2016 Toyota Sequoia — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $24,000–$36,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.
Kestrel Take
Old-school, over-built, and exceptionally durable — the Sequoia's 5.7L V8 and conventional automatic are famous for running past 250k, and the whole truck is simpler and tougher than its GM/Ford rivals. It's thirsty and the design is dated, but if you want a full-size SUV that just won't quit, this is the one. Buy the maintained one and keep it forever.
What we checked
Checked against public records, 2026-09-25
NHTSA holds 10 owner complaints for the 2016 Toyota Sequoia, and 3 recall campaigns.
That is too small a record to read a pattern from, so we are not going to pretend otherwise — with numbers this low one owner moves the percentage by a lot. What has been filed is grouped under the brakes (4), throttle and cruise control (2), electrics and electronics (2). Treat those as things to look at, not as the vehicle's known weaknesses. A thin file usually means few of these were sold or few owners filed. It is not evidence the vehicle is trouble-free, and the issues below are our own research rather than a reading of this record.
3 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2016 Toyota Sequoia
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents. How we decide that.
The 5.7L drinks fuel. Not a fault — it's the price of the durability.
Repair cost: Not yet priced
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the fuel system (1).
The platform and Entune system are old. Character.
Repair cost (estimate): $0-$400
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under electrics and electronics (2).
Some high-mile 5.7Ls develop minor exhaust or gasket leaks; usually minor.
Repair cost (estimate): $200-$800
Source: not yet checked against public records.
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Neglected oil despite the durable V8
- ✗Frame rust (inspect underbody in salt states)
- ✗Tow abuse with no records
Good Signs
- ✓Documented service
- ✓Clean frame, quiet V8
- ✓One or two owners, honest history
Other Toyota Sequoia years
More from Toyota
Similar suvs & crossovers
Found a specific Toyota Sequoia?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2016 Toyota Sequoia in general. A free read looks at the one you're considering— it checks that seller's asking price against the market and names the issues that matter most for this exact year.
Get a free read on it →Instant, on the page, no card and no account. The year, make and model come with you — you add the asking price and the mileage.
The free read stops short of a verdict, because that needs the photos. The full report — $7.99 takes your photos and the seller's description, does the fair-offer math, and ends in BUY, NEGOTIATE or WALK AWAY with a negotiation script. Delivered to your inbox, usually within minutes.
Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
No bullshit, no upsells, no affiliate links. One report, one price — we'll never charge you rent for your own thinking.
Think we got something wrong? Tell us — a real person reads every message.