YearToAvoid

2008 Toyota Sequoia Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2008 Toyota Sequoia has 67 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 82, and 8 recalls, ranking 4th worst among 18 model years. It's rated Avoid, with Engine problems (27% of complaints) as the top issue.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
82/100
#4 of 18 Sequoia years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
67
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
8
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
4
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
3
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2013
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
13.5 city / 17.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0

Top 2008 Toyota Sequoia problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine18 (27%)
  2. Structure & Body17 (25%)
  3. Other15 (22%)
  4. Brakes9 (13%)
  5. Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (12%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain7 (10%)
  7. Electrical System6 (9%)
  8. Seat Belts5 (7%)
  9. Steering2 (3%)
  10. Airbags1 (1%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Some owners report the gear shift can move into drive or release from park without the key in the ignition, letting the vehicle roll away unattended.
  • Owners describe a rotten-egg smell entering the cabin when driving uphill or accelerating, even with windows closed.
  • One owner reported a cracked left exhaust manifold around 4,399 miles that produced a ticking noise and exhaust fumes through the vents.
  • Owners describe the four-wheel drive differential actuator failing, preventing four-wheel drive from engaging and triggering a warning light.
  • Some owners report brake rotors warping repeatedly from excessive heat, even after dealer replacement of rotors and calipers.
  • One owner described a piece breaking off the steering wheel tilt lever, leaving the wheel unable to lock while driving.
2008 Toyota Sequoia complaints: complaints filed per quarter52008 Q32010 Q12011 Q42014 Q32017 Q12018 Q42021 Q42024 Q1
67 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2008 Q3 to 2026 Q3; peak 2010 Q1 (5).

2008 Toyota Sequoia recalls

8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V920000Nov 23, 2021Steering22,462 vehicles

    Steering:rack and pinion

    Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak.

    Risk: An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 21TB10 and 21TA10.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 14V743000Nov 19, 2014Structure & Body3,233 vehicles

    Seats:front assembly:seat heater/cooler

    Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain model year 2010-2011 Prius and Corolla, 2009-2011 Venza, 2006-2010 Avalon, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2005-2011 Sienna and Sequoia, 2006-2011 Tacoma 4x2 and 4x4, Camry, Highlander, Tundra 4x2 and 4x4, and 2007-2011 Rav4 and 4Runner. The affected vehicles may experience compression of the seat cushion which may damage the seat heater wiring.

    Risk: Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.

    Remedy: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the heaters with copper strand heating elements and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory, free of charge. The recall is expected to began in January 2015. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226.

See all 8 recalls for the 2008 Toyota Sequoia →

2008 Toyota Sequoia fuel economy and fuel cost

City
13.5 MPG
Highway
17.5 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.

2008 compared with other Sequoia years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2006Avoid94202814.5
2007Avoid88136715
2008Avoid8267815
2009Caution66815
2010Avoid7631915

All Toyota Sequoia years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2008 Toyota Sequoia reliable?
NHTSA lists 67 complaints and a complaint index of 82 for the 2008 Sequoia, ranking 4th worst of 18 model years, so it carries an Avoid rating relative to other Sequoia years.
What are the most common problems with the 2008 Toyota Sequoia?
Engine issues make up 27% of complaints with a median failure mileage of 22,250 miles, followed by Structure & Body issues at 25% and Brakes at 13%.
Does the 2008 Toyota Sequoia have recalls?
NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2008 Sequoia, covering steering, structure and body, suspension/wheels/tires, visibility, and engine components, none marked do-not-drive.
How does the 2008 Sequoia compare to other years?
The 2008 model's complaint index of 82 is lower than 2005 (100), 2006 (94), and 2007 (88), but still earns an Avoid verdict, while years like 2013 and 2015 rate Best with indexes of 18 and 12.
What is the fuel economy of the 2008 Toyota Sequoia?
EPA rates the 2008 Sequoia at 15 mpg combined (13.5 city / 17.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,300.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.