Toyota Sequoia 1st Generation (XK30 and XK40) 2001-2007 Review

After launching for 2001 as an all-new model, the Indiana-built Toyota Sequoia shared much of its underpinnings with the Toyota Tundra and was the largest Toyota SUV then available in North America. For its first few years, the Sequoia's appearance changed very little, with 17-inch alloy wheels arriving for the high-end Limited trim in 2003 (optional on SR5 models), along with steering-wheel-mounted audio controls, an electrochromatic interior rear-view mirror, available rear-seat entertainment, and rear suspension self-leveling.

The Toyota Sequoia received its first major update in 2005, which introduced an uprated engine and new transmission, cosmetic improvements, and extra safety features.

The 2005 Toyota Sequoia can easily be distinguished from its predecessor by looking at its front end. The front bumper was replaced by a smoother design with a stronger horizontal emphasis and a single slat in its air intake, rather than the previous mesh insert¹. The grille was restyled by integrating it with the bumper's lines and switched from a 2-slat design to a single, thicker body-colored slat with a chrome insert², while the headlights lost their two-pod indicator housings in favor of a simplified single lens³.

While the 1st-generation Toyota Sequoia's 2005 facelift didn't change anything around the rear bumper, the taillight clusters were redesigned to look more contemporary, through the use of clear lenses for indicators and backup lights and a circular motif for the rest, instead of the older model's fussy "triple strip" design¹.

From 2005, all Sequoia XK40 models featured color-keyed fender flares and smoother side trim moldings with an integrated chrome strip¹, although body-color bumpers remained the preserve of the Limited trim level. Be aware that these color-keyed overfenders were standard on the Limited and optional on the SR5 before 2005, so they won't necessarily pinpoint a specific car's vintage². New wheel designs rounded off the Sequoia's mid-life update³.

Inside the 2005 Toyota Sequoia facelift, headline additions include a newly-optional and range-wide touchscreen DVD navigation system paired with a 10-speaker JBL premium audio system, while two new option packages could be ordered with either SR5 or Limited trim levels¹.

The Toyota Sequoia launched with V8 power and stayed with this engine configuration for its first two generations.

The XK30/XK40 Toyota Sequoia was a big sales success in North America, so there are plenty of owners who have submitted their real-world fuel economy figures to the EPA. This data shows that users' experiences at the filling station could closely mirror the EPA's combined consumption rating, and sometimes even better the official claims. Note that, because all Sequoia trims used the same powertrains, there is no distinction between SR5 and Limited in their official consumption figures.

* Real-world mpg and MPGe figures are provided by the EPA. Once a car has been on sale for a significant period of time, the EPA gets real-world figures directly from the customer base. These figures are then provided on the EPA website. Real-world figures are not available for certain models due to a lack of sales, or not enough people partaking in this after-sales survey.

The 1st-generation Toyota Sequoia featured stability- and traction control from the outset, along with 4-wheel disc brakes with ABS with EBD and brake assist, auto-off halogen headlights, and child-seat anchors in the two rear seating rows. Limited trim added automatic on/off headlights and gained a self-dimming interior mirror from 2002. Front occupants were fairly well-protected from the outset, with driver and passenger frontal airbags, but seat-mounted front side airbags and curtain airbags for the first two seating rows were optional on all Sequoias until the 2006 model year, only becoming standard equipment across the range for 2007.

As for crash test ratings, it must be remembered that the first generation was tested under the old (pre-2011) US NHTSA crash test protocol, so its results cannot be directly compared to those of later vehicles. According to this old test regimen, the 2002 Toyota Sequoia scored four stars for driver protection and five stars for passenger protection, so it was a pretty safe vehicle when it was new. Side and curtain airbags became standard across the range in 2007 - the Toyota Sequoia launched with only driver- and passenger front airbags as standard, and side- and curtain airbags were optional for all models from 2002 to 2006.

第一代丰田红杉提供两个trim levels throughout its production run, with each trim available with either 2WD or 4WD. The lower trim level is called the SR5, while the Limited represents the high-end trim. Various options and equipment packages were also introduced through the Sequoia's production run. 2006 brought very few changes except new exterior colors and body-color bumpers across the range.

Given the 1st-gen Sequoia's vast footprint, it's only reasonable to expect lots of cabin and utility space all round, and it definitely delivers in this regard. There is plenty of room for adults in all three seating rows, and the driver and front-seat passenger can luxuriate in very comfortable captain's chairs, trimmed in cloth for the SR5 but upholstered in leather in the Limited.

The front seats have 41.1 inches of headroom, 41.6 inches of legroom, 62.1 inches of shoulder room, and 59.7 inches of hip room, thanks to its generous overall width of 76.4 inches. The rear seat is no less inviting, with 40.6 inches of headroom, shoulder room measuring 62.2 inches, and 38.4 inches of legroom, all thanks to the 1st gen Sequoia's generous 118.1-inch wheelbase.

If all 8 seats are in use, there's a handy 26.6 cu.ft. of luggage capacity, growing to a massive 128.1 cu.ft of maximum utility volume with the rear seating rows folded away or removed. In comparison, the XK30 Sequoia's contemporary Ford Expedition is a touch larger, but only barely beats the Sequoia on hip- and shoulder room, while failing to match the Toyota on front headroom, legroom, or cargo volume. All first-generation Toyota Sequoias used a 26.4-gallon gas tank.

Toyota's reputation for reliability has been well-earned, and the 1st-generation Toyota Sequoia largely maintains this tradition. While the mechanical bits are usually as trouble-free as you'd expect, some quality control issues did rear their heads in early Sequoias. However, most of the problems that afflicted earlier Sequoias and first-generation Tundras (upon which the Sequoia is based) can likely be traced to teething troubles at the new factory in Princeton, Indiana, where these twinned vehicles were built.

However, some problems were designed-in, prompting Toyota to extend their warranty coverage on certain components, before redesigning those components and eradicating the issues for the next-generation Sequoia and Tundra.

The Toyota Sequoia's service- and maintenance schedules call for replacement of its engine oil and filter every 6 months or 5,000 miles, or at one year or 10,000 km if you're using synthetic oil. This service also includes an inspection of the wiper blades and brake system and rotating the tires. We would advise against skipping this service, and recommend replacing the engine oil and filter at least as frequently as Toyota prescribes, and more frequently if the vehicle is used in dusty conditions or confined to short commuting trips.

At 10,000 miles, Toyota recommends that the cabin air filter be replaced, while all the items which apply to the 5,000-mile service will also need attention again. This would also be a great opportunity to inspect the engine bay for signs of oil leaks or perishing hoses, and to give the undercarriage (chassis and fluid lines under the body) a thorough cleaning and inspection to check for rust.

Ball joints, dust covers, transfer case and differential oil, drive belts, and driveshaft boots need to be inspected every 15,000 miles, and Toyota also stipulates that under-car hoses and fluid lines be inspected at this time. We'd stick to a 10,000-mile interval for these items, however.

The engine air filter is supposed to be replaced every 30,000 miles, but we'd recommend shortening that distance to 20,000 miles at most if the vehicle is driven in dusty conditions. And, even though Toyota doesn't require replacing the transmission fluid anywhere in their literature, we'd suggest changing the transmission oil and filter every 60,000 miles as well, to avoid gear shift, transmission, or overdrive problems on a 2001-2007 Toyota Sequoia.

火花塞是持续时间最长的服务项目on the Sequoia, with an official replacement interval of 60,000 miles. Seeing as these plugs are platinum-tipped, it's not unreasonable to expect them to actually go that distance, so we'd stick to the OEM recommendation unless misfires start presenting ahead of time. Fortunately, OEM spark plugs are extremely affordable, so feel free to replace them if you think a set of new plugs are required.

在2001 - 2004年杉,燃料过滤器on the chassis frame rail, roughly in line with the driver's seat. While Toyota doesn't stipulate replacement intervals for this filter, we'd recommend replacing it every 30,000 miles, especially in regions where fuel could be of low quality. 2005-2008 Sequoias (XK40) weren't equipped with an external fuel filter, because they changed the design to an in-tank unit. To reach the fuel filter on these models will be a fairly serious operation, because the top of the fuel tank isn't accessible without some difficulty.

If your Sequoia is used in harsh conditions (rocky/dusty terrain, deep water or mud, or snow), additional maintenance will entail lubricating the propeller shaft, retorquing the propeller shaft bolts, and checking the steering system components for broken dust seals, signs of corrosion, or wear every 15,000 miles.

Even though the first-generation Sequoia was engineered up to traditional Toyota levels, earlier Sequoias could prove to be problematic in their own ways. The good news is that many of these issues will have been addressed by Toyota through recall campaigns, and some of these problems even prompted a warranty extension to improve buyers' peace of mind.

Toyota issued a number of recalls for the first-generation Sequoia, although some of these were bound by an expiry time. Always make sure that any recalls, Service Campaigns, and Warranty Enhancements have been executed for any Sequoia in which you're interested.

The Toyota Sequoia is one of the many vehicles which are affected by the ongoing Takata airbag recall saga, so check that these recalls have been enacted. They affect all the airbags which could be found in all Sequoias (front-, side- and curtain airbags), and could pose a safety risk to the occupants.

Another Toyota Sequoia recall campaign revolved around the well-documented frame rust issue. In some cases, Toyota offered an additional rust-proofing treatment to supplement the factory-applied preventative measures, but time has shown this coating to eventually lose its adhesion to the chassis, laying the chassis frames bare to corrosion once again. In other cases, complete frame replacements were carried out, but both these campaigns have since expired and it's a certainty that some Sequoias slipped through the cracks.

Further safety recalls were issued for the front suspension's ball joints. Again affecting older (2001-2007) Toyota Sequoias, this defect warranted official recall campaigns (NHTSA Campaign Numbers 05V225000 and 07V013000). The problem with the Toyota Sequoia's front end relates to improper internal finishing of the ball joints, which could lead to a lack of lubrication and subsequent failure. If ignored, the affected ball joint could disintegrate, separate from the steering knuckle, and cause a loss of steering control. Aftermarket ball joints, supplied by Tenneco, were also recalled for the same reasons.

Toyota also issued a safety recall for 2003-model Sequoias (build dates between 04-01-2002 and 04-17-2003, NHTSA campaign ID number 10V176000) for defects in the stability control system (VSC), also diagnosed as a traction control problem, leading to occasional acceleration problems of the Toyota Sequoia or random, car-generated brake applications. As part of this recall campaign, the 2003 Toyota Sequoia's VSC control unit would be reflashed and the steering angle sensor would be recalibrated, hopefully bringing an end to erratic behavior involving random engine power reduction and unexpected brake applications. If the VSC module could not be reflashed, it would have been replaced instead.

2005-2007 Sequoias with heated front seats were recalled in a voluntary safety campaign, where the heating pad's copper-strand element could short-circuit and pose a possible "thermal event", according to the original recall notice. In other words, it may set your pants on fire if left unattended.

The final two recalls are not Toyota's fault, and instead stem from aftermarket part suppliers. Some Toyota Sequoias and Tundras have had their brake master cylinders replaced with Cardone (non-OEM) units, which have since shown a tendency to leak hydraulic fluid, leading to possible brake failure. This doesn't apply to Toyota Sequoia brake boosters, which appears to be free of problems. Some Sequoias may also have been fitted with aftermarket light clusters, which don't conform to Federal standards, and may impair the vehicles' visibility to other road users.

Some owners, specifically those who regularly tow heavy rigs or negotiate steep hills, complain that the brake system's consumable (wear-and-tear) items need replacement more frequently than they expected. In all fairness, such conditions would wreak havoc on any car's brakes, so this is perhaps related to usage patterns rather than any inherent design weaknesses.

The rear air suspension on some 2005, 2006, and 2007 Toyota Sequoias is fairly reliable, but temperature extremes could lead to tears in the air spring units. This would lead to the vehicle's rear end remaining at its minimum ride height on one or both sides, giving a nose-up or lop-sided stance to an affected vehicle.

In isolated cases, coil pack failure will lead to misfiring, accompanied by error codes The Toyota Sequoia 4.7 P0301 code on the on-board diagnostic (OBD2) system for all 2001-2007 Toyota Sequoias indicates a misfiring number-one cylinder. The last digit in the ODB2 code indicates which cylinder is misfiring while P0300 indicates random/multiple misfires. Fortunately, coil replacement is easy to do and quite affordable at about $83 per OEM coil - and aftermarket items will be even less expensive.

As with any modern car with its plethora of sensors and actuators, the 2001-2007 Toyota Sequoia could also suffer from some minor electronic glitches due to sensor malfunctions. Most notably, the yaw-rate sensor gave rise to some stability control system problems (unrelated to the VSC recall). This problem can be identified by its OBD2 error codes C1223, C1224, and/or C1234, and is usually remedied by replacing the yaw rate sensor, which is located underneath the center console storage box.

Other error codes which could appear on the Toyota Sequoia are P0031, P0051, P0057, which indicate a problem with an oxygen sensor's heater circuit, potentially leading to poor performance and excessive fuel consumption. Other emissions-control errors include P0171 and P0172 on a Toyota Sequoia, as well as P0174, which could all indicate a possible vacuum leak or problem with the engine's mass airflow sensor's output voltage, but could also point towards a defective oxygen sensor.

2005-2007 Sequoias changed from an external fuel filter to an in-tank-mounted unit, which is not easily accessible or readily serviceable. Depending on the vehicle's operating conditions and the quality of gasoline used in the vehicle, this filter could become blocked and will need an expensive operation to replace the in-tank filter/pump unit. This isn't a common problem, however, and only appears when contaminated fuel is used.

Some 2001-2007 Toyota Sequoia error codes are not encountered often, but may be helpful:

• P0120 on a Toyota Sequoia indicates a problem with the accelerator pedal position sensor.
• Toyota Sequoia P0115 and P0125 codes may indicate a problem with the engine coolant temperature sensor.
• The Toyota Sequoia P0130, P0133, P0135, P0136, P0141, P0150, P0153, P0155, P0156, and P0161 codes all relate to oxygen sensor output voltage issues.
• P0335 and P0336 indicate a problem in the crankshaft position sensor circuit.
• P0340 indicates a camshaft position sensor circuit malfunction.
• The P0418 Toyota Sequoia code relates to the secondary air injection pump's electrical circuit.
• 丰田红杉P0420 P0430有限公司des point toward a catalyst not performing up to its expected efficiency.
• On a Toyota Sequoia, P0440, P0441, P0442, P0446, P0450, P0451, P0455 and P0456 codes all relate to the fuel tank's evaporation control system.
• P0770 is a very rare error code on a Toyota Sequoia and indicates a problem with a gear shift solenoid.

Prospective buyers of a used 1st-generation Toyota Sequoia will be happy to know that the following parts and systems rarely go wrong:

• 2001-2007 Toyota Sequoia sunroof, fuel or gas gauge, starter or electrical system, ignition system, air conditioning (AC) or heater system, alarm, power-mirror, door-lock, and cruise control problems are rarely reported.
• While the 2001-2007 Toyota Sequoia's braking system's outright stopping power may be somewhat insufficient for repeated high-speed braking exercises or heavy towing, and some aftermarket master cylinders were recalled, there are no other known issues or problems with the ABS or brake system of a Toyota Sequoia.
• There are few complaints about problems with drive shafts on the 2001-2007 Toyota Sequoia.

Apart from these minor annoyances, owners voiced very few complaints about their Sequoias, and many of those owners have by now spent years with their vehicles.

As remarked earlier, a number of the notable Toyota Sequoia (XK30 and XK40) problems could likely be traced to assembly- and manufacturing faults, or teething troubles of a new product being built at a new factory. For this reason, we'd prefer to avoid examples built from 2001-2003, as most of the issues appeared to have been solved by 2004.

If you do go for a 2001-2003 Sequoia, choose the one with the fewest possible failure points. In other words, rather stick to the SR5 trim, because it has the least gadgets to cause trouble. Electric and heated seats are nice to have, but in a car of this age, they're more likely to create trouble than simply not having them at all.

Seeing as most of the first-generation Toyota Sequoia's problems had been ironed out by the time its 2005 facelift arrived, we'd recommend shopping for a 2007 Limited, with or without 4WD, depending on your needs. This was the year when the XK40 Sequoia emerged in its most-attractive form, with all the safety features which were previously optional included as standard across the range. And, seeing as the later Sequoias were less troublesome, the extra toys you'd get in a Limited should hold up a lot better as well.

Arriving in North America just as the SUV wave really gained traction, the Sequoia was the right product at the right time. Combining all the virtues of its manufacturer's good name and the practicality of its domestic competitors, the XK30 and XK40 Toyota Sequoia's success was inevitable, and building it in the USA kept their prices right as well. These attributes still apply today, even though some of the cars under discussion are already more than two decades old. Provided a Sequoia's frame is rust-free, and all the recall- and maintenance work are up to date, even an old one will serve the needs of most families very well, and for a very long time to come.