How many miles can a Toyota Sequoia last? When you’re in the market for a new or second-hand Sequoia, that’s a very reasonable question to ask. After all, you’re probably looking to get the most bang for your buck. In this blog, we’ll look at this question in great detail but first, let’s start with a quick answer:
On average, a Toyota Sequoia lasts between 260.000 – 290.000 miles. A Sequoia needs to go to the garage for unscheduled repairs about 0.4 times per year, with a 15% chance of severe problems. Furthermore, Sequoia owners spend an average of $642 per year on repair costs.
Having said that, we’re certainly not done. Below, we’ll explain in more detail how many miles a Sequoia can last. After that, we’ll also show you how much a Sequoia costs annually and which production years are the most and least expensive. Furthermore, we also discuss the common problems that the car can have. Read on!
How Many Miles Can A Toyota Sequoia Last?
Today, we will analyze how many miles a Toyota Sequoia can last. We conducted in-depth research on several different platforms to answer these questions. First, we have to look at the Toyota Sequoia as a group. For this, we went to Autotrader.com to gather our sample size.
We took a pool of 1.753 Toyota Sequoia units and divided them into groups based on the miles they had already driven. The results of this research are displayed in the table below.
| Amount Of Miles | Percentage Of Cars |
| Cars With 150.000+ | 28.70% |
| Cars With 100.000 – 149.000 | 17.5% |
| Cars With 45.000 – 99.999 | 31.3% |
| Cars With 0 – 44.999 | 22.5% |
By themselves, these numbers don´t say a lot. However, it just so happens that we´ve written hundreds of these articles for different passenger vehicles. For this reason, we know that it´s typical for SUVs to have a percentage of 5-7% crossing the 150.000 miles mark.
What´s very interesting about the numbers in the table is that the Sequoia has a staggering 28.70% of its units cross the 150.000 miles mark. We typically only see this with vehicles that have been out of production for a while.
Looking deeper into the numbers, we see that the Sequoia sold more units back in the day, with sales getting lower and lower each year. For this reason, it´s logical to have more units achieve higher mileage because many are older. However, the fact that these older vehicles are collectively able to accomplish these kinds of numbers already speaks volumes about the lifespan of the Sequoia.
How Reliable Is A Toyota Sequoia Compared To Its Competitors?
Even when you see a vehicle having hundreds of thousands of miles on the gauge cluster, more proof is necessary to know for sure what you are buying is, in fact, the most reliable and long-lasting vehicle. After putting the Sequoia against its competitors, one thing was sure; not many competitors can beat Toyota’s reliability.
In the table below, we´ve displayed the expected and highest recorded mileage of different Sequoia competitors. Please keep in mind we´ve written separate articles for these vehicles as well, and therefore we´re confident in the displayed results.
| Model | Sample Size | Expected Mileage | Highest Mileage |
| Toyota Sequoia | 1.735 | 275.000 | 370.000 |
| Ford Expedition | 65.27 | 250.000 | 340.000 |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | 139.40 | 240.000 | 380.000 |
| GMC Yukon | 7.700 | 215.000 | 300.000 |
| Honda Pilot | 11.725 | 240.000 | 300.000 |
What becomes clear from the data in this table is that the Sequoia is a superb vehicle when it comes to its expected lifespan. The Sequoia has one of the highest recorded mileages and the highest expected mileage within its category. The only vehicle that comes close is the Ford Expedition, but even that one is 25.000 miles behind (which adds up to 1,5 years of lifespan).
How Reliable Is A Toyota Sequoia Compared To Other Toyotas?
We took several Toyota models and examined their reliability based on the same data. We took the mileage numbers of these models and compared them with the mileage numbers of the Toyota Sequoia.
What becomes clear from this table immediately is the fact that Toyota builds vehicles with an incredible lifespan. Typically, car brands have vehicles that last between 200.000 – 250.000 miles, and anything above that is very rare. However, Toyota has many vehicles with an expected mileage of 250.000 or higher.
The Sequoia does hold up well; however, funnily enough, it´s not the longest-living Toyota and that honor (at least on this list) goes to the long-lasting Toyota Tacoma. However, there’s plenty of competition as Toyota builds many trucks, SUVs (like the RAV4 and Highlander), and minivans (like the Sienna), which are known for their excellent lifespan.
Overall, this is a plus for Toyota.
| Model | Sample Size | Expected Mileage | Highest Mileage |
| Toyota Avalon | 2.763 | 255.000 | 360.000 |
| Toyota Camry | 18.503 | 270.000 | 400.000 |
| Toyota Yaris | 992 | 215.000 | 260.000 |
| Toyota RAV4 | 17.027 | 240.000 | 300.000 |
| Toyota Sequoia | 1.735 | 275.000 | 370.000 |
| Toyota Sienna | 6.166 | 255.000 | 290.000 |
| Toyota Highlander | 13.499 | 270.000 | 350.000 |
| Toyota Corolla | 17.297 | 265.000 | 340.000 |
| Toyota Tundra | 13.370 | 305.000 | 390.000 |
| Toyota Tacoma | 17.910 | 325.000 | 395.000 |
| Toyota 4Runner | 14.092 | 315.000 | 360.000 |
How Much Does Maintenance Cost Per Year?
The maintenance cost must be as low as possible for a vehicle to be truly reliable. Any unreliable vehicle can achieve high mileage if money is put into the repairs. But a reliable car does not require those expensive repairs. In the table below, we´ve gathered the maintenance costs for many model years of the Sequoia. This data was acquired from Repairpal and Caredge.com.
On average, we expect to pay $642 in annual maintenance costs to keep a Sequoia on the road. This is a positive sign for the Sequoia, given that full-size SUVs typically have maintenance costs of $784 per year. Therefore, the maintenance costs of the Sequoia are lower than average.
What´s more, is the fact that all model years that are older than five years seem to have similar maintenance costs, and this indicates that there´re no model years that have significant problems that lead to excessive annual costs.
| Model Year | Annual Maintenance Cost |
| 2023 | $268 |
| 2022 | $299 |
| 2021 | $349 |
| 2020 | $428 |
| 2019 | $495 |
| 2018 | $599 |
| 2017 | $564 |
| 2016 | $569 |
| 2015 | $639 |
| 2014 | $722 |
| 2013 | $684 |
| 2012 | $697 |
| 2011 | $625 |
| 2010 | $573 |
| 2009 | $659 |
| 2008 | $478 |
| 2007 | $457 |
These yearly maintenance numbers are even favorable when compared to the best years of vehicles like the Sienna or Prius. Of course, those are very different vehicles but it just goes to show how reliable this SUV really is.
Owners’ Reviews Of The Toyota Sequoia Reliability
Besides knowing all the data, it’s, of course, also essential to see how owners experience the Sequoia. For this, we went to Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds, and Truecar.com. All three platforms have gathered hundreds of reviews from actual car owners. We summarized our findings in the image below.
The owners´ ratings we gathered in the image above are based on the second-generation Toyota Sequoia, specifically the facelifted second-generation (the facelift happened in 2018). The third generation replaced this generation in 2023, but at the time of writing, this generation is so new no owners’ ratings have been published yet.
One thing we´re able to conclude from these owners’ ratings is the fact that the Sequoia does please the majority of its owners. Sure, the 4.2 out of 5-star ratings on Edmunds and Truecar means there´s room for improvement, but it also indicates that, in general, things are fine.
By far, the most complained about thing with the Sequoia is its fuel economy. It generally achieves a combined MPG of 15, which is terrible (the third generation does better since it´s a hybrid). While all generations of the Sequoia do great with 87 octane that will still get pretty expensive over time.
Positive aspects are the enormous amount of space, the fact that the car is considered to be comfortable, and its performance in general. The below quote sums up the sentiment quite well:
We have used this car to haul equipment and people for many out of state travel tournaments for our children. We have also taken it on long distance family vacations. This is a super comfortable car on the freeway and has a ton of cargo space.
Source, 2016 owner
The gas mileage is not great , but it’s a bonus that you can put 87 gas in it. The seats are super comfortable in the first and second row. The technology is not great , but I just hook my phone up to the usb and use it instead of the included nav. I am looking forward to many more years of hauling family in a comfortable cruiser for years to come!
Toyota Sequoia Common Problems
Besides knowing the factors we´ve already discussed, it´s also vital to understand the common problems the Sequoia has had throughout the generations. This gives us a complete understanding of the vehicle as a whole. Below is a summary, click the link we just posted to read an extensive article.
NOTE: Before buying a used car, I always like to make sure the vehicle isn´t having any problems that you should be aware of. The easiest way to do this is by buying an OBD2 scanner. These scanners can easily be plugged into any car you’re interested in, and they’ll give you a rundown of potential problems.
Third Generation (2023 – Present)
At the time of writing, this generation hasn´t been on the market for a very long time; therefore, no problems or recalls have been reported. This section will be updated once information is available.
Updated Second Generation (2018 – 2022)
In terms of complaints, this generation didn´t receive many at all, which is a positive point for the Sequoia. However, some recalls were issued that are worth mentioning (keep in mind these recalls didn´t lead to a lot of complaints, meaning they didn´t affect the reliability of the Sequoia that much):
- Oil leak causing power steering assist failure in the 2008 – 2022 model years (practically the whole generation). This was caused by improper manufacturing of the power steering gear assembly. (21V920000)
- Fuel pump failure in the 2018 – 2020 model years, specifically a faulty low-pressure fuel pump. (20V012000)
- Non-deployment of airbags in the 2018 – 2019 model years. The air bag electronic control unit (ECU) may erroneously detect a fault during the vehicle start-up self-check. If this occurs, the ECU may not deploy the airbags as intended in the event of a crash. (18V685000)
- ESC deactivating in the 2018 model year. Electrical interference within the power supply circuit may cause the vehicle’s electronic stability control system to be deactivated. (18V122000)
Original Second Generation (2007 – 2017)
- 2012 – 2017 model years are currently under investigation because of electrical overstressing of the airbag control unit (ACU). This unit is responsible for the deployment of the airbags, but it has proven to fail in the vehicles of other car manufacturers. For this reason, the Sequoia is also under investigation.
- The 2012 – 2017 model years are practically problem-free. Yes, they may have a recall or two, and the ACU is under investigation, but they´re rarely complained about, and we couldn´t find any structural issues. Overall, this seems to be a very strong part of the generation.
- The 2007, 2008, and 2010 model years are more complained about. In these model years, the build quality does seem to be sub-par. Owners complain about rusted frames, prematurely wearing brakes, broken suspensions, and defective spring valves causing engine failure. Also, these model years seem to have problems with the VSC because of the programming of the ECU. Long story short, we wouldn´t recommend these model years.
- The 2009 and 2011 model years also have a bunch of recalls but aren´t complained about nearly as often. Overall, we recommend staying away from the models made between 2007 – 2011. If you do have a look at them, do some research on the recalls that were issued.
Is a Toyota Sequoia A Smart Buy?
Finally, we have to answer the question of whether or not the Sequoia is worth getting. When we look at how many miles we expect the car to drive, then we see that the Sequoia is top of its category. 270.000 miles is incredible and something we don´t see often. Furthermore, the Sequoia has great annual maintenance costs, which are lower than average.
Moving on to the owners’ ratings of the updated second generation, we see that owners are typically pleased with the Sequoia. One of the only problems is the fact that the gas mileage of the second generation is horrible. However, the third generation has improved upon this factor because it´s a hybrid.
Finally, we see that the Sequoia has very few serious problems. Yes, numerous recalls have been issued throughout the years, but Toyota seems to have handled these well. We would only recommend staying away from the pre-2011 models because these have some build-quality issues we would rather avoid.
If you´re looking for a full-size SUV and don´t mind having a less-than-ideal MPG, then the Sequoia is one of the most reliable vehicles you can find.
Are you in the market for this Toyota? Don’t forget to check out our extensive list of the largest Toyota dealers per state!
Toyota Sequoia Maintenance Schedule
Before/On Every 10,000 Miles
- Most of the recent owners’ manuals give the oil change interval not to exceed 10,000 miles, but it is best to change the engine oil at about 5000 miles.
- Change the oil filter at the time of changing the engine oil
- Rotate tires
- Lubricate those joints which need lubrication
Before/On Every 20,000 Miles
- Inspect all the fluid levels to see if there are up to the mark
- Make sure to inspect the suspension components
- Make sure to replace the brake fluid if necessary
- Check the cabin air filter and replace it if necessary
Before/On Every 40,000 Miles
- Check the brake components and replace the worn-out ones
- Replace the transmission fluid
- Inspect the radiator for any leaks
- Insect the exhaust system for any leaks
- Check the PCV system for any leaks
- Check for any oil leaks
Before/On Every 60,000 Miles
- Replace the spark plugs
- Replace the ignition coils if necessary
- Check the fuel pump and injectors to see if they are clogged with debris.
- Check the underside of your Toyota Sequoia to see if there is any prevailing rust. If there is rust, carry out the rust preventive measures.
- Check for any engine codes.
- See if any of the cylinders are misfiring
- Check the airconditioning if it is working
- Replace the suspension components that are worn out
- Wheel balancing, if required
Before/On Every 100,000 Miles
- The long-life coolant requires replacement at 100,000 miles, but it is best to replace that coolant before 100k miles as it collects debris over time.
- Replace all fluids with fresh ones
- Give your Toyota Sequoia a thorough wash and have it detailed. It will help keep its material looking fresh, and most of this detailing puts a protective coat on your vehicle, which will further help fight environmental damage to the paint surface.
Closing Thoughts
We’ve examined the Toyota Sequoia’s 260,000 to 290,000 mile lifespan in detail along with costs associated with maintaining a Sequoia, focusing on the frequency of unscheduled repairs and the potential severity of these issues. We have underscored that the annual repair costs average to a reasonable $642, providing a clearer picture of what the average owner can expect.
Whether you are considering acquiring a Sequoia or already own one, this detailed analysis should serve as a robust guide to maximise your vehicle’s potential. Here’s to safe and informed driving in your Toyota Sequoia.
Hi! My name is Stefan; I’m the owner and lead writer at TheDriverAdviser.com.
I’m an active writer on this blog myself, as well as a novice car mechanic. For the really technical stuff, I find writers with experience as a mechanic or who have studied mechanical engineering.
Read more about our fantastic team on our about page!