Back to search

2017 TOYOTA SEQUOIA

5.7L V8•4WD•AUTOMATIC•gas
Be the first sponsor for this vehicle

For $99, we generate the full set of step-by-step repair procedures for this exact vehicle. Free for everyone, forever, with your name on every one.

Sponsor — $99
Dead battery / stuck in Park? Emergency neutral procedure for this Sequoia →
5-Year Cost of Ownership
$11,179 maintenance + known platform issues
~$2,236/yr · 190¢/mile equivalent · $6,826 maintenance + $3,153 expected platform issues
Compare this engine
vs
3.4L V6 Twin Turbo Hybrid
vs
3.5L V6 Twin Turbo Hybrid
Common Problems & Known Issues

The 2017 Sequoia is built on Toyota's proven full-size truck platform with the 5.7L V8 (4.6L discontinued after 2013). Generally reliable, but two significant issues plague this generation: secondary air injection system failures and transmission cooler leaks that can destroy the transmission if ignored.

Secondary Air Injection Pump Failure

Common · medium severity
Typical onset: 60,000-100,000 mi
Symptoms: Check engine light with P0410, P0418, or P0419 codes, Rough cold starts or extended cranking when cold, Rattling noise from engine bay on cold startup, Failed emissions testing
Fix: Replace air injection pump and often both check valves. Pump is behind the alternator requiring significant disassembly. 3-4 hours labor if just the pump, add another hour if valves are seized. This is an emissions system so not immediately catastrophic but will cause inspection failure.
Estimated cost: $800-1,400

Transmission Oil Cooler Line Leak Into Radiator

Occasional · high severity
Typical onset: 80,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Transmission fluid in coolant (strawberry milkshake appearance), Coolant in transmission (delayed shifts, slipping), Transmission overheating, Pink residue in coolant overflow tank
Fix: The internal cooler in the radiator can fail, allowing cross-contamination. If caught early (fluid in coolant only), replace radiator and flush transmission: 4-5 hours. If coolant entered transmission, you need full transmission rebuild or replacement plus radiator. This is THE killer of Sequoia transmissions. Many techs now recommend external cooler bypassing the radiator entirely.
Estimated cost: $1,200-1,800 (early catch), $4,500-7,000 (transmission damaged)

Steering Rack Leak and Noise

Occasional · medium severity
Typical onset: 90,000-140,000 mi
Symptoms: Power steering fluid leaking onto subframe or driveway, Groaning or whining when turning at low speed, Stiff steering when cold, loosens up when warm, Low fluid level requiring frequent top-offs
Fix: Rack seals deteriorate, often at the input shaft. Some racks develop internal wear causing noise even without external leaks. There was a Toyota recall (LSC-10L) for 2007-2008 models but same rack used through 2017. Replacement requires 5-6 hours labor due to size and weight of this truck. Alignment required after. Some shops attempt seal replacement but rack replacement more reliable long-term.
Estimated cost: $1,400-2,200

Exhaust Manifold Studs and Leaks

Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 100,000-150,000 mi
Symptoms: Ticking or tapping noise on cold start, lessens when warm, Exhaust smell in cabin, Visible soot around manifold-to-head junction, Rarely: check engine light with bank 1 or bank 2 lean codes
Fix: Exhaust manifold studs break or back out due to heat cycling. More common on driver's side. Requires manifold removal, stud extraction, and retapping threads. 4-5 hours per side. If studs break flush with head, add 2 hours for extraction. Some techs use aftermarket upgraded studs to prevent recurrence.
Estimated cost: $800-1,500 per side

Brake Master Cylinder Slow Internal Leak

Rare · high severity
Typical onset: 120,000+ mi
Symptoms: Brake pedal slowly sinks to floor when held at stop, Firm pedal on first press, soft on subsequent presses, No visible external fluid leaks, Brake fluid level drops slowly over weeks
Fix: Internal seals in master cylinder bypass fluid under sustained pressure. This is dangerous because it presents as 'soft brakes' without obvious external leak. Bench bleed new master carefully on these due to ABS/VSC integration. 2-3 hours including bleed and ABS activation procedure. Always inspect brake booster pushrod adjustment.
Estimated cost: $600-900

Timing Cover Oil Leak

Occasional · low severity
Typical onset: 110,000-160,000 mi
Symptoms: Oil seepage or drips from front of engine, Oil visible around harmonic balancer, Oily buildup on lower engine and skid plate, Burning oil smell after highway driving
Fix: Front timing cover gasket and front crankshaft seal leak on higher-mileage 5.7L engines. Timing chain itself is robust but accessing the cover requires removing accessories, radiator, and water pump. This is 8-10 hours labor. Many techs replace water pump, thermostat, and serpentine belt while in there since access is identical. Not urgent if leak is slow but will eventually coat everything in oil.
Estimated cost: $1,800-2,800
Owner tips
  • Install aftermarket transmission cooler with thermostatic bypass to protect against radiator cooler failure — this single mod prevents the most expensive failure
  • Check transmission fluid color every oil change; any pink tint means immediate radiator inspection
  • Use Toyota WS ATF only — aftermarket 'equivalents' cause shift quality issues in the AB60 transmission
  • Secondary air injection system needs periodic exercise — monthly highway run to operating temp helps prevent valve seizure
  • Inspect steering rack boots annually; early boot replacement prevents dirt ingress and extends rack life
Buy one if maintenance records show transmission cooler addressed and no fluid contamination history — the 5.7L is bulletproof if you prevent the pink milkshake of death.
AI-assisted summary drawn from NHTSA recall data, our labor-times database, and platform knowledge. Not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on a specific vehicle.
523 jobs across 17 categories
🔧 Database maintained under the daily editorial review of Chris Hackleman · Master Technician · 20+ years and Jeff Moore · Master Lexus & Toyota Mechanic · 20+ years.
Stuck on a repair? Take it to The Diag Desk — ask a master tech about this exact car → real human answer within 24h, never AI
Building an app?
Free API access to all this data — 20 requests/day, no card required.
Get an API key →
Run a shop?
Manage repairs, estimates, and customers with ShopBase — $249/mo, all features included. Built by the same team.
Try ShopBase →