2004 Toyota Sequoia

The 2004 Toyota Sequoia sits at a notable inflection point in this generation's federal record. Complaints dropped sharply to 379 from 682 in 2003 and 692 in 2002 — nearly halving the early-generation peak — yet recalls climbed to 9, the highest count up to that point and a figure that would continue rising to 11 by 2005 before tapering. This divergence suggests Toyota was increasingly addressing known problems through formal recalls rather than allowing them to accumulate as consumer complaints, though the data does not specify root causes for any of the top complaint categories (Structure at 57, Electronic Stability Control at 30, Suspension at 21, and Air Bags at 20). The 17 crash-associated complaints and 1 fire complaint are worth noting but represent a small fraction of the total complaint volume. From 2004 onward, complaints continued a steady decline through the rest of the generation, while recalls remained elevated through roughly 2010 before gradually falling. Taken together, the 2004 model year offers meaningfully lower complaint volume than the troubled 2001–2003 predecessors, but its above-average recall count means a buyer should verify that all recall work has been completed before purchase; assuming that is confirmed, it represents a reasonable entry point into this generation with better early-owner satisfaction than the launch years.