NHTSA Complaint #10449263 — 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA

IN OCTOBER OF 2011 THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR CLOSED ITSELF WEDGING ME BETWEEN IT AND THE FRAME OF THE VAN. THE DOOR DIDN'T STOP AND TRY TO OPEN BACK UP, IT JUST STOPPED. AFTER THIS THE DOOR WOULDN'T OPEN OR CLOSE ON ITS OWN. IT HAD TO BE "MUSCLED" IN TO EITHER THE FULLY OPEN OR CLOSED POSITION. I HAD TO DO THIS MYSELF AS MY WIFE WAS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO MUSCLE IT OPEN OR CLOSE. AFTER THIS INCIDENT I CONTACTED MY LOCAL TOYOTA DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE REPAIRS COULD BE IN EXCESS OF $1500, WE JUST STOPPED USING THAT DOOR. ON FEBRUARY 24 2012 I WAS INFORMED BY MY WIFE WHO WAS WITH ONE OF OUR CHILDREN THAT SHE WAS STRANDED IN A PARKING LOT BECAUSE THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR, THE GOOD DOOR, WAS STUCK HALFWAY OPEN AND WOULDN'T OPEN OR CLOSE. I CONTACTED MY TOYOTA DEALER TO SEE WHAT COULD BE DONE SO THAT MY WIFE COULD GET HOME BUT EVERYTHING THEY TOLD ME DIDN'T WORK. THERE IS NO OVERRIDE BUTTON OR FOR THE ELECTRIC MOTOR TO COMPLETELY DISENGAGE OR FREEWHEEL. THERE IS A BUTTON TO DISENGAGE THE ELECTRIC MOTOR SO THAT THE DOOR CAN BE CLOSED BUT IT DIDN'T HELP. I HAD TO MEET HER WHERE SHE WAS AND CLOSE THE DOOR WHICH TOOK 15 MIN OR SO TO DO. MY DAUGHTER WAS STILL OUT OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE DOOR DECIDED TO CLOSE AND WEDGE ITSELF. LUCKILY SHE WASN'T ENTERING THE VAN AS IT WAS OPENING. I HEARD ABOUT THIS SITE UPON RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM AND FOUND THERE IS A FACEBOOK PAGE FOR THIS WITH HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. *TR