NHTSA Complaint #10653017 — 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA

THERE IS A STRUCTURAL PROBLEM WITH 2006 TOYOTA SIENNA MINIVAN. THE REAR LIFTGATE STRUT STOPPED WORKING. THE TRUNK DOOR IS JUST HEAVY DEAD WEIGHT. ONE ADULT MUST LIFT AND HOLD THE TRUNK DOOR (WHICH IS QUITE HEAVY) SO THAT THE OTHER ADULT CAN ACCESS THE TRUNK -- OR AT LEAST ACCESSING THE TRUNK WITHOUT SMASHING THEIR SKULL AND/OR ARMS/HANDS/BACK. TOYOTA SAID THAT THEY HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT COVERED THIS PART THAT EXPIRED IN 2012. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE WAS A RECALL OF THIS PART FOR 2006 TOYOTAS. HOWEVER, TOYOTA IS TELLING ME THAT MINE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE 2006 RECALL BECAUSE MINE WAS PRODUCED LATER IN 2006. SO, APPARENTLY, TOYOTA IS IN THE BUSINESS OF BUILDING VEHICLES THAT ALLOW YOU TO ACCESS YOUR TRUNK FOR ONLY 6 YEARS -- AFTER THAT, IT IS A TWO PERSON JOB TO GET IN AND OUT OF THE TRUNK. THAT TELLS ME THAT IN SEPTEMBER 2006, I BOUGHT MY LAST TOYOTA.