YearToAvoid

2010 Toyota Sequoia Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Avoid The 2010 Toyota Sequoia ranks 5th worst out of 18 model years, with a complaint index of 76 and an Avoid verdict. NHTSA lists 31 complaints and 9 recall campaigns, with Engine issues making up 45% of complaints, most reported near 71,375 miles.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
76/100
#5 of 18 Sequoia years
Verdict
Avoid
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
31
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
9
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
1
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
2
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2013
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
13 city / 18 hwy
Injuries / deaths
2 / 0

Top 2010 Toyota Sequoia problems

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

  1. Engine14 (45%)
  2. Structure & Body5 (16%)
  3. Electrical System4 (13%)
  4. Brakes2 (6%)
  5. Fuel System2 (6%)
  6. Other2 (6%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires2 (6%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain2 (6%)
  9. Airbags1 (3%)
  10. Steering1 (3%)

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

What owners report

  • Owners describe the exhaust melting the rear bumper and filling the cabin with a smoke smell, sometimes while towing a trailer.
  • Some drivers reported smoke and flames coming from under the hood shortly after startup or dealer service.
  • One owner said the vehicle accelerated on its own after being shifted into reverse, with the brakes failing to slow it down.
  • Rear door or tailgate latches were reported as corroded or broken, leaving the door unable to open.
  • A tire blowout was reported after only a few hundred miles of driving.
  • Traction control was reported to engage unexpectedly during acceleration on dry pavement, limiting speed.
2010 Toyota Sequoia complaints: complaints filed per month2Feb 2010Sep 2010Mar 2012Mar 2014Nov 2015Oct 2017May 2021Apr 2025
31 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2010 to Jun 2026; peak Mar 2014 (2).

2010 Toyota Sequoia recalls

9 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 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.

See all 9 recalls for the 2010 Toyota Sequoia →

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

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
2008Avoid8267815
2009Caution66815
2010Avoid7631915
2011Good4117615
2012Caution7120315

All Toyota Sequoia years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Toyota Sequoia reliable?
Compared with other Sequoia model years, the 2010 ranks 5th worst of 18 years tracked, with a complaint index of 76 and an Avoid verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls.
What is the biggest problem with the 2010 Toyota Sequoia?
Engine complaints are the largest category, accounting for 45% of all complaints filed for this year, with a median failure mileage of 71,375.
Does the 2010 Toyota Sequoia have recalls?
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2010 Sequoia, covering steering, structure and body, visibility/wipers, suspension, and other components. None are listed as do-not-drive recalls.
Which Toyota Sequoia years are better than 2010?
Years such as 2013, 2015, and 2016 earn a Best verdict with much lower complaint indexes of 18, 12, and 24, compared with 76 for 2010.
How many complaints does NHTSA have for the 2010 Sequoia?
NHTSA has 31 complaints on file for the 2010 Toyota Sequoia, including 1 crash and 2 fires.

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.