Toyota recalls 2003 Sequoia for stability-control problem

Toyota is recalling thousands of the 2003 Sequoia SUV to repair a potential stability-control problem, the company announced on Wednesday.

The recall covers 50,000 of the SUVs produced early in the 2003 model year. The problem is the stability control could activate at too slow of a speed (about 9 mph), limiting the ability of the Sequoia to accelerate.

No injuries or accidents have been reported.

Another Toyota SUV, the Lexus GX 460, was also recalled earlier this month because of a stability-control problem; it didn't engage fast enough. Consumer Reports suggested the public not buy the SUV, a rare designation by the magazine.

The recall comes as another blow to Toyota's previously impeccable safety record and again raises questions about its safety in the eyes of consumers.

Toyota will begin mailing notices in early May to Sequoia customers. If owners have had previous work done to the skid-control electronic-control unit, they will be reimbursed if they send their bill to Toyota.

The company made a change during production in 2003 to address the issue and sent out a service bulletin. Toyota also has been addressing concerns from individual owners since then. It's estimated only about half of the vehicles recalled need the fix.

Steve St. Angelo, Toyota chief quality officer for North America, said in a statement: “Toyota is committed to investigating customer complaints more aggressively and to responding quickly to issues we identify in our vehicles. As a result, we are voluntarily launching this recall to ensure that as many 2003 Sequoias as possible are serviced to the full satisfaction of our customers.”

By Greg Migliore