The Lemon Index
200520071st generation
Not enough data. Only 18 complaints in its first 3 years: too few to score.
18 owner complaints, first 3 years 14–15 mpg combined, EPA
Similar cars, same year
2006 Chevrolet Tahoe 192006 Ford Expedition 1052006 Chevrolet Suburban
Lemon Index: 100 = the average car, lower is better.
What breaks most on the 2006 Toyota Sequoia
- Rust / frame corrosion37 complaintsmostly at 98,000–197,000 miles (158,000–317,000 km)
Specific parts named in the 202 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Toyota Sequoia (all dates). Miles = the odometer owners typed in (middle half); cost = the repair bills owners wrote in those same complaints, in U.S. dollars. Owners' reports, not confirmed defects.
When problems show up
Only 12 complaints listed a mileage: too few to say when problems show up.
Questions to ask the seller
- Were recalls 22E002000 (suspension), 19V741000 (airbags) and 16V396000 (seats) done? It has 10 recalls in all. Ask for the dealer printout, or check the VIN.
- NHTSA has an open investigation into desiccated air bag inflator rupture. Has this car had that problem?
- Any slipping, hard or late shifts, or a transmission warning light? Ask for transmission fluid service records.
- Does it accelerate and hold speed smoothly, with no surging or stalling?
- Toyota sent dealers 218 repair notes for this car. Was this one done: “Rear axle bearing noise”?
From this year's own recalls, top problems, top repair bills and Toyota's repair notes. Recall repairs are free at any dealer.
How serious. Out of all 18 owner complaints filed so far (every year since it was sold, not just the first 3), owners reported:
“Average car” = what the same number of complaints would include at the rate across every model year we track. Owners report these themselves; NHTSA doesn't confirm the cause.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
Check engine light on? Look up any code →
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 10K to 48K miles (16K to 78K km) on the car (12 of all 18 complaints filed so far listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
In owners' words
When the vehicle has stopped, it can surge forward a bit. Feels like the vehicle behind me has rear ended me. The force of this seems to vary a bit.
2006 Toyota Sequoia owner · NHTSA complaint 10170629
More owner reports
Uncontrolled acceleration when using the resume feature in the cruise control.
NHTSA complaint 10205212
Once coming to a stop, it feels like the vehicle has been rear ended.
NHTSA complaint 10168272
Problems Toyota told dealers about
Toyota sent dealers 218 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- Rear axle bearing noise
- Transmission extension housing seal leak (2wd only)
- Information on installing manual transmission shift lever or park neutral position switch
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Recalls 10
- Suspension · recall issued 2022
The ball joint housing may have inadequate hardness, causing premature failure.
- Airbags · recall issued 2019
These vehicles had their driver or passenger frontal air bag inflators previously replaced under a prior recall using inflators of the same design.
- Seats · recall issued 2016
The electrical wiring in the seat heaters may be damaged when the seat cushion is compressed.
Show all 10 recalls
- Airbags · recall issued 2016
The affected vehicles have an air bag control module that may be improperly programmed, causing the side curtain-shield-air bags to deploy inadvertently.
- Airbags · recall issued 2015
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the passenger's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants potentially resulting in serious injury or death.
- Airbags · recall issued 2015
On June 16, 2015, Toyota expanded the recall to include an additional 1,270,468 vehicles, including model year 2002-2003 and 2005-2007 Sequoia, 2005-2006 Tundra, 2003-2007 Corolla, 2003-2007 Corolla Matrix, 2003-2007 Pon…
- Seats · recall issued 2014
Damage to the seat heater wiring could cause the wires to short, increasing the risk of the seat burning and causing personal injury to the occupant.
- Equipment · recall issued 2010
SOUTHEAST TOYOTA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005-2011 PASSENGER VEHICLES FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." THESE VEHICLES WERE S…
- Brakes · recall issued 2007
CERTAIN CARDONE MASTER CYLINDERS WITH PART NUMBERS 10-2925, 10-2987, 10-2987MZA, 10-3083, 11-3015, 11-3042, 11-3044, 11-3045, 11-3047, 11-3064, AND 11-3156, AND WITH DATE CODES LOWER THAN DCA7078 SOLD AS REPLACEMENT EQUI…
- Suspension · recall issued 2007
ON CERTAIN TRUCKS AND MINI VANS, DUE TO POSSIBLE IMPROPER FINISHING OF THE FRONT SUSPENSION LOWER BALL JOINT, SOME BALL JOINTS MAY EXPERIENCE AN INCIDENTAL DETERIORATION OF THE INTERNAL LUBRICATION.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Canada? See recalls at Transport Canada
Government investigations
- OpenDesiccated air bag inflator rupture2021
- ClosedLower ball joint failure2006–2007
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash stars (older test): front — · side — · rollover —
Fuel cost and engines
About $4,000–$4,300 (USD) a year in fuel (EPA estimate at U.S. prices, 15,000 miles or 24,000 km a year). Engines: 4.7L 8-cyl.
Every Toyota Sequoia year. 2006 is highlighted. Lower is better.
Newest year first. Red = worse than average, gray = about average, too new (2023+: a partial score, marked “partial”) or too few complaints to score.
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<iframe src="https://lemonindex.com/embed/cars/toyota-sequoia/?y=2006" title="Toyota Sequoia reliability by model year (The Lemon Index)" width="100%" height="445" style="border:0;max-width:720px" loading="lazy"></iframe><p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Data: <a href="https://lemonindex.com/cars/toyota-sequoia/2006/">Lemon Index</a> (2006 Toyota Sequoia reliability)</p>Quick answers
Is the 2006 Toyota Sequoia reliable?
There isn't enough data to score it: owners filed only 18 complaints in its first 3 years.
What are the most common 2006 Toyota Sequoia problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are transmission & drivetrain (22%), speed control (22%) and wheels (11%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2006 Toyota Sequoia have?
10 safety recalls (latest: suspension). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2006 Toyota Sequoia get?
14 to 15 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Does the 2006 Toyota Sequoia have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 22% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2006 Toyota Sequoia cost in fuel a year?
About $4,000 to $4,300 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2006 Toyota Sequoia have?
4.7L 8-cyl.
What Toyota Sequoia year is better than the 2006?
Nearby, the 2004 drew fewer owner complaints per car sold (about average). Across every year, 2010 drew the fewest.
The Lemon Index counts owner complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model years (100 = average, lower is better). It measures complaints, not crash safety. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works