TSB: Replacement certification labels (the vinyl label installed on the driver door or door post) and VIN plates (the metal plate riveted to dashboard) (see Figure 1) for most 1979 ? 2023 model year vehicles may be available provided the requests meet the criteria listed in this Service Bulletin. Follow the Procurement Procedure in this bulletin to request a replacement certification label or VIN plate.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2005 Toyota Sequoia cruise control problems
moderate 60 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
60
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 60 cruise control complaints filed for the 2005 Toyota Sequoia, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of Toyota Sequoia we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 60.
Owners have filed 60 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
TOYOTA: ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR ASSEMBLY INFORMATION REGARDING THE INSPECTION, REMOVAL, AND INSTALLATION, IF LUBRICATION OR OIL, IS APPLIED.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe a pervasive pattern of VSC (vehicle skid control) and TRAC (traction control) system failures in 2005 Sequoias that Toyota has not recalled despite issuing recalls for 2003–2004 models with the same defect. The problems cluster around two main failure modes: sudden unintended brake engagement and loss of engine power in limp mode.
The brake engagement failures are the most alarming. Owners report sudden, violent brake application while driving 15–70 mph, accompanied by grinding metal noise, vehicle shudder, and complete loss of control for seconds. Warning lights (VSC, TRAC, Brake, ABS, Check Engine) illuminate in clusters. After shutdown and restart, the lights go out temporarily but the underlying issue persists. Dealers diagnose skid control ECU failure and quote $900–$1,100 for replacement, but owners report the problem recurring within months of repair.
The limp-mode failures involve loss of acceleration and power capping at 30–50 mph when VSC lights activate. Root causes cited include faulty air injection valves, vacuum switching valves, or the secondary air injection pump. Repair costs reach $2,200–$3,200. Some owners report replacing these components only to have the problem reappear years later.
A separate but related failure involves unintended acceleration surges without pedal input, sometimes with brake failure, occurring 10–12 times on single vehicles. Dealers cannot reproduce or fix these events.
Throughout, owners note Toyota issued only a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for the 2005 model, not a recall, despite knowing of the widespread issue.
Same Toyota Sequoia cruise control reports on nearby years: 2006
Failure modes owners describe
VSC/Skid Control ECU Malfunction with Sudden Brake Engagement
Skid control electronic control unit fails, causing sudden and unintended brake engagement while driving at normal speeds. Accompanied by grinding brake sounds, loss of vehicle control, and multiple warning light illumination (VSC, TRAC, Brake, ABS). Vehicle becomes extremely difficult to drive or nearly uncontrollable until shut down and restarted.
When: Primarily 15–70 mph in traffic or normal driving conditions; often during light braking or in wet/snowy weather; intermittent occurrences over months or years
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden, violent brake engagement causing severe vehicle shake and drastic speed reduction; Loud bang/thunk sound at moment of engagement; VSC, VSC OFF, TRAC OFF, Brake, ABS, and Check Engine lights illuminate simultaneously; Grinding, rattling, or metal-on-metal noise from front brakes; Vehicle slows or becomes nearly uncontrollable; severe loss of acceleration; Mushy brake pedal; Brakes pulsate or engage intermittently even without driver input; Vehicle freezes momentarily
Codes mentioned: C1223, C1244, C1247, C1310
Repairs/costs cited: Toyota dealer quoted $905–$1,100 for skid control ECU replacement; one owner paid $3,000 for ECU replacement only to have problem recur within 6 months. Some owners reported dealer findings of no codes when lights reset. Repairs involve replacing skid control computer/ECU; Toyota issued Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) for 2005 model year but not a recall (unlike 2003–2004 models which received recall for same issue).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB issued for 2005 model year (not a recall). 2003–2004 models received skid control computer recall with reflashing/reprogramming. Toyota refuses to extend warranty or issue recall for 2005; owners report dealer service advisors acknowledge numerous 2005 models with identical issue but cite no recall coverage.
VSC/TRAC Loss of Power / Limp Mode with Reduced Acceleration
Vehicle enters limp mode or experiences dramatic loss of engine power/acceleration when VSC and TRAC lights illuminate. Engine may rev but power does not translate to wheels. Vehicle may be capped at 35–50 mph or refuse to accelerate normally. Often triggered by low-speed acceleration, turning, or highway merging.
When: Upon startup (lights illuminate 10–15 seconds after ignition) or randomly during acceleration from stops or low speeds; intermittent, lasting hours to days before reset
Symptoms owners cite: VSC OFF, VSC TRAC, Check Engine, and Brake lights come on; Complete loss of engine response despite pressing accelerator; Vehicle speed capped at 30–50 mph on flat terrain, lower on inclines; Delayed or sluggish acceleration from complete stop; High-pitch vacuum noise from engine at startup, dropping to normal; Cannot accelerate beyond certain speed threshold even on highway or downhill; Vehicle slows dramatically when releasing accelerator
Codes mentioned: P1441, P1442, P1444, P1445
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite air injection system component failures as probable cause: faulty vacuum switching valve (VSV) for air injection control, air switching valve, air injection pump, or secondary air injection valve stuck open/closed. Repair costs: $2,200–$3,200 for air injection pump/valve replacement; one owner paid $3,000 for ECU only to have problem recur. Replacing individual air injection valves has not resolved issue for some owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota issued TSB acknowledging the issue but refused recall. Owners report Toyota Motor Sales, USA, inc. denies warranty coverage citing vehicle age and mileage. One owner reports dealer stated valve may be stuck but uncertain whether valve or pump is root cause.
Unintended Acceleration / Sudden Power Surge
Vehicle suddenly and unexpectedly accelerates without driver input or proportional to pedal pressure. Occurs at low speed (parking lots, turning into driveways) and highway speeds. Brakes either ineffective during surge or require excessive pressure to engage. Multiple occurrences over time.
When: Intermittent; 10–12 episodes reported by some owners; occurs both stationary (in parking lots, at stops) and in motion (city streets, highways, interstate)
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden acceleration despite driver not pressing gas pedal; Vehicle surges forward uncontrollably; Brakes ineffective or delayed when pressed hard during surge; Warning lights illuminate (Brake, VSC OFF, VSC TRAC, Check Engine, ABS); RPMs increase excessively upon restart; Vehicle does not respond to brake pedal pressure for 5–10 seconds before engagement kicks in; No floor mat obstruction evident
Repairs/costs cited: One owner paid $4,529.24 in repairs; dealer unable to duplicate failure despite testing and providing diagnostic report with no interpretation. Another owner reports dealer inspection found no problems. Not all owners pursued repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer could not reproduce failure during dealer diagnostics. No recall issued. Toyota provided diagnostic report without explanation to one owner.
Cold-Start Idle Control Malfunction / Unintended Idle Surge
Engine idles abnormally high (significantly above normal) for 5–10 minutes after cold start, with engine also revving independently during light-speed driving without driver input on accelerator. Requires driver to stand on brakes to prevent creep during high-idle phase.
When: Upon cold start; persists 5–10 minutes before normalizing; revving occurs intermittently during driving at low speeds after warm-up
Symptoms owners cite: Significantly elevated engine idle RPM at cold start; Engine continues high idle for 5–10 minutes; Vehicle creeps forward despite brakes applied; requires driver to press hard on brake pedal; Engine revs without accelerator pedal input during light-speed driving (intermittent); Excessive engine noise during idle phase
Repairs/costs cited: No repair cited in complaint; problem reported as ongoing.
Brake Pedal Feel / Response Anomalies (Mushy Pedal, Loss of Booster Pressure)
Brake pedal feels soft, mushy, or spongy with inconsistent response. Some owners report complete loss of brake booster pressure, requiring excessive foot pressure to slow vehicle or achieve a stop. Pedal may be non-responsive for several seconds before finally engaging.
When: Intermittent; more prevalent during wet or snowy conditions; occurs during normal braking, backing out of garage, or highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Mushy or spongy brake pedal feel; Loss of brake booster pressure; brakes sound like grinding rather than normal ABS engagement; Brake pedal non-responsive for 5–10 seconds, then suddenly engages hard; Excessive foot pressure required to stop vehicle; Inconsistent brake performance from one event to next; Brake warning light, VSC, TRAC, ABS lights illuminate during or after braking incidents
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers replaced brake booster, master cylinder, brake pads, and on-board computer on some vehicles without resolving issue. One original owner had months of brake service starting with mushy pedal, resulting in multiple component replacements (booster, master cylinder, pads) and on-board computer replacement, totaling significant cost with problem persisting.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers prescribed component replacement (booster, master cylinder, pads, computer) but issue persisted in some cases, suggesting recurring systemic problem.
Synthesized from 60 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
While driving home on interstate 15 in california brake pedal would not depress. After several hard foot applications pedal finally engaged. This is after months of service on this vehicle for brake problems starting with spongy and inconsistent pedal and vcs, ABS and brake lights coming on and staying on. Dealership replaced on board computer, brake booster, brake master cylinder, brake pads and…
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Toyota sequoia. While driving approximately between 60-65 MPH the vehicle skid control (vsc) warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. Suddenly, there was no power response during acceleration. The speed rate was reduced with continuous pressure applied to the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer on two separate occasions for…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2005 Toyota Sequoia?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2005 Toyota Sequoia?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 60 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 49 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 68,000 and 120,400 miles, with the median around 96,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 68,000; a quarter make it past 120,400. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Toyota/Sequoia.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.