NHTSA Complaint #11207681 — 2015 TOYOTA SIENNA

IN JANUARY 2019, AT APPROXIMATELY 71,000 MILES, THE UPPER HINGE OF THE FUEL FILLER DOOR (THE DOOR COVERING THE GAS TANK ACCESS) FAILED. THIS APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY PRESSURE EXERTED ON THE DOOR BY THE SAFETY SWITCH GOVERNING THE DRIVER SIDE SLIDING PASSENGER DOOR. APPARENTLY, THIS IS A WELL-DOCUMENTED ISSUE NOT JUST ON NHTSA (CASE ID# #11104672, 11025478), BUT ALSO WITH TOYOTA (TICKET # 1807172274), AND DOCUMENTED IN PUBLIC FORUMS SUCH AS HTTP://WWW.SIENNACHAT.COM/FORUM/67-PROBLEMS-MAINTENANCE-REPAIR-GEN-3/19274-FUEL-FILLER-DOOR-HINGE-BROKE-ANYONE-ELSE-HAVE-HAPPEN.HTML#. I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR BOTH TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP AND TO TOYOTA AND HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS NOT A WARRANTY ISSUE AND WOULD COST OVER $400 TO FIX. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A MECHANICAL DESIGN DEFECT THAT COULD NOT HAVE BEEN FORESEEN DUE TO THE PRESSURE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED. IN ADDITION, I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT IT COULD CAUSE A SAFETY ISSUE IN THE CASE OF AN ACCIDENT, AS IT WILL PREVENT THE OPENING OF THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR WHEN THE SWITCH IS ACTIVATED.