YearToAvoid

2011 Toyota Sequoia Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

41/100

#11 most-complained of 18 Sequoia years

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

The 2011 Toyota Sequoia has 17 owner complaints and 6 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 41 out of 100 — #11 highest of 18 Sequoia model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is engine (5 complaints, 29% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash.

Complaints
17
Recalls
6
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
14 city / 19 hwy

Top 2011 Toyota Sequoia problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine5 (29%)
  2. Structure & Body4 (24%)
  3. Brakes3 (18%)
  4. Electrical System2 (12%)
  5. Fuel System2 (12%)
  6. Other2 (12%)
  7. Airbags1 (6%)
  8. Steering1 (6%)
2011 Toyota Sequoia complaints: complaints filed per month3May 2011Dec 2011Apr 2015Apr 2017Sep 2020Mar 2024
20 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2011 to Jan 2026; peak Mar 2024 (3).

2011 Toyota Sequoia recalls

6 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 6 recalls for the 2011 Toyota Sequoia →

2011 Toyota Sequoia fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
19 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.

2011 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
2009Best66815
2010Avoid7631915
2011Good4117615
2012Caution7120315
2013Best1812215

All Toyota Sequoia years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Toyota Sequoia a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2011 Toyota Sequoia ranks #11 of 18 among Sequoia model years (Complaint Index 41/100, verdict: Good). It has 17 complaints and 6 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Toyota Sequoia?
The most reported problem areas are engine (5 complaints), structure & body (4 complaints), and brakes (3 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 60,000 miles.
Does the 2011 Toyota Sequoia have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2011 Toyota Sequoia, most recently reported 2021, covering steering, structure & body, visibility & wipers, and suspension, wheels & tires.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Toyota Sequoia?
EPA rates the 2011 Toyota Sequoia at 15 MPG combined (14 city / 19 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,300. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.