NHTSA Complaint #10157108 — 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA

I WAS LOADING PACKAGES INTO THE CARGO BAY OF MY 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA (MINIVAN) AND THE POWER HATCH FAILED AND CLOSED ON ME. I WAS LEANING INTO THE VEHICLE AND MY ARMS WERE PINNED. THE HATCH DID NOT GO BACK UP ON ITS OWN AND I HAD TO PUSH UP WITH MY NECK AND SHOULDERS TO FREE MYSELF. THE VEHICLE HAS APPROXIMATELY 13,500 MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OR OTHERWISE DAMAGED (TO OUR KNOWLEDGE). I WOULD ESTIMATE FEWER THAN SOME 200 CYCLES OF USING THE HATCH. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF IMMINENT FAILURE SUCH AS A GRADUAL LOWERING OF HATCH OPENING PERFORMANCE. I AM CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH REHAB FOR A CERVICAL STRAIN (SPRAINED NECK AND SHOULDERS). I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN TO THE DEALERSHIP TO BE INSPECTED BY THE LOCAL TOYOTA REGIONAL REP. HE SAID HE NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE AND THAT I AM THE ONLY WHO WAS EVER INJURED BY THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. I DO NOT TRUST HIM TO BE TRUTHFUL AND UNBIASED. I AM AN ENGINEER AND I DO MOSTLY COMPONENT FAILURE ANALYSIS. WITH A FAIRLY NEW VEHICLE, LOW MILES AND A LITTLE USED HATCH I DOUBT THIS COULD BE A SINGLE OCCURRENCE. I DON'T CARE TO BE BAMBOOZLED BY TOYOTA. HAD THIS HAPPENED TO SOMEONE PHYSICALLY MORE FRAGILE, THEY MAY HAVE BEEN PARALYZED OR KILLED. I REQUESTED THAT TOYOTA NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE AT THIS POINT IN TIME IN ORDER TO MAKE IT AVAILABLE FOR OTHER INSPECTIONS OR IF THIS BECOMES LEGAL EVIDENCE.*JB