NHTSA Complaint #11078489 — 2009 TOYOTA SIENNA

2009 TOYOTA SIENNA WITH POWER SLIDING DOORS. I BELIEVE THE CAUSE OF THIS ISSUE MAY BE A POORLY DESIGNED ROLLER HINGE FOR THE SLIDING DOORS. IF THE ROLLER HINGE FAILS AND BINDS, IT WILL CAUSE THE POWER SLIDING DOOR MOTOR AND/OR CABLE TO FAIL. PASSENGER SIDE POWER SLIDING DOOR BECAME STUCK, PARTIALLY OPEN, WITH MY HANDICAPPED SON INSIDE WHILE I WAS PARKED OUTSIDE HIS SCHOOL FOR DROP OFF. I OBSERVED THAT THE POWER DOOR CABLE WAS BROKEN. WHEN I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE DOOR OPEN TO GET MY SON OUT, THE ROLLER HINGE FAILED, COMING PARTWAY OUT OF ITS TRACK, AND THE REAR SIDE WINDOW SHATTERED, COVERING THE THIRD SEAT WITH BROKEN GLASS. A SMALL AMOUNT OF GLASS LANDED ON MY SON. I WAS FORCED TO CARRY HIM (13 YEARS OLD, APPROXIMATELY 75 LBS.) OUT FROM THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING DOOR. THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN OR CLOSE SO I WAS FORCED TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED! IN 2015 AN ALMOST IDENTICAL SCENARIO TOOK PLACE IN MY DRIVEWAY, IN THIS EARLIER INSTANCE WITH THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDER DOOR FAILING AND SHATTERING THE DRIVER SIDE REAR SIDE WINDOW. FORTUNATELY, NO ONE WAS IN THE VEHICLE IN THAT CASE, EITHER. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE INSURANCE COVERED THE DAMAGE, WITH A $300 DEDUCTIBLE. A FEW MONTHS AFTER THAT WE PAID $1100 TO HAVE THE PASSENGER SIDE POWER DOOR MOTOR AND CABLE REPLACED AFTER THE CABLE BROKE. THIS RECENT FAILURE IS ESTIMATED TO COST BETWEEN $2000 AND $3000. AS YET, INSURANCE IS REFUSING TO PAY FOR ANYTHING EXCEPT THE BROKEN WINDOW.