NHTSA Complaint #10357490 — 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA

2004 TOYOTA SIENNA'S AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR MECHANISM JAMMED PREVENTING DOOR CLOSURE. THE DOOR COULD NOT BE CLOSED AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY. CIRCUMSTANCES FORCED PASSENGERS, INCLUDING 4 SMALL CHILDREN, TO TRAVEL SEVERAL HIGHWAY MILES WITH THAT DOOR OPEN. IN APRIL 2004 TOYOTA MODIFIED THAT DOOR MECHANISM FOR NEW PRODUCT AND ISSUED TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN EL004-04 "POWER SLIDING DOOR INOPERATIVE" TO CORRECT EXISTING PRODUCT. SIENNA'S EARLY 2004 SLIDING DOOR IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. THE SIENNA PRODUCT IS A MINIVAN MARKETED TO FAMILIES AND CHILDREN. AS SUCH IT IS DESIGNED TO BE A CLOSED VEHICLE. THE DEFECTIVE DOOR SHOULD BE CONSIDERED A CHILD RESTRAINT FAILURE BECAUSE CLOSED DOORS ARE, IN FACT, THE PRIMARY PROTECTIVE RESTRAINT IN A FAMILY VEHICLE. CORRECTIVE ACTION WE ELECTED IS TO CUT THE AUTOMATIC DOOR'S TRACTOR CABLE. THAT FREES THE DOOR TO CLOSE AND PERMANENTLY DISENGAGES THE DEFECTIVE DOOR MECHANISM. *TR