NHTSA Complaint #10417766 — 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA

WITHIN A YEAR AFTER BUYING THE 2002 TOYOTA SIENNA THE RIGHT SIDE SLIDING DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE. THE LEFT SIDE DOOR HAS THE SAME PROBLEM INTERMITTANTLY. NEITHER ONE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BUT ARE SEEN AS A SAFETY CONCERN IN THE WORST CASE AND A CONSTANT NUISANCE OTHERWISE. THE ISSUE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY AND SO REMAIN. THE REAR DOOR PLASTIC LATCH BROKE AFTER ABOUT FOUR YEARS, REQUIRING A $200 REPAIR. IT BROKE AGAIN AFTER ABOUT THREE MORE YEARS BUT THIS TIME I REPAIRED IT WITH A METAL SCREW, BUT A YEAR LATER IT BROKE IN ANOTHER PLACE AND CANNOT BE REPAIRED. THE PART IS MADE OF SLIGHTLY SOFT BRITTLE PLASTIC, POORLY DESIGNED. INTERESTINGLY, I RECENTLY BOUGHT A NEW TOYOTA PRIUS AND PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. READING THE FINE PRINT I FIND IN THE RATHER LONG LIST OF EXCLUSIONS FROM THE "BUMPER TO BUMPER" WARRANTY ARE INCLUDED DOOR LATCHES AS WELL AS, IRONICALLY, THE BUMPERS. *TT