2018 Toyota Sequoia: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
20 NHTSA owner complaints · 5 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Owner complaints: 20 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 2.5
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
I own a 2018 Toyota Sequoia experiencing fuel pump failure symptoms including extended crank and loss of power. This issue matches NHTSA Recall 20V012000, which affects similar vehicles with the same fuel pump defect. However, my VIN is not included in the recall despite identical symptoms and safety risk. I am requesting investigation into whether additional VINs, including mine, should be included in this recall du…
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that after several attempts, the vehicle started. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle drove abnormally rough. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact referenced NHTSA…
The contact owns a 2018 Toyota Sequoia. The contact stated that while having routine maintenance at the local dealer, he was informed that the outer seals were leaking and full of fluid. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the rack and pinion seals had failed. The outer seals were leaking and full of fluid. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign N…
Recalls: 5 campaigns (4 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 18V685000 | Electrical System:Software | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Avalon Hybrid vehicles. The air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may erroneously detect a fault during the vehicle start-up self check. |
| 20V012000 | Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) recalled certain 2018-2019 4Runner, Highlander, Camry, Land Cruiser, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma and Tundra, and Lexus RC 300, RC 350, GS 350, GX 460, IS 300, LC 500, LS 500, LX 570, RX 350L, and 2019 Toyota Avalon and Corolla, and certain Lexus NX 300, and ES 350 vehicles on January 13, 2020. On March 4, 2020,… |
| 18V122000 | Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018 Toyota Tundra and Sequoia vehicles. Electrical interference within the power supply circuit may cause the vehicle's electronic stability control system to be deactivated. |
| 21V920000 | Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2008-2022 Sequoia and 2007-2021 Tundra vehicles. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak. |
| 21E103000 | Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for 2007-2021 Tundra and 2008-2022 Sequoia, part numbers 44250-0C160, 44250-0C131, 44250-0C170, and 11250-0C121. The power steering gear assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in an oil leak. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a full-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 15 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $4,100
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electrical System7 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other5 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Electronic Stability Control (Esc)4 complaints · typical job: Yaw sensor or ESC module replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$660–$1,560
- Vehicle Speed Control4 complaints · typical job: Throttle body, pedal sensor or cruise module replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$520–$1,150
- Fuel/Propulsion System2 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Lane Departure2 complaints · typical job: Camera module replacement and calibration (2.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,700
Other Toyota Sequoia years
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2018 Toyota Sequoia?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (7 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2018 Toyota Sequoia a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 62/100, computed from 20 NHTSA complaints and 5 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2018 Toyota Sequoia's most common problem?
7 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2018 Toyota Sequoia sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2018 Toyota Sequoia cost to run per year?
About $5,937 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $29,688 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2018 Toyota Sequoia have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaign(s) for the 2018 Toyota Sequoia, 4 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 04/10/2018. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other fullsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2018 Toyota Sequoia really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Thin evidence — 20 complaints, 5 recalls on record
- 20 NHTSA complaints on record (2.5/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (1.0/yr)
- 5 recall campaigns, 4 touching safety-critical systems
- Thin complaint record — this score is held close to the model's own average rather than read as evidence of quality