NHTSA Complaint #10340906 — 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA

THIS COMPLAINT IS IN REGARD TO TOYOTA RECALL 08V-244, WHICH REPLACES THE STRUTS ON THE BACK DOOR HATCH. THE DEALERSHIP, FRED ANDERSON TOYOTA OF RALEIGH, INFORMED ME OF THE RECALL AND RECOMMENDED THAT THE STRUTS BE REPLACED. UNFORTUNATELY, ONCE THE NEW STRUTS WERE IN PLACE THE DOOR WOULD NO LONGER CLOSE PROPERLY. THE DEALERSHIP INFORMED ME THAT THE MOTOR WAS TOO WEAK TO WORK WITH THE NEW STRUTS AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW MOTOR. I HAVE FOUND ON EDMONDS.COM THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. IT IS EVIDENT THAT TOYOTA DID NOT CONSIDER THE IMPACT OF THE NEW STRUTS ON THE MOTOR. CONSUMERS SHOULD BE MADE AWARE THAT ALLOWING TOYOTA TO REPLACE THESE STRUTS PER THE RECALL WILL RENDER THE BACK DOOR INOPERABLE. TOYOTA SHOULD REVISE THIS RECALL SO THAT NEW STRUTS WILL BE USED THAT ACTUALLY WORK WITH THE EXISTING MOTOR OR INSTALLATION OF A NEW MOTOR THAT WILL WORK WITH THE NEW STRUTS SHOULD BE COVERED. AN ADDITIONAL SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT THE NEW STRUTS ARE TOO POWERFUL. THE BACK DOOR SHOOTS UP LIKE A ROCKET. THIS MAY BE CAUSED B/C THE EXISTING MOTOR IS TOO WEAK TO OFFER ANY RESISTANCE. I AM AFRAID THAT THE DOOR WILL CAUSE DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OR ANOTHER PERSON B/C IT OPENS UP MUCH TOO FAST AND MUCH TOO HARD. *TR