NHTSA Complaint #10510426 — 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA

MY WIFE WAS SHOPPING WITH MY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND DOG AND COULDN'T GET THE DRIVERS SIDE AUTO SLIDING DOOR TO SHUT. I ARRIVED AND NOTICED THE CABLE SHEATHING WAS FRAYED APPROXIMATELY 6 INCHES IN FROM THE PULLEY SYSTEM. THE DOOR WOULD AUTO SLIDE UNTIL THIS FRAYED PART HIT THE PULLEY, SEIZE AND RETURN OPEN. I MANUALLY TRIED PULLING THE DOOR SHUT THINKING I COULD GET THE FRAYED PART THROUGH THE PULLEY, BUT I GUESS THE TOLERANCES WERE TOO TIGHT AND IT WOULDN'T ALLOW CLOSURE. THE LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP TOLD ME TO CUT THE CABLE SO I CUT THE TENSIONER CABLE PORTION BEHIND THE DOOR TO ALLOW IT TO CLOSE. AFTER DROPPING OFF AT THE TOYOTA, THEY DEMANDED A $1000 UPFRONT FEE FROM MY WIFE FOR A NEW MOTOR. I AM TRYING TO GET THEM TO CANCEL THE MOTOR PURCHASE SINCE THE MOTOR STILL WORKS, BUT HAVEN'T GOTTEN THROUGH YET. THE LOCKING MECHANISM STILL WORKS (AFTER I CUT THE CABLE AND WAS ABLE TO SHUT THE DOOR). WITH THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS, NHTSA NEEDS TO BRING THIS UP TO TOYOTA AND MAKE A RECALL. *TR