A summary of known issues and concerns with 2023-2026 Toyota Sequoias, including issues with transmission, recalls, and engine concerns
When it comes to full-size, three-row SUVs, the Toyota Sequoia has been a solid choice for decades. Now in its third generation, Toyota completely redesigned the Sequoia by dropping the aging (but dependable) i-Force V8 for a new twin-turbo V6 hybrid setup dubbed i-FORCE MAX. Moving to the TNGA-F global architecture also put it on the same chassis as a host of other Toyota vehicles spanning from the legendary Toyota Land Cruiser to the stylish Lexus LX. But with new designs often comes new problems, and the 2023–2026 Toyota Sequoia is no exception.
Hybrid Engine Concerns
Let’s just go ahead and address the elephant in the room: engine failure. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, then you’ve heard about the absolute disaster that has been the Toyota V35A engine recall saga. Mostly affecting 2022-2024 Tundras, the same problematic engines also found their way into some 2022-2024 Lexus LX 600 models and 2024 Lexus GX 550 models. But what about the Toyota Sequoia which rides on the same TNGA-F platform?
Toyota’s 2024-2026 manufacturing recall for “machining debris” (metal shavings were left in the engine block) primarily dealt with the non-hybrid version of the V35A engine. But the shared base engine components have Sequoia owners worried. So far there is no official recall of the hybrid V6 drivetrain, but at least one Tundras.com forum member has reported an engine failure potentially caused by metal debris. The NHTSA also has a complaint filed by an owner claiming an engine failure due to seizing up.
Over on Reddit a few 2023 and 2024 Sequoia owners have reported issues with their hybrid system. In these cases a “Hybrid System Malfunction” warning pops up. In these cases there was a sudden “jerk” and a loss of acceleration. So far this isn’t enough to trigger a Sequoia engine recall, but everyone is watching very closely.
Creepy Transmission
When you put a transmission in “neutral” you expect the connection between the engine input and transmission output to be disconnected. It turns out that when some 2023-2024 Sequoia Hybrids are shifted into neutral, certain internal clutch discs in the 10-speed automatic transmission may not immediately let go. If the driver is sitting on a flat surface and hasn’t set the parking brake or have their foot on the brake pedal, the SUV can just…creep forward on its own. While the speed it creeps may only get up to 4 miles per hour, that can still cause damage or hurt someone. The fix is a transmission controller software update that makes the brake clutch disc behave as it should.
Dash Screen Glitching
By now most drivers are used to having a big multi-function screen in the middle of their dashboard. It shows everything from the radio channel to tire pressure. But a strange software bug made a batch of 2023–2025 Toyota Sequoia screens go black, half green, or just a big green block. The root cause took some investigation by the part supplier who found an issue with video signal input noise. Turns out the equipment itself is fine, but a recall was issued for a software update from the dealership to solve the problem.
Things Should Not Fall Off
Owners of 2023-2024 Toyota Sequoia started to notice that after a trip they were missing something: the tow hitch cover. Anyone who tows with a SUV that has a hidden receiver hitch has probably had that panicked moment where you can’t remember where you stashed the tow hitch cover. But leaving the hitch cover at the boat ramp is a lot better than having it fly off on the highway. Unfortunately the 2023-2024 Toyota Sequoia tow hitch cover recall has to do with the latter. Luckily Toyota has updated the tow hitch cover design, but the existing rear bumper will need a little work to make it fit, which the dealership will do for free.
Like many vehicles on the road the third generation Sequoia stashes the spare tire underneath the SUV rather than inside the passenger cabin. Getting to the spare tire means using the spare tire carrier winch that lowers it to the ground. Setups like this have been in use for decades and are pretty reliable. Unfortunately from some 2023 Toyota Sequoia models it seems a welding error in the retaining chain may lead to one of the chain links breaking. If that happens the spare tire is now free to roam, an extremely dangerous situation for other drivers. The recall fix is to simply have the dealership swap out the questionable spare tire carrier with a new one.
The Waiting Game
With every Tundra engine recall it seems that Sequoia owners get nervous. As 2023-2026 Sequoia owners rack up the miles any engine issues should become evident. So far the 2026 Sequoia is free of NHTSA recalls, so maybe the worst is behind now. For decades Toyota has been one of the go-to brands for people looking for a rock-solid vehicle. While the third-gen Sequoia has a few issues, it is still a strong pick for those who want a SUV that can do truck things.
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