NHTSA Complaint #10637033 — 2000 TOYOTA SIENNA

WITHIN A TWO MINUTE PERIOD, BOTH SLIDING DOORS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY FUNCTIONING, SUDDENLY FAILED IN A CLOSED POSITION. THEY COULD NOT BE OPENED MANUALLY USING THE DOOR HANDLES FROM BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, OR BY ATTEMPTING TO ACTUATE THE RIGHT SIDE POWER DOOR. THE POWER DOOR LOCKS HAD NO EFFECT. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED MECHANICAL DOOR FAILURE, OR OTHERWISE. NON FUNCTIONING OR JAMMED DOORS SHOULD CONSTITUTE A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. IF THE VEHICLES FRONT DOORS WERE COMPROMISED IN A COLLISION, PASSENGERS SHOULD BE ABLE TO EXIT THROUGH THE REAR DOORS, BUT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO WITH THIS MECHANICAL DEFECT. THE FACT THAT THE DOORS CANNOT ALSO BE OPENED USING EXTERIOR HANDLES INCREASES THE RISK OF ENTRAPPING PASSENGERS. TOYOTA SHOULD CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY RECALL AND REPAIR ALL FAULTY DOORS, OF WHICH THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS FILED HERE AND ON ONLINE FORUMS. I AM CURRENTLY HAVING TO PAY FOR THIS REPAIR MYSELF, AS TOYOTA HAS INFORMED ME THAT THERE ARE NO CURRENT RECALLS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION. *TR