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2016 Toyota Sequoia Owner Complaints

Updated May 30, 202616 Critical Recalls
Ethan Miller
2016 Toyota Sequoia Owner Complaints

Complaint Summary

The 2016 Toyota Sequoia has 14 reported complaints.

  • Top issues involve service brakes and electrical system.

Reliability Score

Reliability Score

7.2/ 10

Based on 14 complaints

Most Frequent Issues

SERVICE BRAKES

4 28.6%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 14.3%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2 14.3%

STEERING

1 7.1%

VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 7.1%

Quick Insights

  • The top category is SERVICE BRAKES, accounting for 28.6% of all complaints.

  • Owners have reported issues across 9 distinct vehicle systems.

  • Note: Complaint data reflects owner reports and may not always indicate a verified defect. Compare with Recalls and TSBs for a complete picture.

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Complaint Summary

What owners keep reporting on the 2016 Toyota Sequoia

The 2016 Toyota Sequoia has 14 owner complaints in this dataset. SERVICE BRAKES is the most common complaint category, representing about 29% of the reports shown here.

Most common complaint categories

The top complaint groups for the 2016 Toyota Sequoia are SERVICE BRAKES (4), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (2), VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (2).

Are these complaints a serious red flag?

Potentially. 8 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems like brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection.

What should buyers inspect on a used 2016 Toyota Sequoia?

Start with the top complaint systems, compare them against the recall report, then inspect service records for evidence that those same areas were already repaired or monitored.

Read the full buyer guideRecall report and remedy notesMaintenance costs and intervals2017 Sequoia complaints2015 Sequoia complaints2018 Sequoia complaints

Detailed Complaint Log

Showing 9 of 9 systems

SERVICE BRAKES

4 Reports29% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

WHEN STEERING GREATER THAN 40 MPH THEN BRAKE, STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE. TOOK IT TO DEALER, AND ROTORS HAD TO BE RESURFACED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY WERE WARPED. VEHICLE HAD 24,975 MILES WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER. AS WITH SEATS, DRIVER SEAT HAD SOME SEPARATION ON STITCHING AND WAS DISCOLORED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED DRIVER SIDE SEAT BOTTOM.

6/15/2018

CPSC: I PURCHASED, NEW A 2016 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. AT 18,000 MILES THE ROTORS WERE WARPED. TOYOTA UNDER WARRANTY REPLACED THEM. AT 28,000 MILES THE ROTORS WERE WARPED AGAIN. WHEN BRAKING THE WARPED ROTORS VIOLENTLY SHAKE THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE CAR. *DT THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO REPAIR THE ROTORS ANY LONGER, AND SUGGESTED THE PURCHASE OF BIGGER ROTORS. *JS *TT

8/15/2018

2 more complaints are available in this category.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

2 Reports14% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE DRIVER ADJUSTED THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL FUNCTIONS. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND BACKWARDS WITH AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER WAS UNCERTAIN HOW THE FAILURE OCCURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY OTHER THAN ADVISING THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 965.

7/19/2016

WHEN DRIVING IN DAYLIGHT ON SUNNY DAYS THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECOMES SO DARK THAT THE GAUGES BECOME UNREADABLE. I HAVE TO USE A FLASHLIGHT TO READ THEM. THE DEALER SAID THERE IS NOT ANYTHING HE CAN DO TO FIX THIS.HE SAYS TOYOTA DOES NOT PUT THE BRIGHTER LED BULBS IN THE SR5 BUT THEY ARE IN THE SEQUOIA PREMIER MODEL.THE INABILITY TO READ THE GAUGES WITHOUT AID OF EXTERNAL LIGHT SOURCE CREATES A HAZARDOUS CONDITION FOR DRIVERS,PASSENGERS AND OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. THE DEALER OFFERED TO BUY BACK THE VEHICLE IF I WAS WILLING TO TAKE A $ 9,000.00 LOSS ON A 3 MONTH OLD VEHICLE.

9/15/2016

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2 Reports14% of total

Previewing the first 2 complaint summaries.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE DRIVER ADJUSTED THE DRIVER'S SEAT WITH THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL FUNCTIONS. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD AND BACKWARDS WITH AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER WAS UNCERTAIN HOW THE FAILURE OCCURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR FURTHER INSPECTION AND DIAGNOSIS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED NO REMEDY OTHER THAN ADVISING THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 965.

7/19/2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED AT 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REDUCE SPEED WHEN AN INCLINE WAS REACHED. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (ROGERS AND ROGERS TOYOTA, 2351 US HIGHWAY 86, IMPERIAL, CA 92251) AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000.

2/6/2018

STEERING

1 Report7% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

TAKATA RECALL. THIS VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL / VEHICLE WHEN AT 55MPH OR HIGHER. I'VE BEEN NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THIS IS NORMAL. I SPENT ALMOST $65,000.00 ON THIS VEHICLE AND THE VIBRATIONS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND COULD ULTIMATELY POSE A SERIOUS HAZARD ON THE ROAD. SOMETHING HAS TO BE CAUSING THIS VIBRATION AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIND A FIX FOR IT. THE VEHICLE COMFORT WHILE DRIVING IS NOT A PLEASANT ONE. ALSO THE WIPERS MAKE EXCESSIVE NOISE WHILE IN USE. AGAIN THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. BUT THIS IS SO LOUD THAT IT IS HARD TO CONCENTRATE WHILE DRIVING WITH THIS NOISE. *TR

12/22/2016

VISIBILITY/WIPER

1 Report7% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

TAKATA RECALL. THIS VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHEEL / VEHICLE WHEN AT 55MPH OR HIGHER. I'VE BEEN NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS ISSUE AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THIS IS NORMAL. I SPENT ALMOST $65,000.00 ON THIS VEHICLE AND THE VIBRATIONS IS UNACCEPTABLE. THIS IS UNCOMFORTABLE AND COULD ULTIMATELY POSE A SERIOUS HAZARD ON THE ROAD. SOMETHING HAS TO BE CAUSING THIS VIBRATION AND TOYOTA NEEDS TO FIND A FIX FOR IT. THE VEHICLE COMFORT WHILE DRIVING IS NOT A PLEASANT ONE. ALSO THE WIPERS MAKE EXCESSIVE NOISE WHILE IN USE. AGAIN THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THIS IS NORMAL. BUT THIS IS SO LOUD THAT IT IS HARD TO CONCENTRATE WHILE DRIVING WITH THIS NOISE. *TR

12/22/2016

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

1 Report7% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 TOYOTA SEQUOIA. WHILE FUELING THE VEHICLE'S FUEL TANK, FUEL LEAKED OUT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS REFUELED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND COULD NOT BE SERVICED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

5/30/2017

SEATS

1 Report7% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

WHEN STEERING GREATER THAN 40 MPH THEN BRAKE, STEERING WHEEL BEGAN TO SHAKE. TOOK IT TO DEALER, AND ROTORS HAD TO BE RESURFACED DUE TO THE FACT THAT THEY WERE WARPED. VEHICLE HAD 24,975 MILES WHEN TAKEN TO DEALER. AS WITH SEATS, DRIVER SEAT HAD SOME SEPARATION ON STITCHING AND WAS DISCOLORED. TOOK TO DEALER AND THEY REPLACED DRIVER SIDE SEAT BOTTOM.

6/15/2018

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 Report7% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN WHEN I WAS GOING TO STOP

2/9/2019

WHEELS

1 Report7% of total

Previewing the first 1 complaint summaries.

VEHICLE HAS 40K MILES TIRES ARE WORN TREAD 2/32 ALREADY, AND FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE COMPLETELY REPLACED. BACK AT 25K MILES, FRONT ROTORS HAD TO BE RESURFACED, AND NOW AT 40K MILES, NEW ROTORS AND PADS HAD TO BE PLACED.

8/29/2019

About This Data

Data and Methodology

MethodologyHow we score →

Scores are derived from NHTSA recalls and owner complaints, normalized by vehicle segment averages.

FAQ

What are the most common owner complaints for the 2016 Toyota Sequoia?

The most reported complaint category for the 2016 Toyota Sequoia is SERVICE BRAKES, with 4 owner reports. That is about 29% of all complaints logged here. Other recurring themes include SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.

Are complaints about the 2016 Toyota Sequoia a serious warning sign?

Potentially. 8 complaint reports fall into higher-attention systems such as brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components. That does not prove every vehicle has a defect, but repeated complaints in those systems justify a more careful pre-purchase inspection.

How should buyers use complaint data for the 2016 Toyota Sequoia?

Use complaints as an early pattern to investigate, not a standalone verdict. Start with the top complaint categories, compare those themes against the recall report and maintenance guide, then inspect service records for evidence that the same problem areas were already addressed. If the same issue appears repeatedly across complaints and recalls, treat it as a real ownership-risk flag.

Are complaints about the 2016 Toyota Sequoia severe?

8 complaint reports involve higher-attention systems such as brakes, steering, engine, powertrain, fuel, suspension, airbags, or electrical components, which is enough to justify a focused inspection before purchase.

Complaint list entries are sourced from owner-submitted NHTSA ODI records.

Read complaint summaries

Toyota Sequoia: How should complaint data influence buying decisions?

Use complaint patterns together with recalls and maintenance guidance to estimate ownership risk and inspection priorities.

Carfocal links complaint data directly to recall and maintenance routes for the same model year.

Return to full vehicle report
Complaint entries
14
Top-topic view
5 grouped topics shown
Primary source
NHTSA ODI owner complaint records

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In this guide

  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Common Problems
  3. 03Owner Complaints
  4. 04Data and Methodology

Start here

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