NHTSA Complaint #10386791 — 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA

THE DOOR TO MY 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA STUCK OPEN WHILE ON VACATION 500 PLUS MILES FROM HOME. THE DOOR COULD NOT BE CLOSED DUE TO A COMMON FAILURE THAT MANY OTHER OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. THE MOTOR BREAKS AND STICKS TO A CABLE THAT IS USED AS A GUIDE IN THE MECHANISM RENDERING THE DOOR INOPERABLE. I HAD TO CUT A CABLE TO CLOSE THE DOOR MANUALLY JUST SO THAT I COULD DRIVE THE CAR HOME WITH MY WIFE AND 3 SMALL CHILDREN. THE DOOR OPEN WARNING LIGHT AND BEEPER WOULD RANDOMLY SOUND WHILE DRIVING AS IF THE DOOR WAS TRYING TO OPEN ITSELF. I TRIED SHUTTING THE DOOR SEVERAL TIMES AND IT WOULD CLOSE AND LATCH. I HAD TO TURN OFF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL AND MAKE SURE THE DOOR WAS LOCKED BUT IT WOULD STILL SOUND THE BEEP AND WARNING LIGHT. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT YOU CANNOT FIX THE DOOR WITHOUT GOING TO A DEALER WHEN THE MOTOR FAILS AND I FEAR SOME PEOPLE MIGHT TRY TO DRIVE WITH THE DOOR OPEN. IF THERE WAS AN EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRED MY FAMILY TO EXIT THE VEHICLE (IE FLOOD FIRE OR ACCIDENT) THAT DOOR WOULDN'T HAVE WORKED. TOYOTA KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE UPGRADED THE MECHANISM THAT IS SOLD IN THEIR PARTS DEPARTMENTS BUT THEY HAVE NOT DONE A PROPER RECALL. I DO NOT WANT SOMEONE TO GET HURT BEFORE THEY ACT. I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY OR PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO FIX SOMETHING THEY KNOW IS DEFECTIVE. *TR