2023 Toyota Sequoia Safety Report

2023 Toyota Sequoia: Early Complaints Highlight Brake, Engine, and Design Flaws; No Official Safety Ratings Yet

30Complaints
0Recalls
55/100Reliability Score
1Crash Reports
1Injuries
Most reported components: Service Brakes (4)Unknown Or Other (3)Seats (2)Visibility (2)Electrical System (2)Structure (2)Visibility/Wiper (2)Back Over Prevention (1)Power Train,Electrical System,Forward Collision Avoidance (1)Power Train,Engine (1)

AI Safety Analysis for the 2023 Toyota Sequoia

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia, despite being a new model, has accumulated 30 NHTSA complaints, including 1 crash and 1 injury, indicating some early safety concerns. A significant portion of these complaints revolve around component failures and design flaws rather than direct crashworthiness, as NHTSA has not yet released official safety ratings (Overall, Frontal, Side, Rollover) for this model. Common complaint patterns include issues with the SERVICE BRAKES (4 complaints), UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3 complaints), and SEATS (2 complaints). Specific incidents like spontaneous sunroof shattering, engine seizure, and critical electronic control module failures due to cup holder issues highlight potentially severe safety risks. The absence of recalls at this early stage, despite several recurring issues reported by owners, suggests that some problems might still be under investigation or not yet deemed safety-critical by the manufacturer or NHTSA. The lack of crash test data makes it impossible to assess its performance in collision scenarios.

Reliability Score

The 2023 Toyota Sequoia receives a reliability score of 55 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.

Known Issues for the 2023 Toyota Sequoia

The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2023 Toyota Sequoia:

IssueSeverityFrequencyTypical Mileage
Sunroof Shattering
Sunroof spontaneously shattered while driving, described as sounding like a gunshot, posing a distraction and potential injury risk.
High Rare unknown miles
Brake Squealing/Malfunction
Brakes started squealing shortly after purchase, with dealerships acknowledging service bulletins (T-SB-0043-24, T-SB-0022-25) but parts on back order.
Medium Occasional new-2 years miles
Reverse Screen/Notification Failure
Reverse screen went black and notification system failed during inclement weather, linked to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V657000 (Back Over Prevention).
Medium Rare unknown miles
Seat Plastic Breaking/Sharp Edges
Car seat plastic keeps breaking and ripping, creating sharp edges that caused minor cuts. Dealer acknowledges it as a known issue.
Medium Occasional unknown miles
Electronic Control Module Failure (Linked To Cup Holder)
ECU failed due to cup holder failure, leading to the vehicle randomly slamming brakes, moving backwards then abruptly braking and moving forward.
High Rare unknown miles
Hybrid System Malfunction/Engine Seizure
Hybrid system malfunctioned, causing the engine to completely seize up, requiring replacement of the short block and both turbos.
High Rare unknown miles
Moonroof Leaking
Recurring issue with the moonroof leaking due to a faulty seal, persisting even after repair.
Medium Occasional unknown miles
Trailer Hitch Cover Detaching
Rear hitch cover repeatedly detaches from the vehicle while driving, posing a road hazard to other drivers.
Medium Common new miles

Common Problems Reported by Owners

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2023 Toyota Sequoia:

Service Brakes 13% of complaints

Frequent complaints about brake squealing, with acknowledged service bulletins but parts often on back order, indicating a design or manufacturing flaw.

Unknown Or Other 10% of complaints

A variety of miscellaneous issues including sunroof shattering, moonroof leaks, and trailer hitch cover detachment.

Seats 7% of complaints

Issues with seat plastic breaking, creating sharp edges and causing injuries, acknowledged by dealers as a known problem.

Visibility 7% of complaints

Problems with the digital rearview mirror's low resolution and poor low-light performance, and windshield wiper failures.

Electrical System 7% of complaints

Complaints include electronic control module failure linked to cup holder, and issues with trailer light signals.

Structure 7% of complaints

Reports of water leaks in the front left pillar and issues with the tailgate pinch sensor.

Power Train, Engine 3% of complaints

Engine seizure due to hybrid system malfunction, similar to issues reported in other Toyota models.

Back Over Prevention 3% of complaints

Reverse screen going black and notification system failure, linked to a NHTSA campaign.

Frequently Asked Questions About the 2023 Toyota Sequoia

Is the 2023 Toyota Sequoia safe?

Based on 30 NHTSA complaints, including 1 crash and 1 injury, the 2023 Toyota Sequoia has shown early safety concerns, particularly with brake issues, engine malfunctions, and structural/design flaws like sunroof shattering and seat plastic breaking. However, official NHTSA crash test ratings are not yet available, making a comprehensive safety assessment incomplete.

What are common problems with the 2023 Toyota Sequoia?

The most reported issues for the 2023 Toyota Sequoia include SERVICE BRAKES (4 complaints) with squealing and back-ordered parts, UNKNOWN OR OTHER (3 complaints) covering sunroof shattering and hitch cover detachment, and SEATS (2 complaints) due to breaking plastic. Other notable problems involve the electrical system, visibility, and structural integrity.

Are there any recalls for the 2023 Toyota Sequoia?

As of the provided data, there are no recalls listed for the 2023 Toyota Sequoia. However, some complaints reference NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V657000 (Back Over Prevention) and 24V64, indicating potential future recall activity or ongoing investigations related to specific issues.

How does the 2023 Toyota Sequoia perform in crash tests?

NHTSA has not yet released official safety ratings for the 2023 Toyota Sequoia, including Overall, Frontal, Side, and Rollover categories. Therefore, its performance in crash tests cannot be assessed at this time.

What are the most severe safety concerns for the 2023 Toyota Sequoia?

The most severe safety concerns for the 2023 Toyota Sequoia include spontaneous sunroof shattering, electronic control module failure leading to unintended braking and movement, and hybrid system malfunction resulting in engine seizure. These issues pose significant risks to vehicle control and occupant safety.

Buyer Advice

Our recommendation: Given the early accumulation of 30 NHTSA complaints, including severe issues like engine seizure and brake problems, potential buyers should exercise caution and thoroughly investigate specific vehicle history and any pending service bulletins or recalls before purchasing a 2023 Toyota Sequoia.

NHTSA Data Summary for 2023 Toyota Sequoia

This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2023 Toyota Sequoia. The data includes 30 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 0 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 reported crashes, 1 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.

All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.

Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.