NHTSA Complaint #10683888 — 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA

SLIDING POWER DOORS WORK INTERMITTENTLY AND HAVE NEEDED TO BE FORCED OPEN OR CLOSED ON OCCASION. HOWEVER I ATTEMPTED TO USE THE HANDLE TO ACTIVATE THE POWER DOOR TO OPEN THE DOOR IN ORDER TO PLACE MY SON IN HIS CAR SEAT, THE DOOR BEGAN TO OPEN, AND THEN STOPPED AFTER ONLY OPENING AN INCH. THE DOOR AJAR ALARM BEGAN SOUNDING. I PULLED THE DOOR OPEN PACKED MY LITTLE ONE UP IN HIS CAR SEAT AND WENT TO SHUT THE DOOR. THE DOOR WOULD NOT LATCH TO STAY CLOSED AND THE DOOR WOULD MOVE FREELY WITHOUT THE USE OF THE DOOR HANDLE. THE VEHICLE IS NOW UNSAFE TO TRANSPORT ANYONE IN AS DOOR CAN NOT BE CLOSED. AT LEAST THIS HAPPENED AT HOME PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. BUT IF THESE DOORS ARE FAILING UNDER NORMAL CIRCUMSTANCES I NO LONGER FEEL I HAVE A SAFE VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT MY FAMILY IN. WHO KNOWS WHAT WOULD HAPPEN UNDER MORE STRESSFUL CONDITIONS. MY HUSBAND HAD TO TIE THE DOOR SHUT IN ORDER TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE THE EXPECTED REPAIR PART WAS $937.00. I THOUGHT BUYING TOYOTA WAS BUYING QUALITY BUT, I GUESS THEY DON'T MAKE THEM LIKE THEY USED TO. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT TOYOTA NEEDS TO EVALUATE BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED OR LOSS OF LIFE OCCURS BUT, IT'S FOURS YEARS OLD AND DOOR COMPLAINTS, AFTER DOING SOON RESEARCH ARE NOTHING NEW. NEXT VEHICLE.. IF I STILL NEED THE PASSENGER SPACE A MINIVAN HAS TO OFFER I THINK I'LL LOOK AT HONDA INSTEAD. *TR