2005 Toyota Sequoia Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2005 Toyota Sequoia ranks worst of 18 model years, with a complaint index of 100, 352 complaints, and 9 recall campaigns. Brakes (46% of complaints) and engine issues (35%) dominate, with median failure mileage around 87,000 to 92,000 miles, making it an Avoid year relative to other Sequoia model years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 18 Sequoia years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 352
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 9
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 7
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 21
- Top issue
- Brakes
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 15
- 13.5 city / 16.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 21 / 2
Top 2005 Toyota Sequoia problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Brakes163 (46%)
- Engine124 (35%)
- Airbags40 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires37 (11%)
- Electrical System34 (10%)
- Structure & Body27 (8%)
- Other19 (5%)
- Transmission & Powertrain14 (4%)
- Fuel System13 (4%)
- Steering6 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report unintended acceleration or sudden lurching forward from a stop or while parking at low speed.
- Some describe brakes turning soft with pedal vibration and loss of stopping power, sometimes recurring after dealer repairs.
- A cold start produces unusually high idle speed (around 1,500-1700 rpm) that owners say causes wheel spin and loss of control on icy or snowy surfaces.
- A sulfur or rotten-egg smell fills the cabin during acceleration, which dealers reportedly could not duplicate.
- Some vehicles caught fire while parked, with owners unable to get a determined cause from investigations.
- Lower ball joint failures tied to a recall have been linked to crashes during low-speed turns.
2005 Toyota Sequoia recalls
9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V741000Oct 17, 2019Airbags928,220 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2010-2016 4Runner, 2003-2006 Tundra, 2003-2013 Corolla, 2009-2010 Corolla Matrix, 2004-2005 RAV4, 2002-2007 Sequoia, 2011-2013 Sienna, 2008-2012 Scion xB, 2008-2009 Lexus IS-F, 2007-2012 Yaris and Lexus ES350, 2010-2017 Lexus GX460, 2002-2010 Lexus SC430, 2006-2012 Lexus IS250 and IS350 and 2010-2015 Lexus IS250C and IS350C vehicles. These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design. The inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front driver inflator, front passenger airbag inflator, the airbag assembly, or the front passenger airbag sub-assembly and inflator. The recall began November 20, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371 or Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987. Toyota's numbers for this recall are J0A, J0B, and J0C. Lexus' numbers for this recall are JLI, JLJ, and JLK.
- NHTSA 18V883000Dec 12, 2018Airbags168,993 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2002-2005 Lexus SC and Toyota Sequoia, 2003-2005 Toyota Corolla and Tundra, and 2003-2007 Pontiac Vibe vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger frontal air bag, these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Toyota will notify the Toyota and Lexus owners. General Motors will notify the Pontiac Vibe owners. Depending on the vehicle model, dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, or replace the air bag assembly that includes an alternate inflator, free of charge. The recall began January 23, 2019. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371, Lexus customer service at 1-800-255-3987 or Pontiac customer service at 1-800-762-2737. Toyota's numbers for these recalls are J0A (Zone A Toyota), J0B (Zone B Toyota), J0C (Zone C Toyota), JLI (Zone A Lexus), JLJ (Zone B Lexus), and JLK (Zone C Lexus). Note: This recall includes vehicles that have had their air bag previously replaced under an earlier air bag campaign.
- NHTSA 16V396000Jun 2, 2016Structure & Body7,749 vehicles
Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element. The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Risk: If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
2005 Toyota Sequoia fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 13.5 MPG
- Highway
- 16.5 MPG
- Combined
- 15 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,300
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2005 compared with other Sequoia years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2005 Toyota Sequoia reliable?
- Compared to other Sequoia model years, the 2005 ranks worst, with the highest complaint index (100) among 18 model years and 352 NHTSA complaints, mostly involving brakes and the engine.
- What are the most common problems with the 2005 Toyota Sequoia?
- Brakes account for 46% of complaints and engine issues for 35%, with airbags and suspension components also cited. Median mileage at failure for brakes was 91,800 and for engine issues 92,000.
- Does the 2005 Toyota Sequoia have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2005 Sequoia, covering airbags, structure/body seat heaters, and tire/rim labeling, though none are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2005 Sequoia compare to later model years?
- Later years show far fewer complaints and lower complaint indexes, for example 2013 (index 18, Best) and 2015 (index 12, Best), while 2005 sits at the top of the risk ranking with an index of 100.