NHTSA Complaint #10466603 — 2005 TOYOTA SIENNA

THE PASSENGER SLIDING DOOR ON THE VEHICLE DOES NOT WORK. THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SAID IT'S A MOTOR DEFECT NOT COVERED UNDER TOYOTA'S WARRANTY ENHANCMENT FOR THE DOOR. THIS HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE MY SON IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO OPEN THE DOOR MANUALLY AND IN ORDER FOR HIM TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, HE EITHER NEEDS TO EXIT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, OR CLIMB TO THE FRONT SEAT TO USE THE FRONT DOOR. ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION, WE WERE ALMOST HIT BY A CAR WHILE DROPPING HIM OFF AT SCHOOL. THERE IS NO PARKING LOT THERE AND NEITHER PARENTS NOR CHILDREN ARE SUPPOSED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE AT ALL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. MY SON COULDN'T GET THE DOOR OPEN SO I HAD TO GET OUT OF THE CAR AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY ANOTHER CAR NOT EXPECTING ME TO BE OPENING THE DOOR. IT IS MORE THAN A MATTER OF CONVENIENCE, IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE DOOR CAN BE OPENED AND CLOSED USING THE POWER FEATURE. THE MANUAL SLIDING DOOR IS WAY TO HEAVY FOR A 5 YR OLD TO USE SAFELY. *TR