NHTSA Complaint #11039484 — 2011 TOYOTA SIENNA

SIENNA 2011 LE DEVELOPED PROBLEM WITH THE SLIDING DOOR AFTER 5 YEARS OF USED AND A ABOUT 60K MILES, AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. THE LH SLIDING DOOR WORKS SOMETIMES, BUT MOSTLY OPENS HALF WAY AND GET STUCK OR CLOSES AGAIN. I HAVE TO PUSH IT MANUALLY TO GET IT TO OPEN OR CLOSE. THIS PROBLEM SEAMS TO BE PREVALENT IN SIENNA MODELS 2011+. TOYOTA HAS RECALLED MY SIENNA MODEL MULTIPLE TIMES TO ADDRESS MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOORS. A TOYOTA DEALER SAID THE MOTOR NEEDS CHANGING AND THE REPAIR WILL COST ABOUT 1800 (ABOUT 1300 FOR A NEW MOTOR.) I AM SURE THE MOTOR FAILED BECAUSE OF THESE MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH THE SLIDING DOOR MECHANISMS PUT UNDUE STRESS ON THE MOTOR LEADING TO ITS FAILURE. THEREFORE, TOYOTA SHOULD OWN THIS PROBLEM AND FIX IT WITHOUT CHARGE. THE DEALER FOUND A USED MOTOR FOR 700 FROM LKQ. I FOUND A NEW MOTOR (PART NO 8500608013) FOR ABOUT 760 FROM ANOTHER TOYOTA DEALER ONLINE. USING THESE OPTIONS, I WILL STILL HAVE TO PAY ABOUT 1400-1500 TO FIX A DOOR THAT SHOULD WORK FINE LONGER THAN 5 YEARS.