NHTSA Complaint #10789011 — 2012 TOYOTA SIENNA

I HAVE BROUGHT THE SIENNA INTO TOYOTA ON 3 SEPARATE OCCASIONS, AS THERE WAS CLUNKING WHEN THE LIFT GATE CLOSED. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT EACH TIME, BUT THE LIFTGATE WAS AND IS CLEARLY NOT ALIGNED. WATER IS NOW COMING THROUGH THE TOP OF THE LIFT GATE. I DID BACK UP INTO A TREE, AND HAD DAMAGE TO THE BACK QUARTER PANEL AND IT WAS REPAIRED BY A BODY SHOP. TOYOTA IS STATING THAT THIS CAUSED THE LIFTGATE TO BE MISALIGNED AND THAT IS CAUSING THE WATER TO COME THROUGH THE LIFTGATE. MY COMPLAINT IS I BELIEVE THAT DEALERSHIP IS AVOIDING REALIGNING THE LIFT GATE. I ORIGINALLY BROUGHT THIS IN UNDER THE MANUFACTURER WARRANTY AND I HAVE AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THERE WAS NO VEHICLE DAMAGE TO THE VAN UPON INITIAL VISIT. AT THIS POINT, IF THE LIFTGATE IS NOT REALIGNED AND FIXED PROPERLY AND WATER CONTINUES TO COME IN, IT WILL EVENTUALLY DESTROY THE MECHANISM THAT IS USED FOR THE AUTO OPEN AND CLOSE. IN ADDITION, I AM ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE OVERALL SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT, IF WHAT TOYOTA STATES IS TRUE (THE LIFTGATE CAN BE MISALIGNED BY QUARTER PANEL DAMAGE).