2010 Toyota Sequoia Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
AvoidComplaint Index
100/100
#1 most-complained of 13 Sequoia years
The 2010 Toyota Sequoia ranks worst among 13 model years, with a complaint index of 100, 31 complaints, and 9 recalls. Engine issues dominate at 45% of complaints, with a median failure mileage of 71,375 miles, making it the year to avoid in this lineup.
- Complaints
- 31
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes / fires
- 1 / 2
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 15
- 13 city / 18 hwy
Top 2010 Toyota Sequoia problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine14 (45%)
- Structure & Body5 (16%)
- Electrical System4 (13%)
- Brakes2 (6%)
- Fuel System2 (6%)
- Other2 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (6%)
- Transmission & Powertrain2 (6%)
- Airbags1 (3%)
- Steering1 (3%)
What owners report
- Rear bumper covers melt near the exhaust tip when towing within the stated weight rating, raising fire concerns.
- Engine compartment can produce noise on startup followed by smoke or flames coming from under the hood.
- Dashboard lights and radio can flicker or shut off unexpectedly, sometimes accompanied by a clicking sound near the steering column or vents.
- Rear door latch can corrode and melt, leaving the door unable to open.
- Parking brake may fail to hold the vehicle on an incline even after dealer adjustment.
- Airbag warning light can illuminate due to occupant detection sensor issues tied to recall 13V014000, with parts delays reported.
2010 Toyota Sequoia recalls
9 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- 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.
- 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.
- NHTSA 15V689000Oct 22, 2015Visibility & Wipers1,814,284 vehicles
Visibility:power window devices and controls
Toyota Motor Company (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 Tundra, Sequoia, Corolla, Corolla Matrix and Scion xB, 2008-2011 Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2007 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2009 Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2006-2011 RAV4, 2006-2010 Yaris, and 2009-2010 Scion xD and Pontiac Vibe vehicles. During the manufacturing of the Power Window Master Switch (PWMS), grease lubricant may have been inconsistently applied to the sliding electrical contacts.
Risk: If the sliding electrical contacts are not protected by lubricant, debris and moisture that get into the switch may cause a short circuit and the switch assembly may overheat and melt, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the switch, applying a lubricant if no abnormality is found. If abnormality is found, the PWMS circuit board will be replaced, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin December 20, 2015. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is C0M.
2010 Toyota Sequoia fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 13 MPG
- Highway
- 18 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.
2010 compared with other Sequoia years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Toyota Sequoia a bad year?
- Relative to other Sequoia model years, 2010 ranks worst, with a complaint index of 100 and rank 1 of 13 years tracked. NHTSA lists 31 complaints and 9 recalls for this year.
- What is the biggest problem with the 2010 Toyota Sequoia?
- Engine problems are the top complaint area, accounting for 45% of complaints (14 of 31), with a median failure mileage of 71,375 miles.
- Does the 2010 Toyota Sequoia have recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2010 Sequoia, covering steering, structure and body, visibility and wipers, suspension/wheels/tires, and other components.
- How does the 2010 Sequoia compare to other years?
- The 2010 model has the highest complaint index (100) of any Sequoia year in the data; by contrast, 2015 and 2016 have complaint indexes of 8 and 17 and are rated Best.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2010 Toyota Sequoia?
- EPA rates the 2010 Sequoia at 15 mpg combined (13 city / 18 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,300.