NHTSA Complaint #10289203 — 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA

WE HAVE A 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA XLE THAT HAS JUST SUFFERED A FAILURE OF THE POWER SLIDING DOOR, CAUSING IT TO BECOME STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. MY WIFE WAS FORCED TO DRIVE WITH TWO YOUNG CHILDREN IN THE BACK SEAT AND THE SIDE DOOR WIDE OPEN. THIS IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE AND DEMANDS A RECALL. APPARENTLY THE CABLE WAS FRAYED BY A FAILED HINGE, AND I HAVE READ MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A 5-YEAR-OLD MINIVAN WITH 84,000 MILES. HOW IS TOYOTA ALLOWED TO IGNORE SUCH A BLATANT SAFETY DEFECT TO THEIR CARS THAT OCCURS WITHIN THE FIRST 3 TO 5 YEARS? IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THEY WILL PROVIDE NO MEASURES FOR REPAIR, BUT NO REASONABLE PERSON WOULD EVER EXPECT THE DOORS OF A CAR TO BE THE FIRST THING TO STOP WORKING, AND IN THAT SHORT A PERIOD OF TIME. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE AND DANGEROUS AND SIMPLY SHAMEFUL FROM A QUALITY MANUFACTURER ON A $38,000 VEHICLE. I AM SURE YOU ARE HEARING LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS DOOR HINGE AND CABLE MOTOR. THE DEALER HAS QUOTED A REPAIR AROUND $2,000 INCLUDING WORK AT A BODY SHOP WELDING ON THE NEW HINGE. MEANWHILE, I'M WONDERING ABOUT THE OTHER DOOR. WILL IT BE ANOTHER $2,000? PLEASE ISSUE A RECALL NOW!!! *TR