical bulletin in may 2006 recognizing this defect and changing the skid control computer. *tr

Toyota sequoia vsc abs problem on this 2003 sequoia the abs brakes intermittently come on without warning, and with out the driver braking. this has happened only at slow speeds thus far. the vsc indicator lights also come on. *tr

I own a 2003 toyota sequoia limited with approximately 57, 000 miles. i recently took my vehicle to toyota of huntington beach for service and to check on the vehicle skid control (vsc) light because it would not turn off. the service advisor stated that based the diagnostic repair codes and a repair bulletin, he recommended a that the skid control ecu be replaced at a cost of $1667.00 this repair recommendation what disappointing for a number of reasons: 1.this is a repair that should have been made while the vehicle was under warranty. i have previously complained about the vsc light to a toyota service technician while the vehicle was under warranty. the solution by the toyota of long beach repair facility was to simply 'reset' the ecu. attached is the invoice. 2.secondly, the ecu is not a wear and tear item and is not subject to ongoing maintenance. it is a computer chip that is designed to control the vsc, etc. if the ecu can not be reprogrammed to function as intended, then this design flaw that again should have been replaced under warranty or as recall. 3.the design flaw is serious and critically affects the safety and stability of the vehicle. 4.finally, the ecu is essentially a small computer and the $1600 price tag to replace such and inexpensive part is absurd. in the event that toyota does not honor its commitment to quality, toyota, should reevaluate the pricing of such a small but critical part and repair. *tr

Vsc/abs skid control ecu failure on 2003 sequoia @ 56,410 miles (orignal owner). ecu failure is a known issue by every toyota sequoia owner, but toyota claims it's limited. this failure requires that vsc/abs skid control ecu / yaw rate sensor be replaced. the repair cost was $794.20 for part and labor at the local toyota dealer. now, considering the severity of the defect and number of complaints on this site i'm very suprized not to see a recall notice to date. *tr

Vsc off and vsc trac warning lights keep coming on along with check engine light. had reset every time. dealer is vague on cause and says probably gas cap seal. replaced oxygen components one time. happening again. i suspect faulty part or computer with the car that is not yet documented. *tr

Vsc/abs/skid control computer failure at 50,000 miles in 2003 toyota sequoia sr5 2wd. this is a widely known problem, for which toyota proposes replacement at consumer cost of $1500+ for out of warranty vehicles. requested outcome: toyota should replace the computer at no cost for part; this is clearly a defect and should not be required for consumer to replace. *tr

2003 toyota sequoia sr5 90,000 miles - since i purchased this vehicle brand new in july 2003, the vsc trac, vsc off and brake lights have turned on by itself intermittently. until the weekend of dec 22, 2007, i regarded this issue, more or less, as a nuisance problem. on dec 22, 2007 the vsc trac and vsc off lights came on and pretty much have remained on. on two occasions, the slip indicator light started to blink, causing a loud noise and vibration by the operation of the brakes. *tr

2003 toyota sequoia vehicle skid control failure. mechanic told the consumer that they were having problems with the lights. mechanic suggested replacing both controlling computers. *kb the consumer stated as soon as the vehicle moves forward, the vsc off and vsc trac lights illuminate. *jb

1.) no events leading up to failure 2.) vsc off / trac off lights on dash stay on continually, and vehicle stability control is effectively disabled. researching this issue on the internet finds that this is a common issue. 3.) toyota dealer is recommending replacement of the vsc ecu (stability control/traction control computer) at a cost of $1500-$2000. based on the numbers of these reported incidents, i feel this is a defect and is an exorbitant amount to be paid by the owners of these vehicles. *tr

Vsc trac off lights are on after i start the car and put into drive. dealers service department said vsc computer is faulty and needs replacement, but they will not pay for the replacement because the warranty has expired. *jb

I own a 2003 toyota sequoia that has the vsc light on. the dealer is stating that the vsc computer and possibly another computer need to be replaced. the danger is losing control of the vehicle during brake malfunction. i have read of several others having the same problem. i have not had the vehicle repaired due to the high cost. *ak

Vsc traction and abs control warning lights stay lit. lights would go on and off and now stay lit all the time so have no warning if abs system is functional or has other issues. lost the ability to turn traction control on/off. took vehicle in for service at dealer, 3-26-07, and was informed it was a manufacturing defect with an internal component, yaw rate sensor. reported to toyota and requested assistance in repairing as this appeared to be a manufacturing defect. toyota denied claim. have seen vehicles produced 1 month earlier are now under recall for similar issues nhtsa campaign # 10v176000. dealer cost to repair at time was $1433. have experienced braking oddities on occasions. *tr

2003 sequoia limited vsc / trac control lights have been on almost continuously since 3/1/2007, indicating that the stability control and traction control were not functioning. at various times the abs kicked in even though the brakes were not applied. in wet conditions on 3/17/07, the suv did not properly respond to brake or steering, causing the suv to drift into the oncoming lane. fortunately, there was no traffic in the lane at the time. this was a huge safety issue. at the dealer, codes c1241, c1231, c1223, and c1203 came up. diagnosis - translate and skid control computers needed to be replaced. toyota tsbs br002-03 and br003-03 appeared to be related, and lead me to believe there was a known flaw in computer logic. *ak

Throughout the time period i have owned my 2003 toyota sequoia, i have experienced dangerous low speed vehicle control issues, when traveling on slippery surfaces, relating to the vehicle's stability control system. at speeds between a few miles per hour and perhaps as much as 15 miles per hour, on muddy or icy roads, the vehicle stability control system will kick in, probably as it should, while braking or initiating a turn, as indicated by a vsc warning light illuminating in the drivers control console. however, while it may be appropriate for the vsc system to respond, the vsc in the toyota sequoia responds in a dangerous manner which is much less effective and appropriate than the vsc systems in all other vehicles i own or have driven. when the vsc system is activated, as indicated by the vsc light coming on, power is lost to all wheels in the vehicle and vehicle handling changes abruptly. the change in handling results in severe understeer, as compared to when power is being delivered to all four wheels, and the vehicle significantly overshoots any corner the driver is trying to maneuver the vehicle around. whereas i am a careful driver and plan for such issue, i have not so far experienced an accident as a result of this issue, but should the vsc issue arise at an inappropriate time, when there is less room for maneuvering, such as during an emergency maneuver, the sudden severe understeer could definitely result in an accident. *tr

Skid control ecu module does not work on 2003 toyota sequoia. vsc /trac lights come on. nothing should have made this component fail dealer will not replace - out of warranty. multiple similar problems discussed online yet manufacture will not admit issue with workmanship. toyota needs to do a recall on this part (895410c062). *tr

Vsc/trac off & abs failure requiring computer and yaw sensor replacement. i took my 2003 sequoia to the local dealers service dept. in 2006 because the lights mentioned above were on. they could not find anything wrong. i told them the car was making a loud noise and the steering wheel was pulling to the side - very hard to control. they could not mimic the problem and told me there was nothing wrong. i argued with them, but lost that argument. luckily for me the battery needed replacing in a few months, and when replaced problem went away. now that my warranty has expired (last month) the vsc/trac off and abs lights are on again. i didn't rush it in because of my prior experience or i would have had it in while it was under warranty. now they want $2200 to replace computer and yaw rate sensor. i see this is a very common problem and i am very unhappy with the service department and toyota. i contacted toyota and they refuse any responsibility although this is a very well know issue. it could be very dangerous under the right conditions. luckily my driving is in a very small community and i don't drive very fast. *tr

Continuous problems with abs vsc check engine lights. these lights have gone on several times through the last 9 years, 90,000 miles. we have brought this vehicle to toyota dealers as well as mechanics many times. we have replaced the yaw rate sensor, oxygen sensor and were quoted a price of 2500 to replace another sensor/computer. other times they cannot read the codes in order to make a diagnosis. a few months later the lights are back on. many other 03 sequoia owners have had similar problems. we feel that there is a major defect in these sequoias that toyota has not taken responsibility for. this is a safety issue/concern.they prefer to tell us the vehicle is not under warranty anymore. *tr