Toyota Sequoia 2001Change

This has been a very reliable, roomy and comfortable truck. Good handling. Can go through 2 feet of snow without any problem.

My only complain is the Solenoid on the Charcoal Canister that seized after 150,000Km and Toyota has stopped selling the Solenoid separately, which results in $700 repair cost to replace the entire charcoal canister. Mechanic says this is a common problem on all V8 Toyotas that after 150K to 200K the charcoal canister has to be replaced.

A reliable and practical SUV, but once you get to 250,000Km, it will become expensive to maintain.

This Sequoia has been running fine since day 1, and has 274000Km and never quit on me. But in the past 3 weeks had Check Engine Light come on twice, and had to change two separate O2 sensors,The dealer set me back almost $600 the first time. MIL came on again, dealer charge $60 to tell me it was a different O2 sensor this time. A friend suggested a small garage in Richmond Hill and the cost was only $200 using the same Toyota OEM Denso O2 sensor.

My engine is also noisier now than when new and mechanic says it is because I have a timing chain that has started to wear off and changing the timing chain (and water pump etc) would be close to $1000; and this is what has prompted me to write this review. Plan to trade this with a new Sequoia or LX470.

It is fun driving this powerful V8 that can do 0-60 mph in 8.2 seconds. Mine has 407,000 Km and is still running strong. Apart from regular maintenance have only changed one O2 sensor, a serpentine belt, two front stabilizer arms, and the power steering pressure hose that had corroded due to salt, and the rear hatch handle.
Paid just over $52K for it back in 2001, and it has been worth every pennyI paid for it. Wanted to buy a new one, but now with tax the Sequoia is over $70,000. So decided to drive this one for at least another couple of years and they buy a used one with 200K Km which now sells for arond $12K.

CONS: yes, it ain't not easy on gas compared to a Honda FIt or Yaris, So if you are worried about gas, then buy a Honda FIT or a Yaris, and not a Sequoia that has twice more interior room and is much safer on the road..

PROS: Mechanical reliability of this truck is second to none. It is the best SUV money can buy. Have had mine for 13 years and plan to keep it another 13 years. The real and actual fuel economy of this huge truck is not much different from my V6 Camry. The difference is only about 20%. But for this little difference, I travel in first class, in a much safer 4x4 vehicle that can go any where and can hull anything. I also have a highlander, and have had a Navigator, a Pathfinder, and an X5. This is by far my favorite SUV.

CONS: The Sequoia is 6'4" tall, and some of the much older underground parkings in downtown Toronto and Montreal have 6' height limit. At least once a year I get into a situation I have to look for a parking that is high enough clearance.