NHTSA Complaint #10486377 — 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA

ONE REAR SLIDING DOOR COMES OPEN AFTER LATCHING (ONCE WHEN THE SIENNA HAD STARTED MOVING) AND CAN ONLY BE SECURELY CLOSED BY AN ADULT STANDING OUTSIDE OF THE DOOR, PUSHING WHEN IT LATCHES AND QUICKLY HITTING THE POWER LOCKS. THE OPPOSITE REAR SLIDING DOOR: AFTER IT FULLY OPENS, IT "BOUNCES BACK" AND BEGINS TO CLOSE AGAIN. A CHILD CANNOT STOP IT; AN ADULT MUST STAND THERE AND USE FULL FORCE TO STOP IT FROM CLOSING. THERE HAS BEEN MORE THAN ONE INCIDENT WHERE A CHILD WAS NEARLY CAUGHT BY THE CLOSING DOOR AND ONLY MISSED INJURY WHEN HIS MOTHER SIMULTANEOUSLY PUSHED HIM BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND PUT HERSELF BETWEEN THE MOVING DOOR AND THE BODY OF THE SIENNA. ORIGINALLY THIS WAS HAPPENING INTERMITTENTLY BUT IS NOW NEARLY CONSTANT. ORIGINALLY TOYOTA DENIED KNOWLEDGE OF AN ISSUE, AND THEN SENT A "TOYOTA CARES" WARRANTY ENHANCEMENT NOTICE FOR 04-07 SIENNAS WITH THIS ISSUE. BROADWAY TOYOTA REQUIRED THAT WE PAY FOR AN HOUR OF LABOR ($95) TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM, AND SAYS THAT IT ISN'T COVERED ON ONE SIDE BECAUSE IT IS A DIFFERENT PART THAN WHAT IS COVERED (ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME) AND ON THE OTHER UNLESS WE HAVE COSMETIC DAMAGE REPAIRED FIRST, AND THEN PERHAPS NOT THE OTHER SIDE EITHER. SO THEY MADE MONEY AND DID NOTHING AND WE STILL HAVE A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. *TR UPDATED 03/12/13