Toyota Sequoia Shows "Braking Power Low, Stop In A Safe Place, See Owner's Manual" Message, And It May Be A Serious Safety Hazard

The third-generation Toyota Sequoia came out in 2022 as a 2023 model, and was met with mixed feelings. While Toyota’s SUV models dominate their respective segments, the current Sequoia has the unenviable task of picking up the torch from its predecessor, which was universally adored for its ruggedness and V-8 power. Those same qualities and more are what make its more utilitarian counterpart, the second-generation Toyota Tundra, worthy of being your forever truck.

What didn’t aid the model was Toyota’s new, 3.5-liter, twin-turbo V-6, which experienced problems in some of its early iterations. Granted, the issues of engine debris were mostly present on the Tundra and LX600, but the same unit works in the Sequoia, warranting caution when considering the full-size Japanese SUV.

However, while scanning through the group, 2022-2026 Toyota Sequoia on Facebook, I stumbled upon another issue, and it doesn’t seem to be an isolated case. A post by a group member shows an image of the instrument cluster illuminating the message “"Braking Power Low, Stop In A Safe Place, See Owner's Manual". To many fellow third-gen Toyota Sequoia owners, this message isn’t anything new, but the reasons why it shows up vary from fairly minor to potentially hazardous.

The message signals a serious fault with the braking system, in the case where it doesn’t generate enough electric assist to stop the vehicle safely. The 2023 Toyota Sequoia brakes combine mechanical and electrical components. 

This includes an electric parking brake, the integrated trailer brake, electronically-controlled brakes, regenerative braking, and an electrically-assisted brake booster vacuum pump. All of these are potentially problematic spots that may cause the message to show up on the dashboard.

Fellow third-gen Toyota Sequoia owners chimed in with helpful insight in order to help solve this potentially dangerous issue.

Lauren Callis says: “I had same problem- braking didn’t feel any different. (In fact, we were on vacation in the mountains when it happened!) I noticed the parking brake did not engage like it does whenever you put it in park. Fortunately, we weren’t having to park anywhere that really needed it. Turned out it was the brake actuator that had to be replaced. Toyota gave me a rental & it was fixed under warranty in a couple of days. Every light imaginable lit up but the car drove and sounded normal.”

Alex Webre says: “Mine did this on the highway and within 10 miles the brake pedal was barely responsive and I was barely able to pull over safely. Turns out my brake line snapped in half.”

Derek McMichael says: “Broken wheel speed sensor. Very easy fix.”

An anonymous participant says, “Oh, I had this. A sensor went bad and I had to get it replaced.”, while Ben Conway points out that “These vehicles have power-assisted brakes. Just means a fault in that system or possibly a related electrical system, maybe even a bad battery.”

Clarissa, who is the owner of the problematic Toyota Sequoia, says that the brake pedal feels normal, which should rule out air in the system or low brake fluid levels.

Update: The owner of the Toyota Sequoia updated on the situation. It turned out that the cause of the "low braking power" message was a faulty master cylinder. 

In case you wonder, the part number is 470550C030, and a Toyota dealer will typically sell it to you for $953.42. That said, you can find the part for under $600 if you look in other places.

Any warnings about low braking power are a reason to stop the vehicle as soon as possible. All of the above-mentioned are potential culprits. Most of them are easy fixes, and at the time of her post, the owner was already at the dealership waiting for the verdict. As this is important for all drivers, I will share any further findings in an update. If you have any similar experience with a Toyota Sequoia or another vehicle, feel free to share in the comment section below.

Dimitar Angelov's automotive interests made him an expert in a wide variety of vehicles. Japanese brands like Toyota and Nissan are closest to his heart, although performance cars in general are his favorite segment, which is why he is constantly on the lookout for the best deals on the market. Dimitar Angelov's car passion and knack for the written word led him to complete a Master of Arts in Media and Communications, and classic car restoration. Dim is happy to get behind the wheel of any car and share his impressions. You can follow Dimitar on X, Linked-in, Instagram, and Facebook.

Image sourced from 2022-2026 Toyota Sequia on Facebook and 2026 Toyota Sequoia press release