NHTSA Complaint #10747845 — 2004 TOYOTA SIENNA

THE ELECTRIC SLIDING DOOR DOES NOT CLOSE. IT CONSTANTLY SHUTS AND OPENS. IF A PERSON IS STEPPING INTO THE CAR THE DOOR WILL CLOSE ON THE PERSON UNLESS THEY PHYSICALLY MANHANDLE THE DOOR. AN ADULT HAD A DIFFICULT TIME STOPPING THE DOOR FROM CLOSING ON HER. DURING THE WINTER MONTHS THE SLIDING DOORS WILL NOT OPEN. SOME HOW THE HANDLE RELEASE THE DOOR AJAR BEEPING NOISE BUT THE DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM THE INSIDE OR OUTSIDE. PEOPLE NEED TO CLIMB TO THE BACK FROM THE FRONT. WE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE BUT WHEN WE TOOK OUR CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS BEYOND THE 9 YEAR LIMIT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID IT WOULD BE OVER $1000 TO REPAIR. WE HAVE SINCE HAD AN ACCIDENT RELATED TO THE SPARE TIRE RECALL THAT WE THOUGHT THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP REMEDIED. I NOW REALIZE THE PROBLEM AND ISSUES WITH MANUFACTURE ERRORS AND RESPONSIBILITY. I BELIEVE TOYOTA SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE TO REPAIR THE SLIDING DOOR ISSUES BEFORE SOMEONE GETS CRUSHED IN THE ELECTRIC SLIDER. IF EVER WE WERE IN AN ACCIDENT IN THE WINTER, HOW WOULD THE PEOPLE SITTING IN THE MIDDLE ROWS EXIT THE CAR. THERE NEEDS TO BE A BETTER SYSTEM TO INFORM CONSUMERS OF FAULTY EQUIPMENT BEFORE AN ACCIDENT HAPPENS. MANUFACTURERS NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE BEFORE AN INCIDENT OCCURS. WHEN I CALLED TOYOTA, THEY SAID THAT I DID NOT HAVE A SERVICE HISTORY OR BRAND LOYALTY. WE HAVE OWNED OUR TOYOTA FOR 8 YEARS! WE HAVE TAKEN OUR CAR TO LOCAL MECHANICS EXCEPT FOR ISSUES OF RECALL. OUR FRIENDS BOUGHT A TOYOTA SIENNA DUE TO OUR RECOMMENDATION AND CAR HISTORY. 2 WEEKS AGO WE JUST PURCHASED A TOYOTA PRIUS FOR OUR DAUGHTER. THAT IS CUSTOMER LOYALTY.