2023 Sequoia Owners - any regrets after purchase?
- Thread starter supersix
- Start date
Big dragon 4701
New member
Not yet
OctainorangeTRDPRO
New member
We love them, bought three for our company vehicles! Our employees are extremely satisfied!
cousindeagle
New member
No regrets upgrading to the Sequoia.
Big dragon 4701
New member
We're happy with ours.
No major regrets, but.... BTW, mine is a stock 2023 Limited with 3k miles. First of all, love the powertrain and the performance. Also, love the infotainment with the JBL system. Only a few negatives to speak about.
- At highway speeds (75-80 mph) grooved pavement will cause the new Sequoia to wander WAY more than our Gen 2 Sequoia. I'm actually thinking about contacting Toyota about this. This is even more pronounced when pulling a trailer. Tire/suspension setup?
- Wish the towing mileage was better. 10mpg pulling a 19' enclosed trailer is less than my Gen 2 Sequoia.
- My wife complains that the passenger seat base is shorter than the Gen 2, providing less leg support.
- Overall storage volume when packing for an extended trip is challenging vs the Gen 2 Sequoia. (I do enjoy the fact that I can pack to the ceiling and then use the rear view mirror camera for viewing.)
- When I set the infotainment screen for CarPlay and partial views of Waze + music + other, I wish I could control which other views were displayed. For example, if I am listening to XM, I cannot display that partial screen along with the Waze map. It defaults to Spotify (which I'm not listening to at the time) and also my current calendar invite? It takes a few clicks to get to the right screen to change the XM channel.
Thanks for sharing your experiences after a good amount of seat time. I'm surprised to hear about the sway on the highway and the reduced fuel mileage. I'm assuming this happened on the same strip of highway that you had your Gen 2 Sequoia on? Maybe it's the wider stance or wider tires that cause it to wander?
mcgrail02864
New member
Only regret is the Car Play experience. It is impossible to use voice text with the radio on... Never been in a car where the radio does not go off when using car play. Make long rides trying to respond to messages impossible.
That's strange. It seems like that would have to be a setting somewhere in the software. Does anyone else have this issue?
- Fuel range per tank has been pretty disappointing — we’re seeing around ~300 miles per tank, which honestly feels awful for a vehicle in this class
- 3rd row legroom is tighter than expected, especially compared to older Sequoias or competitors
Power feels strong, it drives solid, and overall we like it — just trying to understand if these tradeoffs become bigger issues over time.
Comettim
New member
I love the vehicle overall—I'd say I'm 97% satisfied with it. There are two major issues and one minor annoyance.
The first major issue is the third-row passenger-side seat. It keeps blowing its fuse, and there is no manual way to lower the seat when it happens. I've taken it back to the dealer four times. They even replaced the motor, but the fuse continues to blow. My guess is that there's a short somewhere in the wiring harness between the seat and the fuse box that intermittently grounds out while driving. I'm leaving it with the dealer for ten days at the end of the week so they can do a deeper diagnosis. I'll update this review when I know more.
That brings me to the second major issue: the Toyota dealers in my area.
I first tried to buy locally, but neither SLO Toyota nor Toyota Santa Maria would order a Sequoia configured the way I wanted. I loved Toyota's online build tool, and once I found the exact configuration I wanted, I asked the local dealers if they could order it. Both told me they could not. They suggested that if I found one elsewhere, they would try to trade for it.
I did find one, but neither dealer was willing to transport it. Instead, they pushed me toward buying a vehicle they already had on the lot.
Fortunately, the dealership in Clovis had exactly what I wanted. The buying experience there was excellent. I was in and out in about 45 minutes, and most of that time was spent with the salesperson walking me through all the features. The seats are amazing, by the way.
When the seat problem started, I took the vehicle to SLO Toyota. I don't think I've ever been in a service department that seemed more inattentive. The facility had just been remodeled and looked fantastic, but the staff left a very different impression. Employees looked unprofessional, with wrinkled shirts and dirty hats. I waited about ten minutes before anyone even acknowledged me, and when someone finally did, I was told, "Hang on, I'll be with you in a bit." After another ten minutes, I finally reached a service advisor. They had quoted me one hour on the phone, but once I arrived, they said they would need the vehicle all day. I left and have no intention of returning.
Toyota Santa Maria has been better. The service advisors are responsive and seem knowledgeable. My frustration is simply that I've now been there four times and the problem still isn't fixed. To make matters worse, the first time I brought it in, they replaced the fuse and charged me $75 (a discounted rate) because they claimed it wasn't a warranty issue. I strongly disagree with that assessment, but I paid it because I needed my vehicle back. To their credit, they have not charged me for the subsequent visits. I'm taking it back for a 10 day shakedown, and I'll let you know if they fix it.
The final issue is minor but annoying. Whenever I start the vehicle with my Android phone connected via Bluetooth, the audio system automatically switches to the phone, even if I had been listening to FM radio or SiriusXM before shutting the vehicle off. When I switch back to Radio, it immediately jumps back to the phone source. After the second attempt it usually stays on Radio, but it's an irritating little quirk that I hope Toyota addresses with a software update.
Despite these issues, I still really like the Sequoia, my 1794 Edition is awesome, the interior is beautiful and the seats are wonderful. The massage feature is really great. And boy does it ever get down the road! The power from the V6 and electric motors really launch it off the line--then when the turbo kicks in it really moves.
Mileage isn't great, but I think the power is worth it.
The first major issue is the third-row passenger-side seat. It keeps blowing its fuse, and there is no manual way to lower the seat when it happens. I've taken it back to the dealer four times. They even replaced the motor, but the fuse continues to blow. My guess is that there's a short somewhere in the wiring harness between the seat and the fuse box that intermittently grounds out while driving. I'm leaving it with the dealer for ten days at the end of the week so they can do a deeper diagnosis. I'll update this review when I know more.
That brings me to the second major issue: the Toyota dealers in my area.
I first tried to buy locally, but neither SLO Toyota nor Toyota Santa Maria would order a Sequoia configured the way I wanted. I loved Toyota's online build tool, and once I found the exact configuration I wanted, I asked the local dealers if they could order it. Both told me they could not. They suggested that if I found one elsewhere, they would try to trade for it.
I did find one, but neither dealer was willing to transport it. Instead, they pushed me toward buying a vehicle they already had on the lot.
Fortunately, the dealership in Clovis had exactly what I wanted. The buying experience there was excellent. I was in and out in about 45 minutes, and most of that time was spent with the salesperson walking me through all the features. The seats are amazing, by the way.
When the seat problem started, I took the vehicle to SLO Toyota. I don't think I've ever been in a service department that seemed more inattentive. The facility had just been remodeled and looked fantastic, but the staff left a very different impression. Employees looked unprofessional, with wrinkled shirts and dirty hats. I waited about ten minutes before anyone even acknowledged me, and when someone finally did, I was told, "Hang on, I'll be with you in a bit." After another ten minutes, I finally reached a service advisor. They had quoted me one hour on the phone, but once I arrived, they said they would need the vehicle all day. I left and have no intention of returning.
Toyota Santa Maria has been better. The service advisors are responsive and seem knowledgeable. My frustration is simply that I've now been there four times and the problem still isn't fixed. To make matters worse, the first time I brought it in, they replaced the fuse and charged me $75 (a discounted rate) because they claimed it wasn't a warranty issue. I strongly disagree with that assessment, but I paid it because I needed my vehicle back. To their credit, they have not charged me for the subsequent visits. I'm taking it back for a 10 day shakedown, and I'll let you know if they fix it.
The final issue is minor but annoying. Whenever I start the vehicle with my Android phone connected via Bluetooth, the audio system automatically switches to the phone, even if I had been listening to FM radio or SiriusXM before shutting the vehicle off. When I switch back to Radio, it immediately jumps back to the phone source. After the second attempt it usually stays on Radio, but it's an irritating little quirk that I hope Toyota addresses with a software update.
Despite these issues, I still really like the Sequoia, my 1794 Edition is awesome, the interior is beautiful and the seats are wonderful. The massage feature is really great. And boy does it ever get down the road! The power from the V6 and electric motors really launch it off the line--then when the turbo kicks in it really moves.
Mileage isn't great, but I think the power is worth it.
It's sad that both dealerships failed to tell you that Toyota doesn't allow specific build orders. Toyota uses an allocation system rather than custom orders:
- Dealers receive batches of pre-configured vehicles from the factory based on past sales data, regional demand, and take rates.
- You can “build” your ideal Toyota on Toyota.com, but this just helps the dealer search for a matching vehicle in the allocation pipeline or trade with other dealers.
- The dealer can request a specific configuration, but Toyota only builds it if it fits their production schedule. There’s no guarantee they’ll make your exact spec.
Comettim
New member
Thanks--it's kinda silly that one can build the perfect truck, only to not be able to have it. We bought a Mustang GT in 2021 and they built it EXACTLY how we wanted it. I would have bought an Expedition if it wasnt for the fact that their resale value is no where close the Toyota.
The fact that they wouldn't trade for the truck I wanted was dissapointing--I would have rather bought it locally.
The fact that they wouldn't trade for the truck I wanted was dissapointing--I would have rather bought it locally.
Agreed! It's the same with Lexus. I was thinking about getting a GX and wanted a specific Overtail build. I was shocked to find out I couldn't order my exact spec and that I had to wait to see what my local dealer was allocated.
As an SUV, so far my 2024 Sequoia has been great. Drawbacks such as the known 3rd row issues (I removed it and replaced it with the aftermarket base deck) and the not so great mileage were things I knew before buying (at least it uses regular unleaded fuel, the other large SUVs with decent towing capacity like the Escalade and the Grand Wagoneer did not).
As a "truck," marketed as a great vehicle for towing ... there, I'm not so sure. The 9,310 towing capacity for my 2024 Sequoia Platinum is great, but I've read that this number is kind of a marketing term, given the vehicle's payload capacity, maximum tongue weight capacity and relatively short wheelbase. Not 100% sure of this but ... travel trailers I once planned to buy and tow with (e.g. 28' or longer) appear off the table. As far as adding a plow ... that's not a viable option. Some call it a "truck" ... but is it? I'd say no.
As a "truck," marketed as a great vehicle for towing ... there, I'm not so sure. The 9,310 towing capacity for my 2024 Sequoia Platinum is great, but I've read that this number is kind of a marketing term, given the vehicle's payload capacity, maximum tongue weight capacity and relatively short wheelbase. Not 100% sure of this but ... travel trailers I once planned to buy and tow with (e.g. 28' or longer) appear off the table. As far as adding a plow ... that's not a viable option. Some call it a "truck" ... but is it? I'd say no.
