NHTSA Complaint #10447448 — 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA

THE AUTOMATIC REAR PASSENGER DOOR BEGAN TO GRIND WHILE OPENING. AS WE WENT TO CLOSE THE DOOR WITH THE AUTOMATIC FEATURE IT STOPPED WORKING. THE DOOR WAS JAMMED SLIGHTLY OPEN. WE COULD NOT OPEN OR CLOSE THE DOOR EVEN WHEN PUTTING IT INTO MANUAL MODE. UPON INSPECTION MY HUSBAND SAW THAT THE CABLE THAT IS BELOW THE REAR WINDOW WAS SHEARED. HE WAS ABLE TO CUT THIS CABLE AND FREE THE DOOR FROM BEING JAMMED. IT WAS A VERY LONG PAINFUL PROCESS AS WE WERE AWAY FROM HOME AND ONLY HAD ACCESS TO A VERY SMALL DULL KNIFE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. WE HAVE A MINIVAN BECAUSE WE HAVE SEVERAL SMALL CHILDREN. SMALL CHILDREN OFTEN DART IN FRONT OF AUTOMATIC DOORS WITHOUT REALIZING THEY ARE CLOSING. IF THIS DOOR HAD GOTTEN JAMMED WITH ONE OF OUR SMALL CHILDREN CAUGHT IN IT THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN IN GREAT DANGER POSSIBLY LOOSING A LIMB OR HEAVEN FORBID THEIR HEAD WERE CAUGHT BECAUSE THEY TRIPPED GETTING OUT OF THE VAN. I IMPLORE YOU TO MANDATE A RECALL ON THIS VAN IMMEDIATELY FOR THE SAFETY OF ALL THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF SMALL CHILDREN THAT ENTER AND EXIT THESE VANS EVERY SINGLE DAY! *TR