NHTSA Complaint #10441926 — 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA

TOYOTA SIENNA 2005 DEVELOPED TWO MAJOR PROBLEMS ABOUT 6 YEARS AND 40,000 MILES ON IT (RIGHT AFTER WARRANTY RUNS OUT). 1. PASSENGER SIDE FRONT AIRBAG MALFUNCTION RESULTING IN AIRBAG LIGHTS BEING ON. DEALER IS QUOTING $700 DOLLARS. MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE FACT THAT THIS IMPORTANT LIFE SAVING DEVICE MALFUNCTIONING AT JUST 6 YEARS AND RIGHT AFTER WARRANTY RUNS OUT. SEVERAL OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD EXACT SAME ISSUE AS EVIDENCED BY DISCUSSIONS IN CONSUMER FORUMS ON THE INTERNET. 2. DRIVER SIDE DOOR MAKES LOUD POPPING NOISE WHILE OPENING AND CLOSING. DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE WELDS IN THE DRIVER HINGES HAVE BROKEN. COST TO REPAIR (REPLACE DOOR !!) IS $2400. TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE CENTER CLAIMED THAT A NOTIFICATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE WAS MAILED OUT, WHICH I HAVE NEVER RECEIVED. THEY EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO COVER 5 YEARS AND GUESS WHAT? IT BREAKS AT 6 YEARS. BOTH ISSUES ARE IMPORTANT SAFETY CONCERNS AND SPEAKS VOLUMES ABOUT TOYOTA QUALITY AND CUTTING CORNERS BY DESIGNING PRODUCTS THAT WORK ONLY UNTIL WARRANTY IS VALID. TOYOTA CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE REPRESENTATIVE REFUSED TO ESCALATE THE MATTER TO HIGHER UPS IN TOYOTA SAYING THAT SHE HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DECIDE WHAT SHOULD BE DONE. THEY ALSO REFUSED TO SHOULDER THE COST TO REPAIR. THE REPRESENTATIVE WAS ALSO UNAWARE OF THE REASONS WHY THE AIRBAG WOULD MALFUNCTION. NHTSA SHOULD INVESTIGATE THESE ISSUES AND FORCE TOYOTA TO RECALL. *KB