NHTSA Complaint #10284406 — 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA

FAMILY LOADED IN VAN TO LEAVE, PUSHED BUTTON ON REAR PASSENGER AUTOMATIC DOOR TO CLOSE IT AND MADE A WEIRD NOISE THEN FAILED TO CLOSE. SOME HOW THE AUTOMATIC DOOR CABLE CAUGHT IN TRACK OF SLIDING DOOR PREVENTING DOOR CLOSURE PAST HALF WAY. ALL EFFORTS TO CLOSE DOOR FAILED. LUCKILY WE WERE LEAVING HOME NOT RETURNING HOME. VAN HAD TO BE DRIVEN TO SHOP WITH DOOR WIDE OPEN! TOYOTA DEALER CHARGED $450 TO CUT CABLE OFF AND FREE DOOR TO CLOSE MANUALLY, OR OVER $1600 TO REPLACE CABLE AND MOTOR THAT ARE APPARENTLY ALL ONE PIECE. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING TO THIS FAILURE. IT SEEMS THAT IF AN AUTOMATIC DOOR PART IS GOING TO FAIL, IT SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO AT LEAST FUNCTION IN A MANUAL STATE. CHILDREN CANNOT BE DRIVEN AROUND IN A MINIVAN WITH THE DOOR WIDE OPEN. TOYOTA REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THIS COULD BE A PROBLEM. *TR