2018 Toyota Sequoia Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2018 Toyota Sequoia has 20 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 53, and 4 recalls, ranking 9th worst out of 18 model years with a Caution verdict. Electrical system issues, especially safety-sensor malfunctions, are the top complaint area at 35%.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 53/100
- #9 of 18 Sequoia years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 20
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 0
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 14
- 13 city / 17 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2018 Toyota Sequoia problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System7 (35%)
- Brakes5 (25%)
- Other5 (25%)
- Engine4 (20%)
- Fuel System3 (15%)
- Lane Departure2 (10%)
- Airbags1 (5%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras1 (5%)
- Seat Belts1 (5%)
- Steering1 (5%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Collision prevention, adaptive cruise control, rear cross traffic and blind spot monitor systems fail repeatedly within the first few hundred miles of ownership.
- Blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert error messages appear within the first 50 miles on brand-new vehicles.
- A loud clunk is felt in the pedals and steering wheel during the first 50 feet of driving after every startup.
- Brake warning lights and camera malfunction alerts recur despite multiple software updates and dealer visits.
- Second and third row seat belts fail to retract fully and get twisted, requiring manual adjustment.
- Owners report confusion over whether recall remedies (airbag ECU, stability control software) were actually completed on their vehicles.
2018 Toyota Sequoia recalls
4 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 20V012000Jan 13, 2020Fuel System1,830,752 vehicles
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include certain 2014-2015 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser, 2018 Avalon, Corolla, 2014 FJ Cruiser, 2017 Sienna and Lexus 2018 ES 350, 2018-2019 GS 300, 2013-2014 GS350, 2014-2015 GX 460, IS 350 and LX 570, 2014 IS F, 2018-2019 IS 350, LC 500H and LS 500H, 2013-2015 LS 460, 2015 NX 200T and RC350, 2017 RC 200T and RX 350. Toyota also removed the 2018-2019 Toyota 4Runner and Land Cruiser and 2018-2019 Lexus GX 460 and LX 570 and 2019 NX300 from inclusion in this recall. On March 19, 2020, Toyota expanded the recall to include 2015 Lexus GS350 vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: If the fuel pump fails, the engine can stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began May 4, 2020. 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 20TB02 and 20TA02 for Toyota vehicles and 20LB01 and 20LA01 for Lexus vehicles.
- NHTSA 18V685000Oct 4, 2018Electrical System168,187 vehicles
Electrical system:software
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles. The air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may erroneously detect a fault during the vehicle start-up self check. If this occurs, the ECU may not deploy the airbags as intended, in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection," and 214, "Side Impact Protection."
Risk: If the air bags do not deploy as intended, it can increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Toyota will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the air bag ECU, free of charge. The recall began October 26, 2018. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-888-270-9371. Toyota's number for this recall is J0X. Note: 18V-122 was superseded by this recall. The software remedy also includes the updates to the software for 18V-122.
2018 Toyota Sequoia fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 13 MPG
- Highway
- 17 MPG
- Combined
- 14 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,650
- 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.
2018 compared with other Sequoia years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Toyota Sequoia reliable?
- NHTSA lists 20 complaints for the 2018 Sequoia with a complaint index of 53, giving it a Caution verdict. It ranks 9th worst among 18 model years of the Sequoia, so it's middling compared to other years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Toyota Sequoia?
- Electrical system issues make up 35% of complaints, mostly safety sensor malfunctions like blind spot monitor and rear cross traffic alert failures, often reported at very low mileage (median 459 miles). Brakes and engine issues follow at 25% and 20% of complaints.
- Does the 2018 Toyota Sequoia have any recalls?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering steering, fuel system, electrical system (airbag ECU), and brakes (electronic stability control software). None are do-not-drive recalls.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Toyota Sequoia?
- EPA rates the 2018 Sequoia at 14 mpg combined (13 city, 17 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,650.
- How does the 2018 Sequoia compare to other Sequoia years?
- The 2018 model's complaint index of 53 is better than early years like 2005 (100) and 2006 (94), but worse than years like 2013, 2015, and 2016, which carry Best verdicts.