Free. Instant. No signup. Pulls recalls and complaints for your exact vehicle.

Couldn't find that VIN. Check the digits and try again.

ProblemsByVin File / 2011-TOYOTA-SEQUOIA NHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Toyota

2011 Toyota Sequoia problems

Light NHTSA footprint — 17 owner complaints and 7 active recall campaigns. Either a clean record or thin data; we'll show what's there.

The 2011 Toyota Sequoia has 17 NHTSA owner complaints and 7 recalls on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is engine at 3 complaints, typically surfacing around 69,525 miles (~$3,100 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Toyota Sequoia owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2008 Sequoia 66 9
2009 Sequoia 6 9
2010 Sequoia 31 10
2011 Sequoia (this page) 17 7
2012 Sequoia 20 4
2013 Sequoia 12 3
2014 Sequoia 17 3
2011 Toyota Sequoia
Photo: Elise240SX / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · representative photo of the Toyota Sequoia
0 5 10
Reliability score
7.2 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
7
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2011 Sequoia?
Acceptable — with caveats

Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.

Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.

NHTSA crash-test safety ratings

Rollover 4/5

Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: No · Lane departure warning: No

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2011 Toyota Sequoia SUV AWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.

Buying a used 2011 Toyota Sequoia? Check these first

Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.

What to inspect on this specific car

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 7 active recalls on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 7.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.

We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.

See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2011 Toyota Sequoia

A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.

Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.

Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.

Embed this reliability snapshot

Free to use on your site, post, or video — just keep the "Source" credit line below the chart. Preview the widget →

<iframe src="https://problemsbyvin.com/embed/reliability/2011-toyota-sequoia/" width="100%" height="340" style="border:1px solid #e2e8f0;border-radius:8px;max-width:640px" title="2011 Toyota Sequoia reliability snapshot" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p style="font:12px/1.5 system-ui,sans-serif;color:#64748b;max-width:640px;margin:6px 0 0">Source: <a href="https://problemsbyvin.com/2011-toyota-sequoia/" style="color:#b8540a;font-weight:600">2011 Toyota Sequoia reliability snapshot — ProblemsByVin</a></p>

Top trouble spots 1 category with 3+ complaints

engine
3 reports · fails ~69,525 mi · avg $3,100
moderate
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2011 Sequoia's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2011 Sequoia?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2011 Sequoia · electrical
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Toyota sequoia. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the contact noticed that the digital speed reader was providing a different reading from the speedometer reading. The difference was approximately 3 MPH greater on the speedometer. The vehicle was…
12/27/2011 · at 3,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #10441332.0
2011 Sequoia · electrical
The door lock actuator on each of the doors on the SUV have failed. The doors will not lock/unlock without using the key, and the only door with key access is the driver's door. The doors can be locked/unlocked from inside. The replacement parts seem excessively high, and it…
12/11/2018 · at 130,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11160786.0
2011 Sequoia · airbags
As evidenced in the 11-9-11 new Toyota commercial, this is exactly why Toyota went to congress to remove 8 to 10 leaking cylinders of toxic, flammable inflators voluntarily from their vehicles. As we all know all inflators in the airbag are made the same, you should never see a…
11/23/2011 · NHTSA ODI #10436894.0
2011 Sequoia · body
The rear hatch has a rust spot next to the latch that is rusted thru and breaking chunks of metal from around it. The latch mechanism may split from the rear door aseembly and fail to remain closed and open unexpectedly on the highway allowing all contents to fly out of the…
09/21/2020 · at 97,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11360226.0
View all 17 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2011 Toyota Sequoia? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 3 of 7

severe NHTSA 21E103000 December 23, 2021

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for 2007-2021 Tundra and 2008-2022 Sequoia, part numbers 44250-0C160, 44250-0C131, 44250-0C170, and 11250-0C121

An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the power steering gear assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on February 17, 2022. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's number for this recall is 21TH01.
severe NHTSA 21V920000 November 23, 2021

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles

An oil leak may cause a sudden loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: 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.
severe NHTSA 16V396000 June 2, 2016

Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2005-2011 4Runner, Highlander, Sequoia, and Sienna, 2005-2010 Avalon and Tundra, 2006-2008 Camry Solara, 2006-2010 Highlander hybrid, 2006-2011 Rav4 and Tacoma, 2007-2010 FJ Cruiser, 2007-2011 Camry hybrid, 2009-2010 Venza, 2010-2012 Prius, 1988-1990 and 2005-2010 Camry, and 1989 and 2009-2010 Corolla vehicles equipped with aftermarket accessory seat heaters with a copper strand heating element

If damaged, the copper strand heating element may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: SET will notify owners, and dealers will disconnect the seat heaters, free of charge, and refund the purchase price of the seat heater accessory. The recall began on July 14, 2016. Owners may contact SET customer service at 1-866-405-4226. SET number for this recall is SET16B.
View all 7 recalls →

Common questions

Is the 2011 Toyota Sequoia reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 17 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Toyota Sequoia is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.

Should you avoid the 2011 Toyota Sequoia?

The 2011 Toyota Sequoia is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Reliability score 7.2/10 — around the segment average; 7 recall campaigns on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should I check before buying a used 2011 Toyota Sequoia?

Inspect the engine first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 3 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 69,525 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.

Is the 2011 Toyota Sequoia a good used car to buy?

It scores 7.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 17 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is engine. Typical failure occurs around 69,525 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.

What's the most common problem on the 2011 Toyota Sequoia?

Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is engine, with 3 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 69,525 miles. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

The engine is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $3,100 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 69,525 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.

How do I check if my Toyota Sequoia has open recalls?

Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.

Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2011 Toyota Sequoia?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 17 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $3,100, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.

Related

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Toyota/Sequoia. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Toyota. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
Sponsored
Get a free warranty quote →