Warning light for traction battery cooling parts

[chix5]

I have 2023 sequoia and a few days ago I got a warning light (triangle with the ! inside it) pop up with the message "Maintenance required for traction battery cooling parts, see owners manual". I checked the manual which indicated I likely need to check and make sure the intake vents for the traction battery (hybrid battery) weren't blocked. I checked them, cleaned the filters, and the next day the light was gone. Today it came back. I have an appointment tomorrow morning for Toyota to check it out, but wondering if anyone else has seen this and what it ended up being. I have a bumper to bumper warranty so hopefully this will be covered...

 

[markdbradley85]

Same thing happened to me at 36,650 miles. Cleaned the filters even though they seamed clean. Light went off next day. Light came back on two days later. What was the diagnosis from the dealer? Thanks for the post. Take care!

 

[chix5]

Same thing happened to me at 36,650 miles. Cleaned the filters even though they seamed clean. Light went off next day. Light came back on two days later. What was the diagnosis from the dealer? Thanks for the post. Take care!

Okay - so I took it to the dealer and without even checking it out they tried to tell me I had sand in the cooling fans from taking the vehicle to the beach. Mind you it’s been to the beach 4 times now! I argued that there’s no way that’s the case and asked that even if it was the case, that’s a Toyota issue for making car where sand could get to the cooling parts that easily. They told me it wasn’t a Toyota issue and not covered under warranty bc it’s considered an outside source. And that it was going to take up to five hours labor to get to it and clean it. I walked out and didn’t let them touch it! My son and I read up on how to access the cooling fans and took the third row seats out of the car ourselves, checked everything - what do you know, NO SAND - and put it all back together in one hour. The light and message continued to come on and go off so we called a different Toyota dealership and they were completely unfamiliar with issue! No preconceived notion that it might be sand. So we took it to them, they checked it out and cleaned the vents and fans (and said they weren’t really dirty at all) and sent us on our way. (Took them an hour, not 5). The light and message came back on by the time we were pulling back in to our driveway. Taking it back today for them to check it out again.

 

[markdbradley85]

Okay - so I took it to the dealer and without even checking it out they tried to tell me I had sand in the cooling fans from taking the vehicle to the beach. Mind you it’s been to the beach 4 times now! I argued that there’s no way that’s the case and asked that even if it was the case, that’s a Toyota issue for making car where sand could get to the cooling parts that easily. They told me it wasn’t a Toyota issue and not covered under warranty bc it’s considered an outside source. And that it was going to take up to five hours labor to get to it and clean it. I walked out and didn’t let them touch it! My son and I read up on how to access the cooling fans and took the third row seats out of the car ourselves, checked everything - what do you know, NO SAND - and put it all back together in one hour. The light and message continued to come on and go off so we called a different Toyota dealership and they were completely unfamiliar with issue! No preconceived notion that it might be sand. So we took it to them, they checked it out and cleaned the vents and fans (and said they weren’t really dirty at all) and sent us on our way. (Took them an hour, not 5). The light and message came back on by the time we were pulling back in to our driveway. Taking it back today for them to check it out again.

I ended up taking my Sequoia in to the dealer and they couldn't really explain much other then the hybrid system throwing the alert because it got too hot. Their guess was because of the ambient temperature but it hasn't done this the past two summers which has me puzzled. The light has not come back on but I'll keep an eye for it and will report back if I head back to the dealer. Best of luck!

 

[chix5]

I ended up taking my Sequoia in to the dealer and they couldn't really explain much other then the hybrid system throwing the alert because it got too hot. Their guess was because of the ambient temperature but it hasn't done this the past two summers which has me puzzled. The light has not come back on but I'll keep an eye for it and will report back if I head back to the dealer. Best of luck!

Update for me. We took it back on Friday and they couldn’t find anything wrong. Light was on again by the time my husband pulled out of their lot! They have our car again today. Super frustrating! I will say it seems like it’s overheating during around town/traffic/stop and go driving where it’s constantly being activated. On Friday when it came back on it stayed on until we were 3/4 to way in ti a 2.5 hour drive then it went off. It seemed to be okay with the consistent speed of the highway. So, something to think about and mention to your service team!

 

[JooolesM]

Wow interesting thread ... seems the hybrid battery can be a potentially worrisome maintenance headache. Keep us posted!

 

[gregswecker]

Wow interesting thread ... seems the hybrid battery can be a potentially worrisome maintenance headache. Keep us posted!

Hello,

I have a 2024 sequoia limited and the same thing is happening. Got the warning message about the traction control cooling system, checked the owners which told me to clean the filters in the back. Did that and they were not dirty. Took it to the dealership and they have no idea about this. They took the message off and the warning came back later this afternoon. I am in Texas and it is hot here. I think it might have to do with the outside heat. Disappointed that this is happening on a Sequoia with 34k miles.

 

[tuanluu]

Same here my 25 sequoia display that message whenever outside temperature reach triple digits. It only has 13k miles. Filters are replaced and vacuum the vents. I think you are correct about the temperature triggered that message.

I check the fans it is working also if I cover the vent message pop. Therefore, I believe it is the temperature not component or parts.

Hopefully, Toyota remedy this in the near future.

 

[tuanluu]

Update for me. We took it back on Friday and they couldn’t find anything wrong. Light was on again by the time my husband pulled out of their lot! They have our car again today. Super frustrating! I will say it seems like it’s overheating during around town/traffic/stop and go driving where it’s constantly being activated. On Friday when it came back on it stayed on until we were 3/4 to way in ti a 2.5 hour drive then it went off. It seemed to be okay with the consistent speed of the highway. So, something to think about and mention to your service team!

I just noticed the message pop up when outside temperature is above 90 and park out in the sun for a while.

 

[tuanluu]

Hello,

I have a 2024 sequoia limited and the same thing is happening. Got the warning message about the traction control cooling system, checked the owners which told me to clean the filters in the back. Did that and they were not dirty. Took it to the dealership and they have no idea about this. They took the message off and the warning came back later this afternoon. I am in Texas and it is hot here. I think it might have to do with the outside heat. Disappointed that this is happening on a Sequoia with 34k miles.

I think so too. It has something to do with the ambient temperature flowing thru the cooling fan. If it could not cool down trigger message. I don't think it measure the air flow speed.

 

[markdbradley85]

This isn't really an update other then I'm also in Texas(Central Texas) and my light is still coming off and on. I tend to notice it more leaving the office after the vehicle has sat baking in the sun all day. When I cleaned my filters behind the second row they were already clean and free of debris. I take mine into the dealer for regular service and will keep bugging them about it. Vehicle still operates fine but I am starting to run the AC for the back even when the kiddos aren't back there just to see if it helps. Haven't really noticed anything but I also forget about it since the light is on half the time anyways.

On a different note, anybody else having to input their 6-digit pin into the display at random times. I've had the vehicle since summer of 2023 and I've probably had to do it like 4 or 5 times now. Wasn't sure what's causing that random mishap....

I'll keep updating this thread if I find a resolution for the traction light battery message.

 

[nealgirl]

Any updates? I am having the same issue. I checked my filters they weren’t even dirty really but I cleaned them always light went off next day it was back on. I was looking to get replacement filters but I can not find them online. Brought it to Toyota they wanted to charge me $400
$150 to diagnose the issue(code reader)
$150 for labor
$24 for the parts
Plus my tire rotation
Needless to say I left there playing $200 for a tire rotation!! Since they charged me to run the freaking code reader!
This is stressing me out! I’m scared my car is going to just break down on me!

 

[chix5]

UPDATE: No real update. Toyota ended up seeing us for this issue 4 times. They were never able to diagnose a problem. The light continues to come on and go off at will. I highly suspected the heat (Southeast TN and it's been in the 90s), but it's been nice and mild the last week and it still came on two days ago. We are just keeping track of all the times it comes on (the car actually keeps track of it and we update our service provider). They did make a ticket for the issue with whoever is above the local dealerships for service. I think the more people that report this issue and make their dealerships submit higher level tickets for it, it will become a known issue and potentially a recall/fix will happen! Fortunately our dealer that we are taking it to an hour from home (because our local dealer was so rude) is very nice and they have only charged us the initial $150 diagnostic. Drive safe y'all!

 

[JooolesM]

I'm in New Hampshire and ... never had this issue. Hopefully this is related to persistent high outdoor temperatures .... then again, we had some multi-day periods in the 90s too.

 

[WESTTU]

I have the same issue in Dallas
My comes on in the morning, afternoon, and evening
I have bought new filters, that doesnt work either.
Taking to dealership but this seems to be an issue no one has the answer to yet