1st gen Toyota Sequoia 2001–2007

Watch out for

Reputation: what owners and the press report. Tap one to see what to check.

• Rusted frame All years Walk away if found

  What to check: Get the truck on a lift and look along the whole frame, the rear crossmember and the mounts near the rear axle for scale, flaking and holes.

  Autotrader calls frame rust the 1st gen's main concern. Nineteen owners of 2001s on one CarComplaints.com page report frame or underbody rust, several with frames judged unsafe and Toyota offering no help. Wikipedia says the Sequoia shared a frame rust recall with the Tacoma and Tundra, without naming its years.

  Sources ^1,2,3

• Stability control engaging for no reason 2001–2003

  What to check: Watch for the VSC and TRAC lights, and feel for the brakes biting as you pull away from a stop.

  The most reported 2001 problem on CarComplaints.com, and the worst 2003 problem there is the VSC and TRAC lights staying on. Some 2003s were recalled to reprogram the stability control unit.

  Sources ^4,5,6,7

• Power rear window stops working All years

  What to check: Run the tailgate window down and up from the key and the dash switch.

  The second-worst 2003 problem on CarComplaints.com, and Edmunds' 2005 page lists rear window failures among owners' reports.

  Sources ^6,8

• Timing belt with no proof it was changed All years One source so far

  What to check: Ask for the receipt for the last timing belt change, and whether the water pump was done with it.

  Two members of one IH8MUD thread on buying a 1st gen raise the 4.7L's timing belt. One says to check the belt service, with the water pump, PCV valve and spark plugs done at the same time.

  Sources ⁹

What buyers say

Reputation: what owners and the press report

• Sought after: Later trucks, and any that were kept up All years

  Three members across two IH8MUD threads speak well of the 1st gen. One recommends the 2005 to 2007 trucks with variable valve timing over the earlier ones, an owner of a 2002 reports no major repairs, and the family of a 2006 owner says they really like it.^9,10

• Avoid: The 1st gen as a whole All years Less sought after One source so far

  Autotrader calls it the riskiest generation to buy, for its age and its rust, and says to have the underside inspected.¹

• Avoid: 2002 2002 Less sought after

  CarComplaints.com rates the 2002 the worst Sequoia year, with the most complaints of any year, and transmission failure its top problem.^4,11

Before you pay

Open the buyer's checklist

Every warning and recall for this generation, with a box to tick.