NHTSA Complaint #10596208 — 2009 TOYOTA SIENNA

WHILE ON A DECLINE, AUTOMATIC SLIDING DOOR CABLE SNAPPED WHILE DOOR WAS AUTOMATICALLY CLOSING. DOOR SLAMMED SHUT JUST AS AN 11 YEAR OLD CHILD GOT INTO THE CAR. THANKFULLY SHE WAS NOT INJURED. BROUGHT IT TO DEALER AND SINCE MODELS 2004-2007 UNDERWENT RECALL FOR THIS VERY INCIDENT, SLIDING DOOR WAS FIXED AT NO CHARGE. IT WAS FOUND THAT CABLE WHICH ALLOWS THE SLIDING DOOR TO GLIDE OPEN AND CLOSE FLUENTLY WAS RUSTED AND ROTTED AWAY CAUSING IT TO SNAP. CAR IS PARKED IN A COVERED AND CLOSED GARAGE ALL YEAR THROUGH. THIS WAS ON DRIVER SIDE. THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD THE SAME RUST AND ROT BUT SINCE STILL FUNCTIONING, TOYOTA WOULD NOT REPLACE AS A PREVENTATIVE MEASURE. WE WERE ALWAYS CONCERNED THAT THIS WOULD HAPPENED AGAIN AND TOOK GREAT CARE ESPECIALLY ON DECLINES. WHILE PARKED ON FLAT DRIVEWAY, 6 MONTHS LATER, SECOND SLIDING DOOR CABLE SNAPPED. THANKFULLY NO INJURIES. BROUGHT IT TO DEALER AND WERE TOLD THAT THEY WOULD NOT COVER THIS TIME. WE WERE ALSO TOLD BY ONE OF THE DEALER'S MECHANICS THAT 2009 MODEL IS EXACTLY MADE LIKE 2004-2007 SO HE COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE RECALL WAS ARBITRARILY GIVEN TO ONLY THOSE YEARS. NOW DOOR IS MANUAL BUT WITHOUT CABLE, EVEN ON THE SLIGHTEST DECLINE, DOOR SLAMS SHUT. WILL NOT STAY OPEN. THIS IS A MAJOR CONCERN FOR MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY. THEY WILL NOT COVER COST TO REPLACE IT OR FIX IT BUT THE DOOR IS NOT SAFE TO USE OTHERWISE. *TR