Unexplained acceleration at slow speed. Once when trying to park, vehicle accelerated and went over curb and into ditch. Another time when starting out from a stop sign. Took to dealer and they could not find any problems with vehicle. *nm
2006 Toyota Sequoia cruise control problems
severe 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
1crash
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 19 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2006 Sequoia has well-documented electrical and stability-control issues that can kill engine power, lock brakes, or trigger uncontrolled acceleration—some happening without warning and requiring ignition restart to clear. Steer clear unless you can get a thorough pre-purchase inspection by an independent shop familiar with these systems.
Owners report the VSC and TRAC systems activate without reason during normal highway and low-speed driving on straight, dry roads, causing sudden brake grinding, extended stopping distance, and difficult steering. These spurious activations require an ignition restart to clear. Diagnostic codes C1223, C1251, and C1247 appear, pointing to ABS and stability-control module faults. One owner paid $1,059 to replace the VSC/ABS computer module; the same fault returned within six months.
A separate issue involves the air injection pump failing, triggering check engine and VSC lights together and drastically cutting power—topping out at 35 mph on flat ground and 16 mph on hills. The owner identified this as a known Toyota defect acknowledged only for 2007–2010 models with extended warranty coverage.
Multiple owners report uncontrolled acceleration at low speeds and during parking, with one vehicle going over a curb into a ditch. A dealer inspection found no fault. Hard brake pedals paired with brake and VSC lights also appear after refueling, clearing only after ignition restart. Power loss and unresponsive throttle at low speeds happen without warning, causing temporary loss of control before power returns seconds later.
Same Toyota Sequoia cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005
Failure modes owners describe
VSC/TRAC system spurious activation with brake grinding
Vehicle stability control and traction control lights illuminate during normal driving on straight, dry roads. Brakes engage with loud grinding noise, extended stopping distance, and difficult steering. ABS appears to activate without cause. Requires ignition restart to clear.
When: While driving at 35–55 mph on straight roads; also at low speeds and idle
Symptoms owners cite: VSC TRAC and brake warning lights illuminate; Loud grinding noise from brakes; Extended stopping distance; Steering becomes difficult; Vehicle vibration; Loud beeping alert; Loss of acceleration capability
Codes mentioned: C1223, C1251, C1247
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite dirty speed sensors, faulty yaw rate sensor, and steering angle sensor misalignment as possible causes. One owner replaced VSC/ABS computer module at $1,059; fault recurred within 6 months.
Air injection pump failure
Engine loses power and goes into limp mode. Check Engine, VSC OFF, and VSC TRAC lights come on together. Acceleration severely restricted, vehicle tops out at 35 mph on flats and 16 mph on inclines. High-pitch vacuum noise on startup.
When: At 35 mph during normal driving; diagnostic codes present in 2006 model
Symptoms owners cite: Check Engine light, VSC OFF light, VSC TRAC light all illuminate; Dramatic loss of power and acceleration; Reduced acceleration rate to 35 mph max on flat roads; 16 mph max on inclines; High-pitch vacuum noise during engine startup
Codes mentioned: P2440, P441, P444
Repairs/costs cited: Air injection pump failure identified by diagnostic scan.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Toyota acknowledged this issue on 2007–2010 Sequoia models only, extending warranty to 10 years/150,000 miles for this component. 2006 model not included in coverage.
Uncontrolled acceleration
Engine accelerates without driver input. Occurred while parking (vehicle went over curb into ditch), at stop signs, and when using cruise control resume feature. One case diagnosed as throttle body needing cleaning; dealer found no fault on inspection.
When: At low speeds, during parking, at stop signs; one case at 134,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without pedal input; Loss of throttle control; Unexpected forward motion
Repairs/costs cited: One independent mechanic diagnosis: throttle body cleaning needed. Dealer inspection found no problems. Vehicle not repaired.
Hard brake pedal with brake system malfunction lights
Brake pedal becomes extremely stiff and difficult to depress, requiring heavy pressure to stop vehicle. TRAC OFF, VSC TRAC, and brake malfunction lights illuminate together. Condition clears after ignition restart. Occurs spontaneously with no visible brake system damage.
When: Immediately after refueling; recurred over 140 miles of driving after reset
Symptoms owners cite: Extremely hard brake pedal requiring excessive pressure; TRAC OFF light illuminated; VSC TRAC light illuminated; Brake malfunction indicator illuminated; Pedal returns to normal operation after ignition restart
Repairs/costs cited: No visible brake system damage found on roadside inspection. Lights and stiff pedal cleared by turning off and restarting ignition.
Engine power loss with VSC light flashing
Vehicle loses power suddenly while accelerating from a stop or low-speed maneuvering. Gas pedal becomes unresponsive, vehicle seems to brake involuntarily for a few seconds, causing momentary loss of control. VSC light flashes. Power returns after several seconds.
When: While pulling into traffic from a stop at less than 10 mph; also at low speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of engine power; Gas pedal unresponsive; Involuntary braking sensation; VSC light flashing; Momentary loss of vehicle control; Power returns after a few seconds
Vehicle pulls forward when AC is turned on at idle
Vehicle creeps forward when air conditioner is activated while sitting still with foot on brake pedal.
When: While at idle with AC engagement
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle moves forward when AC is turned on; Occurs while stationary with brake pedal depressed
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2006 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 2006 Toyota Sequoia?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 70,270 and 150,100 miles, with the median around 125,100. A quarter of owners report trouble before 70,270; a quarter make it past 150,100. 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/2006/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.