NHTSA Complaint #10325621 — 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA

2005 - TOYOTA SIENNA ' DRIVER'S SIDE SLIDING DOOR WAS STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION, APPROXIMATELY 7/8 OF THE WAY OPEN. THE ISSUE OCCURRED WHEN MY WIFE PRESSED THE AUTOMATIC CLOSE BUTTON WHEN THE DOOR WAS IN THE FULL OPEN POSITION. IT BEGAN TO CLOSE BUT AFTER A COUPLE OF INCHES IT STOPPED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP OFFERED NO SOLUTIONS VIA PHONE AND REQUESTED THAT WE DRIVE THE VEHICLE IN. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT A SHORT DISTANCE, CAUTIOUSLY, TO THE LOCAL MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPAIR THE DOOR. THE AAA TOW TRUCK OPERATOR REFUSED TO TOW IT TO TOYOTA DUE TO LIABILITY WITH THE DOOR BEING 7/8 OPEN AND STUCK. TOYOTA OF DARTMOUTH SENT THEIR CONTRACTED TOWING AGENT TO TOW THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP. TOYOTA OF DARTMOUTH DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM, AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, AS THE DOOR MOTOR HAD THE DOOR CABLE WRAPPED AROUND THE GEARS. BASED ON THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I AM UNSURE WHY IT TOOK TOYOTA OF DARTMOUTH SO LONG TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM AND WHY THEY COULD NOT SPEAK TO IT OVER THE PHONE OR AT LEAST INSTRUCT ME TO CUT THE CABLE IN ORDER TO GET THE DOOR CLOSED AND THEREFORE BE ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THE VEHICLE. TWO OPTIONS WERE PRESENTED - $1700 FOR REPLACEMENT OR $195 TO CUT THE CABLE AND PUT THE DOOR BACK TOGETHER. UNACCEPTABLE!! ESPECIALLY AFTER 60K MILES AND WE JUST BEGAN USING THAT DOOR TWO YEARS AGO WHEN WE HAD A SECOND CHILD. *TR