Long-Term Test: 2002 Toyota Sequoia

The Sequoia transferred into "kid mover" duty this month, running three busy little boys and their friends about town. While using the sport-ute as the unofficial school bus, we definitely appreciated the eight-person seating capacity of the Sequoia. With six kids talking at the tops of their lungs, it was nice to have a little more distance between their enthusiastic Pokemon and Digimon adventure stories and our more sensitive adult ears. The extra distance translated into a much lower decibel reading inside the Sequoia — maybe there is hope for avoiding that hearing aid in a decade or so.

The most interesting story of the month centers on the continuing saga of the service experience at our servicing dealer, Irvine Toyota. As we reported in the introduction last month, the Sequoia, although a superb vehicle overall, is not without its blemishes.

Unresolved issues from last month's report include the "white spot trim disorder," a suspicious reading from the trip computer, a recessed mirror adjustment button and a vibrating driver-side mirror. After several more trips back to the dealership and two rental cars, we have finally resolved all the open issues. Unfortunately, getting to this point proved to be an aggravating process. Read on.

With about 12 miscellaneous repair orders in hand, let's recap the service experience. Our adventure began with the vibrating driver-side mirror, which was fixed by tightening loose mounting bolts and ordering trim pieces. With no call or postcard updating us on the status of the trim pieces, we dropped by the dealership to investigate their whereabouts and inform our advisor that the mirror vibration had returned. As we feared, the order for the trim pieces had mysteriously vanished; a new order was generated. Our next visit netted us some trim pieces, more tightening of the bolts on the mirror and the reinstallation of trim pieces that kept ejecting themselves from their designated homes. We guaranteed ourselves a return visit by placing an order for a new power mirror button. Another visit, another trim piece replaced. Also, we were advised that the driver-side mirror bolts were now secure and OK, and we received a new power mirror control button. The bad news was that the last replacement trim piece necessitated a sublet to an upholstery shop, and the trip computer seemed to have gone bad. More parts were ordered.

Then, we realized that the driver-side mirror vibration was back. Luckily, the dealership had notified us that Toyota would not ship the trip computer parts until a full diagnostic was performed (hmm, wouldn't that have been done on the last visit before parts were supposedly ordered?), so back we went to visit our new friends — with plans to bring up the tricky mirror issue yet again. We were starting to gain weight enjoying the free coffee and doughnuts on every visit.

This time around, our Sequoia was test-driven by a technical advisor to determine if the mirror warranted replacement. At about 35 miles per hour, less than 100 yards down the road, he exclaimed, "You need a new mirror," as it vibrated right on cue. He apologized. Seems nobody ever drove the vehicle to test for the vibration; diagnosis was done in the stall. We now had a new mirror on special order, and our trip computer issue had been resolved. It would be our pleasure to say that we were finally at the end of this saga, but this was where Murphy's Law struck again.

Here it is in a nutshell. We received the call that the new mirror was in. Yet another appointment was made and we even juggled a few schedules so as not to require a rental car. We dropped the Sequoia off at the dealership at 9 a.m. and at 3:30 p.m. received a call from our service advisor that the wrong part had been ordered. "Please come in to pick up a rental, and we will have it fixed tomorrow," we were told. Tomorrow arrived; we got the Sequoia back with a new mirror. The very next day we were informed that the last trim piece has arrived. Remember, this is the piece that necessitated a sublet to an upholstery shop. Thank you, Toyota, for another rental.

With all of this melee on the service end, you might be wondering how we feel about the Sequoia itself at this point. We don't feel it's fair to penalize the product for the dealership's handling of the service. We feel that the issues we describe above would be easily remedied under the majority of circumstances. Beyond these annoyances, we are pleased with the performance of the Sequoia. It's a pleasure to drive with its powerful engine and its versatile and spacious interior. And we must say, it sure feels good to look out over the snout of the Sequoia. Feels kind of like being King of the Mountain.

We did some landscaping last weekend and found that the sport-ute easily swallowed up the 10-foot-long drainage and PVC piping lengths with the rear seats folded. That's swell and all, but the best part was the roll-down rear window that made removal easy and convenient. The more we drive this 2002 Sequoia, the more we like it. Hopefully, we have made our way through the initial build issues and are on to greener pastures.

Current Odometer: 5,350 miles
Best Fuel Economy: 15.4 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 8.7 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 11.8 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: trim discoloration, driver-side mirror vibration, trip meter malfunction — all repaired under warranty.

We are pleased to report that our Sequoia has not required any trips to the service department since our last update, and we have lost the weight gained from all the coffee and doughnuts we enjoyed in their customer lounge. Less time in the dealership has meant more time behind the wheel, and consequently more time to get acquainted with the interior.

We have come to appreciate the roominess of the Sequoia, but certain aspects of the overall design could use some improvement. For one, the center stack isn't angled toward the driver, making some of the controls hard to reach for shorter drivers. A more driver-oriented setup would bring vital controls closer and make everything more visible. Another annoyance is the side mirror adjustment knob mounted in the center console. It might as well have a target painted on it, as it's in a prime position to have a handbag, daily planner or backpack slammed on it. We noted in our last update that we have already replaced the button after it became recessed. In our case, this was not due to location or having any heavy article placed on it (we have been careful to avoid our target), but it is clearly in harm's way. The driver's door panel would be a much more logical location, in our opinion.

Another disappointment are the quality of the floormats. Considering the price of our vehicle, we were expecting high-quality pieces, but ours don't even match the carpet. And instead of a sturdy binding around the edge and a non-slip backing underneath, they look like they were just cut from a flat piece of carpet.

On a more positive note, we really like having three-point seatbelts in all eight seating positions. When hauling around the soccer team, it is nice having them as secure as possible in their seats. Another great feature is the design of the center belt in the second row. It extends from the roof to attach to the seat, while a second buckle is then pulled across to function at the third attachment point. The ignition key is required to release the first buckle, keeping junior from accidentally releasing it at the wrong time causing one or both buckles to catch a sibling in the chops.

Finally, we did have a repair last month that did not necessitate a visit to the dealership service department. We had a small star-shaped glass chip just above the outside end of the windshield wiper on the driver side of the windshield. A quick 15-minute visit from a mobile windshield glass repair service and our windshield was as good as new. The process entailed injecting a substance into the star points that extended from the small impact point and cured. All that remains is a barely noticeable dot. The best part was that we did not even have to take the Sequoia out of the garage for the fix.

Next month, we are off to the mountains for a little rest and relaxation. Stay tuned.

Current Odometer: 5,911
Best Fuel Economy: 12.0 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 7.9 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 11.7 mpg
Body Repair Costs: $50 (Chip in windshield)
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None

Is that shimmy in the front end when braking our imagination or real? It was getting worse and worse and was most noticeable when bringing the 5,070-pound Sequoia to a halt on declines in and around the greater Los Angeles area. For fun, we thought we would peek at our Town Hall messages to see if anyone had anything to say about the Sequoia's brakes. We found some posts regarding low-mileage brake pad replacement. Since we had noticed some irregular wear on the front passenger tire and were planning on heading up to the Southern California mountain resort town of Big Bear for the Independence Day weekend, it seemed appropriate to pay our servicing dealer another visit.

The items being addressed during this service visit included the front-end brake shimmy and an issue with trying to match the exterior trim color with the appropriate touch-up paint (a result of a parking lot showdown with a shopping cart). Seems that the factory paint code inside the driver door got us special-ordered touch-up paint that was about three shades too light. And yes, we shook it for a full 15 minutes to make sure it was mixed well. However, this is not a pressing issue, and we will resolve it next time.

Our appointment was set for 7 a.m. and our pick-up call came at about 4:30 pm. The result: The dealer replaced the front brake pads with what it called "upgraded pads," resurfaced the rotors because of some warpage, the technicians deemed the alignment OK, and some interior trim pieces were re-secured. The dealer found that the tire showing irregular wear had even wear on both edges and suggested that running it with low tire pressure may have caused the wear. But we think that is unlikely, since we regularly check the tire pressure. We received a courtesy tire rotation. We are not going to pretend that replacing brake pads and having warped rotors doesn't bother us at 6,300 miles, but rest assured we will keenly watch this over the next 6,000 miles. Our service advisor implied that they had seen this before on Sequoias and that the upgraded pads (the factory brake pads being the suspected source of the problem) should do the trick. The high frequency of starts and stops combined with the occasionally hilly conditions in our area were offered as contributing factors in warping the rotors and necessitating the brake replacement. Time to test the new brakes; let's go to Big Bear.

Big Bear is a beautiful mountain lake resort located at about 7,200 feet above sea level. The trip is always an enjoyable one, and we looked forward to the drive in the Sequoia. Highway driving is always smooth in our sport-ute, and that continued through our mountain assent. The Sequoia never felt top-heavy and hugged the curves with ease. The i-Force V8 barely breathed hard, almost daring us to attack the mountain more aggressively, even though we were pretty well packed with coolers of food, essentials, two adults and three children.

The tall stature of the Sequoia makes a roof-mounted rack far too cumbersome, so we looked around for something a little more accessible. We found a tow-hitch mounted model on SuvXccessory.com and found it to be a much better solution. Not only were the bikes easy to mount, but we could still access the rear cargo bay by simply swinging the rack aside.

With the tires freshly rotated, this trip served up a prime opportunity to evaluate the Sequoia's highway fuel mileage performance. We averaged 16.9 miles per gallon over the 200-mile round trip. We simply can't wait to do the trip again; the Sequoia makes this 200-mile jaunt a real pleasure indeed.

Next month, we will resolve the touch-up paint issue and provide more insight into this Sequoia that is quickly becoming a real member of the family.

Current Odometer: 6,608
Best Fuel Economy: 18.7 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 10.1 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 11.7 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: Shimmy in steering wheel when brakes are used — warped rotors, irregular tire wear.

August was an uneventful month for our Sequoia. After a little well-deserved down time, the Sequoia slipped back into the daily grind of short weekday errands and considerably longer weekend jaunts in and around the greater Los Angeles area. We intended to address the lingering, but not pressing, issue of touch-up paint that didn't match, but we couldn't bring ourselves to go back to the dealer yet again. As nicks and scratches become more prevalent, we'll get around to resolving the issue.

Last month we dealt with a front-end shimmy, and we are happy to report that replacement brake pads have solved the problem. The brakes now feel as smooth and confident as the day we bought them. Although we've been going easy on them to ensure that they break in (no pun intended) properly, a few abrupt stops at some "closely monitored" intersections proved the new pads quite capable in all situations. Bottom line, our shimmy is gone and the Sequoia is back to normal.

Fuel consumption is always a concern for a family vehicle, so throughout the month we kept a close eye on the Sequoia's mileage figures. This required nothing more than a quick glance at the handy trip computer (Toyota calls it a "Multi-information display") that displays an average mileage figure updated every second. The Sequoia's EPA mileage numbers are 14 city/18 highway. We noted a couple of trips with varying degrees of length and stop-and-go driving.

A highway trip of just over 100 miles yielded a figure of 18 mpg — right on the money. Two shorter city routes came up with 17 mpg and 9.4 mpg, not too helpful. Finally, a combined trip of highway driving and a few short errands returned an average of 14.5 mpg. Obviously, stop-and-go driving takes its toll, but with a little diligence the Sequoia will post respectable figures.

Overall, our highway mileage appears to be in line with the Toyota estimates. It appears the rough city driving (frequent stops, short trips and hilly conditions) that we expose our Sequoia to does take its toll on our city fuel consumption.

Current Odometer: 7,283
Best Fuel Economy: 18.7 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 9.4 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 12.0 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None

Our long-term Sequoia has already proven itself to be a comfortable family hauler, so this month we decided to test its ability to handle more awkward cargo. Several seat configurations allow the Sequoia to adapt easily to a variety of hauling duties. The second row is split 60/40 with both sides easily folded and tumbled forward. The third-row seat uses a 50/50 split, and both sides can slide fore and aft or be completely removed for maximum cargo space.

With all the seats in place and the third-row seats in their rear most position, there is ample room for the week's groceries or keeping a stroller handy. Sliding the seats forward creates more cargo space, but leaves little legroom for those who might be sitting in them. We still like the fact that the Sequoia retains its eight-passenger capacity, but don't expect to cram two adults back there for too long in this configuration.

Several impromptu purchases allowed us to test the flexibility of the cargo area. A small refrigerator required us to slide the third row forward, but after that the fridge fit easily. We also brought home two bedside tables in this fashion.

A larger bedroom dresser required us to remove one of the third-row seats and fold down one side of the second row. Both the second- and third-row seats fold easily with well-marked latches — so simple even kids can use them. Completely removing the third-row seats was easier than we expected. Again, flip a few simple latches and they're out, and the fact that there are two individual seats as opposed to one large bench keeps the weight down to a manageable level. Integrated handles make carrying them easy and "left" and "right" labels assure that reinstallation is equally painless.

We also had an opportunity to utilize the tow hitch this month. The tow hitch package includes a trailer hitch and trailer wiring harness with a factory prewired four-pin converter. We rented a 5x8 open U-Haul trailer to move some furniture, and it took just minutes at the rental location to hook us up. We loaded up a sofa, loveseat, dining table, two dining chairs and a hand truck in the trailer. Inside the Sequoia, we had six passengers, a medium-size bedroom dresser, TV stand and one standard moving box. It seems all we were missing was the kitchen sink.

Despite the substantial load, the Sequoia rode and accelerated as if it were empty. The 4.7-liter V8 barely seemed to notice the additional weight, making merging and passing on the highway as easy as ever. The suspension maintained its composure as well, keeping the ride smooth and compliant throughout our drive home. The fact the Sequoia could swallow up six passengers and cargo along with the fully loaded trailer made our moving experience an absolute breeze.

Next month the Sequoia is scheduled for a family camping trip in the California desert. We'll let you know if it can take the heat as well as it carried our furniture.

Current Odometer: 8,207
Best Fuel Economy: 15.4 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 10.7 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 12.2 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None

One of the reasons one buys a Sequoia is versatility. It's awfully nice when the family "kid-mover" can seamlessly transition into a furniture hauler — as described in last month's write-up — or a pack mule for a family camping trip as it did this month. Yes… this writer loaded up the Sequoia with coolers, a tent, sleeping bags, several bundles of firewood, two bicycles and three young boys and headed off to California's famous Calico ghost town.

Confirming last month's experience, the Sequoia barely broke a sweat as we climbed the surrounding mountains and then blazed across the desert to reach the isolated town. It seemed as though there was nothing it couldn't handle, making the entire trip with absolute ease. Once again the optional tow hitch was put to good use as we installed the "slip-in" bike carrier we had previously purchased to transport bicycles. The desert heat kept our bike riding time down to a minimum, but it was nice to know that whenever we want to take them along, it's a no-hassle affair.

On the drive home from Calico, we noticed something peculiar and, well, quite interesting as we careened through the mountain passes. We were following behind another late-model SUV and couldn't help but notice how much it was leaning away from every curve. It really caught our attention especially since the Sequoia didn't seem to be having anywhere near as much trouble negotiating the same turns. From our seat-of-the-pants perspective, the Sequoia handled the tight turns with surprising agility, maintaining a faster speed than we would have thought possible in such a large sport-utility. Our rapid pace even surprised the SUV driver ahead of us, and he pulled off to the side of the road to allow us to pass. With as much lean as he was getting in the turns, we couldn't blame him for not wanting to go any faster.

It seems that Toyota has really done its homework and designed this sport-ute to be ever so forgiving for the novice driver — it feels more like a car than an eight-passenger sport-utility vehicle. We've heard plenty of stories of SUV rollovers, but so far, the Sequoia hasn't given us any indication that it's prone to such accidents.

On another note, extensive city driving has not been kind to our Sequoia's overall mileage figure. We had a feeling that this didn't adequately reflect its true potential, and our jaunt to the desert proved us right. Although it's rated at 18 miles per gallon on the highway, we managed to achieve 19 miles per gallon on most wide-open highways. Combined with our eventual forays into the city, the combined total was 14.5 miles per gallon — not bad for five people and a weekend's worth of camping gear.

Current Odometer: 9,136
Best Fuel Economy: 14.5 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 11.7 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 12.4 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None

One of the joys of owning a vehicle is the ability to add your own personal touch through the addition of aftermarket accessories. With thousands of companies offering everything from high-dollar suspension and engine upgrades to inexpensive novelty accessories, there's something for everyone. We've been slowly upgrading our Sequoia over the past several months, adding personally selected items as needed. Some have been functional while others have been purely for show, but all of them have added a little something different to our trusty Toyota.

As you might recall if you read the introduction to this long-term test, when we began shopping for our Sequoia we were a little dismayed to find that the only way to get an SR5 model with leather upholstery was to special order one from the factory. We didn't have that kind of time but we really wanted the comfort and style of leather so we decided to turn to the aftermarket for help. We found a reputable company that was able to provide the quality and color we were looking for, and after six months, it still looks great. At a traffic signal a few weeks back, a fellow motorist honked to get our attention to ask how we liked the Sequoia. He said he really wanted the SR5 but couldn't find one with leather. He was surprised to learn that our leather-clad Sequoia was indeed an SR5. We informed him that we had gone to the aftermarket to get what we wanted and were very satisfied with the results. Our new friend was so excited that we would not be a bit surprised if he is driving around in a new leather-lined Sequoia SR5 today.

Shortly after our initial foray into the aftermarket, we decided to liven up our Sequoia on the outside with a hood protector and vent shades. Numerous dings on the hood from rocks and other highway debris motivated this installation of the hood protector. It not only keeps our Sequoia from incurring additional dents and scratches, it gives the front end a more custom look as well. The vent shades added an extra flair to the already sleek tinted windows. Helping to reduce heat buildup when parked, the vent shades allow the windows to be kept partially open while being concealed. With the serious lack of rain in Southern California, we have not had the opportunity to test their ability to keep the rain out but we've been pleased with their performance nonetheless.

Although the hood guard and window shades have proven helpful, no accessory has been as useful as our tow hitch bike rack. It installs in minutes, holds four bikes and offers a swing-away function for easy access to the rear cargo bay. It not only saves you the trouble of trying to cram multiple bikes into the cargo area, it keeps the interior from getting all mucked up by dirty tires when it's time to go home after a day on the trails. If you plan on transporting bikes on a regular basis with your Sequoia, we would highly recommend looking into adding this practical accessory.

And finally, for our latest aftermarket addition, we decided to spruce up our Sequoia's interior with the high-tech look of carbon-fiber trim. Our accessory kit included pieces that extend across the entire dash as well as the area around the window switches and sunglasses holder. The trim features a high-gloss scratch- and UV-resistant finish and looks even better than we expected. Installation was easy, but an extra pair of hands and a little patience were required to make sure it went smoothly.

All things considered, we would have to say that our experience with aftermarket accessories has been a positive one so far. We got leather trim in exactly the model we wanted, we can carry a full load of bikes for the family without sacrificing interior space and our cosmetic additions not only offer protection but make our Sequoia easy to spot in crowded parking lots as well. We're not sure what we might add next, but with literally thousands of options to choose from, there's little doubt that we won't be able to go without something new for long — stay tuned.

Current Odometer: 10,506
Best Fuel Economy: 15.8 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 10.7 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 12.6 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: None

We know that we have touted the incredible cargo capacity of the Sequoia in previous articles, but with all the moving chores it's been accomplishing lately we can't help but heap on a little more praise. A rehab project in the mountains gave us the perfect excuse to put the Sequoia through the paces. For the past six weekends straight, we have used the Sequoia as our weekend work truck, packing it to the hilt with all manner of cargo and heading "up the hill."

The subject of our project is nestled in the beautiful resort town of Big Bear, Calif., a mountaintop hamlet connected to civilization via an often steep and twisty two-lane highway. We have mentioned the performance of the Sequoia on this road in previous articles. It surprised us with its ability to carve through tight turns with very little body roll, allowing us to make good time on the roughly 40-mile mountain highway.

Our more recent trips, however, involved negotiating the winding road with a full load of supplies and passengers. We removed the third row of seats and packed in an odd assortment of tile saws, floor tiles, tools, a large coffee table, cleaning supplies, an easy chair…well, you get the picture. This was in addition to a family of five up front and a fully loaded bicycle rack in back.

The additional weight had little effect on the Sequoia's performance as it clawed its way up the mountain with little strain. Mother Nature even added a few storms that dumped rain and snow at various times during our travels, but neither form of precipitation caused the Sequoia any problems. Trips down the mountain taxed the brake system to its limits but we never noticed any pulsation or significant fade. Even with the Sequoia fully loaded, we continue to get our best gas mileage on these long trips.

While all six trips were pleasant, there was one instance where the Sequoia threw us a bit of a curve. Upon starting the engine one chilly morning, a trio of warning lights (emergency brake, traction off and stability/traction engaged) lit up and stayed illuminated even after the engine had warmed up. About 10-15 minutes into the trip the indicator light for the emergency brake extinguished, followed shortly thereafter by the other two. We have yet to bring the Sequoia into our local dealer to have it checked out, but with an oil change on the schedule, we'll be sure it's looked at soon. Having never experienced any problems with either the emergency brake or the traction and stability control systems, we expect that this was just a minor glitch that won't require repair — we'll see.

Current Odometer: 11,650
Best Fuel Economy: 15.1 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 14.2 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 12.8 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: Various warning lights lit up for no apparent reason.

In last month's installment, we concluded our update by mentioning that during a trip to the mountains a couple of the Sequoia's warning lights had come on intermittently, one for the traction control system and one for the emergency brake. After ensuring that the emergency brake pedal was fully released and that the traction control was indeed activated, we performed a field test of the brake system and noted no discernable problems with pedal pressure or stopping performance.

On our return trip, the indicator light for the emergency brake went off, followed shortly by the traction control light. Since we never experienced any abnormal performance, we didn't suspect anything major was wrong but decided to take the truck in for service just to be safe.

Mileage the day of service was 11,583, and our service list grew to include an oil change, tire rotation and an inspection of the brake system as there was a slight vibration and squealing noise when braking hard. We also brought in our touch-up paint in the hopes of resolving that nagging issue of the color not matching.

When we picked up the Sequoia, we were informed that the brake and traction control warning lights were on due to low brake fluid. The repair order noted that the brake fluid was "topped off" at no charge. The dealer technician was unable to duplicate the brake vibration or squealing noise, but considering that the odometer read 11,584 — just one mile more than when we brought it in — we suspect that the technician didn't take time to road test our Sequoia in his attempt to diagnose the problem.

We decided to check our owner's manual for any information relating to brake system problems. The manual refers to brake pad limit indicators that will give a warning noise when the pads are worn to the point where replacement is required. It continues on to say that "if you hear a squealing or scraping noise while driving, have the brake pads checked and replaced by your Toyota dealer as soon as possible. Expensive rotor damage can result if the pads are not replaced when necessary." We know what the brake pad wear is currently; however, we do not know at what point the brake pad indicator will give a warning noise. Knowing that we already had warped rotors at about 6,000 miles, this is something we will need to follow up on, as the squealing noise is present as of this writing.

Since this service visit, we have noticed a change in our "low fuel" indicator light. In most instances we were getting warning when the distance-to-empty was in the 15- to 20-miles-left range. However, shortly after our service visit we noticed that we were able to get to as low as eight miles until empty without the warning light coming on. We'll be adding this to our next service list.

Lastly, we still have the issue of touch-up paint that doesn't match. It is hard to say when, if ever, this will be resolved. A few parts personnel informed us that touch-up paint is only intended to cover a scratch and implied that it never really matches the vehicle color. The touch-up paint that we have, when applied to our vehicle, looks worse than the scratch did. It seems that we are the only owners of a silver Sequoia who are bothered by this. After working our way through several parts staff, we actually spoke with an individual who admitted it was not even close and offered to check into it. We did receive one follow-up telephone call to relay that they had placed a call to Toyota checking into this issue and that a call was placed to their body shop. The body shop stated that this particular silver color is extremely difficult to match and that they have fielded other complaints. We were told that they were looking into specially mixing some touch-up paint for us and that is the last we have heard.

Needless to say, we are going to be dropping in to chat with our service department to collect some more information about the brakes and to check on that special paint order.

Current Odometer: 12,628
Best Fuel Economy: 14.2 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 10.5 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 12.8 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: $41.23
Problems: Low fuel light not coming on consistently, brakes squealing.

The Sequoia is so comfortable and enjoyable to drive that it's often easy to overlook the annoying brake squeal that has persisted for the last couple months. After January's service appointment failed to solve the problem, we adopted a "wait and see" attitude in light of the fact that the pads have plenty of life left in them. But after weeks of hearing the high-pitched squealing every time we eased to a stop, we decided to do some investigating once again.

Last month we broke out the owner's manual and referred to the official Toyota information relating to the brake pad wear. The manual refers to brake pad limit indicators that are on the disc brakes which emit a warning noise when the brake pads are worn to the point where replacement is required. With this in mind, we called and talked to a service advisor to clarify the warning signals. We were told that the warning noise would be a constant scraping sound. He went on to say that the warning would be evident even when not braking and would only occur when the pads were extremely low. It seems that the only issue we need to be concerned with is how rapidly brake pads can wear when they reach the 3- to 4-millimeter warning stage since at that point the rate of wear will accelerate due to increased heat transfer of the thinner pads. We decided to have the brake pad wear checked again and have scheduled a service appointment. Considering that we had the pads replaced once already, we expect that the current parts should be in good shape and that a simple rotor resurfacing might be enough to cure the noise problem.

We are no closer to acquiring more suitable touch-up paint than we were last month. After having the dealership and its body shop manager take a look at the touch-up paint mismatch, they were convinced that they must have supplied us with the wrong touch-up paint as it was so far off. After double-checking to ensure that the touch-up paint code matched the production paint code, they recommended that we contact Toyota's Customer Assistance Center to see what they recommend. After opening up a case number and talking to a customer service representative, we were surprised to hit a bureaucratic brick wall. As we described what we clearly see as a factory snafu, the customer service representative simply repeated over and over again, "I'm sorry that you are dissatisfied with the touch-up paint; there is nothing we can do." This reaction from Toyota was unexpected, and we immediately considered whether the company is taking its success over the years for granted. Needless to say that Toyota's handling of this very minor issue left us feeling a bit frustrated.

In any case, we plan to go back to the dealership body shop to have them mix some touch-up paint (same process as a body shop would go through if they had to paint our vehicle after an accident repair) so we can bring this issue to a close.

Current Odometer: 13,642
Best Fuel Economy: 14.2 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 10.9 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 12.8 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: Brakes squealing.

No matter how inconvenient, a visit to your local service shop to take a second look at a nagging problem is always a good idea, if only for additional peace of mind. Last month we wrote about an annoying brake squeal that we were still experiencing after a January service appointment. The noise surfaces quite often and dulls the experience of this otherwise well-built vehicle. We adopted a "wait and see" attitude in light of the fact that the pads had plenty of life left in them, but you can put up with an annoying, ever present screeching for only so long. Knowing that even the newest technology brake systems can become "squealers" under hard use, we decided to have them checked out again to see if there were any unusual changes in pad wear.

When we took it in to have it looked at, the odometer read a substantial, but certainly not excessive, 13,701 miles. We use the vehicle for a variety of tasks, including moving furniture and moving kids, but nothing beyond the capability of a typical full-size sport-utility. The service inspection returned approximate brake life measurements of 50 percent for the front and 80 percent for the rear. The technician noted no abnormal signs of wear that might cause our consistent squealing and therefore performed no maintenance on either the pads or the rotors they grab onto. But wouldn't you know it? Ever since we had this inspection performed, the noise has stopped. Maybe it was the "magic" hand of the technician that somehow wiped away whatever was causing the problem, or maybe it was just a quick cleaning that solved the problem. Whatever it is we're just glad that it's gone. For now. We'll keep you posted.

There's been a lot of talk lately about SUVs and whether most buyers really need such large vehicles to perform simple daily tasks. While we will readily admit that many buyers who drive SUVs do so for the rugged, active lifestyle image they project than for their sheer practicality, our Sequoia is used for more than just runs to the video store. We've stacked it full of coolers and kids for a camping trip as well as jammed it full of knickknacks and end tables during a furniture move. On both occasions, and numerous others, the added passenger room and cargo space proved indispensable.

Our most recent use of the Sequoia's cavernous rear cargo hold involved the planting of a substantial spread of beautifully green sod, or "precut squares of grass" to the home improvement amateur. We folded the second row of seats flat and completely removed the third row. The 50/50-split seats in the third row can be folded and removed individually by one person. As we've noted in earlier installments, the seats feature carrying handles and simple instructions for installation and removal, so getting them in and out is a simple procedure. After laying some matting down to protect the carpet, we were able to haul 150 square feet of the green stuff without a problem. And as if that wasn't enough, on a separate trip we used the Sequoia to haul 50 cinder blocks for a backyard retaining wall.

Clearly, the Sequoia's size enables it to be more than just an eight-passenger people mover. While a smaller SUV may have been able to complete the same hauling chores, it's always nice to know that you have more than enough room to fit everything in after a trip to the home improvement store. A quick vacuuming and reinstallation of the rear seats were all it took to transform our weekend work truck back into a weekday errand runner. Not everybody will employ their sport-utility for such a wide range of uses, but once again our Sequoia proved that it was well up to the task of delivering on its utilitarian promise.

Current Odometer: 14,372
Best Fuel Economy: 11.8 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 10.3 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 12.7 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: Brake squeal.

We have placed a lot of focus on the Sequoia's versatility and utility as a kid mover, brick mover, sod mover, furniture mover, etc. And rightly so as the Sequoia has proven its value weekend after weekend, chore after chore. This month we decided to focus more attention on the interior trim, those little things that we categorize as the "feel-type" stuff.

Although our general impression is that the interior of the Sequoia is well suited to its use as a family SUV, we have noted some nagging fit-and-finish issues. The first such issue is the tendency of various trim pieces to work themselves loose, the most notable being the trim piece that covers the front end of the driver-side seat track. The scenario goes something like this: The driver seat is moved back to accommodate a taller driver, and when a shorter driver takes over and is moving the seat forward, the trim piece ejects itself. Replacing the trim piece involves sliding the seat back, clearing where the trim piece resides, pressing the trim piece snugly back into place and holding it there while moving the seat back into place. Not a big deal really, but certainly not something we should have to deal with on an SUV that's barely a year old.

Another trim piece that's been making a nuisance of itself is a certain seatbelt latch cover in the second row. It serves as a finish piece for the female end of the middle seat buckle. The problem arises whenever a child seat is placed in the middle position and subsequently pulls on the belt latch more so than a typical passenger might. The added tension on the cover pops it loose every time leaving it to rattle around on the floor until we snap it back into place. Rather than replacing it time and time again, we've just left it off since it serves no purpose other than making the seatbelt buckle look good. While this hasn't created any practical problems, we can't help but be a little disappointed that the piece wasn't anchored securely enough to stay in place with the simple addition of a child seat.

Our final gripe of the month concerns the second-row seats that fold forward to create extra cargo room in back or easier access to the third-row seat. In order to hold the seats in place, there are straps that hook onto the passenger assist handles directly above. The problems stems from the fact that if you don't tighten this strap on a regular basis, it will work its way loose and the seat will go slamming back into its flat anchored position. Day-to-day errands that involve plenty of stop-and-go driving cause the strap to loosen quite easily. Other than the annoyance of having to retighten and reattach the strap over and over again, we can't help but fear that the sudden release of the folded seat could easily cause some serious pain to an unwitting third-row seat passenger who has his legs stretched out. Our temporary fix involves literally tying the strap to the grab handle to keep it from inadvertently coming loose. It doesn't look all that great but it does the job.

Unlike the loose trim pieces, the wayward strap has forced us to compromise how we use the vehicle. Had Toyota designed a sturdier method of keeping the seat folded forward we wouldn't be forced to tie and untie a heavy strap every time we want to safely secure the folded seat or bring it down into its standard position. There really isn't much we can do at this point, so we'll just have to live with it, but it's a little disappointing to see that Toyota used such an unreliable method for securing the heavy seat. After all, the Sequoia was designed to be a family vehicle — safety and convenience should be top priorities.

Current Odometer: 15,082
Best Fuel Economy: 12.0 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 10.8 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 12.6 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: Various trim pieces popping off, second-row seat tether strap doesn't hold folded seat securely.

One of the reasons that sport-utility vehicles have become so popular these days is their promise of complete control regardless of the conditions. Whether it's rain, snow or the occasional off-road trail, most sport-utes offer some form of four-wheel drive that will keep you headed in the right direction no matter what you come up against.

When it came to buying our Sequoia, however, we chose to forego the added expense of four-wheel drive in light of the fact that our mild Southern California climate is rarely inclement enough to require it. Fortunately for us, that didn't mean we would be left high and dry should we encounter slippery conditions, as Toyota equips all two-wheel-drive Sequoias with an electronic traction control system. Not only does this feature help distribute power in dicey conditions — it works automatically all the time.

The Sequoia's owner's manual states that "the traction control system automatically helps prevent the spinning of rear wheels when the vehicle is started or accelerated on slippery road surfaces." How does it magically "prevent" slipping you say? In order to understand how it works, you have to know a few basic things about how power is transferred to the wheels in the first place.

Inside the rear axle, there's what's called a differential. This device not only transfers power from the driveshaft that's connected to the engine, it also helps distribute that power to each side of the vehicle to provide smooth operation. This distribution is necessary because when you make a turn, the outside wheel needs to turn faster than the inside wheel since it's traveling a longer distance. In order to allow the opposing sides of the axle to turn at different speeds, each side has its own separate shaft connected to the differential through smaller pinion gears. When power is sent to the axle, it's routed to the side with the least resistance, or the wheel that's spinning faster, in order to allow the outside wheel to keep pace with the slower moving inside wheel.

This system works great when you're driving around on nothing but perfectly dry pavement. But what happens when you're cruising down the road in a straight line and all of a sudden one side of the vehicle hits some ice or a puddle? If the wheel loses traction and starts to spin faster, the differential will "think" that the wheel is negotiating a turn due to its decreased resistance. It will then reroute the power to that particular wheel so that it can "catch up" to the other wheel. As you can see, this setup can have dire consequences in slippery conditions.

So how does traction control compensate for this problem? It's quite simple really. Since the differential sends the power to the wheel with the least resistance, the traction control system artificially creates resistance by using the vehicle's brakes. The system may also temporarily reduce engine power to keep tire spin down. In our hypothetical example, as soon as the system sensed that one wheel was spinning out of control, it would simply brake that wheel, which would immediately reroute the power to the opposite wheel. Done quickly enough, you hardly notice, but in more extreme situations you can actually hear the brakes being applied and released.

We found this out firsthand in our Sequoia when we were negotiating a local freeway on-ramp one night. It was a dark, calm, dry evening so traction problems weren't at the top of our minds. The entrance was a very tight "S" with a large pothole forming toward the end. As we accelerated through the turn, we felt a sudden loss of engine power. A quick glance at the dash found the traction control indicator light illuminated. The pothole must have caused the wheel to temporarily lose traction. We continued on without a hitch, barely noticing that the system had intervened. This was hardly the type of "slippery conditions" the system was designed for but it underscored the benefits of a system that's always on and ready to take action. If you're considering an SUV, four-wheel drive or not, we would highly recommend looking into whether it has one of these very helpful systems.

Next month we will be heading back to the service bay again as it's just about time for another oil change. We also noticed some abnormal wear on one of the front tires so we'll be sure and have the dealership technicians take a look at the alignment as well.

Current Odometer: 15,780
Best Fuel Economy: 17.8 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 10.7 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over the life of the vehicle): 12.6 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: Abnormal front tire wear.

There's a reason big SUVs like the Sequoia were created, and it wasn't so that their drivers could clear a path for themselves on freeways by using bulk and heft to cow those behind the wheel of smaller vehicles. Full-size SUVs were born in large part to serve as family transportation — a more rugged, less antiseptic alternative to minivans. With summer long over and the kids involved in school and fall sports, our editor once again got a chance to see the Sequoia operating in its element — cruising down the car pool lane, hauling the brood to and from activities.

For the most part, our Sequoia was up to this challenge. Its generous dimensions make for a roomy interior, with lots of space for kids and their paraphernalia. In situations where cargo needed to be toted, the 'ute rose to the occasion, with its cavernous cargo bay easily swallowing gym bags and groceries with room to spare. Elsewhere in the cabin, there were ample bins to store, say, Junior's crayons or Mom's purse. We were especially fond of the center console container between the two front seats, finding it generous enough to hold the assortment of CDs, cell phones and snacks we tossed its way.

We also enjoyed the Sequoia's climate control system, which kept the cabin cool on the last few sweltering days. The separate rear controls for this feature were convenient for children seated in the second row, though third-row passengers inevitably grew jealous of their siblings' authority over the temperature back here.

There were a few more gripes to report. The loose driver-seat trim piece that we've discussed in a prior update continued to irritate and annoy; it's gotten to the point where we've grown so sick of popping it back into place that we've chosen to leave it off. And although we were satisfied with the audio system for the most part, we did note that, on a couple of occasions, there were complaints from third-row passengers that they couldn't hear whatever disc was being played, even when most of the sound was faded to the back.

We also noted a minor hiccup involving the power window. One day, a child in the second-row seat was playing with the window; the youngster wanted it down, and the driver wanted it up. After much back and forth with the power window switch, the window stopped halfway up. We had to turn the vehicle off, wait a moment and then start it again before the switch resumed operation of the window. Window operation has been normal since then, and we don't plan to test it to see if we can get it stuck again. Next time, we'll just use the lockout feature at the driver's discretion.

Finally, we paid a trip to the dealer to address another minor problem. We had noticed that the Sequoia's right blinker made a high-pitched whine when used, and took it in to have this addressed. There, we learned that the right blinker's flasher relay was shorting out inside, which led to the irritating whine. Our service technician addressed the issue in a matter of minutes; we waited while the part was replaced. Happily, this part was under warranty, so the repair was made free of charge.

Stay tuned for our next update in which we'll chronicle the Sequoia's adventures during the holiday season.

Current Odometer: 19,954
Best Fuel Economy: 10.1 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 9.6 mpg
Average Fuel Economy (over life of vehicle): 12.6 mpg
Body Repair Costs: None
Maintenance Costs: None
Problems: Faulty flasher relay in right blinker; replaced by dealer.

Why We Bought It
How It Drove
What It Was Like Inside
Summing Up
Changes to the Sequoia Since 2001
Ups, Downs and the Bottom Line
Recalls and Problem History
Dealer Service Reviews
Consumer Commentary

Why We Bought It

Despite rising gas prices and a well-publicized backlash against SUVs, the popularity of these modern-day family vehicles hasn't wavered much over the last several years. Consumers have become accustomed to the size, expense and thirst of these larger vehicles, and it doesn't seem to be deterring them from buying them in record numbers.

Toyota's emerging presence in this segment of the market is a perfect example of just how popular SUVs have become. After watching U.S. manufacturers make significant profits year after year, Toyota has steadily increased its product lineup to more effectively compete with the Big Three. When the Sequoia debuted in 2001, it was the first time a foreign manufacturer had attempted to compete in the full-size SUV segment. It was a tough sell, given the popularity of vehicles like Ford's Expedition and the Chevrolet Tahoe /GMC Yukon twins, but like so many Toyotas before it, the Sequoia delivered solid performance, excellent build quality and an attractive design.

With such compelling attributes and its family-oriented nature, the Sequoia seemed like an excellent fit for our long-term test program. We could load it up with kids, gear and whatever else came our way and see just how good a job Toyota did with its first-ever full-size sport-ute. These types of vehicles are expected to handle just about any situation, and we figured that with enough time behind the wheel, we would find out how well the Sequoia lives up to that billing.

All Sequoia models are powered by a 4.7-liter V8, so when it came time to choosing the one we wanted, it was merely a matter of deciding on a trim level and whether we wanted two- or four-wheel drive. Given our mild local climate and daily driver routine, we decided to stick with two-wheel drive. We also went for the base SR5 trim level to keep the cost down, but even with our miserly choices, our Sequoia still came in at over $36,000. When it comes to full-size SUVs, be prepared to pay full-size prices.

How It Drove

Regardless of how many SUVs you may have driven, getting behind the wheel of a full-size sport-ute takes a little adjustment. Many of the initial comments about the Sequoia centered on its size, with one driver exclaiming, "This beast is huge." As big as it may have felt at first, however, most drivers found the Sequoia easier to maneuver than they thought. "To anyone who's never driven a full-size vehicle, it can be intimidating initially, but once you get used to its dimensions, it's actually quite nimble," wrote one editor after getting some good seat time.

If there was one aspect of the driving experience that rarely failed to impress, it was the drivetrain. The ultrarefined V8 proved itself time and time again by sailing up mountain passes with ease no matter how saddled it was with passengers or cargo. One driver noted the following experience after a moving adventure: "Despite the substantial load, the Sequoia rode and accelerated as if it were empty. The 4.7-liter V8 barely seemed to notice the additional weight, making merging and passing on the highway as easy as ever. The suspension maintained its composure as well, keeping the ride smooth and compliant throughout our drive home. The fact the Sequoia could swallow up six passengers and cargo, along with the fully loaded trailer, made our moving experience an absolute breeze."

Even though the performance of the engine often took center stage, the Sequoia's ride quality was equally impressive in day-to-day driving. Despite its tall stance, big tires and truck-based architecture, the Sequoia delivered a well-controlled ride and handled twisty mountain roads and concrete freeways in equal comfort. "The Sequoia surprised us with its ability to carve through tight turns with very little body roll, allowing us to make good time on the roughly 40-mile mountain highway," wrote one driver in the logbook. "Our more recent trips, however, involved negotiating the winding road with a full load of supplies and passengers. We removed the third row of seats and packed in an odd assortment of tile saws, floor tiles, tools, a large coffee table, cleaning supplies, an easy chair…well, you get the picture. This was in addition to a family of five up front and a fully loaded bicycle rack in back, and the Sequoia handled it all in stride."

As much as we loved the power and handling of this SUV, the Sequoia's V8 did make its presence known at the pump. Although we did manage some good highway stretches where it returned as much as 19 mpg, more often than not, its mileage hovered in the low- to midteens. With just over 25,000 miles on the odometer, our Sequoia had returned a lifetime average of 12.6 mpg — a figure that makes it considerably less family-friendly than your average minivan.

What It Was Like Inside

There's no better reason to buy a full-size SUV than interior space, and the Sequoia has more than enough to go around. Although it's slightly narrower than its competitors, this Toyota still manages to offer plenty of passenger and cargo room. We put it to the test more than a few times and it almost always exceeded our expectations. "One of the main reasons why consumers find full-size sport-utes so practical is their cavernous interiors," one editor wrote. "We found out just how practical when a friend asked us for assistance with some moving chores. The Sequoia swallowed up enough furniture and boxes to make a moving van nervous about being put out to pasture. We, and our friend, were very impressed."

In another instance, an editor yanked out the third-row seats and folded the second row down in order to accommodate a healthy load of new grass for his yard. By using almost all of the Sequoia's substantial cargo space, he was able to load up 150 square feet of the rolled-up green stuff — not bad for a vehicle that typically pulls carpool duty. During another run to the home improvement store, the same editor was able to fit 50 cinder blocks in the same space, once again proving that you can never have enough room in back.

When it was time to carry passengers instead of cargo, the Sequoia was just as capable. With eight seating positions (all with a three-point seatbelt), the Sequoia can swallow an entire family with ease. With its narrower body, there's not quite as much hip- and shoulder room as in some of the domestic SUVs, but there were few recorded complaints of passenger discomfort in back. Kids rarely had problems flipping the second-row seat forward for entry into the third row.

There were some issues with the tether straps that hold the 50/50 sections of the third-row seat in an upright position when they're not being used to seat passengers. The straps tended to work their way loose, leaving the seat susceptible to slamming down unexpectedly. On the functionality front, we appreciated the flexibility of the 60/40 second-row split and the 50/50 third-row split on many occasions. While manageable for a fit adult, the process of removing and storing the third-row seats may prove to be an overly strenuous task for some owners, as the Sequoia's seats weigh more than those of the Chevrolet Tahoe. Other competitors like the Ford Expedition and Nissan Armada sidestep this issue entirely by virtue of their rearmost seats' ability to fold flat into the cargo floor.

Summing Up

Full-size SUVs aren't for everybody. If you want good mileage, easy maneuverability in parking lots and a low sticker price, you might want to look at minivans instead. But if you have a sizable family with a sense of adventure and serious hauling needs, the versatility of these vehicles is hard to beat. We found this out first-hand during our ownership experience, as the Sequoia always seemed to have just enough room to fit our needs. Whether it was carrying half a soccer team full of kids or an entire yard full of grass, we were able to haul it all without ever having to make a second trip.

Regardless of how much weight we were carrying, the Sequoia's drivetrain was flawless throughout. Whether we were grinding up a mountain pass with a full load or merely cruising down the highway on the way to work, there was little to complain about when it came to the Sequoia's engine performance and ride quality. Of course, there's that little problem of gas mileage, but if you go into it with low expectations (and a full bank account), the sting of the Sequoia's paltry gas mileage figures won't hurt nearly as much. And to its credit, our Sequoia returned mileage comparable to just about any SUV in its class, so there was nothing abnormal or surprising about its thirsty habit.

When it came to the versatility of the interior, the Sequoia scored well there, too, as the reconfigurable seating and well-laid-out controls served us well. The third-row seats could have been a little lighter and the tether straps used to secure them in a folded-up position could use a better design, but all in all it was an acceptable setup that worked well. There was nothing fancy about the dashboard setup, but its simplicity was much appreciated as were the multiple storage bins placed throughout the cabin. Nothing makes a vehicle family-friendly like big cupholders and plenty of storage space, and the Sequoia delivered on both fronts.

All was not perfect, of course, as we spent way too much time taking care of minor annoyances that became larger headaches. Between the loose trim pieces, warped brake rotors and mysterious warning lights, our Sequoia had far more problems than it should have. While none of them left us stranded by the road, there's no excuse for having to go to the dealer more than once to get a problem fixed. Given Toyota's reputation for quality, every unscheduled trip to the dealer was an unexpected trip that detracted from our overall enjoyment of the vehicle.

The fact that we still came away with a favorable impression of the Sequoia shows just how good it was at doing the things we did expect. Smooth and quiet on the highway, comfortable for the whole family and able to tackle big chores on the weekend, the Sequoia can pretty much do it all. We wish "trouble-free" ownership was part of that bargain, but that wasn't the case in this instance.

Annoyances aside, we were generally pleased with the ownership experience and would recommend the Sequoia to family-oriented buyers shopping in this segment.

True Market Value at Service End:
Private Party: $28,423
Trade-In: $26,821
Dealer Retail: $31,491
Certified Used: $32,241
Depreciation: $8,023 or 22 percent of original price paid*
Final Odometer Reading: 25,026
Best Fuel Economy: 18.7 mpg
Worst Fuel Economy: 7.9 mpg
Average Fuel Economy: 12.6 mpg
Total Body Repair Costs: None
Total Routine Maintenance Costs: $698.55
Additional Maintenance Costs: None
Warranty Repairs: 8
Non-Warranty Repairs: None
Scheduled Dealer Visits: 5
Unscheduled Dealer Visits: 7
Days out of Service: 3
Breakdowns Stranding Driver: None

*To calculate depreciation, we compared the private-party sale TMV ($28,423) for a silver 2001 Sequoia SR5 with 25,026 miles in the 90404 ZIP code to the original price paid ($36,446).

Changes to the Sequoia Since 2001

2002 — The Sequoia was virtually unchanged in 2002 from its inaugural year in 2001. SR5 models gained two additional stand-alone options this year — keyless remote and front foglamps.

2003 — Top-of-the-line Limited models picked up 17-inch alloy wheels and an auto-dimming rearview mirror; both items were made optional on SR5 models. A rear DVD entertainment system and a load-leveling rear suspension were added to the options list on both models.

2004 — Power-adjustable front seats and a rear air conditioner were made standard on SR5 models, and the Limited picked up a sunroof.

Ups, Downs and the Bottom Line

Ups: Refined drivetrain, surprisingly agile handling for a full-size SUV, versatile interior design, expansive cargo hold.

Downs: Poor fuel economy, cheap interior trim pieces, small problems added up to big headaches.

The Bottom Line: Spacious, powerful and practical, the Sequoia is well suited to the needs of larger families with plenty of stuff to haul. Just don't expect stellar gas mileage or a perfect service history.

Recalls and Problem History:

Recalls: None

Problem History

1. Trim pieces discolored; others popped off. It is hard to believe that a nonoperational, nonfunctioning item could irritate us so much. As mentioned previously, we did not have the best of luck with some trim pieces and they were the first item requiring attention shortly after delivery. Our initial conflict related to discoloration, which was referred to by our dealer as a bad plastic run. And some other pieces that weren't discolored simply fell off repeatedly. We were never able to remedy this issue completely.

2. Just weeks into ownership experience, we encountered another problem. While driving, the driver-side exterior mirror shook to such an extent that it was rendered useless at highway speeds. After two service visits, the mirror was finally replaced and the problem was solved.

3. Our most serious product issue surfaced at about 6,000 miles. When braking, we began to experience a shimmy in the front end. Trying to visually inspect the situation, we noticed irregular wear on the front passenger tire. A service visit netted us new brake pads and resurfacing of the rotors due to some warpage. It happened again about 18,438 miles, and the remedy was new rotors and "upgraded" brake pads.

4. We had one strange experience with some of the warning lights. On a return trip from the mountains, a cold morning that we didn't typically experience back in the L.A. basin, the indicator lights for the emergency brake and traction control remained on. After verifying that the emergency brake was indeed off, we proceeded down the mountain. Both lights went off on their own and this was mentioned to our service advisor on the next service visit. This was attributed to low brake fluid and we never experienced this again.

5. When using the right turn signal, it emitted a high-pitched beep in addition to the normal sound; a new part was ordered and installed, and that solved the problem.

Dealer Service Reviews

Irvine Toyota in Irvine, Calif.
"The fun with our local dealership service department began with the exterior trim pieces followed shortly by a vibrating driver-side mirror and a recessed power mirror button. While we can't say self-ejecting and discolored trim pieces are a serious service issue, they are what prompted our first service visit. The first visit netted us tightening of the loose mounting bolts and an order for new trim pieces. With weeks of no word from the service department, we dropped in to inquire about the trim piece order and to let them know that the mirror vibration had returned. We were surprised, well maybe not, to learn that an order was never generated for trim pieces. With some trim pieces finally in, we returned to have them installed, have the mirror tightened again and we had the self-ejecting trim pieces installed again. At this visit, we placed an order for a new power mirror button so we were guaranteed a return visit. We were also informed that the last replacement trim piece would require a sublet to an upholstery shop; however, the piece was not in yet. We experienced part-ordering issues on two more occasions. We were under the impression that new parts were ordered for the trip computer, only to be later notified that Toyota would not ship them until a full diagnostic was performed. Luckily before a new driver mirror was ordered, they had a technical advisor perform a test-drive to determine if the mirror warranted replacement. When it began to vibrate at 35 miles per hour after being 'tightened' so many times previously, we had a new mirror on 'special order'. It is generally not so bad to have to return to the dealership service department to have a special order part installed, as this is usually a quick visit. After having the Sequoia from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. they called to tell us the good news…the wrong part had been ordered (actually right part but wrong color) and we should come in to pick up a rental car. The very next day after we had our Sequoia back from the mirror-ordering mix-up, we were notified that the remaining trim piece had arrived. This would require another full day without the Sequoia because this piece needed to be installed by an upholstery shop.

"Our biggest service issue, the front-end shimmy that surfaced at about 6,000 miles, required the basic 'leave the vehicle for the day' service visit. Our service advisor told us that Toyota had acknowledged the front-end shimmy concern, and therefore, we were eligible for upgraded brake pads. We even were given a courtesy tire rotation. A service visit at 11,583 miles, which was planned for some basic maintenance, grew to include an inspection of the brake system as there was a slight vibration and squealing noise when braking hard. When we came to pick up the vehicle, we were informed that the technician was unable to duplicate the brake vibration or squealing noise. With the odometer reading just one additional mile than when we dropped it off, it is not that hard to believe that it couldn't be duplicated. The repair order noted that the brake fluid was 'topped off' at no charge addressing the issue of the brake and traction control lights remaining on. At 13,701 miles, we returned to have the brake squeal investigated again. The service inspection returned approximate brake life measurements of 50 percent for the front and 80 percent for the rear and no abnormal signs of wear that might cause our consistent squealing. No maintenance on either the pads or the rotors was performed, but somehow the problem went away.

"Sometimes it seems that the obvious is not considered when a complaint is on a service order. Early on at the 6,000-mile service, we had pointed out unusual tire wear on the front passenger tire. This was attributed to low tire pressure. While in for another routine service visit at 15,936 miles, we asked to have the tire checked for continued abnormal wear. Again, it was said to have low pressure and was placed on the rear and we were advised that we should replace it soon. On the drive home, it struck us…there was no mention of the alignment having been checked. Of course, we returned the next day to have these checks done.

"A service check at 18,438 miles for the return of the front-end shimmy and to check the known bad tire that is now on the rear was about as routine as all of our service visits should have been. We had planned to be without the Sequoia for the day but found the dealership was able to address our issues in one visit, and we were even fortunate enough that they had replacement tires in stock. A new turn signal relay was ordered, which meant we would have to return, however, that was not unexpected. When the part arrived, we waited while they replaced it and we were on our way in no time."

Consumer Commentary

"Great truck. Mileage is not as good as we like (16 to 17), but as big as the vehicle is, reasonable. Has plenty of power and features. Blind spot is large; suggest adding supplemental mirror to both sides. Interior tends to scratch easily. Leather captain chairs are very comfortable. Handles well with good forward visibility. Ride can be stiff on bumpy roads (again this is a truck). Favorite features: Computer, leather seats, flip 2nd-row seat, and separate rear climate control. Suggested improvements: Enhance side mirrors to handle large blind spots, improve interior tendency to scratch and improve stiff ride on rough roads." — ToyoOwner, April 1, 2004

"After extensive searching, we found THE best SUV for the money. Roomy and comfy, but drives like a dream. Solid yet smooth. Not bad on gas. Toyota reliability and resale. a perfect big family tripper that thinks it's a sports car! Favorite features: CD and cassette. Compass, garage door opener, storage, cup holders, engine, styling, room, ride. Suggested improvements: gps." — dotron, Feb. 18, 2003

"I just got my Sequoia and love it. I was comparing it to the Expedition, but there is no comparison. It drives like a car and rides like a dream on bumpy roads. I can't wait to see how well my Sequoia lives up to the Toyota name in the years to come. Favorite features: I love the roomy backseat. It is a very sharp looker. Suggested improvements: steering wheel controls, more useful overhead console, fold-down flat third-row seats." — tracy lee, Dec. 31, 2002

"Looked at the RX 300 and MDX but they were either too small or rode too roughly. The Sequoia does neither. Both in-town and highway driving are a pleasure and my wife loves the height, visibility and secure feeling she gets. Toyota quality helps, as well. So far, so good; we both are enjoying this vehicle. Favorite features: Cargo capacity, visibility, handling and regular gas. Suggested improvements: Console-mounted gearshift, longer driver-seat armrest, auto-dim rear mirror, upgraded chrome wheels." — Cuz44, Oct. 15, 2002

"I've had the SUV for almost a year now and I love almost everything about it. The only thing that bothers me is the loud noise when you have the rear windows rolled down. Also more power would be great. Before I bought it, I was also looking at the Chevy Tahoe because I have a GM card and get points toward a vehicle, but I decided to go with the Sequoia because it is more reliable and it's a Toyota. I hear people complain that you can't drive over 100 miles per hour, well you shouldn't be driving that fast with such a big vehicle in the first place. There's never going to be a car that is perfect but this one is close enough. Favorite features: The smooth ride and handling feels like a Lexus. Quite engine and all the things that really matter. Suggested improvements: Navigation system, memory seats, lumbar support for passenger seat, bigger tires and most important more power. They need to make a bigger engine — 4.7 liters is not going to cut it for long." — toyo33, Oct. 8, 2002

"This is one big SUV! Toyota makes a great product. When deciding between the Ford Expedition, Yukon and the Suburban, there was no comparison. The build quality, resell value and overall comfort won out. Favorite features: Leather interior, moonroof, AM/FM/CD and V8 engine. Suggested improvements: Put radio controls on the steering wheel." — AHS, Sept. 30, 2002

"This is by far the best vehicle I have ever owned. This is the first Toyota product I have owned and it will not be the last. I will never buy another Ford product having had two in the past being purchased new. The Sequoia is a pleasure to drive and with 17 thousand miles has been perfect. Favorite features: The layout of the gauges and controls allows easy use. The 6-disc CD changer worth the extra cost. The vehicle drives great and is fun to drive. Suggested improvements: use different material on dash area more resistant to being scratched." — Dad685, Aug. 30, 2002

"Really the best car I've ever driven — from comfort and roominess inside to enough space to hold my twin babies and all their stuff, it's easily the best family vehicle you can get if you can afford the price. Favorite features: Comfort! Definitely a great ride for those long trips. Suggested improvements: Love it just the way it is." — PaulBay, July 16, 2002

"Initially I was hesitant to commit to such a large and heavy vehicle. However, after one month of driving it, I am sold! It is fun to drive, easy to park and perfect for hauling lots of kids and their stuff around. My only minor complaint is that it does tend to guzzle gas. I enjoy much more than I thought I would. Favorite features: Sliding rear seats that create more trunk space without tumbling. Lots of storage. Great handling and comfortable ride for a truck. Suggested improvements: Daytime running lights standard. Radio controls on the steering wheel. Better position for the clock." — Carpool Mom, June 30, 2002

"After comparing and test-driving Sequoia, Tahoe/Yukon, Expedition, we decided that the Sequoia was best for us. This vehicle drives like a limousine on the highway and is much quieter than its domestic counterparts. It also has significantly more room behind the third-row seat which is great for storage/luggage. Great second-row legroom. More expensive that similarly equipped competitor models, but I was willing to pay for Toyota reliability/quality. Also resale value is very high. There are many reasons why this vehicle heads up the editors and consumers most wanted lists for SUVs. Favorite features: Exterior look, storage space behind 3rd seat , leather seats, quiet engine, cupholders, roll-down rear window, 3rd-row split seats which fold independently, Toyota reputation for quality. Suggested improvements: Better stereo system. Better gas mileage (not a Sequoia peculiar problem). Michelin tires should be standard." — bamadaves, June 17, 2002