NHTSA Complaint #10564844 — 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA

I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 TOYOTA SIENNA THAT I BELIEVE HAS A SAFETY ISSUE, PARTICULARLY IN COLD WEATHER. THE EXTERIOR SWITCH THAT ALLOWS THE REAR HATCH TO OPEN IS NOT FUNCTIONAL IN COLD WEATHER DUE TO A MATERIAL MALFUNCTION. I NOTICED THAT DURING WARMER WEATHER, THE RUBBER SEAL OVER THIS EXTERIOR SWITCH HAD BECOME SOFT AND GUMMY. OVER TIME, THE RUBBER SEEPED BETWEEN THE SWITCH HOUSING AND THE SWITCH BUTTON. AS THE WEATHER BECAME COLD, THE RUBBER HAS HARDENED AROUND THE SWITCH BUTTON AND THE EXTERIOR SWITCH IS NO LONGER FUNCTIONAL. THE ONLY WAY I CAN OPEN THE REAR HATCH IN COLD WEATHER IS TO OPEN A FRONT DOOR AND USE THE INTERIOR SWITCH TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH. MY CONCERN IS IF WE WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT DURING THE COLD MONTHS AND THE ONLY WAY SOMEONE COULD GET ACCESS TO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE IS THROUGH THE REAR HATCH, IT COULD NOT BE DONE BECAUSE THE EXTERIOR SWITCH ON THE REAR HATCH WOULD BE SEIZED PREVENTING ACCESS. IT IS VERY ALARMING WHEN I THINK OF MY ENTIRE FAMILY, ESPECIALLY MY 15 YO, MY 3 YR, AND MY 6 MO, BEING INSIDE OF THIS VAN AND PEOPLE NOT GAINING ACCESS TO THE INSIDE TO HELP THEM DUE TO INJURIES, FIRE, WATER HAZARDS, ETC... I OWN A 2005 TOYOTA 4RUNNER AND IT APPEARS TO HAVE THE SAME SWITCH. HOWEVER, THE RUBBER ON THE SWITCH IS PERFECTLY FINE AND FUNCTIONS NORMALLY. THERE APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A MATERIAL CHANGE ALLOWING THE RUBBER TO SOFTEN RESULTING IN A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD DURING THE COLD MONTHS. I SPOKE TO OUR LOCAL TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE AND SAID THAT TOYOTA DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. INITIALLY I THOUGHT THE PREVIOUS OWNER APPLIED A SOLVENT OR SOMETHING TO SOFTEN THE RUBBER. AS I RESEARCHED MORE ON THE INTERNET, THIS ISSUE APPLIES TO MANY TOYOTA VEHICLES, WITH MODELS INCLUDING THE SIENNA AND THE 4RUNNER. THE EARLIEST MODEL YEAR THAT I CAN FIND FOR EITHER MODEL IS 2007. *TR